I've discovered the metronome. What a wonderful invention. I've been using the metronome to ironing out some of my tunes that tend to speed up or slow down in certain sections making havoc when I play with others. So now I use the metronome to slow the tune down where I am able to discover the problem area and then focus in on that specific section of the tune. I will play the difficult section starting from a slow speed of 80 beats per.......(is it minute?) and move up 2 beats every 5 minutes of practice. Boy, does this help.
I've also started another exercise where first thing in the morning I will start the metronome at 80 beats, playing only a few notes and building speed on those particular notes. Once again moving up 2 beats after every 5 minutes of practice. Its amazing what depth I can go within a simple few notes played over and over again. I discover all kinds of thing about technique this way.
Only problem with this exercise is after about 15 minutes of practice I go into some sort of Zen state where I begin to drool. Guess I should put a mat under my chair.

Any of you guys ever really bonded to your metronome?

Little Neo