Should I learn a song first then use a metronome to try to stay on the beat or keep metronome on always?

Question

So based on a heavy metal guitarist that I respect he has been kept insisting that I use a metronome anyway I got to using it today and wondered should I keep it on all the time even when I am ignoring it or should I learn the song first then try to sync with the metronome?

Answer 1

I'm 13 and I've been playing piano for 6-7 years and its a good habit *** pianist to always use the metronome. I've found that when I finish the piece then use the metronome It's extremely hard to go to the rhythm. You see we have this thing came muscle memory. When playing an instrumental piece 6-7 times your fingers know where they're going. So it would be hard to change your fingers' memory. Good Luck and hope it helped! ;)

Answer 2

You should always use the metronome first. I dislike metronomes because they mess me up. So what I do is first have the metronome, get the tempo, and then start tapping my feet while I play, it's just more easier for me. I suggest using a metronome first, but it depends on how you learn!

Answer 3

Metronome is better. It's more effective. Playing with songs will do the trick but with a metronome your timing will be impeccable. If you can stay perfectly on beat without hearing any music, then you'll be able to stay perfectly on beat always.

Answer 4

There are lots of other ways to use a metronome apart from just playing your song along with it.



One way is to use it in a separate session, tap along in time with the metronome in order to get used to the time.



Another way is to set the metronome ticking and just read the music, or let the tune run through your mind, in time with the metronome, not actually sing or play.



Also - the steady tick of a metronome can't fit exactly to the notes of a song. Especially for singers, then take for example Judy Garland as Dorothy in the "over the rainbow" she is sometimes ahead and sometimes behind the beat, but it just sounds good.



So - its good to use a metronome to help with timing and tempo issues. But rhythm isn't something you learn from a metronome. The metronome is a tool to help you take your natural sense of rhythm and help you get a more precise sense of timing and tempo. So it's good to focus on your natural sense of rhythm as well and on feeling the rhythm in yourself, and no harm to move along and dance a bit with the rhythm too as you sing, or whatever works.

Answer 5

Its easier to learn with a metronome now so that you dont have to re learn the song at the right tempo later on