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How To Use
a Metronome ???
Most sheet music and instruction books have a
"metronome marking". This is the recommended tempo for the
piece your are practicing.
All of the above examples have a tempo of 60 beats per
minute. Simply set your metronome to 60 and try to play at this tempo.
Note, that you can only play as fast as your hardest measure. If the
hardest measure can be played at 52 beats per minute, set your metronome
to 52, then gradually increase the tempo until the entire piece can be
played at 60 beats per minute or more.
There are other markings - Italian markings -
these give a general range of tempo:
| Largo
42 - 66 |
Lento
52-108 |
Adagio
50-76 |
Andante
56-88 |
| Moderato
66-126 |
Vivace
80-160 |
Allegro
84-144 |
Presto
100-152 |
Many metronomes come with a chart of the Italian Markings
above and can be set according to the music.
Types of Metronomes
Keywound metronomes:
These metronomes are usually sitting on top of a piano -
made of wood or plastic with a swinging pendulum let you see the
motion of the beat. There are special bell models that will
also accent the first beat with a bell sound. The keywound models give the
most natural sound of all the metronomes and are very pleasing to the ear.
Winding most keywound model 8 to 10 turns, will run most metronomes
for at least 30-40 minutes. The tempo is changed by sliding a weight up
and down the pendulum.
Advantages: Great visuals as the pendulum can be seen
swinging with the beat. Simple operation, easy to use. Great acoustic
sound and classic look.
Disadvantages: Most models are not portable. Will not stand
much abuse (dropping or bending of parts).
Quartz Dial metronomes:
These models have a dial on the front of the metronome
that will quickly let you change the tempo by simply turning the dial.
There are many features available. Volume Control - many times you do not
need full volume and would like to turn the volume to very low. Flashing
lights - all have a single light that flashes with every beat, some have
many lights that swing as a pendulum type metronome above. Sound - most
have a wood block sound. Accenting - will have a different sound on the
first beat of each measure, such as a bell.
Advantages: Size - many are small enough to fit in a pocket.
Volume - many models give a very loud click or very soft (using volume
control). Accuracy is very high, all the time.
Disadvantages: Most models use a 9 volt battery that will
eventually need replacement ( most last at least 100 hours of use or
more).
Why Use a Metronome ??? |