All About Metronomes for Guitar

A guitar metronome is an essential tool for every performer. We will tell you about what it is, how to use it, in this article.

Every self-respecting musician needs a metronome. In the field of music, this device is more than in demand. It is a special musical device that allows the musician to play the melody with the most constant rhythm.

This device emits a special sound, it is rhythmic and even, which allows you to play with the correct beat.

Most often, a guitar metronome is used when you need to memorize a piece of music, as well as to improve your playing technique. For a musician, the ability to perform a piece of music using a metronome is quite a necessary skill. It is necessary not only for beginners, but also for professional musicians with extensive experience in the field of music.

Currently, there are a large number of various metronomes on the product market. They differ in price, basic mechanism, material from which they are made, and not only. However, all of them can be divided into two large groups: mechanical metronomes and electronic. Let's analyze their features.

Such a metronome is considered traditional and looks like a wooden pyramid. but today, these mechanical models come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from geometric shapes to animal silhouettes. In addition, the material used to make mechanical metronomes varies.Its body can be not only wooden, but also metal or plastic.

Central to the mechanism of this device is the device with a spring, which is activated by the movement of the crown, which is located on the side. Thus this musical device is able to work without electricity, which is its big plus. On one side of such a metronome there is a scale along with a pendulum. It has a dynamic weight that is set according to the scale data. The dependence of the intensity of movements of the pendulum and the height of the weight is reversed. If it is located high, then the intensity of the pendulum's movements becomes lower, and vice versa.

Most of these musical devices are capable of reproducing any tempo that belongs to the traditional - starting from the slowest, that is, 40 beats per minute, to the fastest, that is, 208 beats per minute. In addition, there are such instances of metronomes that have a special bell that emphasizes the strong beats.

This is a newer metronome model. Compared to its predecessor, the mechanical metronome, this version has several advantages.

To begin with, it is worth mentioning the parameters of this musical device. Most often it is quite compact, which makes it available for transportation. Plus, it has a wider range of tempos: from 30 to 280 beats per minute.

This metronome differs in the number of options. So, in some instances it is possible to customize the sound with which the metronome beats. In addition, with the help of such a metronome, it is possible to select a rhythm that suits a particular musical composition. It should be noted that some models have the ability to create individual rhythmic structures that are memorized by the metronome.

In addition, a big plus of electronic metronomes is that they often have important options for a musician, such as, for example, a tuner, a tuning fork or a timer.

Volume plays a big role when playing guitar. You need to set everything up so that you can accurately hear the guitar sound and the beat of the metronome, in order to track how clearly you fall into the tempo.

Undoubtedly, the electronic metronome is in many ways superior to the traditional mechanical one. It has a lot of advantages, from compact size to great functionality and a set of options. However, this does not mean at all that you should not pay attention to mechanical metronomes.

Such musical instruments are easily suitable for a performer of any level - both a beginner and an experienced musician. In addition, its great advantage is its ease of use. This device has a rather simple design, and therefore there should not be any difficulties in application. In addition, the appearance of the device is rather uncomplicated, and therefore it can serve not only as a device for musical activity, but also as a beautiful element of the interior.

Learning to play with the metronome is easy. First you need to take an already learned piece, then turn on the device and start playing to it. Of course, there is nothing wrong with the fact that you will not be able to immediately get into the pace. Adjust the tempo that is most comfortable for you, and try to play accurately with the hits of the instrument. Pay close attention to those parts of the work that are most difficult for you, and where you make the most mistakes.

Once you have played a piece of music completely at your own pace, set the tempo of the metronome to match the original song, after which try to adapt to it already. It will now be much easier to do this.