#i like polyrhythm and all but like. space dance. yes please

[puppys-rhythm-heaven]

i still agree with this tbh-

[mariaagibson]

My Top Tips On How To Practice With A Metronome

Why metronome practice is important?

I was recently on a social media group and someone had asked the question of how to get better at practicing with a metronome.  I first replied with a short answer, but after a few days of thinking about how to make that groove happen I felt it warranted a more in depth answer.

I was actually in the middle of typing out a RIDICULOUSLY long reply comment, when I realized I should just turn it into a blog post.

So, here you go Mr. Emmanuel Phiri, these are my best tips on how to practice with a metronome.

Here’s what I’m gonna go over in this article:

What type of metronome is best for my practice protocol

What type of headphones are good SPECIFICALLY for drummers practicing with metronomes

My top list of tips for practicing with a metronome

A finalized practice sequence that ties all of these things together.

Here we go.  Firstly, I need to talk briefly about the needed equipment.

What type of metronome should I get?

For the recommendations that will shortly follow, having the right type of metronome will matter.  I recommend a metronome that can do multiple subdivisions, including eighth notes, triplets, and sixteenth notes.

There are some polyrhythmic metronomes that are pretty advanced, but we wont need those for what I’m talking about today.  The simple eighth, triplet and sixteenth subdivisions will do fine.

There are plenty of smartphone metronome apps around that will do this, though the free ones tend to not have the subdivision functions.   Also, the interface on some of them is a bit confusing.  Though, if you find one you like, go for it.

If you can’t find one you like, I suggest this metronome.  The Boss DB-90 is a beastly metronome.  Digital metronomes are definitely a viable option, but I myself Like to play along to a hardwired machine, as it doesn’t drain the battery life on my phone.

I started practicing with this back in the early 2000’s.  It has a ridiculous amount of functions, of which I won’t go into discussing today.  It’s a little on the pricey side, but well worth it if you plan on making a profession out of being a drummer.

One thing I really like is that the subdivisions are all on individual faders, so you can make them as loud or as quiet as you want (hint: this will come in handy later).

The other nice thing is that this is a really loud metronome.  Obviously, this is a benefit to us drummers, as our sound can typically drown out the sound of the metronome.  This brings me to my next point, which is proper headphone gear.

Do I need headphones for metronome practice?

Well, in short, yes.  For drummers it’s necessary because often times the drums will overtake the sound of the metronome making it virtually inaudible.   I have tried using loud metronomes to be able to hear it over the drums but it really takes a toll on the ear drums.

After a few weeks of ringing ears you’ll discover that this isn’t beneficial long term.  Therefore, invest in some good headphones.

If you want to start practicing with a metronome and not go deaf, I highly recommend a good set of noise cancelling headphones.  I used to use Metrophones, which are awesome.  They have a built in metronome and the muffs are filled with a liquid for maximum noise cancelling.

I bought my first pair when I was 19 and they lasted for YEARS. There are a couple downsides though.  One is that they are a bit heavyweight.

Also, the metal frame makes them fit tight, so if you have a big head like myself, they can get a little uncomfortable after 3 or 4 hours of practice.

The other downside is that the metronome doesn’t do subdivisions, but that’s not a concern if you’ve already got  an external metronome.

The other option that I recommend, are the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 Headphones.  These are definitly more on the pricey side, but trust me, they are FREAKIN AMAZING.  Here are my reasons why I actually like these better than Metrophones.

They’re lighter.

The sound quality is better.

They’re more comfortable.

They cancel noise better.

If any of you are privy to Bose, you know that their audio engineering is pretty much amazing.  They’re equipment is marketed more towards consumer purposes, so they don’t get a lot of press in the professional musician world.

In my opinion though, they’re as good, or better than, a lot of “professional grade” audio equipment.  Bose headphones are by far my favorite headphones.  Not only is the sound quality pristine, but unlike the metrophones, they are a lot more lightweight and  comfortable.

You can definitely experiment on this.  There are plenty of headphones out there, but in my experience, you get what you pay for.

So if drumming is something you do on the side, you can try some cheaper options, but if it’s a long term investment for you, then I suggest spending a little more up front, as you’ll save yourself a lot of frustration in the future.

Can I use earbuds?

Ok, one last point on headphones.  DO NOT USE EARBUDS.  I absolutely am against using ear buds for practicing drums.  For reasons I will not go into in this article, it is clear to me that ear buds destroy your hearing.

This is not just for drumming either.  This is a general recommendation to stay away from earbuds.  If you wanna go deaf early, please, be my guest.

However, if you want to save your hearing, switch to cans.  In ear monitors are a bit of a different ball game, so for today I’ll stay away from that topic completely, but as far as ear buds go, do not use them.  Have I made myself clear?  Ok, good.

My tip top tips on practicing with a metronome

Alright, I finally got through that laundry list.  Now for the actual lesson. It should be noted that my suggestions here are for beginner drummers, so if you are more advanced you can simply modify this to your level of playing.

If you’re more advanced I don’t need to tell you how to modify these tips, you’ll just know how to do it.

My first recommendation for developing a groove with the metronome is to start with just hands.  If you’re a drum set drummer, just leave the feet out for the time being.  We can get to that later.  Also, pick a simple rudiment.  It should be something you can do without thinking too hard.

Simplify

Remember, the goal here is to practice groove, so lets simplify anything else in this equation that would otherwise detract from focusing on the metronome.

For our purposes here, just start with single strokes, and practice starting with both the left and the right hand at each tempo.

For getting better at practicing with a metronome most people will say to start slowly.  I actually somewhat disagree with this.  With more complex beats it’s helpful to really slow stuff dow, but for a simple rudiment I find the middle range to be a good starting point.

I would actually suggest starting in the medium tempo range, somewhere between the tempos of 80bpm and 120bpm.

The reason is simply because if you start too slow there is too much space in the gaps to get lost.   The 120bpm falls in that average range of the human heart beat, so it’s something sort of ingrained in humans.

That’s probably why most popular dance tunes fall right in this range, whether it’s disco, EDM, marching band, or any other type of music.  This tempo is graspable for a beginner, so start in that range. Pick something you are already comfortable with.

Lock in to the metronome

The next tip is where the fancy metronome comes in handy.  If you have the Boss DB-90 or something like it start by practicing just quarter notes.  get really comfortable with that.  Make it nice and tight.

Once you’re comfortable with that, add the eighth not subdivisions on the metronome and lock your single strokes into that tempo, and when I say lock them in really focus on locking them in.

You should be able to get to the point where it sounds like the metronome clicks are coming from your drumsticks hitting the drum (or pad).  It’s a pretty cool feeling when you get it that tight.

I remember when I first got this.  It felt like the sound of the pad and the sound of the metronome had merged into an indistinguishable sound.  Such a good feeling.  This is what they call “burying the click”.  So yeah, go for that.  

The next step is to remove the eighth not subdivision from the metronome settings.  This wont be hard at this tempo, but when you get to the really slow tempos you’re going to have to really focus on exactly where that not needs to be.

This is where the sliding feature of the Boss Metronome really comes in handy.  You can slowly drop the volume of the subdivisions until they are silent.  This is super helpful  when you’re trying to internalize those beat.

Start shifting the tempo

Once you have gotten one tempo comfortable, then you can slow it down incrementally by 5 or so clicks until you get to the really slow tempos.  Then you can restart at that same medium tempo that you initially started with, but this time move up by 5bpm until you get to your fastest  tempo. 

Every day you should be able to increase your top and bottom speeds by 5 clicks or so.  After a week or so you should be able to easily switch to another rudiment and repeat the process, or perhaps start with a simple beat that incorporates some footwork.

My last tip for this before I map out the practice protocol, is to note how the central nervous system works.  It’s gonna take time to develop an awareness of your movements and how they lock in with the metronome.

It’s not gonna be comfortable at first.  However, after a while you’ll start to feel it in your body.  What I’m talking about is what powerlifters call the “mind muscle connection”.   It takes time for this connection to form.

It’s all about developing proper habits to wear in that dog path in the back yard, so to speak.   Going back to my first point, that’s the reason why I suggest starting at a medium tempo, rather than a super slow tempo.

We’ve got to start at a place where the body can easily grasp what the mind wants it to do, then after that, we repeatedly challenge the nervous system by chipping away at the changes in tempo.

Patience is a virtue

The secret to developing this mind muscle connection is that there is no secret.  You’ve got to practice.  A lot.  Repetition is the key here.  It’ll eventually become ingrained.

Remember what I said about the powerlifters?  Well, if you know anything about that type of working out, you know that lifting heavy weights is about strength.  but that’s only part of it.

A TON of work goes into practicing form, day in and day out.  In fact, most power lifters wont max out on a particular lift more than once a week.

The rest of the time they spend it repeating the same movement using lighter weights to burn that exact movement pattern into the nervous system. The purpose of this is to train the body to move the exact right muscles at the exact right time.

It’s really quite amazing actually.  Watch a powerlifter sometime.  You’ll see, if they’re skilled, there is literally no wasted movement.  The same is true with guys like Bruce Lee, Rodney Mullen, or anybody that gets to the olympics.

That being said, we want to do the same thing here with our movements in time.   You should practice these methods until you’re comfortable with the tempo, then push yourself a little further.  We’re doing incremental work here.

There’s nothing is more frustrating than trying to jump ahead to an unrealistic tempo only to repeatedly fail at your lofty goal.

Be patient with yourself.  If you form these initial habits right, your future practice will happen quicker.

The Protocol in 4 parts

Part 1:

Metronome setting: 110bpm (or whatever you’re comfortable with

Play single stroke quarter notes Starting with the right hand until comfortable.

Play single stroke quarter notes Starting with the right hand until comfortable.

Add eight notes to the metronome setting and play eight note singles till comfotable, starting with both right and left hands.

Repeat the same eighth note sequence but without the eighth note metronome setting.

Repeat this process with triplets and sixteenth notes.

Ok, once you get good at that heres the next step.

Part 2:

Make sure the metronome is just on the quarter not setting

Play all of this without stopping- 4 bars of quarter notes, 4 bars of eighth notes, 4 bars of tripletes,  4 bars of sixteenth notes, 4 bars of triplets, 4 bars of eighth notes, and 4 bars of quarter notes.

Repeat the same sequence, but with 2 bars per subdivision.

Repeat the same sequence, but with 1 bar per subdivision.

When you get this all locked in here’s the next step.

Part 3:

Bring the metronome down 5bpm and repeat these steps until you get down to 60bpm.

Go back to 110bpm and repeat the process, but this time bring in up 5 clicks until you get your 16th note singles to 240bpm and beyond.

Part 4:

Repeat this whole sequence with other rudiments as well as beats that incorporate all 4 limbs.

So, there you have it.  I hope you enjoyed my little article.  This is such a vast topic, so I’m going to do more tutorials in the future on how to practice ultra slow tempos and ultra fast tempost.

For the time being though, this should hopefully get you started in the right direction.

Happy Drumming!                                                                                                                                  Jesse-Lee 

The post My Top Tips On How To Practice With A Metronome appeared first on JLKickboom - Jesse Lee (the Drummer) Yarbrough.

via Tumblr My Top Tips On How To Practice With A Metronome

My Top Tips On How To Practice With A Metronome syndicated from https://jlkickboom.com/

[debbiiegibson]

My Top Tips On How To Practice With A Metronome

Why metronome practice is important?

I was recently on a social media group and someone had asked the question of how to get better at practicing with a metronome.  I first replied with a short answer, but after a few days of thinking about how to make that groove happen I felt it warranted a more in depth answer.

I was actually in the middle of typing out a RIDICULOUSLY long reply comment, when I realized I should just turn it into a blog post.

So, here you go Mr. Emmanuel Phiri, these are my best tips on how to practice with a metronome.

Here’s what I’m gonna go over in this article:

What type of metronome is best for my practice protocol

What type of headphones are good SPECIFICALLY for drummers practicing with metronomes

My top list of tips for practicing with a metronome

A finalized practice sequence that ties all of these things together.

Here we go.  Firstly, I need to talk briefly about the needed equipment.

What type of metronome should I get?

For the recommendations that will shortly follow, having the right type of metronome will matter.  I recommend a metronome that can do multiple subdivisions, including eighth notes, triplets, and sixteenth notes.

There are some polyrhythmic metronomes that are pretty advanced, but we wont need those for what I’m talking about today.  The simple eighth, triplet and sixteenth subdivisions will do fine.

There are plenty of smartphone metronome apps around that will do this, though the free ones tend to not have the subdivision functions.   Also, the interface on some of them is a bit confusing.  Though, if you find one you like, go for it.

If you can’t find one you like, I suggest this metronome.  The Boss DB-90 is a beastly metronome.  Digital metronomes are definitely a viable option, but I myself Like to play along to a hardwired machine, as it doesn’t drain the battery life on my phone.

I started practicing with this back in the early 2000’s.  It has a ridiculous amount of functions, of which I won’t go into discussing today.  It’s a little on the pricey side, but well worth it if you plan on making a profession out of being a drummer.

One thing I really like is that the subdivisions are all on individual faders, so you can make them as loud or as quiet as you want (hint: this will come in handy later).

The other nice thing is that this is a really loud metronome.  Obviously, this is a benefit to us drummers, as our sound can typically drown out the sound of the metronome.  This brings me to my next point, which is proper headphone gear.

Do I need headphones for metronome practice?

Well, in short, yes.  For drummers it’s necessary because often times the drums will overtake the sound of the metronome making it virtually inaudible.   I have tried using loud metronomes to be able to hear it over the drums but it really takes a toll on the ear drums.

After a few weeks of ringing ears you’ll discover that this isn’t beneficial long term.  Therefore, invest in some good headphones.

If you want to start practicing with a metronome and not go deaf, I highly recommend a good set of noise cancelling headphones.  I used to use Metrophones, which are awesome.  They have a built in metronome and the muffs are filled with a liquid for maximum noise cancelling.

I bought my first pair when I was 19 and they lasted for YEARS. There are a couple downsides though.  One is that they are a bit heavyweight.

Also, the metal frame makes them fit tight, so if you have a big head like myself, they can get a little uncomfortable after 3 or 4 hours of practice.

The other downside is that the metronome doesn’t do subdivisions, but that’s not a concern if you’ve already got  an external metronome.

The other option that I recommend, are the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 Headphones.  These are definitly more on the pricey side, but trust me, they are FREAKIN AMAZING.  Here are my reasons why I actually like these better than Metrophones.

They’re lighter.

The sound quality is better.

They’re more comfortable.

They cancel noise better.

If any of you are privy to Bose, you know that their audio engineering is pretty much amazing.  They’re equipment is marketed more towards consumer purposes, so they don’t get a lot of press in the professional musician world.

In my opinion though, they’re as good, or better than, a lot of “professional grade” audio equipment.  Bose headphones are by far my favorite headphones.  Not only is the sound quality pristine, but unlike the metrophones, they are a lot more lightweight and  comfortable.

You can definitely experiment on this.  There are plenty of headphones out there, but in my experience, you get what you pay for.

So if drumming is something you do on the side, you can try some cheaper options, but if it’s a long term investment for you, then I suggest spending a little more up front, as you’ll save yourself a lot of frustration in the future.

Can I use earbuds?

Ok, one last point on headphones.  DO NOT USE EARBUDS.  I absolutely am against using ear buds for practicing drums.  For reasons I will not go into in this article, it is clear to me that ear buds destroy your hearing.

This is not just for drumming either.  This is a general recommendation to stay away from earbuds.  If you wanna go deaf early, please, be my guest.

However, if you want to save your hearing, switch to cans.  In ear monitors are a bit of a different ball game, so for today I’ll stay away from that topic completely, but as far as ear buds go, do not use them.  Have I made myself clear?  Ok, good.

My tip top tips on practicing with a metronome

Alright, I finally got through that laundry list.  Now for the actual lesson. It should be noted that my suggestions here are for beginner drummers, so if you are more advanced you can simply modify this to your level of playing.

If you’re more advanced I don’t need to tell you how to modify these tips, you’ll just know how to do it.

My first recommendation for developing a groove with the metronome is to start with just hands.  If you’re a drum set drummer, just leave the feet out for the time being.  We can get to that later.  Also, pick a simple rudiment.  It should be something you can do without thinking too hard.

Simplify

Remember, the goal here is to practice groove, so lets simplify anything else in this equation that would otherwise detract from focusing on the metronome.

For our purposes here, just start with single strokes, and practice starting with both the left and the right hand at each tempo.

For getting better at practicing with a metronome most people will say to start slowly.  I actually somewhat disagree with this.  With more complex beats it’s helpful to really slow stuff dow, but for a simple rudiment I find the middle range to be a good starting point.

I would actually suggest starting in the medium tempo range, somewhere between the tempos of 80bpm and 120bpm.

The reason is simply because if you start too slow there is too much space in the gaps to get lost.   The 120bpm falls in that average range of the human heart beat, so it’s something sort of ingrained in humans.

That’s probably why most popular dance tunes fall right in this range, whether it’s disco, EDM, marching band, or any other type of music.  This tempo is graspable for a beginner, so start in that range. Pick something you are already comfortable with.

Lock in to the metronome

The next tip is where the fancy metronome comes in handy.  If you have the Boss DB-90 or something like it start by practicing just quarter notes.  get really comfortable with that.  Make it nice and tight.

Once you’re comfortable with that, add the eighth not subdivisions on the metronome and lock your single strokes into that tempo, and when I say lock them in really focus on locking them in.

You should be able to get to the point where it sounds like the metronome clicks are coming from your drumsticks hitting the drum (or pad).  It’s a pretty cool feeling when you get it that tight.

I remember when I first got this.  It felt like the sound of the pad and the sound of the metronome had merged into an indistinguishable sound.  Such a good feeling.  This is what they call “burying the click”.  So yeah, go for that.  

The next step is to remove the eighth not subdivision from the metronome settings.  This wont be hard at this tempo, but when you get to the really slow tempos you’re going to have to really focus on exactly where that not needs to be.

This is where the sliding feature of the Boss Metronome really comes in handy.  You can slowly drop the volume of the subdivisions until they are silent.  This is super helpful  when you’re trying to internalize those beat.

Start shifting the tempo

Once you have gotten one tempo comfortable, then you can slow it down incrementally by 5 or so clicks until you get to the really slow tempos.  Then you can restart at that same medium tempo that you initially started with, but this time move up by 5bpm until you get to your fastest  tempo. 

Every day you should be able to increase your top and bottom speeds by 5 clicks or so.  After a week or so you should be able to easily switch to another rudiment and repeat the process, or perhaps start with a simple beat that incorporates some footwork.

My last tip for this before I map out the practice protocol, is to note how the central nervous system works.  It’s gonna take time to develop an awareness of your movements and how they lock in with the metronome.

It’s not gonna be comfortable at first.  However, after a while you’ll start to feel it in your body.  What I’m talking about is what powerlifters call the “mind muscle connection”.   It takes time for this connection to form.

It’s all about developing proper habits to wear in that dog path in the back yard, so to speak.   Going back to my first point, that’s the reason why I suggest starting at a medium tempo, rather than a super slow tempo.

We’ve got to start at a place where the body can easily grasp what the mind wants it to do, then after that, we repeatedly challenge the nervous system by chipping away at the changes in tempo.

Patience is a virtue

The secret to developing this mind muscle connection is that there is no secret.  You’ve got to practice.  A lot.  Repetition is the key here.  It’ll eventually become ingrained.

Remember what I said about the powerlifters?  Well, if you know anything about that type of working out, you know that lifting heavy weights is about strength.  but that’s only part of it.

A TON of work goes into practicing form, day in and day out.  In fact, most power lifters wont max out on a particular lift more than once a week.

The rest of the time they spend it repeating the same movement using lighter weights to burn that exact movement pattern into the nervous system. The purpose of this is to train the body to move the exact right muscles at the exact right time.

It’s really quite amazing actually.  Watch a powerlifter sometime.  You’ll see, if they’re skilled, there is literally no wasted movement.  The same is true with guys like Bruce Lee, Rodney Mullen, or anybody that gets to the olympics.

That being said, we want to do the same thing here with our movements in time.   You should practice these methods until you’re comfortable with the tempo, then push yourself a little further.  We’re doing incremental work here.

There’s nothing is more frustrating than trying to jump ahead to an unrealistic tempo only to repeatedly fail at your lofty goal.

Be patient with yourself.  If you form these initial habits right, your future practice will happen quicker.

The Protocol in 4 parts

Part 1:

Metronome setting: 110bpm (or whatever you’re comfortable with

Play single stroke quarter notes Starting with the right hand until comfortable.

Play single stroke quarter notes Starting with the right hand until comfortable.

Add eight notes to the metronome setting and play eight note singles till comfotable, starting with both right and left hands.

Repeat the same eighth note sequence but without the eighth note metronome setting.

Repeat this process with triplets and sixteenth notes.

Ok, once you get good at that heres the next step.

Part 2:

Make sure the metronome is just on the quarter not setting

Play all of this without stopping- 4 bars of quarter notes, 4 bars of eighth notes, 4 bars of tripletes,  4 bars of sixteenth notes, 4 bars of triplets, 4 bars of eighth notes, and 4 bars of quarter notes.

Repeat the same sequence, but with 2 bars per subdivision.

Repeat the same sequence, but with 1 bar per subdivision.

When you get this all locked in here’s the next step.

Part 3:

Bring the metronome down 5bpm and repeat these steps until you get down to 60bpm.

Go back to 110bpm and repeat the process, but this time bring in up 5 clicks until you get your 16th note singles to 240bpm and beyond.

Part 4:

Repeat this whole sequence with other rudiments as well as beats that incorporate all 4 limbs.

So, there you have it.  I hope you enjoyed my little article.  This is such a vast topic, so I’m going to do more tutorials in the future on how to practice ultra slow tempos and ultra fast tempost.

For the time being though, this should hopefully get you started in the right direction.

Happy Drumming!                                                                                                                                  Jesse-Lee 

The post My Top Tips On How To Practice With A Metronome appeared first on JLKickboom - Jesse Lee (the Drummer) Yarbrough.

My Top Tips On How To Practice With A Metronome posted first on https://jlkickboom.com/

[jlkickboom]

My Top Tips On How To Practice With A Metronome

Why metronome practice is important?

I was recently on a social media group and someone had asked the question of how to get better at practicing with a metronome.  I first replied with a short answer, but after a few days of thinking about how to make that groove happen I felt it warranted a more in depth answer.

I was actually in the middle of typing out a RIDICULOUSLY long reply comment, when I realized I should just turn it into a blog post.

So, here you go Mr. Emmanuel Phiri, these are my best tips on how to practice with a metronome.

Here’s what I’m gonna go over in this article:

What type of metronome is best for my practice protocol

What type of headphones are good SPECIFICALLY for drummers practicing with metronomes

My top list of tips for practicing with a metronome

A finalized practice sequence that ties all of these things together.

Here we go.  Firstly, I need to talk briefly about the needed equipment.

What type of metronome should I get?

For the recommendations that will shortly follow, having the right type of metronome will matter.  I recommend a metronome that can do multiple subdivisions, including eighth notes, triplets, and sixteenth notes.

There are some polyrhythmic metronomes that are pretty advanced, but we wont need those for what I’m talking about today.  The simple eighth, triplet and sixteenth subdivisions will do fine.

There are plenty of smartphone metronome apps around that will do this, though the free ones tend to not have the subdivision functions.   Also, the interface on some of them is a bit confusing.  Though, if you find one you like, go for it.

If you can’t find one you like, I suggest this metronome.  The Boss DB-90 is a beastly metronome.  Digital metronomes are definitely a viable option, but I myself Like to play along to a hardwired machine, as it doesn’t drain the battery life on my phone.

I started practicing with this back in the early 2000’s.  It has a ridiculous amount of functions, of which I won’t go into discussing today.  It’s a little on the pricey side, but well worth it if you plan on making a profession out of being a drummer.

One thing I really like is that the subdivisions are all on individual faders, so you can make them as loud or as quiet as you want (hint: this will come in handy later).

The other nice thing is that this is a really loud metronome.  Obviously, this is a benefit to us drummers, as our sound can typically drown out the sound of the metronome.  This brings me to my next point, which is proper headphone gear.

Do I need headphones for metronome practice?

Well, in short, yes.  For drummers it’s necessary because often times the drums will overtake the sound of the metronome making it virtually inaudible.   I have tried using loud metronomes to be able to hear it over the drums but it really takes a toll on the ear drums.

After a few weeks of ringing ears you’ll discover that this isn’t beneficial long term.  Therefore, invest in some good headphones.

If you want to start practicing with a metronome and not go deaf, I highly recommend a good set of noise cancelling headphones.  I used to use Metrophones, which are awesome.  They have a built in metronome and the muffs are filled with a liquid for maximum noise cancelling.

I bought my first pair when I was 19 and they lasted for YEARS. There are a couple downsides though.  One is that they are a bit heavyweight.

Also, the metal frame makes them fit tight, so if you have a big head like myself, they can get a little uncomfortable after 3 or 4 hours of practice.

The other downside is that the metronome doesn’t do subdivisions, but that’s not a concern if you’ve already got  an external metronome.

The other option that I recommend, are the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 Headphones.  These are definitly more on the pricey side, but trust me, they are FREAKIN AMAZING.  Here are my reasons why I actually like these better than Metrophones.

They’re lighter.

The sound quality is better.

They’re more comfortable.

They cancel noise better.

If any of you are privy to Bose, you know that their audio engineering is pretty much amazing.  They’re equipment is marketed more towards consumer purposes, so they don’t get a lot of press in the professional musician world.

In my opinion though, they’re as good, or better than, a lot of “professional grade” audio equipment.  Bose headphones are by far my favorite headphones.  Not only is the sound quality pristine, but unlike the metrophones, they are a lot more lightweight and  comfortable.

You can definitely experiment on this.  There are plenty of headphones out there, but in my experience, you get what you pay for.

So if drumming is something you do on the side, you can try some cheaper options, but if it’s a long term investment for you, then I suggest spending a little more up front, as you’ll save yourself a lot of frustration in the future.

Can I use earbuds?

Ok, one last point on headphones.  DO NOT USE EARBUDS.  I absolutely am against using ear buds for practicing drums.  For reasons I will not go into in this article, it is clear to me that ear buds destroy your hearing.

This is not just for drumming either.  This is a general recommendation to stay away from earbuds.  If you wanna go deaf early, please, be my guest.

However, if you want to save your hearing, switch to cans.  In ear monitors are a bit of a different ball game, so for today I’ll stay away from that topic completely, but as far as ear buds go, do not use them.  Have I made myself clear?  Ok, good.

My tip top tips on practicing with a metronome

Alright, I finally got through that laundry list.  Now for the actual lesson. It should be noted that my suggestions here are for beginner drummers, so if you are more advanced you can simply modify this to your level of playing.

If you’re more advanced I don’t need to tell you how to modify these tips, you’ll just know how to do it.

My first recommendation for developing a groove with the metronome is to start with just hands.  If you’re a drum set drummer, just leave the feet out for the time being.  We can get to that later.  Also, pick a simple rudiment.  It should be something you can do without thinking too hard.

Simplify

Remember, the goal here is to practice groove, so lets simplify anything else in this equation that would otherwise detract from focusing on the metronome.

For our purposes here, just start with single strokes, and practice starting with both the left and the right hand at each tempo.

For getting better at practicing with a metronome most people will say to start slowly.  I actually somewhat disagree with this.  With more complex beats it’s helpful to really slow stuff dow, but for a simple rudiment I find the middle range to be a good starting point.

I would actually suggest starting in the medium tempo range, somewhere between the tempos of 80bpm and 120bpm.

The reason is simply because if you start too slow there is too much space in the gaps to get lost.   The 120bpm falls in that average range of the human heart beat, so it’s something sort of ingrained in humans.

That’s probably why most popular dance tunes fall right in this range, whether it’s disco, EDM, marching band, or any other type of music.  This tempo is graspable for a beginner, so start in that range. Pick something you are already comfortable with.

Lock in to the metronome

The next tip is where the fancy metronome comes in handy.  If you have the Boss DB-90 or something like it start by practicing just quarter notes.  get really comfortable with that.  Make it nice and tight.

Once you’re comfortable with that, add the eighth not subdivisions on the metronome and lock your single strokes into that tempo, and when I say lock them in really focus on locking them in.

You should be able to get to the point where it sounds like the metronome clicks are coming from your drumsticks hitting the drum (or pad).  It’s a pretty cool feeling when you get it that tight.

I remember when I first got this.  It felt like the sound of the pad and the sound of the metronome had merged into an indistinguishable sound.  Such a good feeling.  This is what they call “burying the click”.  So yeah, go for that.  

The next step is to remove the eighth not subdivision from the metronome settings.  This wont be hard at this tempo, but when you get to the really slow tempos you’re going to have to really focus on exactly where that not needs to be.

This is where the sliding feature of the Boss Metronome really comes in handy.  You can slowly drop the volume of the subdivisions until they are silent.  This is super helpful  when you’re trying to internalize those beat.

Start shifting the tempo

Once you have gotten one tempo comfortable, then you can slow it down incrementally by 5 or so clicks until you get to the really slow tempos.  Then you can restart at that same medium tempo that you initially started with, but this time move up by 5bpm until you get to your fastest  tempo. 

Every day you should be able to increase your top and bottom speeds by 5 clicks or so.  After a week or so you should be able to easily switch to another rudiment and repeat the process, or perhaps start with a simple beat that incorporates some footwork.

My last tip for this before I map out the practice protocol, is to note how the central nervous system works.  It’s gonna take time to develop an awareness of your movements and how they lock in with the metronome.

It’s not gonna be comfortable at first.  However, after a while you’ll start to feel it in your body.  What I’m talking about is what powerlifters call the “mind muscle connection”.   It takes time for this connection to form.

It’s all about developing proper habits to wear in that dog path in the back yard, so to speak.   Going back to my first point, that’s the reason why I suggest starting at a medium tempo, rather than a super slow tempo.

We’ve got to start at a place where the body can easily grasp what the mind wants it to do, then after that, we repeatedly challenge the nervous system by chipping away at the changes in tempo.

Patience is a virtue

The secret to developing this mind muscle connection is that there is no secret.  You’ve got to practice.  A lot.  Repetition is the key here.  It’ll eventually become ingrained.

Remember what I said about the powerlifters?  Well, if you know anything about that type of working out, you know that lifting heavy weights is about strength.  but that’s only part of it.

A TON of work goes into practicing form, day in and day out.  In fact, most power lifters wont max out on a particular lift more than once a week.

The rest of the time they spend it repeating the same movement using lighter weights to burn that exact movement pattern into the nervous system. The purpose of this is to train the body to move the exact right muscles at the exact right time.

It’s really quite amazing actually.  Watch a powerlifter sometime.  You’ll see, if they’re skilled, there is literally no wasted movement.  The same is true with guys like Bruce Lee, Rodney Mullen, or anybody that gets to the olympics.

That being said, we want to do the same thing here with our movements in time.   You should practice these methods until you’re comfortable with the tempo, then push yourself a little further.  We’re doing incremental work here.

There’s nothing is more frustrating than trying to jump ahead to an unrealistic tempo only to repeatedly fail at your lofty goal.

Be patient with yourself.  If you form these initial habits right, your future practice will happen quicker.

The Protocol in 4 parts

Part 1:

Metronome setting: 110bpm (or whatever you’re comfortable with

Play single stroke quarter notes Starting with the right hand until comfortable.

Play single stroke quarter notes Starting with the right hand until comfortable.

Add eight notes to the metronome setting and play eight note singles till comfotable, starting with both right and left hands.

Repeat the same eighth note sequence but without the eighth note metronome setting.

Repeat this process with triplets and sixteenth notes.

Ok, once you get good at that heres the next step.

Part 2:

Make sure the metronome is just on the quarter not setting

Play all of this without stopping- 4 bars of quarter notes, 4 bars of eighth notes, 4 bars of tripletes,  4 bars of sixteenth notes, 4 bars of triplets, 4 bars of eighth notes, and 4 bars of quarter notes.

Repeat the same sequence, but with 2 bars per subdivision.

Repeat the same sequence, but with 1 bar per subdivision.

When you get this all locked in here’s the next step.

Part 3:

Bring the metronome down 5bpm and repeat these steps until you get down to 60bpm.

Go back to 110bpm and repeat the process, but this time bring in up 5 clicks until you get your 16th note singles to 240bpm and beyond.

Part 4:

Repeat this whole sequence with other rudiments as well as beats that incorporate all 4 limbs.

So, there you have it.  I hope you enjoyed my little article.  This is such a vast topic, so I’m going to do more tutorials in the future on how to practice ultra slow tempos and ultra fast tempost.

For the time being though, this should hopefully get you started in the right direction.

Happy Drumming!                                                                                                                                  Jesse-Lee 

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