Metronome techniques

Using a metronome can be frustrating because if your rhythmic sense is not just right the metronome will let you know loud and clear. It is almost like having an annoying friend that is always right. However, if you persevere with the metronome it can bring wonderful results. The metronome can aid your practice by adding structure and it can help you diversify your practice schedule. The fact that it lets you know when your rhythm is straying is very useful if you make sure to correct yourself as you go along. The following list is some recommended ways to use your nome…

Speed development

Getting there one click at a time…

When speed is the element that makes a passage difficult remove the difficulty by reducing the speed. Bring down the tempo until it is manageable and you have full technical control over the entire passage. Don’t be dismayed if you have to bring a 160 passage down to 80 or even lower, the most important thing is to be in control. Once you have found a tempo that you can play comfortably in then move the metronome up one notch. Keep at this process until you can play the passage at the right tempo making sure that you are fully in control at each tempo before moving on. This process not only improves your speed but it also develops good memory and strong technical control.

Parachute training…

Once you have reached the desired speed, keep going. If you are going to perform a passage at 160 in a concert then the very limit of your ability should be beyond that speed. It makes no sense to play a piece at your speed limit under stressful conditions when you strain to play the same tempo when relaxed and comfortable. Your goal should be to feel comfortable and in control when performing and practicing at a higher tempo than needed can help with this goal. If you can’t reach 160 and after devoted practice you can only play at 144 then your solution is clear: perform at 120 (these numbers aren’t exact, but serve to convey my point). Speed is something many guitarists are concerned with but it can take years to develop so have patience and don’t strain your body.

Rhythmic Stability

Subdivision is the process of dividing up a beat into smaller rhythmic units. For instance you could subdivide a crotchet/quarter note beat into two quavers/eighth notes or four semiquavers/sixteenth notes. If you are wondering what level of subdivision is best to use you can often use the smallest rhythmic value as your starting point. So, if in a passage the shortest duration is a sixteenth then set your metronome so that one beat of the metronome represents a sixteenth. By doing this you can hear exactly where each note is meant to lie and it can help greatly with dotted rhythms and syncopations. Many good musicians subdivide all the time whilst reading music, it can serve as a rhythmic support structure for sight reading and learning new music.

Larger units

By doing the opposite and having the metronome beat once every measure, or even two measures, you can feel larger groupings of notes and you can also put your rhythmic stability to the test. If you rush a few notes out of several then the metronome will not line up with you on the down beat. (but don’t throw your nome out the window, he’s just trying to help)

Structuring your practice time

A metronome can help you structure your practice by setting small goals with it. For instance you could play through an entire piece at a slow tempo with a metronome, or repeat scales and exercises at certain tempi. The fact that the metronome keeps going tends to keep you on track in your practice session and it can almost be like having a little coach by your side. Pairing up a metronome with a timer (watch, clock, stopwatch etc. ) can be a formidable duo. You could for instance do slur exercises for five minutes at MM 80 then scales for ten minutes at MM 100 and then for twenty minutes work on repertoire at slow tempi. Try to find a timer that beeps at the set time intervals as its easy to get carried away with your practice time. A neat metronome that has an in built timer with beeps is the Planet Waves Full-Function Tuner and Metronome.