Keep Time even on a Beginner Drum Set

The main goal as a drummer is to keep timing. Its not too play as fast as possible or play the best groove but just to keep time, the bells and whistles come next. If drummers can't do that what good is a cool beat? Well there is a good solution that many musicians use, not just drummers. Its a little device called a metronome that keeps beat and makes little clicks so your able to stay on top of your timing. So how many of these do you own?

Learn To Play Drums The Right Way

We all know learning a bad habit is something that is hard to break. Now if our main goal is to keep beat shouldn't a metronome be on grocery list? I mean its almost as important as food, its the source of a solid beat for a drummer. Not that we need to use it all the time, but more so we need to train with the metronome. I've even known of somebody to sleep with one of these on because he was obsessed with wanting to keep beat, and he wasn't even a drummer. Now really, I don't know if sleeping with one would help but it couldn't hurt unless you did lose sleep over it. You can use these while practicing on the set or the drum pad as long as your able to hear it's "clicks". If your new to the whole drumming scene, then you might consider a drum pad and a pair of sticks before you fork over the real money for a set.

Where's the Meat?

Even a very basic metronome that does 4/4 timing is quiet cheap. Many drummers don't use one till they understand the importance of one but the earlier you learn the better. The fact they're cheap there really is no excuse for any drummer not to have one. Practicing without one can only hurt you while your first learning to drum, then you'll have to unlearn this bad habit and we all know that isn't easy.

These little suckers can also play in different time signatures, which is perfect if your trying to learn something new. How do you think Dime Bag Darrel from Pantera was able to play odd time signatures with his feet and keep a different beat with his hands? Practice my friends, and with his trusty gal the metronome.

(Motivational TIP: "Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved." -William Jennings Bryan)

Source of Food

If your looking for good deals on metronomes check out Musician's Friend. They have been very helpful with me. I had them ship me a whole drum set years ago, and they arrived right on time. Even had to send them back a mixer because I sort of ordered the wrong one (was missing an important pan feature). Ya silly me but try that little number with somebody else and see if they want to give your money back. Normally they have great deals going on and almost always have a free shipping when you spend a certain amount.

My next best choice is Sam Ash. They have pulled through for me many of times and have a reputation just like Musician's Friend.  If you live in the 48 continental states then you can get free shipping on anything! Not sure how long this will last but not bad if all you plan to do is buy a cheap metronome. 

Check out these good deals, both are priced low with the beginner in mind and have good features Korg MA-30 Digital Metronome and the Korg TM40 Digital Tuner Metronome