Use and Function of Tape and Metronome

Lesson 3/44 | Study Time: 5 Min
Use and Function of Tape and Metronome

Use and Function of Tape and Metronome

The Tape

The tape has two functions:

  • As an indication of how the example should sound, and
  • By using as indicated, it gives you the opportunity to play along with another musical instrument. Part of any music practice is to play along with other instruments.

You may have to practice the exercises at a slower speed before attempting to play along with the tape. The metronome then, is useful as you can adjust it to the speed you want.

The Metronome

A metronome is a mechanical or electronic device that divides time into equal beats by producing a ticking or bleeping sound. The number of beats per minute is adjustable so that you can vary the speed at which you wish to play a piece of music.

The metronome has three functions:

  • It indicates what tempo a tune should be played at by sounding the number of beats per minute. e.g. c = 60: in this case it tells us that a beat (quarter note) is exactly one second.
  • It acts as a control for your timing so that you don't rush or slow down during your playing.
  • It helps you by gradually increasing the tempo on the number scale until you can play at the desired speed.
 

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