metronome

[jayswett]

Neil speaks frequently about playing with a metronome, the benefits of which are many. I have finally decided that it is time to take that advice and start using a metronome in order to get some songs into shape for open mic. In addition, Neil had mentioned to me at IGC that I should strive to play songs 10% slower than I think I need to. Over the holidays, I realized that I was having trouble figuring out how to select an appropriate rate for the metronome. I was surprised by my inability to do this, as it did not occur to me that this would be a challenging task. Setting a 4/4 time signature (for easy songs, for example) was not a problem but selecting the actual rate (90 or 94 or 120, or whatever) was associated with alot of frustration.

Is there a simple way to figure this out? No doubt there is an app of some kind to do do this, but seeing as I still own a flip phone, an app won't help me, and in any case, I'd like to learn the old fashioned way to do it.

Thanks in advance.

[jayswett]

As an example, my buddy and I have been working on the song Crossing Muddy Waters by John Hiatt. We are consistently playing it too fast, even as we start out slowly, we inevitably speed up, which of course is a common problem. I came across the following acoustic cover, and I could not figure out how to set up the metronome to practice playing the song at this pace.



By the way, every time I watch this video, which is alot, I can't help but think MarkM would sound great playing this song, both vocally and instrumentally. Just a random thought.

[fjeanmur]

A quick cheat I can think of would be to go to the Guitar Pro files (if you doing something from the TG library), and take off the 10% from there.

[thereshopeyet]

Jay Wrote:

........................but selecting the actual rate (90 or 94 or 120

I think you have to experiment starting slowly, at whatever tempo you can comfortably play
the tune without any mistakes.

Maybe experiment with only a few measures first until you get a feel for your comfort zone.
Then increase tempo in small increments over a period of time ( practice reflected :dry: :ohmy: ).

Dermot

[wrsomers]

thereshopeyet wrote:

Jay Wrote:

........................but selecting the actual rate (90 or 94 or 120

I think you have to experiment starting slowly, at whatever tempo you can comfortably play
the tune without any mistakes.

Maybe experiment with only a few measures first until you get a feel for your comfort zone.
Then increase in small increments over a period of time ( practice reflected :dry: :ohmy: ).

Dermot

When using a metronome the first and most important thing to do is determine the time signature; is it 3/4, 4/4, 2/4, 6/8? etc. I think "Crossing Muddy Waters" is 2/4 but I'm not sure. Try setting your metronome to 2/4 and 92 bpm. He's not totally consistent throughout the song but that's about as close as I could get.

My metronome has a "tap tempo" feature. You listen to the song and tap the button on the beats and it gives you the tempo. Mine is a Korg TM-50.

Bill

[willem]

Listen to the drummer, maybe it is something or is this a diffrent style.

[thereshopeyet]

Bill Wrote:

Setting a 4/4 time signature (for easy songs, for example) was not a problem but selecting the actual rate (90 or 94 or 120, or whatever) was associated with a lot of frustration.

Bill, I was refering to the tempo only because Jay had give an example of 4/4 time in his posting and mentioned choosing tempo as a problem also.

I have a Seiko Metronome and a cheaper on Clifton ( it looks similar to a Korg) , both are quite good.
Me I need practice. :ohmy:

Dermot

[jayswett]

Thanks for the ideas. No doubt it just takes time and practice to figure this out. I don't know for sure the time signature of Crossing Muddy Waters but my original thought was 4/4 time. Regardless, I will keep at it and get it sorted out.

[thereshopeyet]

Jay

I came across this link ...... hope it helps

Crossing Muddy Waters

It sure would make a great lesson.

Dermot


:ohmy:

[TGNesh]

What I usually do Jay, is to play the record or track of whichever song and just tap along with the beats. Then I'll keep tapping and turn off the music and play the metronome, which i just adjust if it's slower or faster then what I'm tapping. Then go back to the music, tap along again, turn off the music, play the metronome and see if what you're tapping is close to the beats on the metronome. It should do the trick.

Ness