How do you use your metronome?

[RevWrona]

I would have to fathom I am not the only one to have this problem.

My metronome is straight forward beep metronome. No back beat just click click click...etc
When I play with it I use the click as each number, 1 with the click and I throw in the rest of the beat/fill before the next clickand 2nd click=2. I hope I am not making this too confusing sounding. The polyrhythms that I am working with is suggesting 160-200 bpm and to that seems impossible based on the way I am using my metronome. So this conundrum made me wonder if I am using it wrong. Am I suppose to use each click as each quarter not or eighth note etc? Just wondering what you all think.

Thanks

Scott

[Anne Beeche]

Uh, isn't each click supposed to represent a quarter note?

[SEVNT7]

Each click (or beep) of a metronome is for you to choose what the note value is . 1/4's. 1/8th's or whatever. Can you be more specific about what you are practicing?........

[Serious Pie Enthusiast]

Yeah, use it however you want. It's just a tool to ingrain a sense of time

are you talking about those fancy metronomes that accent the downbeat or putting the metronome to 2 and 4?

[Monica McCoy]

Mine makes a unique sound on 1 and a different sound on 2,3,4. If I set it up to click 8th notes, the & is somewhat quieter than the downbeats. It's a $40 Boss with a belt clip.

I used to set it up to beep along with whatever groove I was playing (8th, 16th, triplets, shuffle, etc.) Now that my time is stable I just have it click 1,2,3,4 and divide the rest up in my head.

[RevWrona]

It looks like this was a good question because all of you so far have a different answer. I know that as long as I use it to keep time it is a "right" way of using it. After giving it some thought I would guess when the exercise in the book reads 160-200 bpm I am guessing they are referring to quarter notes. Does anyone know any different?

[Anne Beeche]

Mine makes a unique sound on 1 and a different sound on 2,3,4. If I set it up to click 8th notes, the & is somewhat quieter than the downbeats. It's a $40 Boss with a belt clip.

I used to set it up to beep along with whatever groove I was playing (8th, 16th, triplets, shuffle, etc.) Now that my time is stable I just have it click 1,2,3,4 and divide the rest up in my head.

Lucky. My metronome just clicks. No accents, no time signatures, nothing. I just find a click and stick with it.

[Clayton_C]

It looks like this was a good question because all of you so far have a different answer. I know that as long as I use it to keep time it is a "right" way of using it. After giving it some thought I would guess when the exercise in the book reads 160-200 bpm I am guessing they are referring to quarter notes. Does anyone know any different?

BPM= beats per minute
1 Beat = 1 Quarter Note

That's just it, that will never change. 160 bpm = 160 quarter notes per minute
Forgive the redundancy, but that's just the way the cookie crumbles, bro.

[Matty G.]

Usually a method book will specify by writing "quarter note = 120" or whatever.
-Or if you're in cut time "half-note = 120".
-6/8 time will say "dotted quarter = 120" etc.

It think it's important to note that the click is whatever you want it to be. Usually a click represents a quarter note, but even if you don't have the fancy metronome with subdivisions, if you just double it and you'll get the 1/8th note. If you divide the bpm in half you get the 1/2 note, etc.

Often when I'm practicing jazz, I'll play time so that the click is on '2 & 4'. You can get creative with it.

[Anne Beeche]

Usually a method book will specify by writing "quarter note = 120" or whatever.
-Or if you're in cut time "half-note = 120".
-6/8 time will say "dotted quarter = 120" etc.

It think it's important to note that the click is whatever you want it to be. Usually a click represents a quarter note, but even if you don't have the fancy metronome with subdivisions, if you just double it and you'll get the 1/8th note. If you divide the bpm in half you get the 1/2 note, etc.

Often when I'm practicing jazz, I'll play time so that the click is on '2 & 4'. You can get creative with it.
Hold on, I think you have your math a little backwards.

if your bpm is 240 and your metronome is 120, then the clicks become half notes.
If the bpm is 60 and your metronome is 120, then the clicks become eighth notes.

[lochday]

Hold on, I think you have your math a little backwards.

if your bpm is 240 and your metronome is 120, then the clicks become half notes.
If the bpm is 60 and your metronome is 120, then the clicks become eighth notes.

Yes, if the tempo is crotchet = 160bpm and you want the click on half notes you have to set your metronome on minim = 80 bpm.
If crotchet = 400 , the set your metronome (minim = 200) to play half notes. Jazz drummers on some records play as fast as this, which requires subtle changes in both the ride playing (flaten out) and comping.

Here's an up tempo sprint exercise for jazz:

8 bars of crotchet = 120 (click on every quarter note) followed by 16 bars of double time crotchet = 120 (click on1 and 3)

[RevWrona]

Often when I'm practicing jazz, I'll play time so that the click is on '2 & 4'. You can get creative with it.


I've never thought of this, I will give this a try. I think I am in for a headache due to constantly using it on 1.

[grannydrums]

I have an old drum machine that i use as metronome. When learning a new beat I program it in and then learn it at realy slow tempos playing along to it. Then when i think i have it nailed i program 4 bars of the beat and then 4 bars of a click and play along to that. My teacher says i should also program in 4 silent bars to see if i can keep time by myself---but I know the answer to that---I cant!!

For day to day practice I also have a metromone that you can add eight notes and triplets.

I dont think i could work with a metronome that just did quarters. I like having the first beat accented especially for working with fills--shows if you are hitting the first beat of the next bar on the buttton. also on realy fast songs it shows that you are still on time, its easy to fool yourself into thinking you have kept up when you have actually missed a beat. How would you know if the first note is not accented? For slow tempos i find having the eighth notes there a real help.

I would invest in a metronome or second hand drum machine--it will realy help

[Deltadrummer]

Mostly, I use it to help me get to Boston.

[Guz2]

Mine's an old school analogue one xD

[Matty G.]

Hold on, I think you have your math a little backwards.

if your bpm is 240 and your metronome is 120, then the clicks become half notes.
If the bpm is 60 and your metronome is 120, then the clicks become eighth notes.

I said it correctly, but a little round-a-bout. How about this, assuming you start with bpm as a quarter note, then bpm doubled (x2) gives you 1/8th notes, bpm divided in half gives you 1/2 notes.

[DrummerDavid]

I turn it on-set the tempo-and play along to it.

[Anne Beeche]

I said it correctly, but a little round-a-bout. How about this, assuming you start with bpm as a quarter note, then bpm doubled (x2) gives you 1/8th notes, bpm divided in half gives you 1/2 notes.

All on the same bpm? Yes.(Your bpm versus metronome bpm)

[lochday]

You can set it various ways depending on what you want your metronome to click:
 in 4/4 crothets at bpm= 120
Metronome will click every beat
click1 click2 click3 click4

 in 4/4 minims at bpm = 60
Metronome will click every other beat.

click1 2 click3 4 click1 2 click3 4 etc.

 in 4/4 whole notes at bpm = 30
The metronome clicks every bar.
click234 click234 click234 click234 clicksolo clicksolo clicksolo clicksolo
Easier to count bars and solo, for example start soloing from the fifth click during 4 bars and resume normal rythm, etc.

Hope it helps.

[Jeremy Bender]

Mostly, I use it to help me get to Boston.

Ha Ha... I see I'm not the only one watching the Joe Morello DVD !

I'm with the other guys. Get a second hand drum machine that you can program a louder click e.g. cowbell. Then put in some subvividing eighth or sixteenth notes. I find a simple latin dance groove works good for this.