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Improve Your Internal Tempo Clock With This 3-Level Metronome Exercise

by Brett McQueen

Today I challenge you to a 3-level metronome exercise to assess and improve your internal sense of rhythm on ukulele.

If you’re able to complete all three levels of this exercise, then, it’s safe to say you have a strong internal sense of time!

But even if you can’t, you can take this exercise and begin to improve your internal tempo clock. By practicing this exercise, you become better at strumming your ukulele with steadiness and feel.

Let’s take a look!

For this exercise, you can use any strumming pattern you’d like, but if you’re just getting started with it, use a simple, beginner-friendly down-strum pattern.

Down Strumming Pattern on Ukulele

This might be an easy pattern but your internal sense of timing will be challenged in this exercise!

Metronome Exercise: Level 1

For Level 1, you start off strumming your pattern to 140 BPM (beats per minute).

Level 1 Metronome Exercise

In the case of the down-strum pattern, this means each down strum is aligned with the “click” of the metronome.

Level 1 is basic metronome practice where you play along to the metronome but this is where this challenge begins.

For each level, you want to follow a four-step process to get the most out of this exercise:

  1. Listen: Take 10-20 seconds to just listen to the metronome, sensing and hearing the imposition of the external force of timing from the “click” of the metronome.
  2. Verbalize: Begin to count out loud with the metronome ensuring you’re staying on the beat and adjusting your count when necessary (if you get off the beat).
  3. Externalize: While counting out loud, start to externalize the beat by clapping your hands or tapping your foot to the beat.
  4. Play: Only after doing all of the above, play the strumming pattern with the metronome.

You’ll see why in the next level this four-step process is so important.

Metronome Exercise: Level 2

This is where it starts to get a little bit more interesting!

For Level 2, we’re going to keep the same timing and strumming, but we’re going to remove beats two and four from the “click” of the metronome.

Level 2 Metronome Exercise

To do this, set your metronome time in half from 140 BPM to 70 BPM.

While the metronome plays, you’re going to count out loud 1, 2, 3, 4 at the same tempo you did in Level 1 but the “clicks” from beats 2 and 4 will be missing!

Be sure to watch the video to hear and see exactly how this sounds.

Removing beats from the metronome is a fantastic exercise for building up your internal sense of time because you have to trust yourself as you set a steady strumming rhythm. The four-step process above is important to work through because it helps you internalize the beat before even picking up and playing your ukulele. You definitely want to continue to follow that process through each level of this exercise.

Metronome Exercise: Level 3

If you’re able to play through Levels 1 & 2, then, you’re doing a really good job!

And for those of you who really like a challenge, you’re going to love Level 3 of this exercise.

For Level 3, we’re going to take it a step even further and remove every beat from the metronome except the first beat – the downbeat.

Level 3 Metronome Exercise

To do this, set your metronome time in half again from 70 BPM to 35 BPM.

As you listen to the metronome, you’ll quickly notice there is a lot of space between clicks.

This means while the metronome plays you’re going to count out loud at the same tempo you did in Level 1 while ensuring beat 1 of the count lines up with the downbeat of the metronome!

This is quite a challenge if you’ve never done this before, so be sure to watch the video to see and hear exactly how I break this down. You even see me in the video have to adjust my count to find that “pocket” or groove. It is possible to do this, but it’s something that you’ll have to work at practicing!

Conclusion

A metronome isn’t a magic device that teaches you rhythm but it is a handy tool to help you tighten your rhythm.

As you progress through the levels of this exercise, you are forced to trust your own internal sense of timing.

Most of us aren’t gifted naturally with an internal sense of timing, so this is a progressive way to build your internal tempo clock. Remember you can pick any strumming pattern for this exercise but keeping it simple is just fine, since the purpose of this exercise is building your internal sense of timing, not your strumming skills.

How far did you get in this exercise?

Post a comment below and let me know!

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    24 Comments

    1. Lorene Vanderwalker

      This was fun! I was able to get to level 3 comfortably and will continue to practice this method of keeping time. Thank you for all that you teach us.

      Reply
      • Brett McQueen

        Nice work, Lorene! Glad you had fun with this exercise!

        Reply
    2. Tom Patsula

      Very valuable – I will continue practicing this in my daily warm up exercise.
      Thank you.

      Reply
      • Brett McQueen

        Thanks for watching, Tom!

        Reply
    3. Penny Smith

      Terrific, really useful!

      Reply
      • Brett McQueen

        Thanks, Penny! Glad you found it useful!

        Reply
    4. Richard

      Thanks Brett
      I may give your video to my beginning students as an exercise. Useful exercise for evaluating and improving skill.
      Richard

      Reply
      • Brett McQueen

        Yes, Richard! Please feel free to pass along! Glad to help.

        Reply
    5. Mary

      thanks very much Brett. At first 140 seemed far too fast for me, and i misunderstood the exercise, but then i did understand! it is great, so clear, i sort of managed 3 levels but realise i need to practice it…very good to have a plan! Doing your strumming course at the mo. best wishes, Mary (also very good)

      Reply
      • Brett McQueen

        Nice work, Mary! And yeah, 140 BPM is typically a faster tempo, but because we are just subdividing the strumming pattern into quarter notes, it’s not as complex as an eighth note strumming pattern. You could slow it down and go 120 BPM -> 60 BPM -> 30 BPM as well, but level 3 can be a bit more difficult at this level. Fun though 🙂

        Reply
    6. Billie Becker

      Thanks Brett,
      I have tried to play with a group before and timing was a BIG issue. I was able to get thru level 3, but it is not that easy when playing with 10 others. { We figured we needed a metronome or a conductor : ) }
      I appreciate your emphasizing the need to practice timing.

      Reply
      • Brett McQueen

        I bet, Billie! Any time you have more than a couple instruments you really do need a musical director or conductor. Or you need a really strong drummer to hold everyone down 🙂 one benefit of this exercise is that it will make you more aware of your timing and you’ll begin to notice in groups the timing shifting and changing, which you can then adapt to. Sometimes this can be frustrating to sense because “timing should be steady!” we tell ourselves but having the skill to adjust your timing accordingly in a live setting is a worthwhile skill because unless you’re playing professionally, it’s going to happen and it’s sort of what makes live playing so fun! Who knows maybe you will be conducting some day!

        Reply
    7. Carol

      Exercise was fun and informative. The lowest my metronome goes is to 40 but doubling and then doubling it again put it at 160 which is very fast. Any suggestions?

      Reply
      • Brett McQueen

        Good question, Carol! You can search online for “online metronome” and try to find one that goes low enough or you can get a metronome app if you have a smartphone or tablet (what I like to use).

        Reply
    8. danka piekarski

      hi brett!
      I m still a beginner and I go over your lessons every day….
      so much fun! when I play along with you, lol, I sound pretty good….(even when I miss a chord I just pick up on another one and you take over the one I missed….ha!
      wish I could learn quickly and not look for those chords but that’s ok because I still love to play…..and each day gets better!…
      your metronome exercises were great!!!
      my friend was visiting yesterday and she is from Hawaii….she loved my playing the “Sweet Lei Lehua” song…when she left she said “e’malama pono”…(take care!)
      thanks again Brett!….you are awesome!
      danka

      Reply
      • Brett McQueen

        I love to hear it, Danka! Thanks for your kind words and comment!

        Reply
    9. Lynda Williams

      Hi Brett, I am still listening to your very helpful videos and do practice what you teach. This was really good and I was able to do all 4 exercises. Thanks so much for your concern for your students. It is greatly appreciated.

      Lynda Williams

      Reply
      • Brett McQueen

        Good job, Lynda! I’m glad you’re enjoying the lessons and exercises. Thanks for watching.

        Reply
    10. Karen Kennedy

      I had no problems at all, my internal metronome works really well!, but you just gave me a good tool to use for my students in Ecuador who don’t seem to have an internal metronome! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Brett McQueen

        Glad to help! Thanks for your comment, Karen!

        Reply
    11. Darlene Mercer

      Thanks for the lesson, Brett. Happy to confirm that my internal clock seems to be up to speed! 🙂

      Reply
      • Brett McQueen

        Woohoo, good stuff, Darlene! Be sure to try this exercise with other strumming patterns you know!

        Reply
    12. Kristi

      Hi Brett – You’re so right about metronomes not teaching rhythm but are a good tool. I have a good sense of timing but I learned it years ago. I would count out loud or just in my head to all the songs I heard. Your 4 step process is great, I’m going to incorporate this into my exercises. I’m also going to show it to my 7-year old niece in hopes she can grasp the idea of counting out loud and start developing her timing.

      Reply
      • Brett McQueen

        That’s fantastic, Kristi! As far as metronome practice goes, this is definitely one of the most beneficial exercises I can recommend for building that internal clock. Glad to help!

        Reply

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