What To Look For In A Metronome

When purchasing a metronome there are a number of factors to consider

. If you don't know exactly what you are looking for in a metronome, choosing one might be a little overwhelming at first because there are so many styles of metronome available. You can spend as little as $10 or many hundreds of dollars on a metronome. So it can be helpful to think about what features you value the most and make your final decision based on those factors.

Size matters

No matter what kind of metronome you pick, it can only help you if you actually are able to practice with it. For many musicians such as string players and wind players, this means having a metronome that can fit in your case easily. The smallest type of metronome is the "credit card" style metronome. These are small enough to even fit in most flute cases on the side pocket. Seiko is best known for these ultra small models, and they are quite inexpensive. Most major brands offer small model metronomes. A nice feature to look for in these models is a table stand. This allows you to rest the metronome comfortably on a table rather than have it take up room on your stand. For an instrumentalist like a pianist or someone who has a regular practice area where portability is not an issue, a larger metronome is just fine. In this situation a large mechanical "pendulum" style metronome can be nice because of how impressive they look.

I can't hear you!

This may seem obvious, but its very important that you are able to hear your metronome very clearly. For most woodwind instruments this isn't a problem, but for brass and percussion you will need something that can really project. The Dr. Beat line of metronomes, especially their larger models are quite loud. Some metronomes offer a choice of different sounds, some more piercing than others, experimentation is key here. Many metronomes also have a headphone line out feature that makes it much easier to hear the beat. Not all players like this approach however because the headphones themselves can muffle the sound of your instrument.

Multitasking with a tuner

Many metronomes now offer a tuner as well, though you have to be careful when selecting these as sometimes they lack key features on one or the other. Also take a close look at the interface, with both metronome and tuner features make sure the buttons and interface are not too complicated. Although these types of metronomes are often not as full featured it's often worth the convenience to have two tools in one. The korg TM-40 serves as a fine basic metronome and tuner, and you can actually have both modes running simultaneously which can come in handy.

Program-ability

Some higher end metronomes and drum machines offer some programing functionality. This can range from being about to set difference accent beat for different meters, sub division of beats or full blown programing of mixed meter and changing metric passages. If you need this functionality, hands on time with this types of metronomes at your local music store might be needed to decide which one is the best for you.

Extra features?

Some metronomes offer specialized features that might appeal to some musicians. For example, the Intelly IMT-301 has an on board hygrometer and temperature sensor. This may seem like a strange feature to include in a metronome, but this is actually a favorite among string players because it keeps an eye on the relative humidity in the case which is very important for proper maintenance.

by: Chris Park

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