Hi Rogier,
Yeah I know, it’s been a while! I have still been playing guitar though, I just havent been active in the community for some time. But I will change my ways and post here more often. It’s always fun 
The solution that I found for now is that I have my headphones around my neck so I can clearly hear the guitar but also hear the metronome from the JustinGuitar time trainer app on my phone. Not necessarily ideal but there is only so much I can put my neighbors through 
Thank you Rob, I had not thought of that, but I will check out if I can manage to do that
Sounds like you might have it sorted already, but what I do is have over the ear type headphones for my guitar/amp and have inner ear (pod type) headphones for the metronome/backing track/music that I’m playing along with. I can hear both at the same time. Works for me
That also sounds like a plan! I will try that, see how that works
Thanks for that tip!
This is what I use when I’m also using headphones… my electronic metronome is a 15-20 year old Matrix brand that lights up with 8 LEDs. Since I am often trying to practice without looking at my fingers, this works!!!
Tod
Hi Tod @CATMAN62, I’m glad this is working for you! As mentioned above, as well as in another thread, it’s most effective to use the metronome solely as an auditory trainer.
The basic argument is that we don’t “see” the beat in music when playing, we hear it, feel it.
My amp has a Bluetooth audio connection which allows me to send my phone-based metronome app (I use Justin’s Time Trainer App, but any app should work) to the amp. When I plug the headphones into the amp, the metronome comes through as well. I don’t think Inge’s Roland Cube has Bluetooth, but it might be possible to get a receiver and plug it into the aux in if there is one.
Hi Judi & thanks!
No Bluetooth in my Katana, guess I should have waited to get the one I have!
As far as “hearing” the beat… I’m not sure I completely agree… my early musical background was in a school band. We never practiced along with a metronome, we watched the band director’s baton. In Choir, same thing… watching the teacher’s arm motion.
Also, I find this helpful in keeping from constantly watching my fretting hand or playing “guitar ping-pong” with my attention bouncing back and forth from left to right hands.
In one of Justin’s lessons (Grade 2 maybe), he mentions playing in the dark, I do this quite often with the only light being my trusty metronome!!! 
Thanks for your input though!
Tod
Haha! I play that game too!
Yes, we are all different. Which makes the world a good place.
Judi,
I definitely agree with this statement/sentiment completely for when playing along with a backing track or other musicians. I find it a bit difficult however to feel the beat when playing alone, even with a metronome or just a drum track… as you say, we all learn differently. Also, often we have to adapt or adjust something in our playing to practice/learn something new!
Think back to early on when you were lucky to pkay four downstrums to the bar! It wasn’t easy in the early days! Then you had to adapt to playing 6/8 or alternate picking! THEN fingerstyle shows up!!! These all require different skills & so your working on them. Then, you’ll decide to learn a new song that wants 8 downstrums per bar…… these are all tools we use to increase our proficiency… you see what I mean?
So using the metronome visually is just one more “tool” in my toolbox 
!!!
Tod
Good points. So, to be totally transparent: while I try not to make a habit of it, I actually do sneak peaks at the display of my metronome at times. I do this especially to check my progress through a song - did I fall off the rhythm without realizing it? While my metronome app allows me to confirm this auditorily (it has a different tone on the downbeat), those brain circuits are already busy trying not to further lose the beat as I check! As you point out, this a tool I use, and it’s nice to have it in the toolbox. 
The best way to do it is with in ear monitors with a click track or drum beats and what you’re playing. It’s my chosen method for keeping time but I’m happier with a drum track.
This gives you an idea of how to do it:
Ah, some day! I’m still a beginner, and while I love learning about gear I have put a moratorium on my gear purchases…for me it’s too much distraction from focusing on my basic skills!
Hi Tod,
What I have learned from some advanced players here and from Justin and from several teachers is that a visual metronome actually slows down your development (simply because it doesn’t work properly)…looking at the light and playing is impossible knowing if to execute it perfectly… knowing whether that is correct, while if you play with a click it will automatically disappear (the click will not be heard by you ) if you perform it correctly… that is how it works… so it is not a good tool even like you feels it that way , but it would actually slow you down in developing a good sense of rhythm …
Hope this helps ,
Greetings
I posted the original comment suggesting use of a visual reference. I was admonished for being completely wrong. Now, I’m hearing that such use will limit a person’s musical development. Couldn’t disagree more and influencing people to stop using strategies is indeed more harmful. As far as the “experts” go, the finest musicians in the world for literally hundreds of years have all used visual rhythm references. Just go to any symphony rehearsal or performance. These musicians seem to have developed quite nicely.
A conductor of an orchestra is a poor analogy for a metronome.
Yes, the conductor sets the tempo, but the members of the orchestra are not strictly locked to it as you should be with a metronome if you are using it properly.
If you actually watch conductors, it very often appears the conductor and the orchestra are doing different things. In particular, there is a lag between the conductor and the orchestra, and that varies depending on the orchestra, the conductor, and the piece being played.
It’s part of what makes being a conductor such a skilful role: being able to build that communication with the orchestra. If it was as simple as being a human metronome, it would not be such a revered and respected position.
So if you want to give a common example of where humans follow a visual metronome, you’re probably going to have to find something else.
Cheers,
Keith
I am not knowledgeable enough about whether visual or audio time tracking is better, but I do find that I like the visual cue as a double check. I play to the tone, and every so often glance at the visual display and find I am an entire beat off and didn’t realize it. Somehow this is easier for me than trying to match the slightly different tone of the first beat, especially with more complex times.
For hearing both metronome and amp output, how about a splitter?
As I indicated before, giving bad advice like you are doing again is more harmful than my advice here, which I learned from at least Justin and anyone who has seen all of his videos will agree with this…or heard it from so many other teachers… And comparing a metronome with a conductor is not the best example, as explained by Keith above…
I hope this helps …
Greetings
To respond or not to respond…
1.) Keith indicated it would be a good idea if I actually saw what a conductor does. I was in a symphonic orchestra for years that included some members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (well known throughout the world). I have some experience seeing what a conductor actually does.
2.) The original post of mine was in response to a member here that was having trouble with using the metronome. I was simply suggesting an additional alternative, not a replacement.
3.) At no time did I suggest that anyone should be staring at flashing light anymore than should anyone be staring at a conductor or focusing acutely on a beeping metronome.
4.) All of these “devices” are nothing more than rhythmic references. They’re there to provide a checkpoint to assess your timing.
5.) The tone of some of the experts on this forum is becoming an issue that needs to be addressed.
“The problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.”
BERTRAND RUSSELL
Dennis, if you have problems with me or someone else, you should speak to the moderators about this and they will take action if necessary, you use big words to dismiss what is just what Justin advise is and there are quite a few insulting words in your text and this tone you use is not the first time… I will ask @Richard_close2u to contact me or someone else if necessary …
Ps, there are still some mistakes in your list, but I don’t dare say anything more
Hi Judi, you are totally right that my Roland Cube does not have Bluetooth Maybe I should buy a new budget amp which does have that function. I still need to find a way to practice with the metronome on my electric guitar. Currently I either practice without the amp on so I can focus on the metronome click and other times I have my headphones on slightly crooked so that one ear is mostly free to hear the metronome. It’s not ideal but it’s the best I can think of
