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Thank you for becoming a member of our community.  By using our tools, you can now organize your sessions and build better habits by tracking how much you practice.  We are excited to be a part of your musical journey!

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Inspire your routine with interviews and articles by our community of master musicians.

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As always, if you need help, we are here for you.  
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Inspire Your Practice

Sometimes your practices need a little boost. Check out our articles for practice tips and inspiration.

If you need help, we are here for you.  
Just drop a line to info@metronomeonline.com.

Learn from Professional Musicians

Inspire your routine with interviews and articles by our community of master musicians.

...And More!

Check out our most popular articles:

How to Use a Metronome
Tempo Markings
Creating a Career Composing for Games, Film, TV and Beyond

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- Download the iPhone App -
Now with Advanced Metronome Features!

We are excited to announce a huge update to our Metronome Online mobile app for iPhone. Download the new app to change time signatures, use subdivisions, tap for tempo, access practice plans, and track your practice by tasks!

Let us know what you think, or if you need any help at info@metronomeonline.com.

Something not working?

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Thank you for an incredible year!

Major desktop app updates coming soon!

- New Artist Feature -

Thomas Leeb - Rhythm as a Musical Framework

We are joined this week by fingerstyle guitar phenom Thomas Leeb. Thomas is faculty at California Institute of the Arts and a wildly followed musician, so we couldn't be more happy that he agreed to answer a few questions for us.

1) Why is rhythm important?

Because it provides a framework for understanding what is being communicated musically. Taking this language analogy a little further: stuttering or pausing randomly you speak will make speech harder to follow and the message might get lost. It's the same when you rush/lag/stutter music on an instrument.

2) How often do you practice with a metronome?

Whenever I have new work finished or go out on tour with a new program, I like to polish things with a final metronome check. It's always surprising to find I'm not always as solid as I think I am!

3) Why is it important to practice with a metronome?

Because it prepares you for the day when you actually need to record or perform with one. If you've never done this, the metronome will feel like an enemy. If you've practiced with a metronome, it can become a dependable friend.

4) Can you name one thing that you like about the metronome on metronomeonline.com?

It's sleek and it's neat to be able to keep track of things.

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- New Artist Feature -

Martin Chalifour - Rhythm is the International Metric System for Music

We are joined this week by none other than the concertmaster of the LA Phil! Martin Chalifour is now in his 25th season with the orchestra and continues to enjoy a rich presence as a soloist and chamber musician. We couldn''t be more happy that he agreed to answer a few questions for us.

1) Why is rhythm important?

We say Music is the only International language. well, RHYTHM is the international METRIC SYSTEM for MUSIC, and without it, we could not converse with each through music like we do. It's really the basis of everything, the building blocks.

2) How often do you practice with a metronome?

30 to 40 percent of my practice time.

3) Why is it important to practice with a metronome?

Because no matter how strong your sense of rhythm is, the mechanical guide will always have surprises for you. We all tend to rush through long notes, slow down in hard passages, etc.

4) Can you name one thing that you like about the metronome on metronomeonline.com?

Always available on every device I own. And I like the old-fashioned classic metronome look, with only the broader numbers to select from. Plus, it's LOUD enough. 

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Rhythm demands a feel and a comfort level that you cannot fake!

Nathan Farrington, Principal Double Bass, LA Opera

From singing to classical bass - from band to symphony orchestras. Meet Nathan Farrington, principal double bassist of the LA Opera. We couldn''t be happier that he agreed to answer a few questions for us in this week''s artist feature!

1) How do you practice your rhythm and sense of time?

I try to ask myself what role rhythm is playing in the moment and then determine the best way to attack it. Sometimes that''s with a metronome, other times it''s about investing harder in listening in the group. 

2) What are your favorite rhythmic exercises?

Playing in a band away from classical music demands rhythm from me in a very different, very helpful way. It''s my favorite rhythmic exercise.

3) What exotic rhythms do you like and what can we learn from it?

I think that folk rhythms demand a feel and a comfort level that you can't just fake. It takes time to have a relationship with certain lilts and the right types of back rhythms. Sometimes they're exotic, sometimes they're simple, but it''s never easy to get them just right.

4) Can you name one thing that you like about the metronome on metronomeonline.com?

I love that Metronome Online is a place to go for more than a machine. seeing and hearing from fabulous players across lots of genres keeps me thinking about the role rhythm plays in all of our lives.

VIDEO: Check out this one man band rendition of Anna Kendrick''s Cup Song done by Nathan Farrington.

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- New Artist Feature -

Hannah Murphy - Stay on Tempo

We are joined this week by classical guitarist and Instagram influencer Hannah Murphy. With more than 112 thousand followers she has paved the way for modernization of social media presence for classical guitar, so we cannot be more happy that she agreed to answer a few questions for us:

1) Why is rhythm important?

Rhythm is one of the first things we subconsciously notice about music. It tells us so much about the music, so the musician needs to be intentional.

2) How often do you practice with a metronome?

I use a metronome most days, even if just for a few minutes. I like to practice technical exercises and scales with a metronome to make sure they're even and steady. I also like to use a metronome on the beginning stages of learning a new piece.

3) Why is it important to practice with a metronome?

I think while practicing it's so helpful to have, because you're focusing on so many things going on in the music. It's a great reminder to stay on tempo.

4) Can you name one thing that you like about the metronome on metronomeonline.com?

I like how it gives the range of the tempo markings. This can be really helpful to students who might not remember exactly what bpm moderato, allegro, or presto is. The website is also really accessible, so I can tell my students that there's no excuse not to practice with a metronome now.

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200 guitarists, 40 countries, 1 epic video

We are excited to share a video release and a tremendous guitar project, founded by one of our artists and team members - guitarist Mak Grgic.  Virtual Guitar Orchestra (VGO), a global guitar community initiative, was born out of an idea to create a new audience development tool, and ended up being a necessity to keep the guitar community alive and active during the pandemic. In VGO''s 2nd project - SCIENT, SAFE & SANE by SERGIO ASSAD - we look at how fingerstyle guitar and classical guitar styles come together.

To our Metronome Online community - this is also an exciting demonstration of playing together in time and how important this becomes in large numbers.  In this case, 200 guitarists are performing together, playing to a click (metronome) track!

FINGERSTYLE GUITAR

Ralph Towner, Peppino D'Agostino, Romero Lubambo, Sylvain Luc, Antoine Boyer, Joe Robinson, Martin Taylor, Miroslav Tadic, Thomas Leeb, Don Ross

CLASSICAL GUITAR

Pavel Steidl, J?r?my Jouve, Pablo Sainz Villegas, Antigoni Goni, Fabio Zanon, Jason Vieaux , Adam Del Monte, Margarita Escarpa, Tilman Hoppstock Fabio Lima, Kevin Callahan, Alieksey Vianna, Irina Kulikova, Pablo M?rquez, Xuefei Yang, Brian Head, David Tanenbaum, Duo Siqueira Lima, Marylise Florid

Benjamin Shepherd - Bass, Peter Erskine - Drums

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5 Most Useful Guitar Technique Exercises

Mak Grgic
Classical Guitarist

From concert stage to organizing music events, from touring with KD Lang to composing and recording - meet classical guitarist Mak Grgic as he shares his 5 most useful guitar technique exercises!

1) Arpeggios

What is an arpeggio, you may be asking yourself? Well, have you ever heard Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen as played by James Buckley? Remember how the notes in the chords are plucked one after the other and not strummed together? This is called an arpeggio. It's a guitar technique where you hold a chord in the left hand and then play strings in different sequences in the right hand. The suggested common patterns are thumb (p) - index (i) - middle (m) and ring (a), then p-a-m-i, and not to forget p-i-m-a-m-i.

Suggestion: when practicing repeat each one 10 times to get a good flow going.

2) Bar Chords

Bar chords are perhaps the biggest pain for any guitar player. There's a way to learn how to delegate strength. Take your index finger and do a bar over all 6 strings on the 7th fret. Now, start plucking the strings from 6-1 and backwards. The important thing to do is that you only truly press with the left hand finger on the string that you are actually plucking. The index finger should relax on all other strings when not engaging with them.

Suggestion: repeat 10 times plucking from string 6 - 1 and back, then relax.

3) Chromatic Scale

A full chromatic scale is a succession of notes that covers and tackles all of the notes on the guitar fret board. Starting with open 6 string, the frets are as follows:

string 6 frets 0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
string 5 frets 0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
string 4 frets 0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
string 3 frets 0 - 1 - 2 - 3
string 2 frets 0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
string 1 frets 0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4

Suggestion: Practice 10 times going up and down the scale, but be careful that you keep your left hand fingers close to the frets and not having them dangle around like loose banana leaves. In the right hand you can use a pick or simple index-middle right hand finger exchange.

4) Speed Bursts

Speed bursts are a common exercise to deal with building up speed for any musician. On guitar we can resort to a simple exercise with a metronome. Set the metronome to a click of 60 and pretend that click is a quarter note. Playing just the open string 1 try to match the click, by playing quarter notes. Now, after playing 4 quarter notes, execute 8 fast eighth notes, then back to quarter notes.

Suggestion: repeat 15 times, and then move the metronome up by 2 notches. If you feel ambitious, go for 5 notch increments! Play with a pick or index-middle fingers in the right hand.

5) Hammer-Ons

Remember Eddie Van Halen or Jimmy Hendrix with their crazy finger tapping skills? Have you ever wondered how they did it? It's with a combination of hammer-ons and pull-offs. An example of a hammer-on is when you play an open string 1 and then 'slam dunk' the string 1 fret 1 without helping yourself with plucking that note with the right hand. Try it! Pluck open string 1, then slam dunk fret 1 with your index finger, then pluck open 1 again and then slam dunk fret 2 with your middle finger, then open 1 and fret 3 with ring finger and lastly fret 4 with your pinky.

Suggestion: repeat 10 times for each fret and remember: a good hammer-on is fast and precise, not slow and strong.

Check out example videos below for more info.
 

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System Maintenance Update

Top 10 Guitarists

When we think of guitar we think of the diversity. With diversity comes opportunity. And with opportunity we see creativity in all aspects of music! Have you ever tried to name the absolute top 10 guitarists? How about 20? It's a hard thing to do, wouldn't you say? Let's look at some of the instrument's game changers of the 20th century.

Randy Rhoads, known for his fast and technical style of guitar soloing, largely defined the metal scene of the 1980s.

David Gilmour's playing includes blues-influenced phrasing, expressive note bends, sustain, and ambient chordal mixtures. He is well known for being the lead in Pink Floyd.

Stevie Ray Vaughan is a guitarist with roots in blues, rock, and jazz. With a short lived career he is considered as one of the most influential guitarists of all time.

B.B.King is known for a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shimmering vibrato and staccato picking that influenced many later blues electric guitar players.

Chuck Berry, nicknamed the "Father of Rock and Roll", refined and developed rhythm and blues in a way that made rock and roll distinctive.

Robert Johnson displayed a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced many generations of musicians and still remains unmatched. He is recognized as a master of the Delta blues.

Eric Clapton has coined the image of a true lead guitarist and is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream.

Eddie Van Halen was well known for popularizing the tapping guitar solo technique, allowing rapid arpeggios to be played with two hands on the fretboard. He is certainly one of the most acclaimed rock guitarists of all time.

Jimmy Page is famous for his guitar riffs and varied style, involving diverse guitar tunings, technical and melodic solos and an aggressive, distorted guitar tone. He also played the guitar with a cello bow, creating a drone-like soundscape.

Jimi Hendrix, the most famous left-handed guitarist, is known for the overdriven amplifiers with high volume and gain, and was instrumental in popularizing the previously undesirable sounds caused by guitar amplifier feedback, along with unmatched style and musicality.

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- New Artist Feature -

Paul Cardall - Rhythm is the
Heartbeat of Music

We are joined this week by pianist, composer and a survivor of complex congenital heart defect. This multi Billboard No. 1 charting artist coined the term Peaceful Piano to listeners world-wide. Meet Paul Cardall and see what he has to say about rhythm:

1) Why is rhythm important?

Rhythm is the heartbeat of music. Ironically, I was born with only half a heart and experienced irregular heart rhythm until receiving a heart transplant over a decade ago. As a self-taught pianist, years ago, when I started out composing my music I also didn't have perfect rhythm. Unfortunately, a cardiologist cannot perform cardioversion on a pianist. You can, however, prescribe a metronome.

2) How often do you practice with a metronome?

As an improvisational pianist I rely on a metronome in the recording studio in my in-ears particularly so an arranger can be more efficient in writing the score additional instruments.

3) Why is it important to practice with a metronome?

Practice makes perfect. Keeping rhythm is not always easy, which is why your metronome ads such value to the process of perfecting performance. Even though I utilize a lot of ritardando in my pieces, the metronome helps me stay consistent and predictable when performing with other players.

4) Can you name one thing that you like about the metronome on metronomeonline.com?

Who wants to carry around a inch by 4 inch-square base pendulum? This is brilliant and enables players to be more efficient on the go.

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Cyclic Rhythms!

Buzz Gravelle
Fretless Guitarist

From teaching at Cal Poly Pomona to being an influencer on Instagram. From playing Fender Strat to composing on fretless guitar. Meet Buzz Gravelle, the magician of the guitar! We are excited to have him as our featured artist this week.

1) How do you practice your rhythm and sense of time?

Well, everybody knows how to use a metronome when it is set to the beat or a subdivion of the beat. This is, of course, an important use for it. I use a metronome this way often. However, especially playing solo, I often want a sense of rubato mixed in with larger stricter metric pulses. To work on this I sometimes set the metronome to click only on beats one and three of each measure (or two and four) or even just on beat one. This allows me some freedom while still adhering to a larger pulse. I think it's important to hear these larger metric units.

2) What are your favorite rhythmic exercises?

At the moment I am fascinated by a lot of different polymeters. I am working through exercises in a great book by Matthew Montfort called "Ancient Traditions, Future Possibilities" which explores rhythmic training through the traditions of music of Africa, Bali, and India. Traditional African music, especially, often has multiple layers of rhythm--two against three, four against five, and even more complex polymetric relationships. It's fun to set the metronome to one of the meters while playing in the other meter, ultimately training the ear to hear the composite of both simultaneous meters.

3) What exotic rhythms do you like and what can we learn from it?

Oh, so many! I am fascinated by the Indian classical system of talas or re-occuring rhythmic cycles. These rhythmic cycles can be much longer than the Western music's concept of a measure. And within these talas incredible cross-rhythmic variations are often improvised by master musicians. It's such a different perspective on pulse and meter than in Western music. As with many things Indian there are philosophical underpinnings to the concept of rhythmic cycles. In this case, the cyclic nature of life is reflected in the re-occuring cyclic rhythms-one is born, lives his life, dies, and then is reincarnated to begin a new life again.

4) Can you name one thing that you like about the metronome on metronomeonline.com?

It works on every device I use. I often recommend it to students. If a student doesn't have a metronome it's only a quick google search of "metronome" away.

VIDEO: Check out Buzz's viral video called Proof of Existence on a fretless guitar!

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Muscle Memory Lowers Stress!

Stefan L. Smith, Hollywood Composer and Viola Player

From writing for Chicago Sinfonietta, playing on The Voice and Glee, to directing the Metropolis Chamber Musicians, meet Stefan L. Smith - violist, composer, entrepreneur. Here's a few pointers from him on how to practice rhythm!

1) How do you practice your rhythm and sense of time?

If it's a section that has complex rhythms, I like to focus on sub-dividing all passage work audibly (In the bow hand) at a slower tempo. Also, setting a metronome to a doubled, tripled, or quadrupled audible subdivision works extremely well in guaranteeing good timing throughout.

2) What are your favorite rhythmic exercises?

As a string player, many of us are trained to practice passage work in rhythms. I start with rhythm A and read my music from left to right using only that rhythm. Then I repeat the pass again using rhythm B, then C, then D, etc. By the time I've reached letter F, I can usually play the problematic passage proficiently:

A. One Eighth Note + Two 16ths
B. Two 16ths + One Eighth Note
C. Triplets
D. Sixteenths
E. Sextuplets
F. As written

Tips: Set your metronome to a tempo that allows you to execute the passage well from the start (this may be much slower than performance tempo, and that's okay).

Take that practice tempo and lower it by 10, and that will be your foundation tempo. Practice the rhythm sequences slowly then increase the tempo using the same exercises to build proficiency and endurance. You should be able to play this in your sleep after doing all of this lol.

3) What exotic rhythms do you like and what can we learn from it?

Besides doing the above, I also like to read the problem passage from Right to Left, using the same rhythms from above (starting from the last pitch of the passage, and reading backwards to the beginning of the passage). This will freak you out at first, but you'll notice a huge improvement when going back to read the material as written.

By using these rhythms (both forward and backwards with the written pitches), you will train your hands to react without necessarily having to read each individual note in the long run. Muscle memory is the most crucial aspect of having a great performance. Not to mention it lowers your stress when it counts, because you've done all of the hard work ahead of time.

4) Can you name one thing that you like about the metronome on metronomeonline.com?

I actually used this site quite frequently when I was younger. It was invaluable to me, because I had a horrible habit of forgetting my metronome in a practice room. We know that's as good as gone lol. So, this website made it easy to just go online, set my tempo and start practicing. I still use it occasionally for a quick reference while composing or practicing.

VIDEO: Have you ever wondered what a score to Mozart's Concertante looks like? How about the viola section? Check it out!

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Guitarist Scott Tennant talks about practicing with a metronome

We are joined this week by one of the most famous classical guitarists out there. A Grammy Award winning member of LAGQ and professor at USC Thornton School of Music, Scott Tennant answers a few questions for us.

1) Why is rhythm important?

Rhythm is what gives music variety and order. Without it notes could float anywhere.

2) How often do you practice with a metronome?

I practiced with it every day when I was a student. Now I use it to check tempos for myself, set goals, and to keep students steady.

3) Why is it important to practice with a metronome?

It helps fuse our mind with our fingers (if you're a guitarist, pianist or string player), or breath (if you're a singer or wind player).

4) Can you name one thing that you like about the metronome on metronomeonline.com?

I like its convenience, and ease of use.

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- Website Update -
New Advanced Metronome Features!

We hope that you and your family are safe during this challenging time for our world due to Coronavirus.  

We have been working hard on this major website update for the last year and launched it last week!  Check your dashboard where you can now change time signatures, use subdivisions, tap for tempo, access practice plans, and track your practice by tasks!  This is all included in your account completely free, and with no ads, as an appreciation of your loyalty and for being a part of our community.

Stay safe and keep making music!

- The Metronome Online Team

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Let us know at info@metronomeonline.com.

- New Artist Feature -

Guitarist Jo?o Luiz talks Rhythm

We are joined this week by one of the best Brazilian guitarists out there. An artist-in-residence at Stony Brook University and a member of Brasil Guitar Duo, Jo?o Luiz answers a few questions for us.

1) Why is rhythm important?

I like to think about rhythm and pulse as two of the most vital components of music, at least regarding the type of music that I like to listen and play. Good rhythmic foundation is essential, and it is present in Palestrina, Bach, Chopin, and many others. In the guitar, the act of synchronizing the left and right hand is the understanding of the 'rhythm' of the fingers of each hand moving together at the same speed.

2) How often do you practice with a metronome?

I only practice with the metronome. Even at times when I am playing extremely slow, or sight-reading a piece I always like to use the metronome and play around with its subdivisions.

3) Why is it important to practice with a metronome?

One can be so creative using the metronome, with a lot of possibilities of subdivisions, accents in different places, or even as I like to do using two metronomes with different speeds. The metronome allows me a lot of flexibility in my practice, as opposed to imprisoning as many people think. The more you learn how to play on the beat the freer you become, at least in my experience. Although I don''t think that the practice with the metronome corrects bad rhythm it is important that musicians do use the metronome regularly and creatively, and that brings us to the great features of Metronome Online.

4) Can you name one thing that you like about the metronome on metronomeonline.com?

I like how Metronome Online keeps track of our practice goals.

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Peter Erskine on Rhythm and Metronome 

Legendary drummer Peter Erskine shares a few words of wisdom on rhythm and practicing with a metronome. 

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Flutist Sara Andon talks about practicing with a metronome

We are joined this week by flutist extraordinaire. From Broadway to classical stages, we have heard her with Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, LA Phil and movies like Disney's The Jungle Book (2016), Ice Age: Collision Course, @Fast & Furious 7 & 8, The Wolverine, Tron, Straight Outta Compton and many more. Let's see what Sara Andon has to say about rhythm.

1) Why is rhythm important?

"Rhythm" is all around us, above us, below us and inside of us. It is all encompassing in our conscious and subconscious - it is the energy of life. There are countless rhythms going on all of the time on macro and micro levels, from a pulsating star 500 million light years away, to the changing of our earthly seasons, day going to night, in rain drops, ocean waves, every bird call in the trees with its own unique patterns to our very own internal heart beat. Rhythm has meaning - it is in all languages in all life forms, visually, audibly, physically, and is ever present. Rhythm helps us to create and communicate.

2) How often do you practice with a metronome?

Every day, in many different ways, varied patterns, speeds and subdivisions, as well as practicing with the metronome on the "off-beats". Also, I love to record myself daily and record with the metronome, and without. I then play back the recording that was done without the metronome and put the metronome on with my recording to study and listen carefully to where it was exactly in the pocket and what areas need more loving attention! This all helps to heighten the awareness and accuracy. It also allows me to zero in on troubleshooting methods and problem solving, embracing different mental approaches and /or physical approaches to reach the end result. It is always great to be discovering new ways to achieve one's best and keep moving forward.

3) Why is it important to practice with a metronome?

Life in general is full of intentions, decisions and actions and to me the metronome is a "musical moral compass"! It invites and encourages honesty, consistency, reliability, challenge, motivation, goals, loyalty, responsibility, tough love and gives a solid frame work for growth, expansion and creativity.

4) Can you name one thing that you like about the metronome on metronomeonline.com?

Metronome Online gives you a clear, simple way to organize, implement and succeed with short and long term goals.