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Hi - I have a non-techie piano-playing friend looking for a hardware, stand alone metronome that will play lots of drum rhythms (maybe with features like BiaB MetronomPro) In hunting around, I see a Boss DB90 may be such a device. What else is out there? Thanks for any help.
Last edited by kelso; 07/08/09 07:10 PM.
kelso
Dell Desktop XPS 8100 W10 HomePrem/64 / Core i5 760 (quad, 2.8GHz) / 8GB DDR3 / 1 TB SATA / ViewSonic VG2428wm / EMU1616 PCI / Event ASP6 Active Monitors / BIAB 2019 64 bit (609) / Cakewalk
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The Alesis SR-18 is popular. It replaced the SR-16 that was very widely used, and which is now available very cheap at $150. Here is a link that may help: http://www.americanmusical.com/ItemList--Drum-Machines--m-106.
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Feature-laden "metronomes" may be fun, but if someone is very serious about their musicality, I recommend that they find the simplest "clicker" that they can, one that does not accent beat one or anything of that ilk, just the same sound each hit. And then, practice putting the beat on 2, then 3, then 4, then 2 and 4, etc. while playing your drills, no matter the rhythm or genre. Once you can do that with impunity, then start making the metronome click to be the ANDS of each beat. This is your perception of where the downbeat lies and you don't have control over that perception unless you work these drills out like that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nFikXk2pW8 Because playing is not about following a drummer, it is about counting for yourself and everybody counting when playing ensemble. Victor Wooten can show you how to practice with the metronome at a very high level of skill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR9to6lbqTY He's using a Korg TM-40, but note that he has it set to the plain click for drills like this. This kind of practice with the metronome will point out where you may be slightly slowing down to perfom something mechanical, in which case you should set the metronome to a slightly slower pace until you concquer that, or in the opposite, it can reveal those areas that you find so easy to execute that you will rush the beat. The only thing that the metronome is for is to keep you counting evenly. Don't ever let the metronome count FOR you, count along with it at all times. The goal is to develop your internal clock to be able to run right alongside the mechanical or electrical clock. And that's swingin' HARD. --Mac
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>>>...I see a Boss DB90 may be such a device. What else>>>....
The Boss "Dr Rhythm" and "Dr Beat" boxes have a good reputation, earned from many years of professional application. Cant go wrong with any of their models. If I were in the market I would not be much interested in looking at anything else.
A non-tech person would probably NOT would to buy the most advanced Dr Rhythm model she could afford. These devices get complicated real fast as they go up the price scale.
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Mac, as usual you make some most excellent points. Counting has always been a problem of sorts for me. For whatever reason, I get lazy. My wife calls me the cpa who can't count. Mac, those are some great points about putting the beat on 2,3,4 and I'm sure the metronome is very valuable with syncopation. We have been using the Dr Beat DB-88 for some time, but the Seth Thomas mechanical metronome gets used a lot also. My wife has had since she was a little girl.
Stan
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Thanks all. Now that I've look at these devices a little more and see that I was a bit unclear about the circumstance here, let me clarify. First, she is an an accomplished pianist and reader who is venturing into a little jazz, improv, theory, etc. She uses a metronome sometimes for this, but just would like to jazz it up a bit - and get a better feel for swing. She plays an acoustic piano and also has a Clavinova (limited midi, no GM, no drum sounds, but does has audio in) So, the BIAB Metro Pro in a hardware version would be just about right.
What would be best (Plan A) is a stand alone unit with integral amp/speakers. I don't think the devices mentioned have that. Next best (Plan B) might be a device that has its own internal drum sounds that output (audio, not midi) to the Clav. Her computer is nowhere the pianos (for now). It looks like the suggested devices do have audio out.
So, ideas for Plan A or B?
Thanks.
Last edited by kelso; 07/09/09 10:31 AM.
kelso
Dell Desktop XPS 8100 W10 HomePrem/64 / Core i5 760 (quad, 2.8GHz) / 8GB DDR3 / 1 TB SATA / ViewSonic VG2428wm / EMU1616 PCI / Event ASP6 Active Monitors / BIAB 2019 64 bit (609) / Cakewalk
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Use your Fantom; no added expense
For the cost of an advanced drum machine, you may be able to find a keyboard with features that would fit the bill and add additional sounds to her arsenal
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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My wife plays flute and piano. She was taught using classical music. Jazz is foreign to her. Although she reads well, she struggles with the jazz rhythms. She says she can't get the right feeling for it. That's the issue in a nutshell. To me, there's more to it than just "swing". There's a lot of syncopation and playing on the upbeat. If you're playing from a chart, you'll see a lot of subtle changes between bars. Of course, that's what makes it so interesting. Get whatever type of drum machine/metronome you want, but I think that she would benefit just as much by listening to a lot of piano jazz. Pretty soon those "different" rhythmn patterns will begin to sink in. I would also suggest some playalong cd's. They have worked pretty well for me on trumpet and it's way more fun learning by playing along than reading a book, too.FWIW
stan
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Yes, playing along with the standards and a few challenging obscure things is a fun way to learn, but if the focus is on learning to be able to hear/feel the clock in your head then a metronome is a valuable tool. It forces you to play your parts in perfect time, as there are no other parts covering for you when you stray, and there is no variance. There is a lot to be said for learning the classic licks though, and expanding on them. Most great players do this.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Just to clarify....I don't have anything against a metronome and I even use one from time to time (no pun intended).
Cornet Curmudgeon
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