Metronome is Valuable, Under-Used Tool

The wind-up metronome, shown here, works well, but a digital metronome (see photo at bottom right) is portable and may be more useful for many musicians.

The metronome is a valuable tool. It’s probably under utilized by most musicians. The benefits are many. The most obvious is the development of an accurate sense of tempo. Tempos tend to shift involuntarily. It’s important to keep a tempo steady for the accuracy and the feel of music in any field.

Metronomes, like everything else, come in many brands, models, and price points. A digital metronome has some advantages over the old wind up, pendulum-style metronome. There is no spring to wear down in a digital metronome. Most digital metronomes fit in your pocket. They all have different features, which you may or may not use. Pick one that suits how you intend to use it. Korg makes a good one. Franz has been a leader in the electronic metronome.

Slow in general is a range of 60 to 72. Medium is 120 to 132. Fast is 160 and up. These are general tempos and are highly subjective. Fast and slow is a lot like being rich – compared to what standard? Even the relativity of this concept of tempo is important.

Some use a metronome to measure and keep track of their technical progress. Others use it as a standard to prepare a song. Perhaps this song will be performed at a setting of 192. Just because you can play a song at 110 doesn’t mean that you can perform it at 192.

Developing an accurate internal metronomic sense is always an advantage and is never a disadvantage.

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