Practicing with a metronome has been very beneficial for me. When I started practicing with a metronome, I didn’t like it. I thought that scratching to just a click was boring.
I somehow managed to push through and overcome my boredom, and I eventually embraced practicing with a metronome. Why, you might ask? It’s because I realized that it made me better.
Most of the time I loop a beat when I practice, but when I want to focus on my timing, I use a metronome because it is easier to notice if I am rushing or dragging the beat.
I noticed that the metronome helped to improve my timing. When I practiced at a fast tempo, I was fine. But when I practiced at a much slower tempo, I felt like I was scratching in air. I couldn’t find the beat. The crazy thing is, I was only scratching quarter notes. Scratching at 40 beats per minute may sound easy, but I struggled with it.
Once I started to get the hang of the metronome, it also made it easier for me to start subdividing beats. If you’re new to this and you’re struggling, don’t worry about it. Beginners don’t always have a good awareness of the beat, which makes it harder to subdivide time accurately.
Using a metronome makes us aware of the beat and helps us keep an even tempo. When learning a new rhythm, people have a tendency to slow down on the really hard parts and rush on the easier parts. Playing with the metronome helps us reduce the natural tendency to rush or drag the beat.
When working with a metronome, I like to think about how I’m going to execute each technique. With this rhythm, I want to make sure that I come in clean with the Baby Scratch on beat 1 and beat 2. I also want to make sure that I have a clean release for the drop on beat 3 and the pullback on beat 4. In the second measure, I’m going to focus on the stabs. I want them to be sharp, inconsistent. I want them to stand out because they are accented notes.
Example Rhythm
When reading new music, I like to look over the rhythm and identify potential trouble spots. I pick a comfortable tempo that allows me to focus on reading the music and executing the techniques without feeling rushed. For me, that’s around 60 to 80 beats per minute. As I get comfortable, I raise the BPM. The last step is to practice the rhythm over music. That’s it! Peace!
