Acoustic guitar and singing: to use a metronome?

  • Thread starter Thread starter tojo
  • Start date Start date

How much do you use a metronome?

  • I always use a metronome regardless of what type of song it is

    Votes: 17 37.8%

  • I don't use a metronome for simple recordings (i.e. acoustic gtr + singing

    Votes: 19 42.2%

  • I never use a metronome anyways

    Votes: 8 17.8%

  • what's a metronome?

    Votes: 1 2.2%
  • Total voters
    45
tojo said:
My question is: do you think it's neccessary to use a metronome in a recording where its simply just acoustic guitar and then singing? I'm trying for the first time and it's so much easier than having that stupid click in my ears... the only problem is I have pauses in my songs... I'd like some opinions on your usage of a metronome in your recordings. I think i prefer to just 'feel' the timing of the song rather than count it out...
Click to expand...

If you have trouble playing/singing to the metro, try setting the
thing for double speed and count it in 8th notes.

ie, if the song is 110bpm for quarter notes, set the beast on
220bpm and count each click as an 8th note.

If you have a deliberate pause, fermata etc in the song, just
pause while it clicks away and pick it back up several beats
later. Then, as another poster suggested, trim out the dead
space later in your software.


Lumpy
-
You looked goofy back then too
http://digitalcartography.com/camp/CraigPromo-Early.jpg
 
Wow,cool...

And here I was thinking,I was the only guy on the planet,who had these kind of problems...I went to using Groove Agent 3 along with Cubase 4.This cuts down on the need for discrimation with regard to timing/meter.If you always play with a drummer,who keeps good time,you eventually too will keep good time.It's a great feel tool,for new ideas,as well.
 
i agree...the question is how is your timing...but regardless id have to say use a met...
 
My answer has changed, I voted I never use one, but now that I've been dinking around with one, I'm finding it a LOT easier to track with one.
 
Depends on what I'm doing. All of my solo acoustic guitar stuff is without one. I find it easier to find emotion by slowing down and speeding up when needed, or where the feeling takes me. Having a metronome in this case would make it impossible to record for me.

When recording things like rock,though, I usually just use a bass and drum track in the background as a metronome.
 
its hit or miss with me

one of my primary subjects i record is an acoustic guitar and female vocal at the same time. she is very talented and has amazing timing!! however, it seems that everytime we get a great take with no click, i immediately get ideas for all kinds of fun stuff. tamborines, hand drums, egg shakers etc... im always kicking myself for not using a click, but then again i always wonder if she would have had such a great take with one. seems to sometimes feel stale or something. i dont know if i'll ever be completely happy one way or another. but does always make for creative problem solving!!:)
 
cmhansen - i agree with you about being able to get a more natural feel to your songs without a metronome.

I think that for me, the skilll i'm aiming for is to be able to still have that natural feel to the song but still using a metronome ( like not being to "rigid" i guess?

thanks for the responses guys!
 
One of the singers I work with, who does just singing and guitar, does not like a tick track. So, I listen to the tick and wave my hands in the air like an orchestra conductor. Keeps the singer in time without any of the jerky catch-up stuff. And there's no tick bleed into the singers mic.
 
suprstar said:
My answer has changed, I voted I never use one, but now that I've been dinking around with one, I'm finding it a LOT easier to track with one.
Click to expand...

There you go. Amazing how, the more we practice, the less we blame other things for our lack of ability to do something.:D
 
I believe you can capture more emotion and feeling by not using one. At least I feel I can when playing solo acoustic pieces.

Yes, timing is important to keep the flow going, and keep the listener engaged, but it's not the be all, end all of being a musician. If I can enhance the listening experience by giving the music some breathing space, or find more emotion from the playing, I will slow down or speed up the piece when and if necessary. Do I do it all the time, no. But when the mood or atmosphere feels right, yes. In my opinion, that is also a part of being a musician...

This might just be the way I see things, or the way I play.
 
I agree to use a met. You never know when inspiration hits ya and you have or want to go back and add something to a part of the song. If your timing is flaky, it might be tough to "hit" that sweet spot or the "1".

As far as the annoying part goes, turn the volume of the click down in your ears so its not so bad until ya get used to it...next thing ya know, you wont be able to record without it.

Good luck!
 
I find when the track is just acoustic guitar and vocals I wont use a click, its nice to have a natural variation in tempo during the song instead of everything so darn perfect ;)
 
No matter what is being tracked, click tracks are the devil. The tempo should flow with the dynamics of the song. Otherwise, it sounds unnatural.
 
GOYA said:
No matter what is being tracked, click tracks are the devil. The tempo should flow with the dynamics of the song. Otherwise, it sounds unnatural.
Click to expand...

Only if one isn't able to play to a click. Practice.
 
RAMI said:
Only if one isn't able to play to a click. Practice.
Click to expand...

I think you misunderstand my point. Think of the best concert you every saw and whether or not the musicians were playing with a click.
 
GOYA said:
I think you misunderstand my point. Think of the best concert you every saw and whether or not the musicians were playing with a click.
Click to expand...

A concert is good because of the show. Some of the best concerts I've seen were not the best because of the musical performance, but because of the visual performance. It's apples and oranges.
 
No, it's apples and apples with colored lights.

Like everything about music, it is all subjective. But I prefer to hear what good musicians do naturally.
 
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