Metronome Tricks

You have probably been told to use a metronome when practicing. If you equate that to putting the metronome beat on every quarter note, you are missing the power of the metronome. The metronome is not there to keep the beat for you. It is there to verify that you are keeping the beat correctly. That is a very important point. Here are some tricks that will take your practice with a metronome to the next level.

Two Beats Per Measure

Since as bass players we are mostly playing on beats 1 and 3. If you play along with the metronome on 1 and 3 you are letting the metronome keep time for you. That defeats the purpose. By putting the metronome on the backbeats (beats 2 and 4), it helps us learn to sync with the rest of the band. Beats 2 and 4 are the snare drum in rock and country. It is the beats of the mandolin chop in bluegrass. 

One Beat Per Measure

Putting the metronome on a single beat forces you to keep track of the other 3 beats in a 4/4 song. This is not limited to the first beat. You can treat the metronome beat as the first, second, third, or fourth beat. Mixing it up helps you understand how well you are at keeping time.

Mixing Up the Beat

By setting the metronome to the a single beat of a meter that differs from the meter of the song you are playing, you will have random metronome clicks throughout your practice. For example, set the metronome on the first beat of 3/4 when playing a 4/4 song. The result is that metronome will click on beat 1 and 4 in the first measure then on beat 3 in the second measure and beat 2 of the third measure.

On The "And"

Place the metronome on the "and" instead of on a downbeat. Here is a visual...

Beat:       1  and  2  and  3  and  4  and
Metronome:    Click   Click   Click   Click

I find this one difficult because there is a tendency to switch to playing with the metronome on the downbeat.

These approaches help to make you track time instead of chasing the metronome. Give them a try and see if they help you timing.