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Metronome: price and usefulness
Do you want to buy a metronome? To make an informed choice, there are several features to consider:
- What is a metronome?
- Who needs a metronome?
- What is a mechanical metronome and what is the difference with an electronic model?
- What’s a metronome’s price?
What is a metronome?
A metronome is a tool that gives an audible and sometimes visual tempo, indicating the speed at which music should be played on the piano or other instrument. The metronome allows you to keep the tempo and play the piece at the right speed.
The speed of the piece is indicated on the score: this is the metronomic indication. Usually following the movement indication (Adagio, Andante, Allegro, Presto, ...), it is a note figure (white, eighth note, quarter note, ...) followed by an equal and a number (indicating the number of beats per minute (BPM)).
Using a metronome allows the musician to play in rhythm with regularity of time throughout the piece.
Who needs a metronome?
Playing in rhythm is very important for any musician. A piece played at the wrong tempo will not sound harmonious. In order to respect the rhythm of a piece, it is advisable to use a metronome, at least when learning a new score.
Some people have a particularly good sense of rhythm, and they only need to listen to a piece played by an accomplished musician to be able to reproduce the right tempo.
Nevertheless, to learn a new piece by deciphering its score, the use of a metronome brings a certain useful rigour.
Beginning pianists taking lessons at music school learn to use a metronome from the first pieces they play. The rhythm of the first pieces practised will be much slower than for complex scores. With the years, practice and experience, finding and maintaining the right tempo without a metronome will become easier.
What is the difference between an electronic and a mechanical metronome?
The traditional metronome is mechanical. It is a pendulum system that beats the tempo, in a wooden or plastic box. Like the old clocks, you have to wind the pendulum manually. Its big advantage is that it does not require batteries. A scale on the pendulum is used to determine the tempo.
The mechanical metronome is solid and a beautiful accessory.
The electronic metronome is a small box with a digital display. It offers a wider range of settings. The volume can be adjusted, and some models allow you to plug in headphones. Although it is cheaper than a mechanical metronome, it is also more fragile and can break down.
What is the price of a metronome?
It all depends on the type of metronome you want to buy. As mentioned above, an electronic metronome is generally cheaper but more fragile. You can find them for as little as 20 euros. But some models have a headphone output, a tuner or a higher volume. These cost more.
You will find Wittner metronomes on the market for as little as 50 euros. We have a wide selection of this brand, which has been known for its quality for decades.
Buy a metronome from Hanlet
Hanlet has chosen to offer only metronomes from the Wittner brand. This brand stands out for its quality and the durability of its products. Whatever your musical instrument, these metronomes will accompany you on your musical journey.
We offer a wide range of mechanical metronomes. Some models are more classical, with or without a bell. We also have fancy models for children, in the shape of animals. Finally, we offer a battery-operated metronome: the Wittner Taktell Quartz QM2. This one offers the possibility to follow the tempo through an earphone.
