Metronome

[dana_minmin]

I'm shameful to say I've never own a metronome from the very first day studying piano. Now thinking to buy one, so I'm asking for suggestions for good brands, digital/traditional metronomes. Or are the products are roughly the same in terms of quality?

[retrouvailles]

I've had one of these for a while:

http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/DB-60/index.html

My teacher recommended it to me. I've never had a problem with it and it works great. A bit pricey though, perhaps, but worth it.

[franzliszt2]

I just bought the cheapest I could find, and it works fine. All I really want is a beat, although it is on the pitch E and that annoys me when I have Eb's continuously.

I also have a traditional one, which I personally prefer. The problem with Battery opperated metronomes in the battery life will diminish and the speed will slooowwwwly fall. But that takes agggesss unless you use the metronome 24 hours a day.

[pianochick93]

I have one of those horrible battery operated metronome/guitar tuner thingys, and while it can be useful, I am currently waging a war on metronomes (not their fault, I just can't play properly with one, it annoys the hell out of me.)

I would prefer a normal to a battery operated one, but it is very rarely that I use it, because I like rubato. I just can't do that in what I'm learning at the moment.

If that last bit doesn't make sense, it's because its 1am here. Argh, I've gotta get up at 6 later this morning.

[counterpoint]

I have to agree with pianochick. A "normal" mechanical metronome has often a better sound than the electronical ones. And I have to agree, that playing with metronome forces you to play in a very strict, constrained way, which is the opposite of how music should be played normally. But sometimes it can help to correct some rhythmical or tempo problems. Sometimes it makes it almost impossible to play in a musical and natural way. So be careful using the metronome and don't overestimate this mechanical tick tack.

[Bob]

Loud.

Subdivides.


I have a little Korg one for travelling and then a giant Boss one.  The Boss one is loud and plugs into an outlet.

[rhapsody4]

I used a traditional one for years and then got a state of the art all-singing, all-dancing, electonic device. It didn't take very long for me to bring the traditional pendulum one back out of retirement. It was mostly a practical thing - I found it a bit of a pain on the electronic model I had when I needed to change the tempo - for me it is much easier to move the weight on the stick.

[allthumbs]

I prefer the traditional, mechanical type.

http://www.metronomes.net/WitStdWood.htm

I like to 'see' the progression of the beat rather than looking at an

instantaneous blinking light out of the corner of my eye.

allthumbs

[Bob]

I had a mechanical one, but I realized it was off.  Tick-tock, tick-tock  instead of tick tock tick tock....  I haven't trusted them much after that.  But that's just this one old mechanical metronome.  I figure the electric one can't do that.  It would just shut off.

[quantum]

I had a mechanical one, but I realized it was off.  Tick-tock, tick-tock  instead of tick tock tick tock....  I haven't trusted them much after that.  But that's just this one old mechanical metronome.  I figure the electric one can't do that.  It would just shut off.

Maybe you could practise swing with it? 

[tsagari]

Hi,
After having two of the traditional out of order I decided to go for the digital one. I have a yamaha now a green metronome that looks like a space ship. I love it because of the way it sounds. Is not destracting my play as traditional did.

[dana_minmin]

Thanks for all replies above. I think I'm going for a digital one. 

[Petter]

Has anyone tried the Korg KDM-2?. I just bought one. It has a phones output but the clicking is only in one channel (one earphone). This is driving me nuts and I can´t for my life imagine someone would design a metronome without stereo output. Anyone know if it´s supposed to be like this with this particular model?

[Bob]

Maybe pull the headphone jack out a little.  Sometimes that works, turns mono into stereo.  Or buy a mono-to-stereo jack. 

I would ask.  For the money you must have paid, I would assume stereo.

I like the dial on that one though.  That must be convenient.

[rachfan]

I've always used the Franz LM-FB4 metronome.  It's been around for years, but is a real work horse that never quits.  Rather than being digital, it's electric.  It's a black plastic box that sits comfortably on the piano's music desk.  It has tempo MM settings on the front with a selector dial.  On top there is a small light.  When you turn on the metronome, there are no annoying digital tones that conflict with the key you're playing.  Instead you get a traditional click.  As each click occurs, the light on top flashes concurrently.  There is a pull/push button on the back so that if you push it in, only the light will flash with no attending clicks.  So you have options.  On the ebay URL below, scroll down the metronomes and you'll see the Franz LM-FB4.  There are still new ones available for about $20.50 or so.  (Franz, incidentally, was one of the very early manufacturers of mechanical weighted pendulum metronomes--so the company has a lot of history.  And yes, they also make digital models too.)

http://search.ebay.com/metronome

[term]

I'm shameful to say I've never own a metronome from the very first day studying piano.

Ironically, i'm proud of never having used the one that i own^^

[gyzzzmo]

Just buy the cheapest, you dont need a 'quality metronome' :p, all it has to do is beep or 'tick'. Electronic metronomes are alot cheaper and easier to handle than mechanical ones btw, but thats all up to you.

gyzzzmo

[Bob]

Mmm... Still need loud.  Cheap ones aren't that loud.

[gyzzzmo]

Mmm... Still need loud.  Cheap ones aren't that loud.

If youre worrying about the volume, maybe you should start changing your playing instead of blaming the metronome :p