I study guitar as a hobby. When I practice, I often play a little ahead of the metronome click. I can see it when I record myself with GarageBand.
I have been trying to adjust, but can’t seem to progress.
Is there a metronome app that would give me a strong visual clue when I am not exactly on the beat?
- Edit for clarification: I am looking for an app that will call me out in real-time, either visually or audibly, whenever I play offbeat.
Why am I bothering with this?
I have heard musicians talking about making the metronome sound disappear by playing at the exact right time. I also noticed some people frowning when I play a split second before the click. Is it worth improving that aspect? Is there a better way to do it?
I don’t know of an app for that, but it is worth improving. If you can’t find an app that does what you want, try simplifying what you’re doing until you know you’re locked in with the metronome. Just simple strumming on every click and nothing else. Even eliminate the guitar entirely if you have to and tap on your desk or something. Then gradually add complexity back in while making sure you’re locked in at every step.
There’s also an exercise I remember Victor Wooten talking about where he would have a click track or something to that effect that would cut out for a measure every once in a while. The idea is that if your timing is good enough, you’ll be on the beat when the click comes back in. You could set up something like that in Garage Band. Make the gap small at first and then gradually increase it.
I will try tapping my fingers. I wish there was some app that would call me out in real-time whenever I am rushing the beat, either visually or audibly.
6 months ago, you offered this advice about playing to a beat that cuts off and comes back on… I followed it (as well as other suggestions in these comments, and it has helped a lot. I used the training metronome from Justin Guitar. Thank you!
Awesome! Happy to hear it helped.