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That said, it is recommended for beginners, especially those who do not have any experience with feel, to actually practice with a drum kit for a short time so they can develop a sense for what this means.

So, right now, test yourself, and see if you can just stand up and groove to a rhythm in your own mind. See if you can imagine a drum kit playing in your head and tap your foot, air drum to the rhythm or even full out dance. A good way to start practicing for this is to turn off the volume partially through a song you have gotten a feel for, letting the song continue in your head for a while, and then turning the song back on, seeing if you are still on the beat. If not, maybe it would be beneficial to go back and get some practice with a kit before moving on to a groove-less metronome.

2) A metronome is not a live, human drummer.

Mike Portnoy: A damn good human drummer.

Remember, humans are well, human, and if you put them side by side to a machine, the machine will always win in terms of technique and timing, no matter the ability of the human. A very poor live drummer (not necessarily a beginner) can do you harm if he also has no sense of feel, and will throw you off by rushing or slowing down frequently. Now playing with a decent drummer, who can feel out a nice groove, is an invaluable asset, especially if he’s willing to practice along with you. Given the opportunity it’s recommended to play with a human drummer over a metronome or drum kit any day, especially if you are looking to perform with a band or ensemble.

The human element is the most complicated part about learning music and every chance you have to practice with other people is a golden opportunity to get your live chops up and strengthen your sense of communication with fellow musicians. However, when you’re attempting to purely practice building speed on particular exercises, a live drummer will usually not have the precision to change tempo in perfect increments and probably will not want to sit there for hours while you play the same scale over and over and over again. Remember, the whole point of playing with a metronome is so you can jump right back in with a band and play it with the rest of the band behind you.

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