One often overlooked aspect of playing guitar, especially to beginners, is keeping an even tempo and rhythm. There are a few ways to help you accomplish this. First, you can play along with a band that has a good drummer keeping the time and tempo for the band. This is also helpful in teaching you to be aware of the other instruments and vocals around you as well so that you become better at playing along with a band.
Don’t have a band to play along with? Well, you could also play along with a recording of the song that you are practicing if you are practicing a song. This is a great technique for learning a new song and keeping the proper time and tempo. But what if you are just practicing scales or a simple chord pattern?
In that case there is of course no replacement for a good metronome. You could go out and buy a metronome at the music store of course. They have electronic metronomes that just look almost the same as an electronic tuner and can be set to different time signatures. There are also metronomes that operate a bit more mechanically. Most operate as a backwards pendulum and makes a more definitive clicking noise to help you keep time. Your next option, however, is FREE.
Online Guitar Metronome
Yes, you guessed it! The final option (and best in my opinion) is to utilize an online metronome. The only reason I specify a online guitar metronome is because it is a guitar site that I am going to point you to where you can find a free metronome. But in reality, any metronome that you can find online will do. One of the better online metronomes that I have been able to find can be accessed over at the JamPlay website. I’ve made it easy for you, just click the shiny red button below…
No matter which route you go, you need to make sure that you are constantly aware of tempo and rhythm as you are learning guitar because you will definitely need to be able to play at an even tempo if you are ever going to play with a band. In fact even if you aren’t going to play with a band it’s important to keep the tempo so that the song you are attempting sounds right to your audience and to you. So head over to JamPlay and try out their online metronome and see if it doesn’t help you keep time when practicing scales, chords, and songs in your practice times.
