Metronome as Defined

To be honest, I don’t know what’s the name and the purpose of this device that I always see being brought by a friend every time they have a music practice in church. Out of my curiosity, I made some research about this….

Metronome is a handy timekeeper that can lay down a click in style. Along with the standard metronome functions, the Boss DB-60 provides a menu of rhythmic patterns, a note-mixing feature to create rhythms that match the feel and style of your music, and the ability to handle time signatures of up to 17 beats per measure.

By the way, just an info that I’ve got from Mr. Wiki… A metronome is any device that produces regular, metrical ticks (beats, clicks) — settable in beats per minute. These ticks represent a fixed, regular aural pulse; some metronomes also include synchronized visual motion (e.g. pendulum-swing). The metronome is used by musicians to help keep a steady tempo as they play, or to work on issues of irregular timing, or to help internalize a clear sense of timing and tempo. The metronome is also often used by composers as a standard tempo reference, to indicate the intended tempo for the piece.

This is an example of an excellent wittmer mt-50 metronome at musicians friend. It is easy to use, and prominently features a tempo dial that adjusts between 40 to 208 beats per minute. The MT50's speaker produces a loud "tick" sound, which is easier to hear in context than the "beep" produced by most other electronic metronomes. The MT50 also has a flashing LED beat indicator, which can be used for silent practice or along with the speaker for added visual reference.

It’s so clear to me now why they (musicians) always have their metronome with them. :) So, if you don’t want to lose the beat, then get your own Metronome!