rhetoriccamel
9 posts
Jul 24, 2017
2:45 PM
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I find myself unable to follow a metronome. I had the same issue when I played guitar. I don't have issues playing along with music, or even playing along with a good drum beat, but the clicks of a metronome (I'm using apps on my phone and headphones) lose me pretty quickly. Anyone have any tips for better metronome playing? I try to practice with it but the frustration has me just turn it off after a few minutes of consistently falling off beat.
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Fil
339 posts
Jul 24, 2017
5:35 PM
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There's an app called Drum Beats that functions much like a metronome, but with a wide variety of rhythms. I use it on occasion and like it as an alternative to a metronome.
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Phil Pennington
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MindTheGap
2299 posts
Jul 25, 2017
1:01 AM
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I know what you mean. I often use the 'Amazing Slow Downer' app and practice to actual music, but where I can vary the tempo as if it were a metronome. It's much easier to feel the pulse.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Jul 25, 2017 1:02 AM
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SuperBee
4830 posts
Jul 25, 2017
1:24 AM
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Platypus or Echidna?
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Tommy the Hat
631 posts
Jul 26, 2017
6:18 PM
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I understand your frustration with the metronome. Let me make it clear that I'm not advocating anyone do what I do or that metronomes or tapping of the foot etc aren't needed. Or even that I'm any good at what I do. I'm just saying I've never used these helpers or foot tapping nor do I now. Tapping my foot throws me off. I can deal with a metronome but it annoys me and I don't see the point (for me). When I was learning guitar I used to argue with a friend of mine, a guitar player, about this. He insisted I had to. I swore that he felt that way because he was an ex drummer. I said " I'm playing blues, how can I (or you) not follow the beat?" Seriously? 12 bar blues is like an instruction book or a map. Even other music, rock or whatever...I listen to the drummer and the base player. I can dance good so somehow I can feel the changes and the beat. I'm also a singer and I don't tap my foot for that. I know where the changes are and when to come in and stop as well as play with the rhythms, move away and come back. I never understood the need for foot tapping or metronomes unless you have trouble hearing/feeling the beat. The "tapping" is already in the music. I think I do well acapella also.
I hear the song, hear the beat and it stays in my head.
I don't think I'm any different than anyone else. I think we all can do this But we are told "you have to do it this way. People tend to get a little pedantic sometimes. It's just that "some" can't so we need a guideline. So I hear ya Rhetoriccamel.
But then again most of my ways of learning are a bit "different." That's why I try and stay away from methodology conversations. I'm afraid an argument will start and a slap will come through the screen...lol.
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Tommy
My YouTube vocal covers
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Last Edited by Tommy the Hat on Jul 26, 2017 6:21 PM
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MindTheGap
2301 posts
Jul 26, 2017
11:10 PM
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Tommy - there are always people who can do a thing naturally, and that's great for you :) The rest of us need to find a way to learn it.
SuperBee - Platypus or Echidna? Eh?
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Jul 26, 2017 11:11 PM
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SuperBee
4835 posts
Jul 27, 2017
12:51 AM
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Don't mind me, I can't help but think of the monotremes when I see talk of metronomes.
Reminds me of Bowie's "the laughing gnome" too: 'eh, what's that clinking noise? That's Fred, he's a metro-gnome!'
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Tommy the Hat
634 posts
Jul 27, 2017
4:20 AM
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I'm sorry MindTheGap. That's why I usually stay away from these type of discussions. Text is a funny thing, I'd rather speak to someone in person so I don't get misinterpreted. I know I must have sounded a bit stuck up, that wasn't my intention. My apologies.
I have a lot of harp as well as musical issues but don't know how to approach them because I can't put it into text (for fear of misunderstandings and bad feelings). So I don't post them here. I need personal discussion.
I used to teach/coach (not music) and used to teach students not to just take everything taught them at face value. Ask "why." And when you get an answer question the answer! That's kind of my way and has been most of my life.
Yes, we need guidance, as I stated in my original post, for those who have trouble. I'm not against that...it's a good thing. But maybe...just maybe Rhetoriccamel can do it without a metronome? Maybe that's why it throws him off. I don't know I was just saying he isn't alone, I don't like it either.
And I may not be natural...lol. Maybe everything I do is screwed up!!!
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Tommy
My YouTube vocal covers
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MindTheGap
2302 posts
Jul 27, 2017
4:58 AM
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Tommy - no need for sorry. I know what you mean about writing, but as this is a forum it's all we have here. Please continue to express your views :)
In my experience one of the difficulties learning an instrument is that you have to persevere with any particular thing for a long time before getting a result. Finding out whether a learning method works or not for you can take some time.
In this case, so many teachers advocate the metronome that it seems reasonable to persevere with it, even if it feels unhelpful for some time.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Jul 27, 2017 5:00 AM
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Tommy the Hat
637 posts
Jul 27, 2017
5:34 AM
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I hear ya. And I agree. I don't want to hijack this thread so I'll shut up. This leads to a whole other long discussion...I don't want to steer away from the OP.
But basically, during my couple of years of vocal training I stopped all my separate technique practice and scales (for the most part) and began to just practice those things "within the task at hand." Within song. Specificity practice. I had choice songs that allowed me to vary the exercises within a song as well as raising pitch little by little. Ok...there's way too much more to this. I'm done..lol. Back on topic.
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Tommy
My YouTube vocal covers
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MindTheGap
2303 posts
Jul 27, 2017
6:49 AM
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Interesting. And don't worry about staying on topic, no one else does. That's not the measure of a good thread. Or you can start a new thread if you like.
I think you've identified two approaches: learning techniques 'out of band' and applying them to songs vs learning the techniques by playing the songs. I recognise that. I guess it's a continuum, people could lean one way or the other to suit how they learn.
I have a specific example to test whether I get what you are saying. I'm trying to learn the cornet/trumpet and I'm not a natural, as it turns out. Just producing the notes across a decent range is so awkward that I'm pretty much devoting my efforts to that. So it's all exercises and a little bit of real music. If I can learn to get the notes (properly, easily, musically) then I'll start on the real music.
Myself I've learned about 'monotremes' for the first time, thank you SuperBee. Although it didn't come up in today's crossword, which was a shame.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Jul 27, 2017 6:54 AM
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Tommy the Hat
643 posts
Jul 27, 2017
7:45 AM
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I don't know. Maybe I just retain things well? I studied hard when trying to play guitar back in the early 90's. I learned a lot. But Guitar like the harp, for me. was all about the solo. I wasn't interested in melodies and chords much so once I got passed chords it became too confusing. Theory an the fretboard is freakin' crazy! so I stopped. But again, I was into blues so when I came back to harp a lot of that stuff was still in my head from guitar...or easily came back. So I guess it was easier for me to apply "my way" at that point. But I do it with everything.
Actually I barely went to school. Only grade school, no high school. Eight short years of school until the age of what….13…14? I can’t do math pretty much at all. I can’t divide more than a few double digits like 10 divided by 5 and such. I can’t really subtract. I can’t read or write high numbers (like hundreds of thousands). No fractions. Yet, I have my own way of dealing with numbers and can figure out a tip faster in my head than my wife. And she works in a bank! I also wrote a book. 180 pages edited by myself. People I know who have read it didn’t comment on grammer issues. I know an Author, a friend, who is brutally honest and he proof read it and liked it. In my 50’s I decided to get my GED diploma so went and tested. I passed with great scores and when I went to collect my diploma I was stopped several times by faculty in amazement at my high scores saying they’ve never witnessed this. I'm a bit strange I guess. I always say that I'm just floating in this world. Not a definite part of anything. And I am in a constant state of flux. I am free to change my mind and views. I'm neither left or right, I walk the middle road.
Maybe you're right about a new thread...lol.
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Tommy
My YouTube vocal covers
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MindTheGap
2304 posts
Jul 27, 2017
8:08 AM
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Sounds like you are perfectly suited to the harmonica to me :)
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