How To Practice With A Metronome

Bassist Bob DeBoo demonstrates the most effective way to use the metronome to improve your time and feel on any instrument.

[alanshewitt]

There’s a famous clip of the great Carol Kaye talking about how to practice with the metronome (on the off-beats) and she says that “unless [the metronome] feels like *it’s* grooving, you’re not in.” I think about that all the time.

[BMerker]

Interesting exercise, and interesting concept: sort of letting the metronome accompany you (by shifting your time relation to it), rather than the usual stance of "following the metronome".

[sweetoldetc]

What I usually do us start the metronome in multiples of 4 and cut the metronome tempo by half when I get comfortable at the current speed. So I start with 64BPM with the click on 2 and 4, then 32BPM with click on beat 4, 16BPM at click on beat 4 every to measures, and so on. You can keep going down until you have one click on every 16, 32 measures..etc.

I find that this is a really good exercise to keep your internal time steady without having to rely on metronome to tell you where the beat is. It really exposes your tendencies to rush or drag because you don't have the constant clicks to keep you in check.

[apointb]

Guy became so good the metronome started following him for tempo

[hilliardgreene]

This was excellent! When I started to use my metronome from 120 bpm to between 40 - 60 bpm my timing improved so much that I keep saying to myself "I wished I had done this thirty years earlier."

[lawrencetaylor]

True confessions. I was always the one that clapped like the idiot and musicians would scowl at me. But I was born with two left ears and never thought about music. Bought a piano after my retirement and now trying to make up for lost time...or should I say timing?
Great lesson, and can't wait to try it out.

[keffinmckn]

This is an example of an excellent teacher. Talentoso

[cwestmont]

Glad to see Open Studio release a rhythm class — that will be my Christmas present to myself!

[BillRayDrums]

There's also a great video with a drummer named Chris Allison (from the band Plini) who will count the metronome on the "e" or "ah", or whichever part of whatever subdivision you choose, that isn't an "even" placement; it must be "odd". The trick is to verbally count the downbeat, using the "fixed" position of the metronome as your "level horizon" which keeps you in time.

[TheHallsofMusic]

Thanks for the introduction to this philosophy of time. I just started taking jazz, guitar lessons and am interested deepening my understanding of time. This video is the perfect introduction into what is now going to be a new element of daily study.

[Gkm]

I like this…. AND it’s crucial to also play quarter notes with the metronome. Note I did not say ‘to’ the metronome, but WITH. You want to not hear it click; your goal is to get your internal clock so solid that you are not relying on the click, but are actually making time with the click.

[michaelfoxbrass]

Outstanding lesson, Bob! Thanks! My trumpet students will be introduced to it this week!

[minusminus]

Really been working on my groove outside of the bass drum and this is very helpful.

[landonrolfe]

Most comprehensive metronome practice I've ever seen. Very money!

[paulygabe]

This is a great video Bob and a must for all musicians to have control and flexibility with time, feel and accuracy. Fantastic for getting your internal clock together.

[CWBella]

Mind. Blown. This is a wonderful video with excellent suggestions on how to really dial in the rhythm. I was singing along and can hardly wait to try this out on the piano. Thanks, Bob!!

[didierfouque]

Interesting exercises . The great french guitarist Sylvain Luc talked about this too in a video on YT. Thank you for sharing this.

[Eclecticspindle]

Great Info .. food for thought- and making the metronome more organic and flexible

[drstrange]

Fn Fantastic! What a great teacher! - Etienne

[TheBinaryWolf]

Mina's artistic performance of "No, no, no" is especially impressive for her ability to keep perfect time at a very slow tempo...so challenging to keep time at very speed.