Metronome Archives

By playing behind or in front of the beat, we’ll experiment with laid out or edgy time feels on a constant tempo. We’ll see how it affects tension and release of the chord changes, how the body expresses it, and how it helps build rhythmic awareness and agility in a band setting.

Korg has expanded their line of metronomes with the MA-2, a compact card-type device that builds upon their MA-1 model. The new unit has an improved display, a louder sound, and new functions like a timer mode. Available in blue/black or black/red color schemes, the MA-2 has a tempo range of 30 bpm to 252 bpm. It allows for different...

Boss has added to their line of tuners with the new TU-03. Designed for use with stringed instruments including the bass, the clip-on device packs a chromatic tuner and metronome into one compact unit. The TU-03 has a standard chromatic tuning mode as well as modes dedicated to guitar, bass, ukulele, and violin. Its reference pitch is adjustable between 430Hz...

Q: I hear people talk about playing “behind the beat” of “ahead of the beat”. How can I work on that? A: I call this micro-timing. I think that phrase helps because many students I have tend to overdo it when they play intentionally behind or ahead of the beat. It is a very subtle difference, and you have to...

Peterson Tuners has introduced the BodyBeat Pulse Solo, a clip-on device that allows players to feel the beat from a metronome through vibration. The Pulse Solo uses the output of any metronome that has a standard 3.5mm headphone output jack, including metronome apps on mobile devices. It also works with Peterson’s own BodyBeat Metronome App for iOS to deliver three...

Singular Sound is expanding the BeatBuddy series of pedal-controlled drum machines with the BeatBuddy Mini. The new compact pedal is described by the company as a smaller version with much of the same functionality at half the price. The BeatBuddy Mini allows for creating comprehensive drum loops with fills, transitions, accent hits, and drum breaks. It includes 100 built-in songs...

Scales, scales, scales. Why does my teacher always make me play scales? If I have to play the C Major scale one more time, I think I’ll puke. And with a metronome? Why can’t I just learn songs and jam with my friends? Ah, the war between playing and practicing. I know this battlefield well; the metronome is always outnumbered...

Q: I was wondering if you could touch on the topic of time, the most important part of being a bassist. Are there ways to get rock solid time anywhere from 60 bpm to 300 bpm other than just playing with a metronome? If so what do you suggest? A: Aside from my usual answers: a) repetition (hundreds of hours...

In this review, I’m changing up a bit from the typical mobile apps to take a look at one designed for Windows and Mac. Speed Upp is a simple metronome concept, but one that is wonderfully implemented. The app is designed for developing precision and speed, by guiding you during scale exercises and changing tempo as you go. The app’s...

Q: I was wondering if you could share your thoughts on playing around the beat: when to play behind the beat? Ahead? And so on… A: Good question! And also one that is a bit dependent upon how you feel the music. Generally speaking, it is up to you and the rest of the band to determine how a song...

You might be sitting there wondering, “Why write about yet another metronome app?” If you were, my answer is this: there are almost as many ways in which to use a metronome as there are metronomes available on the App Store, and some fulfill a need better than others. This time around, we take a look at More Muse’s Visual...

Q: What do you think about Jeff Berlin’s approach to teaching music, specifically: no metronomes? A: Uh oh… This could mean trouble! Here’s my spin on it: I think different things and methods work for different people. I disagree with Jeff’s statements that metronomes are bad for everyone. I think he has a bit of a habit of speaking in...