Why A metronome is better then a drum machine for your timing

[diverse379]

I wrote about this before but now I am a living witness that a metronme definitely does more for your timing than a drum machine.

I know some of you may disagree
but I bet those of you who disagree never really utilized a metronme correctly or should i say efficiently
I know for a fact that when used correctly a metronome does more for your timing

lets get rid of some misconceptions '
a metronome is to be played with not to 
when you play to a metronome you set it at 120 and the clicks are quarter notes and you just play along 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

but when you play With  a metronome
you might set it a the down beat for every two measures that is the most advanced test of your timing skill

or set it at half the pace and play at twice the speed
in other words

if you want to groove put the metronome on the up beats not the down beats that makes you responsible for the down beat

for example

if you want to groove at 120 beats per minute

set your metronome to 60
and your down beat is in between the clicks

I always knew the metronomes were better than drum machines  and drum machines were better then nothing

but here is why
when you put a drum machine as your time keeper with some nice gospel swing the drum machine is supplying the swing and you are kind of swept up in it

in other words it is pretty easy to groove to a drum machine
even a straight beginner can groove to a drum machine

but it is down right hard at first
to feel those clicks on the 2 & 4
that is why people resist doing it

but trust me it pays off in dividends

i have been doing it now for a while and now i naturally feel the click on the 2 & 4

and further more my timing is so much better
to the point where i can groove without my drummer

and I have always been rhythmically challenged.

melvin crispell used to call me scrubalicious because of my lack of groove,.


a deeper level to use the metronome on is
to set the metronome at 30 Bpm

and groove at 120 so now the metronome is only supplying the 1 and you have to stay locked for the rest of the measure coming back on the one


nobody said it would be easy

just take your time

make your drum machine a metronome by
setting just a snare as the entire beat

that is your click

or use a hi hat
or clap

but it is time to graduate your groove from elementary school  drum machine playing 

to high school  metronome practice


by you being responsible for the down beat that makes you the time keeper not the metronome

and eventually you will have such rock steady time you could set a watch to your left hand


organ players and key board players are notorious for speeding
up
this will solve it stop it dead in its tracks

try it you will hate it at first

because it will reveal your weakness
but stick to it and soon it will be second nature and you will notice people responding to your playing in a whole new way

[Cmajor13]

you are so right i just got hipped to this last week  there is a big diferrence when learning  a song with the tape and then stopping it to play along with just the metronome

[Bronzee]

I kow u r right cause when my daughter took her drum machine from me..i was lost for weeks then one day i looked at my metrodome and i said..why not use it..i had a nice clearlity to use my beat and pace by..i don't kow why i just thought it wouldn't get the job done but..its better then the drum machine..

I must confess i did go out the other week and purchase me a drum machine that dr rhythm 880 by boss..i got it cause of the different beats, music, bass and tamborines..to put more life in my music..its funn to play with.

[diverse379]

I kow u r right cause when my daughter took her drum machine from me..i was lost for weeks then one day i looked at my metrodome and i said..why not use it..i had a nice clearlity to use my beat and pace by..i don't kow why i just thought it wouldn't get the job done but..its better then the drum machine..

I must confess i did go out the other week and purchase me a drum machine that dr rhythm 880 by boss..i got it cause of the different beats, music, bass and tamborines..to put more life in my music..its funn to play with.

Don't get me wrong I am not advocating to throw away your drum machines
But if used creatively the metronome will do so much for your timing

you begin to develop an inner clock

I once read in a bass magazine
that
one hour of practice with a metronome is equal to 5 hours of practice without a metronome. 

[Ladyn]

What metronome do you recommend? I need one, and I just have not gotten one yet.

Thanks

Nichole

[diverse379]

What metronome do you recommend? I need one, and I just have not gotten one yet.

Thanks

Nichole

you can use your drum machine like a drum machine if you just use a click instead of using the whole drum ensemble(snares bass hi hats claps etc)

oster makes a good metronome

any metronome that makes a loud enough click so you can hear it

Metronomes vary in prices they have one where there is a light instead of just a click