Metronome 101: How to get started using a metronome

Keeping time is a skill, not a talent. You can develop it by using two things: Sustained effort over time, and...a metronome.

00:00 Thesis
00:41 Introduction
03:03 Lesson
13:00 Wrap Up

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Thanks for watching!
Chris

[tone-glide]

One of the most overlooked skills as a musician, Some have it naturally.., and then theirs the rest of us. Good advice for the practicing player.

[chrispeleshenko]

Perfect! I once saw a master violinist let a student know that a metronome is water, then asked what water is....Obviously water is life. I have a sign in my studio for my students, counting is to music as breathing is to life! We play nothing without clapping and counting 1st!!

[joycegrove]

Such a fundamental aid to drill rhythmic skills - it's so cool that there are phone apps for the metronome these days, now there is no excuse to not use one!
Great lesson, especially at the beginning, breaking down the relationship of the measures and note lengths - cheers Chris!

[davidwood]

Finally a subject I’m pretty good at.
Reading saxophone charts for 35 years helps me a lot on counting.
I really need to work on reading tab though.

[splashesin]

I need this. I'm a lot less rhythm challenged than I was years ago, But I need to stay on top of it. It's the thing that keeps me going. 😊 Thanks Chris!

[scottjones]

Good video. One problem that remains however is whether we are hitting the click ahead, on, or behind the click. Often we rush (I know I do) without being aware of it. The "bury the click" exercise is terrific for training us to be right on the beat or click. (set metronome volume low enough so that when your pluck/strum is on the beat you cannot hear the click - when you are early or late, the click is clearly heard. Might make a terrific followup video.

[maryk]

The metronome has always intimidated me. I know I should use one and tap my foot, but I just never do. Tapping my foot steadily when switching from quarter notes to 8th notes, for example, is a challenge for me. This lesson is just what I need. I think I have rhythm, but it's an easy thing to lose when practicing, for me anyway. Thanks so much.

[ondrejsamek]

Wow! Again, I had no idea about up beats and down beats! I haven’t been using reference note with doubling notes! That’s is actually golden 🎉 thank you Chris !

[VaughnRipley]

Well Chris, you've done it again. Perfect timing with some incredibly useful information. My metronome practice is almost non-existent. Oddly enough, my timing and rhythm seem to be my biggest weakness... Coincidence? HA! Thank you for the inspiration and motivation. Keep it up!

[kdavis]

Love my metronome so important!!! THanks for the lesson, I will use it for sure.

[joefockler]

Thank you. Best explanation I have seen on 1/4 notes and 16th notes.

[Subhabrata]

Inspired to use metronome again. Thank you.

[xejzomx]

I am really struggling with the metronome, as always this was really helpful, thanks Chris! X

[TheMinorFallTheMajorLift]

Always good to revisit these fundamentals. Thank you!

[jschoenzy]

I'm just starting out and I really want to nail the fundamentals, I'll be using all these tips. Thanks so much!

[Dan-zqwt]

Thank you! You have some if the best videos on guitar fundamentals on YouTube! I’m a self taught player and I’m missing key fundamentals that hamper my advancement. Your videos are essential. BTW: I think about all of the pentatonic based rock players I grew up on: Page, Angus, Billy Gibbons etc, and I think 90% of their power comes from in the pocket timing and groove. I try to play this stuff and always think that the notes sound ok but what’s missing (besides my lack of talent?😂). Timing!

[jeffro.]

I've been told (many times) that I have a "natural sense of rhythm." But I still often practice with a metronome! (That's not why, I actually started using it much later.) But, lately I haven't used it. Still, I think it's a good thing to practice.
Thanks for those exercises! They are fun, and I like the idea of actually speeding it up and subdividing it. I believe that's a good way to learn.
Great video, thanks!

[Idk_to_be_honset]

Thanks I was always confused with the metronome :3

[capbubba]

This lesson was timely, thanks Chris 😉

[waynegram]

CHRIS, Try to make a lesson about SRV Shuffles because What CHORDS is he "outlining" when he is going his Texas Shuffles as well as the Offbeat notes he uses in his Shuffles because the notes don't always land on the on beat they might be because on the between the first note and second note. In Classical Music composers would use Non-Chords tones on the off beats which is how SRV is using chord tones and non chords tones on the OFF Beats in Shuffles but also Outlining chords in the shuffle picking. This is a good lesson to work with a Metronome with to place notes between the downbeats and on the off beats to get these texas shuffles you get these hiccups and speech impediment in the melody like you're stuttering vowels or works but using rhythms and notes. Johnny Winters and Buddy Guy would do this in their blues licks.