Speaking as a drummer: This really is not a good way to learn to keep better time. The issue with most people's time is that they don't subdivide accurately and cannot switch between subdivisions accurately. While these exercises are good for developing rhythm, rhythm is not time. The initial conceit of this video (that a metronome can be a crutch if used incorrectly) is correct, this is not the solution. A better way to practice is by playing with the metronome only ticking every two beats, every bar, every other bar, or more. That way the metronome is an external tool to confirm that your internal time is correct. Another way of working on this is putting the metronome on the 2nd or third triplet or a 16th note that isn't the downbeat. I'm a fan of the app TimeGuru which allows you to randomly mute the metronome so it will check your internal time at random points, forcing you to keep time evenly.
Thank you. Slow 30-40bpm metronome ticks (every bar) is life-changing. Steady external pulse coupled with internal subdivisions - you get the best of both worlds.
Completely agree. I also thought that this confuses time with groove/rhythm. I don't think that these rhythmic exercises are incompatible with doing them with a metronome.
Sorry, but the second sentence of your first paragraph is an unacceptable claim. In your second paragraph, you also offer a crutch as the ultimate 'solution'. Nobody will say that the metronome is bad (and I will not tell you here how I use it) but, indeed, if one relies on it to KEEP time, I can assure you that one is going to derail off the track if you turn it off... especially while having to play broken chords in 16ths for 16 measures... The internal clock must absolutely be developed and used. Listen to Bill Evans playing ballads, and you tell me that his internal clock is not fully active, 200%... My experience as a pianist playing with just a saxophonist or just a bassist has proven time and time again that my internal time had to be switched fully 'on' at power 10/10. Otherwise... good luck. Your suggestion to place the click of the metronome on different parts of the beat is a good advice and can surely "instill' accuracy. It forces you to be confident and can help to become solid in polyrhythm. This said, depending of the rhythmical figures and the tempo of a piece, depending also of the harmonic progression, either in the practice room or performing on a large stage, applying subdivisions will give you the benefit that TimeGuru will not. For those of us playing harmonically and melodically, both the harmony and the melody, AND the phrase length (a concept foreign to most...), will contribute to maintaining a solid pulse no matter what. Come and accompany an amateur choir that as a tendency to drag, I assure you once again that if your INTERNAL time is not good, you will follow them... Finally, remember : as a drummer, you constantly play short values, particularly on the high-hat, and in many instances, others will rely on it, way more than on the snare or bass drum !!! Short values, played or counted, will always be effective.
I get the feeling this is about metronome misuse. If you're using the metronome correctly you shouldn't be able to hear it. If you can hear it, you're either out of time or your should turn it down
Well, as a music instructor who teaches a lot of beginner and intermediate players, the metronome is pretty effective. It helps them learn to feel the beats they don't play, not to mention tempo issues.
The best improvement in my time has come from playing hundreds of great tunes out of the Real Book. Almost all the rhythmic patterns and forms you will ever encounter are in these songs. I use IRealPro which I know some advanced players look down on, but for me it's an excellent tool. If you want, you can turn down all the instruments and just use the drummer, which is far more interesting than a metronome. You can adjust the tempo, and choose between dozens of different styles in blues, jazz, Latin, salsa, swing, etc. It's a real education in learning the difference between a Bomba, an Afro 6/8, a Guaracho, New Orleans Swing, Even Eighths Open, Flat Tire Blues, or numerous other beats that are all used in jazz and popular music. PS --- the other critical thing to study is to listen to the great artists of past and present, and how they use time.
Metronome is a recording tool when you need to be ultra tight, or a performance tool, click track for live performances and shit and maybe a check for sparingly verifying things you are practicing. Other than that, its free real state
You can practice this excersises and your internal tempo with a metronome btw, after all, you are in fact making a click with your hand anyways. Good video tho, nice ideas.
Couldn't disagree more. I've been playing for almost 20 years and have taught thousands of students. Metronomes work wonders. Just like anything its a tool and its not perfect for everything. But helping people learn proper timing *before* they learn to "break the rules" is a good idea.
The metronome is a great tool, you should use it, but you should use it in a way that doesn't tell you simply the beat, so you need to create the beat by yourself. This is the simple solution. The metronome should tell you subdivisions, eg only 2 and 4 or the swing + or just the 1 every 2nd measure and so on.
Speaking as a drummer: This really is not a good way to learn to keep better time. The issue with most people's time is that they don't subdivide accurately and cannot switch between subdivisions accurately. While these exercises are good for developing rhythm, rhythm is not time.
The initial conceit of this video (that a metronome can be a crutch if used incorrectly) is correct, this is not the solution. A better way to practice is by playing with the metronome only ticking every two beats, every bar, every other bar, or more. That way the metronome is an external tool to confirm that your internal time is correct. Another way of working on this is putting the metronome on the 2nd or third triplet or a 16th note that isn't the downbeat. I'm a fan of the app TimeGuru which allows you to randomly mute the metronome so it will check your internal time at random points, forcing you to keep time evenly.
Nice tip with the Timeguru app. Didn't know such a thing existed. Purchased.
Thank you. Slow 30-40bpm metronome ticks (every bar) is life-changing. Steady external pulse coupled with internal subdivisions - you get the best of both worlds.
Completely agree. I also thought that this confuses time with groove/rhythm. I don't think that these rhythmic exercises are incompatible with doing them with a metronome.
Sorry, but the second sentence of your first paragraph is an unacceptable claim. In your second paragraph, you also offer a crutch as the ultimate 'solution'.
Nobody will say that the metronome is bad (and I will not tell you here how I use it) but, indeed, if one relies on it to KEEP time, I can assure you that one is going to derail off the track if you turn it off... especially while having to play broken chords in 16ths for 16 measures...
The internal clock must absolutely be developed and used. Listen to Bill Evans playing ballads, and you tell me that his internal clock is not fully active, 200%... My experience as a pianist playing with just a saxophonist or just a bassist has proven time and time again that my internal time had to be switched fully 'on' at power 10/10. Otherwise... good luck.
Your suggestion to place the click of the metronome on different parts of the beat is a good advice and can surely "instill' accuracy. It forces you to be confident and can help to become solid in polyrhythm. This said, depending of the rhythmical figures and the tempo of a piece, depending also of the harmonic progression, either in the practice room or performing on a large stage, applying subdivisions will give you the benefit that TimeGuru will not.
For those of us playing harmonically and melodically, both the harmony and the melody, AND the phrase length (a concept foreign to most...), will contribute to maintaining a solid pulse no matter what. Come and accompany an amateur choir that as a tendency to drag, I assure you once again that if your INTERNAL time is not good, you will follow them...
Finally, remember : as a drummer, you constantly play short values, particularly on the high-hat, and in many instances, others will rely on it, way more than on the snare or bass drum !!! Short values, played or counted, will always be effective.
Metronomics has been my jam for years
I get the feeling this is about metronome misuse. If you're using the metronome correctly you shouldn't be able to hear it. If you can hear it, you're either out of time or your should turn it down
Well, as a music instructor who teaches a lot of beginner and intermediate players, the metronome is pretty effective. It helps them learn to feel the beats they don't play, not to mention tempo issues.
The best improvement in my time has come from playing hundreds of great tunes out of the Real Book. Almost all the rhythmic patterns and forms you will ever encounter are in these songs. I use IRealPro which I know some advanced players look down on, but for me it's an excellent tool. If you want, you can turn down all the instruments and just use the drummer, which is far more interesting than a metronome. You can adjust the tempo, and choose between dozens of different styles in blues, jazz, Latin, salsa, swing, etc. It's a real education in learning the difference between a Bomba, an Afro 6/8, a Guaracho, New Orleans Swing, Even Eighths Open, Flat Tire Blues, or numerous other beats that are all used in jazz and popular music. PS --- the other critical thing to study is to listen to the great artists of past and present, and how they use time.
I found practicing with a drum machine instead of a metronome does wonders.
Metronome is a recording tool when you need to be ultra tight, or a performance tool, click track for live performances and shit and maybe a check for sparingly verifying things you are practicing. Other than that, its free real state
You can practice this excersises and your internal tempo with a metronome btw, after all, you are in fact making a click with your hand anyways. Good video tho, nice ideas.
Couldn't disagree more. I've been playing for almost 20 years and have taught thousands of students. Metronomes work wonders. Just like anything its a tool and its not perfect for everything. But helping people learn proper timing *before* they learn to "break the rules" is a good idea.
The metronome is a great tool, you should use it, but you should use it in a way that doesn't tell you simply the beat, so you need to create the beat by yourself. This is the simple solution. The metronome should tell you subdivisions, eg only 2 and 4 or the swing + or just the 1 every 2nd measure and so on.
my left leg is my metronome
That’s funny cause your right leg is my metronome.
That might explain my playing
You can definitely internalize "Perfect Metronome" to the exact BpM
Balancing on one leg is good for internalising musical pulse
So basically, i must focus more on Internal time than External time, got it.
just witnessed a pro musician who suddenly started using a metronome to rehearse for an audition collapse the other day...
Thx
Thank you! This is what I've been teaching since the 90's.
Manhattan School of Music?
Delete this nephew