Practicing with a metronome

[Jkendrick]

I haven't been playing much with other folks for a while. And I haven't been "practicing" in the traditional sense either. I've more been learning songs and playing alone on my acoustic. As a result, I'm realizing my timing has gone to shit. I want to start practicing with a metronome again but want a routine that will maximize my limited time. Anyone have a good routine?  I'm looking for actual things to play, not just eliminate the clicks on the 2 & 4 type things.


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[Hoody]

Do you have a looper?  I always find those are a really simple and easy way to work on your timing and playing w/ a beat.  I always think its great to play with a drummer if you can find one.  Sometimes I think playing alone can just get dull, or cause you to lose your ability to mesh all the noise/sounds/elements of having multiple people. 

But at the same time, I always wish i had a lot more time to sit down for a few hours and just work on complicated pieces or to write more interesting music.  I think you really need both to get good.

[Heady Jam Fan]

Yeah, looper is a good idea.

Pump some tunes on your stereo and play along.

Write a song and record the rhythm parts, play along with it!

[Stecks]

Also:  James Brown.  Play lots of James Brown

[Hans Moleman]

Can't recommend using a metronome enough. Especially when improvising, if your time is bad, nothing else matters. Playing on the grid is the absolute most important thing.

Loopers are a great tool, provided you use a metronome or tap tempo function. No matter how good a musician you are, if you're not using a metronome of some sort to loop, you will end up looping changes in slightly not-perfect time to practice with and therefore reinforcing bad habits.

[Heady Jam Fan]

Also:  James Brown.  Play lots of James Brown

^ play what he sings

[Buffered]

Funky vamping is like melodic cowbell.