Last Updated on September 12, 2021 by Rebecca
Do you hate practicing with a metronome? Is it difficult and frustrating? Will you do anything to avoid your metronome?
If you answered yes to these 3 questions, then congratulations, you are exactly like all my students! (You're in very good company!)
Today I'll share with you 5 tips that will make it easier to practice with the metronome.
Because, trust me, once you get used to it, the metronome will become your best friend!
(Don't have a metronome? Check out this post to see some good metronome options.)
Now let's dive in and reveal the top 5 tips so you can start using the metronome to improve your piano playing!
Tip #1: Get synched with the metronome.
If you don't take the time to internalize the metronome's beat and tempo before you start playing, you don't stand a chance at matching the metronome.
Take some time to count out loud with the metronome before you start trying to play anything. Even tap along with the metronome, or sway gently.
This enables you to feel the beat internally, making it much easier to match the beat.
And continue counting out loud once you start playing. The counting acts as a bridge that connects the internal beat you feel in your body (which is what you will play) and the external beat produced by the metronome (which is what you want to play).
Tip #2: Isolate the rhythm.
It's a good idea to isolate the rhythm before you try to actually play anything with your metronome.
Instead of playing your piece with the metronome, count and clap or tap your piece with the metronome.
(And always remember to practice very small chunks at a time. Spend a few minutes repeating a section of about 1-4 measures before moving onto the next section.)
For hands-together practice, you can clap your hands on your legs or tap the notes directly on your sheet music. Tap each note with the hand that you'll need to use to play the note. This way you're already working on co-ordinating your hands before you even try playing the piece.
If you can't clap or tap the rhythm with the metronome, you won't be able to play your piece with the metronome. So don't bother wasting your time and getting frustrated trying to play the right notes until after you know you can tap the right rhythm.
Just be patient and take the time to practice the rhythm with the metronome until it becomes easy. Then, you will be ready to practice playing along with the metronome.
Tip #3: Start at a slow tempo.
The only thing my students hate more than the metronome is playing slowly.
(And yet these are 2 of the most effective things that will allow you to get better results in less time. Go figure!)
Start very slowly. Even if it hurts to go so slowly.
Somewhere around 50-60 BPM (beats per minute) is usually a good starting point for a beginner tackling a new song or skill. (And if you're not comfortable playing with a metronome yet, then you are tackling a new skill right now, so this is the speed for you!)
If you're playing a piece with 8th notes, it's a good idea to even drop down to 40-45 BPM.
Tip #4: Double-up your BPM.
You always want to count based on the smallest note value in your piece:
- If the smallest note value is quarter notes, you'll count 1-2-3-4
- If the smallest note value is 8th notes, you'll count 1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and (1+2+3+4+).
- If the smallest note value is 16th notes, you'll count 1-e-and-a-2-e-and-a-3-e-and-a-4-e-and-a (1e+a 2e+a 3e+a 4e+a).
If you're dealing with a piece with 8th notes, but you have a hard time counting the 8th notes (the “ands”) evenly between the ticks from your metronome, double your metronome BPM and make the ticks count for both the beats (1234) and the off-beats (the “ands”).
So instead of setting your metronome to 45BPM and counting the “ands” between metronome ticks, set your metronome to 90BPM and count the “ands” on the ticks.
(The Natural Metronome app has a feature that allows you to set how many notes per beat. So you can set it to 45BPM with 2 notes per beat, and it will give you a louder tick for the main beats and a quieter tick for the off-beats. If you're using this feature, don't double your BPM.)
Tip #5: Hide your metronome.
Beginners are always tempted to look at the metronome. They just can't seem to resist wanting to see the ticks happening.
Which is funny because looking at your metronome is the best way to sabotage your success when trying to play along with a metronome!
So I've learned to make sure my students can't see the metronome when they're playing along with it in my studio.
If you're looking at the metronome to figure out when the next tick is coming, then you're not feeling the beat. And if you're not feeling the beat, you won't be able to accurately anticipate the next beat. Which means you won't be able to match the metronome.
Your eyes should never be involved in interpreting the metronome. If they are, then you've already lost before you've even started.
It's your ears and body that need to understand the beat from the metronome.
So if you usually find yourself tempted to look at your metronome, place it somewhere you can't see it. Maybe behind you, or above you, or simply pointed away from you.
How to Use a Metronome while Practicing Piano
If you are patient and dedicated enough to take these 5 tips and put them into practice, you'll find playing along with the metronome will become much easier.
It won't happen overnight. You'll have to work at it a little bit each day for a few weeks, or perhaps even months. But it will be so worth it in the end!
Once you're comfortable playing along with the metronome, your playing will improve drastically. Learning new pieces will be easier, your playing will sound better, and you will feel more successful. And with all these wins in your pocket, you'll be more motivated to continue learning piano.
So do yourself a favour and take the time to make friends with your metronome!