Metronome practice is playing with a metronome, a device that clicks at a steady tempo, so the player learns to keep time, and to play evenly, without speeding up or slowing down. Start slowly, at 60 beats per minute, and increase the tempo by 5 beats per minute only when the exercise is clean at the current tempo.
What is metronome practice?
Metronome practice is playing with a metronome, a device that clicks at a steady tempo, so the player learns to keep time, and to play evenly, without speeding up or slowing down. The metronome is the clock, and the player follows it, and the metronome does not get excited, or tired, or distracted, so it is steady, and the player learns to be steady too. Start slowly, at 60 beats per minute, and increase the tempo by 5 beats per minute only when the exercise is clean at the current tempo, so the speed builds without the cleanliness being lost. The metronome is used for every exercise, because every exercise needs a steady beat, and the metronome gives it. A player who practises without a metronome will speed up when the exercise gets easy, and slow down when it gets hard, and the time will be uneven, and the rhythm will break. A player who practises with a metronome will play evenly, because the metronome is steady, and the player must follow it, and the following is the skill. The metronome and the tap tempo tools keep the beat, and the G major guitar chord is the chord most beginners first practise with a metronome.
How metronome practice works
Metronome practice works by giving the player a steady external beat, so the player learns to play on the beat, and to keep the beat, even when the exercise is hard. The metronome clicks at a set tempo, in beats per minute, and the player plays one note per click, or two notes per click, or four notes per click, depending on the exercise, and the notes must fall on the click, not before or after it. The player listens for the click, and plays with it, and the click tells the player if they are early or late, and the player adjusts, until the notes fall on the click. The tempo is increased slowly, by 5 beats per minute, only when the exercise is clean at the current tempo, so the speed builds without the cleanliness being lost. A player who increases the tempo too fast will make mistakes, and the mistakes will become habits, because the brain remembers what it repeats, right or wrong. The metronome is also used to practise subdivisions, playing two notes per click, or four notes per click, so the player learns to divide the beat evenly, and the rhythm is even. The C major guitar chord and the D major guitar chord are the chords the metronome practice is built on.
Worked example — a metronome practice session. Set the metronome to 60 beats per minute, and play the C major scale, one note per click, ascending and descending, listening for each note to fall on the click, not before or after it. When the scale is clean at 60 beats per minute, increase the tempo to 65 beats per minute, and play the scale again, listening for the notes to fall on the click. When the scale is clean at 65, increase to 70, and then to 75, and then to 80, increasing by 5 beats per minute each time, only when the scale is clean. The session is 20 minutes, and the tempo has increased from 60 to 80, because the practice was slow and clean, and the speed built without the cleanliness being lost. The I–V–vi–IV progression in C major is a good progression to practise with a metronome.
How to practise with a metronome
Practise with a metronome slowly, starting at 60 beats per minute, and increasing by 5 only when the exercise is clean, so the speed builds without the cleanliness being lost.
- Set the metronome to 60 beats per minute, and play a scale, one note per click, listening for each note to fall on the click.
- Practise a chord change with the metronome, changing chords on beat one of each bar, and listening for the change to be on the beat, not before or after it.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major with the metronome, and listen for the chords to ring cleanly, and the changes to be on the beat.
- Increase the tempo by 5 beats per minute only when the exercise is clean at the current tempo, and never increase it by more than 5 at a time.
- Practise subdivisions, playing two notes per click, and then four notes per click, so the beat is divided evenly, and the rhythm is even.
Common mistakes
- Increasing the tempo too fast — A player who increases the tempo too fast will make mistakes, and the mistakes will become habits, because the brain remembers what it repeats, right or wrong. Increase the tempo by 5 beats per minute, only when the exercise is clean, and the speed will build without the cleanliness being lost.
- Ignoring the metronome when it is hard — A player who ignores the metronome when the exercise is hard will play unevenly, because the metronome is the check, and ignoring it means the time is lost. Listen for the click, and play with it, even when it is hard, and the time will stay steady.
- Using the metronome only sometimes — The metronome is a habit, not a tool to be used sometimes, and a player who uses it only sometimes will not learn to keep time, because the time is not practised. Use the metronome for every exercise, every time, and the time will become a habit.
Quick reference
This table shows the tempos for metronome practice, with the feeling and the use for each one, so you can find the tempo that fits the exercise. The tempo is in beats per minute, and the feeling is how the tempo feels, and the use is what the tempo is for, from slow practice to performance.
| Tempo | Feeling | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 60 bpm | Slow, one beat per second | Learning a new exercise |
| 80 bpm | Moderate, steady | Practising a known exercise |
| 100 bpm | Brisk, flowing | Playing a song |
| 120 bpm | Fast, driving | Performance tempo |
Use the table to choose your tempo: start at 60 beats per minute, and increase by 5 only when the exercise is clean, until you reach the tempo the song needs. When you can play an exercise cleanly at any tempo, from 60 to 120, you have the time, and the metronome has done its job.
Frequently asked questions
What is metronome practice?
Metronome practice is playing with a metronome, a device that clicks at a steady tempo, so the player learns to keep time, and to play evenly, without speeding up or slowing down. Start slowly, at 60 beats per minute, and increase by 5 only when the exercise is clean.
What tempo should I start at?
60 beats per minute, which is one beat per second, and it is slow enough to hear the mistakes, and fast enough to be musical. Start at 60, and increase by 5 beats per minute, only when the exercise is clean at the current tempo.
How much should I increase the tempo?
By 5 beats per minute at a time, only when the exercise is clean at the current tempo, so the speed builds without the cleanliness being lost. Increasing by more than 5 will make the jump too big, and the mistakes will come back.
Should I use a metronome for every exercise?
Yes. Every exercise needs a steady beat, and the metronome gives it, and a player who practises without a metronome will speed up and slow down, and the time will be uneven. Use the metronome for every exercise, every time.
Can I use a metronome app instead of a real metronome?
Yes. A metronome app, or the metronome tool, clicks at a steady tempo, just like a real metronome, and it is the same skill, keeping time with a steady beat, whether the click comes from an app or a device.