Then, whenever you play, you always keep said foot tapping (whether you are using the metronome or not, or playing with a drummer/band/orchestra, just always). But this can come later, once you’ve got the basic beat down.ĭepending on what instrument you play, here's another tip:įirst, without your instrument, make sure you are able to tap along with the metronome with your foot. If the song has a silent part but the beat continues solidly through it (probably because the drum actually is a computer) then so much the better.īy the way, if you want to play jazz, then eventually you’ll want to tap your foot on 2 and 4, rather than 1 and 3. It will be frustrating at first, but work up slowly, set yourself goals, and you’ll quickly enjoy the Guitar-Hero-like challenge of beating a whole song. Advanced exercises include tapping triplets, maybe 6 to a measure when the beat is 4/4. If the music is right tap (3+3+2)/8 (so 1, (2) and (3) 4) or whatever fits. Heck, if you’re at a concert, just go for it! At first, tap the 4/4 ( 1 2 3 4). It doesn’t have to be obvious and make you look crazy, just so long as you know. Whenever you’re listening to music, say you’re waiting, traveling, eating, walking, driving (I don’t know your age) or whatever, tap the beat. Then move to the next step and perfect that.Ī lot of useful tips here, like putting the metronome behind you or tapping your foot, but I’d like to add a practice tip that might cost you no time at all, depending on your lifestyle and whether you’re in 2020 lockdown :( Be an expert at every step - even if it is just walking in rhythm. You will never actually want to play it by the time you have learned it. If you have to practise actual tunes hundreds of times because it's too much for your current skills, the tune will become boring. Memorise a scale so that you are incapable of going wrong and then play the scale to the metronome. This is one reason that scales can be useful. It is probably that your playing is at a level where you can't actually listen to the metronome because all your focus in on your fingers. If you can do all of that, then your problem is not keeping time. Warning: Because you will be concentrating, walk where there is no danger of being hit by traffic etc!Īt home, try marching in the spot to various beats. If you can keep in step, then you know you have the ability to keep time. I suggest you start simply by playing a song or a beat through headphones while you go for a walk. If you are able to walk and co-ordinated enough to walk steadily, then you already have an internal metronome. Try morning/evening sessions daily for a few weeks and then assess your progress. Like with any other training short, frequent sessions are best. During that transitional period the metronome will not give you a break! Wait until you get a pretty even tempo, then work with the metronome. As you work on coordinating your timing your tempo may be uneven, but with time it will become even. You can adapt that to piano with simple five finger or scale patterns in the two hands.ĭepending on how much trouble you have the metronome may be a hindrance in the beginning. Try to make the hand switch without stopping the beat. One hand matches the beat which you count out loud. You can also do counting practice by patting your hands on your lap. Something like the following will put accents on the strong beats and includes a few simple multiple/divisions of the beat by half. Keep rhythms simple, gradually increase complexity. This will probably be the most effective way to start internalizing the beat. The issue doesn't really seem to be about looking at the metronome, but about counting and rhythm.Ĭount the beats out loud while playing.

I find it extremely hard to play in time with or without a metronome Set the metronome behind you or behind something so you don't see it.

Visual metronome