Questions About Metronomes

These are some of the more popular metronome questions that crop up on guitar forums all the time. It's nearly always beginner guitar players who ask them, possibly because they hope they may never need to use one. Unfortunately, such is not the case.

Q.   Do I Need a Metronome?

Metronomes, universally called 'gnomes' by guitarists, are probably the most hated item in the music world simply because they point up our faults when it comes to keeping time. It can be a devastating experience to learn that the piece of music you thought you could play so well actually has a different time structure to the way you play it. You can bypass the gnome in the early days while you are learning chords and scales, but then the work really begins and the gnome comes into its own. You definitely need one once you are into playing songs. I found that the trick is to learn the song first and then get the timing right using a metronome. Without that, other musicians are going to find it very difficult to keep time with you.

Q.   Which Metronome Should I Buy?

A.   You don't have to buy one at all if you practice in the same room as your computer. There are hundreds of free ones available on the internet, many of them downloadable so you don't have to be online to use them. Just Google 'free metronome' and you'll see what I mean.

If you prefer something a bit more sophisticated there are two I would recommend in particular. One is the Peterson Body Beat, which is unique in that it is silent. Instead of a beep you feel a pulse from a small electrode that is attached to your clothing. It's less distracting that the tick tock of a normal gnome and very effective. The other one I use is a Korg MA-30 digital metronome that has a number of useful features, including different rythm styles. Check your local music store for availabity or buy online from The Guitar Centre