So how do I know when I’m on beat or not?
What if I’ve trained myself to think that slightly early/late sounds on beat to me.
Is there some piece of software/hardware that says, “Yep, spot on”, or “nope, you’re averaging 95 miliseconds after the beat”.
I’m in the Mac world. Got myself a little “Scarlett Solo” that I can plug my guitar into, and then can feed into the Mac/iPhone.
What I’d love (?) is a metronome that would show me the beats, and where I came in, early late, particularly when I’m playing along to the Justin App.
Or, am I just crazy, and this isn’t important?
Thanks so for your help/opinons
oh yeah, I’m a newbie, if that has any bearing upon the question.
Been holding a guitar, strumming, fretting, and foot tapping for but 4 months (well, foot tapping goes back a lot longer than that).
Hi! Justin has a Technique lesson called “The Diappearing Metronome”. He covers stuff that’s a bit advance for Grade 1, but the magic trick begins around 4:13. He’ll describe how you can know you’re on time when - you can’t hear the metronome click! Have a look, hope it helps!
If you want to be absolutely sure about where you are compared with the beat then you can record yourself in Garageband with a simple drum loop on a different track and compare the waveforms. See whether the peaks line up.
It is indeed important, especially if you are playing together with other musicians or over a backing track.
Since other musicians are also people, very small (few milliseconds) differences will inevitably occur that can be improved with practice/rehearsal. But you will want to play in time pretty much always, especially if you happen to be in the rhythm section. Having heard/read other musicians’ testimonials, there are few more frustrating things than repeated unintentional changes in tempo.
4 months! Tap your foot while playing, no matter what…be content of the downstrums only if other things prevent you to tap! Your feeling is going to develop with practice and you’ll be able to tell if you’re on the beat or not. Practicing with the beginner App is gold. I wouldn’t aim to do perfect, just aim to relax and make it feel good…
Look for the JG Time Trainer App on Google Play Store, it’s pretty cheap! Like you I had a need to visualize the beat and more expert people here on the Community told me something like “you feel the beat”…but looking at it on the App helped me a lot, though, especially with the strumming patterns.
@Alexeyd I think you’re, sort of, joshing.
As much as I believe in full disclosure, I’m not yet ready to, errr, to perform not behind closed doors…
That having been written, I just the other day practiced with a very experienced friend, and left feeling good. So, maybe there is something to “the full monte”…
@Silvia80
Good suggestion. I was looking for a metronome that would increase in speed, I like supporting Justin Guitar. It has programmable increasing BPM, dropped beats, a nice “dial” BPM selector (akin to the old iPod), BPM by tapping, and other stuff not yet discovered.
Just a couple $$ Justin Guitar App: “Time Trainer Metronome”.
I agree about JG’s beginner app, it’s a subscription, but being able to play along with songs, slow them down and gradually speed up (success!) is great.
@mundeli, I understand what you’re saying! That said: a short video made with your phone - even 20-30 seconds - of you playing with the metronome is all that’s needed. You don’t need to be playing a song, even, just a clip of your drills is fine. Folks here are very eager to help, and very kind.
Well, the honest answer would be - you need a teacher. But if you can’t or won’t have one - there are some people here who can be helpful if you share your playing.
@Alexeyd 'was thinking you might say that
I went down that road and it was an un-good fit (they were perturbed that I wouldn’t exclusively study with them, that I was practicing their lessons and usting Guitar).
I’m surmising that finding a good match with an online guitar teacher is not all that different from finding a good match with a counselor…inn both cases it’s bloody expensive (dollars, time, self doubt) from mismatches until “yeah, this is great!”.
Perhaps when I start level 2 beginner I’ll search for a well matched instructor…
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@judi you’ve emboldened me. I’ll put up a video, at some point, or maybe I’ll remain clothed and check out @mathsjunky 's idea of using Garageband–Now I’ll go looking for “the rest of the news” in JG…
@mundeli, if you’re willing to work with an on-line teacher, I’d highly recommend one of Justin’s approved teachers. You might recognize some of the names from the community. I’ve been working with Richard since last year, and he has been fabulous. I’m familiar with Lee and Lieven as well, and would have no hesitation in engaging either of them. In my experience, they are open to other learning sources — though the will let you know if they think they are not good! Also, while of course Richard knows Justin’s pedagogy, he does not simply rely on Justin’s lessons. Everything I’ve learned has been a personalized addition to what Justin offers on the web.
Regarding your potential video: if you’re shy to do the video format, you could potentially post a sound clip (I’m not sure of the technical way to do that in this community platform, but a quick search will provide an answer I’m sure). No dress code for that!
Until you feel ready to share a recording or have a teacher, you may be interested in trying Yousician for a month in addition to the Justin Guitar app just like @MacOneill does. As far as I can remember, Yousician tell you feedback about your rhythm like too late, too soon, perfect.
Thanks @math07 and @MacOneill for the Yousician suggestion. That is, indeed, exactly what I’m looking for, but it is $140/yr ($100 with present discount).
I’d love to see something like that included in @JustinGuitar app in a future release!
(I’ve a quick tutorial forthcoming on how I checked my latency/on the beat/earliness, on a Mac, but it’s not “Real Time”, as Yousician in.)
You will know if it sounds right to you. You are the keeper of the beat. Dialing in your sense of time is a huge part of finding your own voice. Sometimes a little behind or ahead of schedule can be a really cool vibe.
That said, if you are still a little early in your journey, try four down strums per bar until your legs are less wobbly.
Again, tanks to you all. I’m a nerd, so I nerded out.
(I learned that it is very hard for me to intentionally play off of the beat.)
Here’s how I implemented @mathsjunky 's suggestion to use Garage Band. @CT I agree–being able to be off beat ever so slightly (eg J.J.Cale) can make it very interesting.
Open Garage Band
Configure to use laptop mic and speaker, turn metronome up loud
Record track (which will also record the metronome)
for this demo, I used the “G” string
Turn “Flex” on and look where played beat is early or late.
I hear you loud and clear on this question/foundation! You must master yohr rhymic foundation which means staying “with the beat”, but that’s only a piece of what you need to develop.
In order to round out ykjr rhythm playing you really have two options.
Memorize the rhythm patterns
Learn to read rhythm sheets
Either way, i woud and have and do focus on a metronome and Play 4 bars of 8th notes, again with 1/8 note triplets, 16th notes, etc moving in and out of these subdivisions.
I truly believe if you start slow (not too slow) 50 or 60bpm and aftet you can repeat say all varations 5 times without messing up you have solved any rhythm problem.
