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How do you do a metronome when timing changes
Vocalise time signature changes during the song. Metronome?
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Mouse
January 10, 2020 - 9:27 am
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How do I set my metronome for a song whose time signature changes so the first beat is accented? Here is the public domain sheet music:

01BE6B1B-073E-425F-A8E9-C1E95D048F31.jpegImage Enlarger
It starts out in common time (4/4?). It switches to 2/4 and back to common time. 

For this week, I am not working in the first and middle sections because my fingering and bowing is pretty good. My instructor said to work on the part starting with the 5th line to the end. I am not as confident on that section. Then we will put it all together. 

I do, however have issues with timing, so, I want to get the timing right for this section, too so that section’s timing will be correct when we put it all together. Maybe that will help me get the timing right with the first and middle section, or at the least, I will only have the timing issues with the beginning and middle. 

Like the beginning and middle, the last section, poco più mosso, switches between 2/4 and common. How do I set my metronome so that the first beat of each measure is accented if the beats per measure changes?

I have ordered the in-ear metronome and should be getting it today or tomorrow. I can’t play my cello probably until Tuesday, if I am lucky. Unfortunately, my lesson is Wednesday! I can use the metronome on my violin and practice those time signature changes, so how do you set a metronome for changing time signatures without having to stop and do the change? Is it possible? I really need that first beat accented, at leqst for the moment.

Thanks in advance.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Gordon Shumway
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January 10, 2020 - 9:47 am
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I'd suggest that you do need to become less metronome dependent.

The first stage of that would be just to have it beat without any emphases, if you can't do without it altogether.

If you've been told never to tap your feet, it's OK to wiggle your toes in time with the music inside your shoes.

Andrew

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Mouse
January 10, 2020 - 9:52 am
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Another thing. My instructor told me to set the metronome (I told him I was getting it) to 96 and have the 8th notes counted (not his exact words, but how I understood it). That is how he counts it out. He does this because it is so slow the other way. 

So, the 8th note gets one click, the quarter note gets 2 clicks, and the half note gets 4 clicks and the whole notes get 8 clicks. Is this correct?

I have a hard time paying attention to,his tapping and playing in the lessons. Has to do with my issue with playing in front of people. Instructors are not exempt. I get nervous. If I can get the timing down better at home it sure will make lessons better.

Thanks again.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Gordon Shumway
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January 10, 2020 - 10:05 am
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Perhaps you could practise singing it on your own and maybe clapping your hands on the beat?

Andrew

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Mouse
January 10, 2020 - 10:08 am
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Gordon Shumway said
I'd suggest that you do need to become less metronome dependent.

The first stage of that would be just to have it beat without any emphases, if you can't do without it altogether.

If you've been told never to tap your feet, it's OK to wiggle your toes in time with the music inside your shoes.

  

I can’t tap my feet, tap my fingers, etc while playing. It is like the rubbing your head and tapping your belly thing. I have never been told not to. Just is not in the cards.

I don’t think I am exactly metronome dependent. I don't currently use one at all. I need to get timing down and get used to playing with the correct timing. I think that once I do get used to,it, I will be fine. I haven’t been able to do that at all.

I am not sure that not using a metronome is going to help me get any idea how to keep proper time. I have read, when researching this metronome, that professionals use metronomes to keep in time, many use some that clip to,their stand, others use the in-ear. I am not going to play in public or with others. I need to be able to keep time in any way I can so I can enjoy playing my instruments in a way that is more enjoyable to me.

So, even being temporarily metronome dependent, or permanently metronome dependent, really is a moot point for me. I just need to know how to handle the above changing time signature issue. If I had any idea to play with others, I would agree, but to get to the point of not needing one, I would still have to know timing and how it feels.

Also, I tend to get lost in pieces like this and the accented first beat helps keep me focused as to where I am. I hope this makes sense.

I tried tapping my foot, at my instructor’s suggestion in class a few times times. Did not go well, except give us a good laugh a few times. 😂 I guess that coordination is lost on me.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Mimi Aysha
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January 10, 2020 - 11:25 am
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I try to use a metronome when practicing scales, speed and bowing, I guess turning it up faster speeds you up (it hasn't worked with me yet)

But then I get in a real pickle when I'm paying a tune...I see other people tapping their feet, but I forget about 10 taps in, so for now, all the tunes I know speed up and slow down, depending on the easy and hard bits.

My husband laughs when he's playing along on the guitar, cause I say I always end at the same time and just don't get why he is in fits. So he starts clapping his hands really loud when I slow down....he has banned me from singing along.

I'm really hoping timing just happens as I move along and get better, if I try and focus on just that everything else goes to pot!

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Gordon Shumway
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January 10, 2020 - 12:43 pm
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Mimi Aysha said
all the tunes I know speed up and slow down, depending on the easy and hard bits. 

That was the explanation Segovia gave for his rubato. And I don't think he was being sarcastic! I'm all for rubato. You can savour moments, you can adjust a tone quality if it is flagging, you can work on intonation if that is out. There's lots of things you can get from it. But then the better you get, the more you can use it as an expressive tool instead.

Andrew

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Mouse
January 10, 2020 - 1:22 pm
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How do I set my metronome for a song whose time signature changes so the first beat is accented? For the example, see my original post at the beginning.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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AndrewH
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January 10, 2020 - 2:57 pm
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I don't know of any metronome that can be programmed to change time signatures, but you can use a workaround. Why not have the metronome accent every two beats, so that it accents the first and third beats of the 4/4 measures?

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starise
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January 10, 2020 - 3:06 pm
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Well cid good luck with this. I only scanned over the music you posted briefly and I don't think I have a good grasp of the changes yet. I'll need to look at it again.

Really an easy thing to do in MIDI. I just downloaded Musescore and so I'm not sure if you can program tempo changes into it yet. All my other music programs can do it.

The "programming" part isn't as difficult as it seems. You simply type in a different tempo or key signature where you want it and it follows. This could be applied to only a metronome sound or to the entire piece. Musescore probably does it since you can readily import files that have those changes embedded in the data. 

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Sasha
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January 10, 2020 - 4:34 pm
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I don't know of any metronome that will do that either, but it could be programmed in a DAW or notation software.   Probably the best route would be to program in a click track that way, export it to audio, and then if you want to speed it up or slow it down use an audio slowdown/looping tool.  At least that way all of the tempos would remain relative to each other.

I have to admit, I rarely practice with a metronome unless I am learning something new and really technical.  I should probably use one more. :D

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Mouse
January 10, 2020 - 4:59 pm
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I think something in the kine of what Andrew said would wrk. 

I don’t use midi. I just want to use a metronome to help keep my timing, i don’t do any midi, daw or whatever, just a simple metronome.

I think that if I can set it to accent the first and third beats, that would work. I will still be able to keep myself from getting lost in the sheet music this way. 

Thanks everyone.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Mouse
January 10, 2020 - 6:10 pm
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I just got my in-ear metronome. It seems that I will be able to do as Andrew suggested. I can’t play my cello for a little while, but in input what I need for this song, and it seems to be dong the beats and accents I need. I know that on th accented beats I need to be on the first or third beat of the measure. I am not off by so much that I would be mistaking the first or third for each other.

After I have used the in-ear metronome, I will let you all know how it is in the review section. The sound in the ear, at least, is not harsh. 

Thanks, everyone.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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