Home >> Lessons >> Axe No Questions >> Lesson 2 - Using a Metronome Effectively (Part 2) - Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Now pick a random note or chord, it doesn’t have to be the note C represented below, and play along with the click of the metronome. Now count along out loud as the metronome clicks. Click play below to hear this.

Example 1:

Let’s subdivide these quarter notes into 8th notes. Basically we will be playing an extra note between the clicks of the metronome. Continue to count with the clicks.

Example 2:

Now let’s count with the 8th notes by saying the word ‘and’ on the offbeat, or on the note in between the beat. The word ‘and’ is expressed by a + sign.

Example 3:

We’ll now divide the 8th notes into four groups of 16th notes, essentially having three notes on the off beat. We ’ll count these three notes as ‘e’ ‘+’ ‘a’.

Example 4:

You may notice this getting a bit harder to play consistently. If you are finding this tempo to be too difficult to play, slow it down to maybe 60bpm or slower. Remember clarity is the most important thing here. If the notes are feeling rushed or forced then something is wrong and you need to slow it down until you feel (see above) the rhythms. You’ll also want to be alternate picking - picking both up and down using only small flicks of your wrist. There is a great lesson on alternate picking located HERE.

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