My main one is a taktell piccolo. I like it a lot. It’s a wind up metronome like the ‘old’ days. Guess if figure these types of metronomes have been used for decades. They work well and the ones I’ve had have been more than durable. Like lifetime durable.
I also have a mini taktell. It was my original I got back in the early 70’s. Unfortunately for me, I’ve lost it in my house, somewhere. This really bums me out since it was my first metronome and I want it back. Perhaps someday I’ll find it. But I’ve kinda lost hope. Been on the hunt for it for 4 years now to no avail. Hence, I got the piccolo. My wife gave it to me 4 or so years ago. Great birthday present I thought.
My alternate metronome is what comes with my DAW. This works fine too and I do use it when I’m recording as it’s in the DAW. I can have it on when recording, but turn it off for playback. This is beneficial.
Last thing I may use is a drum backtrack. Specially if I’m adding backtrack drums to what I’m recording. No need for a metronome when ya got some drums keeping time.
Anyways.
What do you use? Do you like what you use?
Or perhaps, ya don’t use a metronome?
I use Justin’s time trainer a bit kind the poster above. However, more recently I have used the drum beats installed on my zoom multi effects pedal which I prefer.
I mostly use a metronome when practicing on Justin’s practice assitant webpage.
On my smartphone I use smartchord for tuning and metronome (lots more stuff, some advanced things you have to pay)
And I have a tuner with a built in metronome in case, but only used it as tuner yet.
I probably should practice more with a metronome, Mostly I play along music or just on my own timing. Maybe my timing would improve using a mentronome more often…
It’s a debatable point whether I play with a metronome or not.
I uses the Moises app to play along to tracks with my acoustic guitar, so as well as using my ear to keep time, the app does have a scrolling display of the bars so that’s another big clue if you’re playing in time or not. Also Moises does have a smart metronome feature that adjusts to whatever track you’re playing along to. I don’t often use this but it’s occasionally helpful.
So, on one hand, I don’t sit and play along to the tick, tick, tick of a metronome but on the other, I don’t entirely ignore my timing either
Probably the only thing I don’t use as a metronome is a classic … metronome.
I use whatever is built into the DAW, Justin’s TimeTrainer app (tried a few others but Justin’s is good without junky ads), and also the Tick free open source app on my laptop. Which is also nice and clean.
Cool that others are using the metronome.
But man, I digest. I’m outdated, again.
I never considered that everyone would be using electronic metronomes. I thought I’d see different versions of mechanical metronomes made by different manufactures. Ya know, the ones with the arm that physically swings back and forth.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
This thread got me to wondering what kind of metronome I could buy so I just googled metronomes for sale. I only looked at one link. They are all electronic. There were no mechanical metronomes at all. My oh my.
If I’d get one of them I’d be back to a learning curve as to how to use it. I’d have never guessed that there would be so many features available for something that just goes click, click, click.
Some very interesting replies as to what folks are using here.
I had seen that JG had a source for one a while back when I was in snooping around on JG. Thanks for the screen shots Michal.
The reason I ask this question is I’m doing a song. After kinda learning the song. To where I pretty much think I know the song. I decided to record it. This is when I discovered my lack of my internal timing, again.
I can remember now that I’ve had this problem all my life. Thinking back to playing in band in school, while practicing. I’d find myself drifting all over the place for timing.
Apparently this part of me is still alive and well. I still drift.
I may not have even turned on a metronome for this song. But the real version of said song actually has what I think is a cow bell running through a lot of the song. I was thinking of perhaps adding something similar in my recording. But I’d have to be in time for a cow bell like sound to work. This is when I refound my old irritant. Lack of timing.
Out comes my taktell for practicing the song. I’m kinda close now in my timing of the song but am still drifting, generally speeding up. Oddly, when I do the song via the mech. metronome I think I’m doing ok, then when I do a recording, using the DAW metronome, I actually thought the DAW metronome was off. It wasn’t, it is me. I don’t know why that would be even.
Thanks for the feedback on this subject. Again, I still have much to learn. Even about something as simple as a metronome it seems.
This is for sure a new day and age. I just never considered computer type electric metronomes. When I think metronome, I think a small box with a swinging arm that winds up which it seems is plain outdated. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I play (and like) outdated simple amps (not computer driven) too.
How the times are changing!
Thanks for all the feedback on this. I’ve learned something here on JG, again. Sure is a great place (JG) to hang out and learn!
That came up for me too Rogier. Mechanical metronome pics. It’s just when I went to one of the first links (sweetwater) that I found only electric ones for sale.
Was a freebie many years ago, then lifetime licence for around £10. Got it for the programmability which has multiple options and easy to set up and store.
I have just recently decided to commint to using a metronome as much as possable. I have not been on my timing as well as I would like to be now that I am trying to combine rhythm and licks into the same 122 barr blues type pieces. I have a fairly cheap hand held plastic battery powered one but it is in an unknown location currently. So I am using the justin guitar one, pictures of it are posted above. I also use the one in the practice assistant, I have used this in the past as well.
I did just get one the mail, this cool, old school, vintage Seth Thomas. Its probobly going to be more of a decoration but It is fully functional and sound totally cool. I love the old wooden ones even if they are not very fancy.
I don’t use a metronome at all. I did when starting out but found it sucked the fun out of playing for me . I do always tap my foot though so I guess that’s my metronome . A pretty cheap one
I’ve heard many people express something similar, which I find kind of surprising. It seems like a metronome is a good practice tool that helps you to learn to play in time. Why does it suck the fun out of your playing?
Btw, I make a distinction between playing and practicing. I use a metronome for specific reasons when I’m learning a new song or lick or whatever. I don’t use one when I am playing for fun.
Hi Jim,
I guess I just didn’t enjoy it as it made playing feel mechanical and music to me is something I feel. I am also guilty of not really practicing much anymore as I only pick up the guitar to sit on my porch and play songs or just noodle around and have fun. I only see this as a hobby and don’t really care if I ever get any good at it.
For me, it sucked all the fun out because I wasn’t playing in time. The metronome highlights the errors of my ways.
While I don’t play with others, I have in the past. It’s very hard to play with others if your timing is varying. The others can’t keep time with me if I’m going faster or slower throughout a song. It’s near impossible to play with others that way. I really was quite surprised at my varying in timing. I really think I can keep good time. Until I play against a metronome, or play with other folks.
I can totally dig what your saying. Feeling mechanical and all. It makes me feel that way too. Until I start play against a metronome and I’m playing in time. Then I start to ‘feel’ the music again. Only when I’m against the metronome, the timing becomes perfect and the music really shines at that point.
It is hard to play against a metronome imho.
For sure I don’t always use one too. Like you, I really like playing on my back stoop. No metronome to be seen there, generally. And I agree that for me, this is only a hobby too. But I do want to become better at my hobby. The metronome is a easy tool to use that I’m of the opinion that playing in time will be of use to me and what sounds I make. I do want others to enjoy what I play, not that there’s anyone ever around to hear me other than my wife. However, ya never know where our making music will take us. I may never become great, likely not even. But I still want to do the best I can and timing I think is a part of playing more musically.
Ah, someone finally has a mechanical metronome. Thanks Seth. Very nice looking metronome too. Worthy of display. My taktell is just plastic. It don’t do nothing for the eyes. It don’t look great. Your is really good looking. Cool that it still works. Best I can tell, these mechanical metronomes just keep on ticking for a lifetime.
On my phone for general practice e.g. a strumming pattern, I use Justin’s Time Trainer app.
If I’m learning a song I put it into Guitar Pro with the metronome on.
Took me a while to come round to using one as I found it more of a distraction than a help. But as a professional guitar player said to me once “The metronome does not lie”.
(KISS 
)
. A pretty cheap one 