Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing

Subject: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 03 Nov 01 - 08:01 AM

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

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Amos
Date: 03 Nov 01 - 10:39 AM

Beautiful advice, Neo. Don't use one myself but I'm about as idiosyncratic as I can get.

A

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 03 Nov 01 - 01:24 PM

I rarely use a metronome but I have used the approach you mentioned on several occasions and found it helpful. I tend to use Cakewalk as my metronome now if ever I find I have the need.

Jon

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: 53
Date: 03 Nov 01 - 09:44 PM

i use my computor as my metronome, iplay along with songs that i have downloaded from napster, and morpheus, and i have a 40 watt 4 speaker satellite system hooked up to my computor with a sub woofer and the system really kicks ass. so it's like playing with a band again just tune your guitar and away you go.

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 03 Nov 01 - 11:33 PM

Little Neo

Your absolute best posting to date!!! You are learning little grasshopper. A tool I do not use as much as I should

Pray tell, is your's the wonderfully mechanical version, or the imp of the electrical devil's variation?

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Nov 01 - 11:38 PM

Jon, what is Cakewalk?

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 04 Nov 01 - 01:49 AM

Bonnie, I bonded with my metronome once, but I found this great superglue remover that worked really well. That's the last time I try to fix a crack in the case.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 04 Nov 01 - 04:06 AM

Cakewalk is a GREAT piece of music editing software. Read about it at their homepage http://www.cakewalk.com

Since I use an older version I also like this helpful location. http://www.bikexprt.com/cakewalk/

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Nov 01 - 05:13 AM

Thanks GUEST,.gargoyle.

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Jeri
Date: 04 Nov 01 - 09:23 AM

There are also computer metronomes you can download for free.

I use Cakewalk too, but I've never used the metronome. The electronic ones aren't very effective for me - I can't really hear the little pure-tone beep. I've never owned a mechanical one, but I like that gentle, clock-like ticking a lot better. You can also watch it. I normally use the foot.

I really wish I could clog while playing, French-Canadian style. I used to do it when I was just starting to learn how to play. Now that I can sort of play, I think about the feet (probably because I don't have to think about the fiddle) and get all flummoxed. Maybe I ought to watch TV or read a book while I play...

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 04 Nov 01 - 10:16 AM

Jeri, I don't use Cakewalk's metronome you get when recording (and maybe usable in other ways), I use a drum track - Just lay one or 2 bars out as you want them - you can make heavy beats, light beats, different drum sounds to suit yourself and set it to loop in playback.

Jon

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 04 Nov 01 - 10:25 AM

Thanks Amos, Thanks Gargoyle.
Is that really you Gargoyle? I still do feel like a little grasshopper in the world of music. Every time I learn something new, the grass around me seems that much taller.
As for my metronome, I've got an electrical one. Nothing like that Yamaha beat. Maybe this Christmas, Santa will send me the real Mechanical McCoy.

Little Grasshopper

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: harpgirl
Date: 04 Nov 01 - 11:26 AM

...An absolutely essential musical tool my dear Bon Bon!!! I use a little flat one that looks like a credit card and has a hole in it to put a pencil in to prop it up. I check the beat and tempo of everything I learn.

When it's set I use it to play the tune as heard on the recording I'm working from. Otherwise I use it to practice. Beat and tempo! Beat and tempo! Beat and tempo!

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: pavane
Date: 04 Nov 01 - 02:01 PM

Timing is important. Far too many songs have been murdered by precision timing and regular beat. Throw away the metronome unless you are playing dance music! (Just a personal observation)

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 04 Nov 01 - 02:53 PM

pavane, I think the metronome is excellent for practice, which is what Bonnie was talking about. I agree that when you're playing, the music should flow and not be bound by a clock. But not everyone can feel the pulse equally well, and a metronome can help to train that ability. So I wouldn't throw it out. Tapping your foot isn't very helpful if your foot tends to follow your hands!

And Bonnie, any good music store should have a mechanical metronome, even in the Great White North. (I even found one here in little old Hilo, though it's now residing with my ex in Colorado.) Electronic ones give me the willies.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 05 Nov 01 - 05:53 PM

Something else has come up.  I was recently taught an old-time tune that I am not familiar with.  The person who taught me the tune put a lot of syncopation into it.  I figure that is because the tune is so common that by syncopating it, it keeps him interested in the tune.  But for me it makes it more difficult.  I think it is best for me to first learn the basic tune with out syncopation and then throw in the syncopation when I feel comfortable with the tune.  When I try to play this tune the way I was taught all syncopated like, I having all kinds of trouble playing it with the metronome. Can't seem to find the groove.

Mark, it will be kind of nice to go from an electrical metronome to a mechanical one. Being I don't know any better when I do get the real McCoy I will appreciate it so much more.

Bonnie

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 06 Nov 01 - 08:33 AM

Hi, Neo,

How do you know that a drummer knocks at the door?
The knocking grows faster and faster.
That is why I use a metronome in practising. I have an electronic device with sound and light signals, and since the snare isn't a piano instrument, I use earplugs.
The metronome was invented by the German Maelzel to record Beethoven's tempi exactly, not only by such words like "adagio" or "presto". Beethoven was so enthusiastic with this invention that he wrote a funny catch: "Ratatatatta ratatta ratatta-a, (lieber) dear, lieber Maelzel ..." imitating the ticking of the metronome in the first lines. Sounds wonderful, we sang it at school.

Wilfried

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Stewart
Date: 18 Nov 01 - 12:41 PM

Neo,

When Santa gives you a mechanical metronome, try tilting it to one side and you will get a syncopated beat.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)
Date: 18 Nov 01 - 04:33 PM

I've always practiced to CDs and was afraid that a metronome would make me sound too mechanical, but a friend and former bandmate of mine refuses to scratch his ass without first turning on his metronome and he's made incredible progress. (in playing fiddle, I don't know if it's been any help in his itchiness or lack thereof)

I generally use a metronome every once in a while just to test myself.

Rich


"Little Grasshopper" Bonnie, does this mean your going to change your cookie AGAIN? *bg*

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 18 Nov 01 - 05:56 PM

Bonnie, I was taught to use a metronome for speed (piano). Just like you said, move it up one notch at a time, it's kinda like the straw that broke the camel's back! I could always work up to a faster speed this way. Also, about the syncopation...I also found it helpful in working for speed to practice accenting different beats. I'm not sure if this reinforced the muscle memory or just kept me from getting bored.

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Gypsy
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 11:34 AM

It is the ONLY way i can learn a new tune from the dots. My foot does tend to follow my hammers, rather than the proper way, and if you count out loud with the device, you can really get the beat down. I have yet to play with anyone who is "too mechanical" Ain't nothin' wrong with a consistent beat. ;)

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Mrrzy
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 02:01 PM

(thread creep) I am vividly reminded of a great short story called Madame Zilenski and the King of Finland, about a pathological liar who left her tick-tick-tick (metronome) chez "that french" or something. Anybody know who wrote this? It might be JDSalinger, it might be James Thurber..(end creep)

Subject: RE: Music: Miss Metronome Discovers Timing
From: Mrrzy
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 02:03 PM

(AHA! Carson McCullers in The Ballad of the Sad Cafe. Anybody who knows what the word metronome means should read this lovely short.)