To some of you, the thought of using a metronome may conjure up old memories of past piano lessons. If the experience was an unpleasant one you may have developed some negetive ideas as a result. Perhaps I can help to dispel any misconceptions you might have by explaining how a metronome can be used to benefit your guitar playing.

For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, a metronome is an instrument that is used for clicking off exact intervals of time within a given piece of music. The tempo can be adjusted to suit any relative speed that is suggested for a particular composition or exercise. They come in a variety of types and sizes too. Everything from a large wind-up, pendulum swinging metronome to a small, pocket-size digital one with lights that blink on each beat, are available.

As a guitar player, one of your highest priorities should be learning how to count time correctly. A metronome can work wonders in helping you to develop a more consistent rhythmic feel. It can be used to practice simple exercises (such as scales or licks) or help you to master a more complicated piece of guitar music, whether it be classical, jazz, rock or whatever.

When using a metronome, set the click on the quarter beat (or down beat) of the music. This will make it much easier for you to count the time. In other words, when using a 4/4 rhythm (regardless if you're playing quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes, etc.) set the click to sound four beats per measure.

It's usually easier to begin learning a new song by setting the tempo at a slower speed than may be indicated on the piece of music you're playing. This is especially important if you are new to using a metronome because it will seem a little weird at first! Setting a slower tempo will give you time to map out the fingering on the guitar and get used to recognizing the down beat. Be patient with yourself.

With a little practice you will begin to feel comfortable using a metronome. Be persistant and pretty soon you will notice a definite improvement in your playing. Afterall... it's just a matter of time

source: abclearnguitar.com

yeah metronome is good for practicing guitar, improve your speed and stability when you do "picking"..some guitarist want to get the skills instantly, they want speed like yngwie malmsteen or john petrucci, but they obey to learn using a metronome step by step..they can play fast-picking, but there is no stability on it..messy !!
the way 4 practicing is simple : at first, play your metronome at low speed...simply play your melody that you practice, if you get it clearly, raise the speed of metronome try to get it clear, and so on...and so on...

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i'm using metrome for practicing piano.. but i'm not using it anymore.. i rather using my own feeling than depending on metronome forever..

well, of course metronome is not forever m4s4mun3...
that is just our basic to do when we learn some musical instruments..
every instruments must have a stability on the tempo, right? however i think the drummer must spend more time to learn with a metronome, coz he is a tempo guard in the band...

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I have LOADS of metronomes! I get the ones which take little batteries, and then I can never be bothered getting new batteries for them so I just get a new metronome!
I play the trumpet, and it helps me alot, as I tend to get carried away with the music and end up VERY ad lib!!

hmm yeah it helpful.. but i prefer my own feeling with the song when im drumming. sometimes i need some interval correction after the sticking/rolling part, but if theres a guitarist there i guess it wont need a metronome

sometimes a complex songs (like any songs of 'Born Of Osiris' band, awesome one!) wont need a metronome. their timing is very very weird to use a fixed interval.

Well, i don't know "Born of Osiris"..but i think when they record it, the drummer still must use a metronome.there is a digital metronome that can be arranged..for example on bar 1 until bar 8 they use 90 bpm, and then bar 8 - end they use 120 bpm.that's must be hard to do.
many progressive rock band have a weird changing tempo in their songs..such as dream theater..do you know them ? awesome skills..

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