5 reasons to practice with a metronome

Reason 1: Develop a better technique

If you want to develop a better technique on your instrument, practicing with a metronome is a fundamental aspect of an effective process. If you're doing an exercise on your instrument: set your metronome to a speed that is manageable and make it part of your daily routine to try and slowly increase that speed.

If you follow this process, you will know for sure the tempos at which you can play a particular exercise cleanly – but you will also know where your limits are, so that you can push your abilities on your instrument to new heights.

Reason 2: Develop solid timing

A metronome is the best and most elegant way to develop solid timing and groove. The click doesn't lie, it's always on time. If you can't play to the click, you're timing is wrong – get on it and start practicing with a metronome.

Reason 3: Measure your improvements – it's really motivating

If you play an exercise by yourself as a musician, you don't know how fast you're going. By practicing with a metronome, you will have a very precise method to measure your progress.

It's an awesome feeling to know, that you sped up an exercise by 30bpm within a week. This is highly motivating and is not possible without practicing to a metronome.

Reason 4: You can't record your playing without a metronome

If you ever want to record your playing, you will have to play to a click-track. But if you never practiced to a metronome before, you will have a very hard time. You don't want to be the guy who is a good musician but is nevertheless taking up all the studio time and money because he can't play to a simple click. Be prepared for that and start practicing with a metronome.

Reason 5: You don't know what you're missing until you've tried it

Practicing with a metronome is one of those things: it sounds quite tedious and dry and the immense benefits are not so easy to convey. Once you've learned to practice with a metronome however, you won't want to go back to practicing without one.

The focussed training of practicing to a metronome to drastically improve your timing and technique is simply unmatched. If you're looking for new ways to boost your practice efficiency and becoming a better musician, the metronome will become your best friend.