Hello Folks,
This could be a duh question.
Are all metronomes alike?
I have decided to take the advice of several of you folks and start practicing with a metronome. I brushed off the dust on mine which is a wind up Pacemaker II.
Wow what a trip! It really works! It helps to keep me focused and also is helping me in the memorization of tunes.
I notice at times I get carried away in the tune and get off beat. Is it me or is it the metronome. Do the wind up models get off when they start to wind down so to write.
Also has any one come to rely too much on a metronome and not be able to play with out one? I can just see me losing focus with out that constant tic tic keeping me in line. It’s hypnotic.
Laura
Hi Laura,
Are all metronomes alike? In that they keep strict time, yes. A metronome should no more suffer when winding down than a clock would, until it stops altogether.
There are two basic types, mechanical (like yours?) of which I’m familiar with the pyramid shaped ones, and electronic.
Electronic types have the advantage that they can often be set to just give a visual signal, LED or similar, or be plugged into an earphone, so as not to be heard when playing in a group or recording, that sort of thing. They also often have a tuner built in, mine gives an A=440Hz signal, useful for Fiddles, Mandolins etc to tune to. And they’re cheaper & more compact/portable.
If you’re getting off the beat, alas it’s you! Try setting the beat deliberately slower than you would normally play, it’s really hard to keep playing slowly!
If you can’t keep to the beat of a metronome, get a bodhran player (not Seth though, he’s good, especially on the bones!) who will naturally get faster and faster as they play - problem solved! 
There is a third type of metronome which is frequently seen at one of the sessions I attend. It’s called a really good bodhran player.
“There is a third type of metronome which is frequently seen at one of the sessions I attend. It’s called a really good bodhran player.”
There are some here, not me, you understand, who would tell you your third option is a contradiction in terms.
I believe that most Nomes are each an individual unto themselves,but there would probably be many similarities to the ones that ride the Metro. As for their musical abilities,I hear they are quite accomplished whistlers!
I’m sure the Crystal People would be more precise in their explaination of them.
[ This Message was edited by: Thomas-Hastay on 2002-03-15 14:55 ]
I have a small, inexpensive metronome that is an oblong box, about 4 inches high, two inches deep and one inch across. If a metronome isn’t on a level surface I would imagine you’d get uneven ticks.
On 2002-03-15 15:02, tyghress wrote:
I have a small, inexpensive metronome that is an oblong box, about 4 inches high, two inches deep and one inch across. If a metronome isn’t on a level surface I would imagine you’d get uneven ticks.
Now there’s a good point. Not that all the other post were not a good point.
When I was practicing I was sitting on my bed and the metronome was sitting on a book on the bed also. 
DUH!
Laura