@HarpinBobbyMcB All the instructors associated with the forum seem to recommend the use of a metronome, so I don’t want to speak against it for other people. But personally, I can’t stand the sound of it, or some other sounds such as loud ticking clocks or the snapping of fingers. I don’t know how it is for other people, but if I know a song well, I can play it in my mind; the vocals and all the instruments. I assume everyone can do that to some extent. So, I just match the song playing in my head and play along that way. As with @scott4, Lyrics help me, I find purely instrumental songs to be more difficult to play.
Currently working on ‘Brothers in arms’ On the wish list is ‘Going home’ both Mark Knopfler.
Edit: Lately been thinking about learning ‘I will always love you’ as a tribute to Dolly
I totally agree. I just have to learn the song play it, see where the rhythm is off and make adjustments. The sound of that thing does bother me as well. I ask my wife, a great flute player, and said since I do not read music while playing it not going to be as much help. At this point I just enjoy what I can play and try the rhythm adjustments until the the song sounds correct. I am not a big tech guy and posting on this forum is as close as I get to " social media:. Just having a good time and that is all I ever wanted when I started playing.
My wife hear Amarillo By Morning earlier this evening, George Straite, and its her favorite song. Music is easy but the rhythm is going to be a challenge. I’ll let you know in a month how its going. Did get El Condor Pasa down finally, many months after I started it.
@PapaCurly and @scott4, I used to hate the metronome. The sound of it drove me crazy and it felt too restrictive. Like playing in a strait jacket. After hearing from many sources, @Luke included, I decided to start using it and…
Then, two things happened which made me do a 180 with my experience. The first was to slow the thing way down. I’ve found that unless we know the notes and can play them well, it’s very frustrating to try and keep time. Once we know the notes, we will want to go faster to match the tempo of the speed we have in our head.
The second thing I did was to change the sound to wooden blocks. I find the sound soothing now. It is a great accompaniment as play. I focus on trying to start the song on the same beat each time so the downbeats begin to come and precise moments in the song and we come to expect them.
Rather than restrictive, it is now liberating, helping me to get into the groove of the song. I still have a lot to learn, but the metronome has been an amazing tool to get my rhythm more constant. I hear previous recordings I made and my rhythm basically depended on how well I knew each part of the song.
As an additional benefit, the metronome has taught me the value of silence
Thanks for taking the time to reply young Bobby. I’m not sure that you have convinced me just yet, but if I can find a metronome sound that I can tolerate, I might one day succumb. I do agree with your comment about the value of silence; I was thinking about starting a new thread about a similar perspective and you’ve prompted me to go ahead and do that.
I was listening to some Herb Alpert. Some of the songs seem like they would fir the harp well. Just have to find the best place to get the tabs. I know the songs as I have listened to him for many years.
Doesn’t have to be a metronome - any kind of rhythmic accountability will reveal issues:
1.) Walking and playing in time with stride
2.) The original song you’re learning
3.) A jam track of it
4.) A drum beat around the same tempo
But, without a metronome how do you even know the tempo.
I paid like $30 for an app called iTable pro. It’s got all these different Indian tabla rhythms in it, and drones that you can adjust the note on which are wonderful for working on bending intonation.
There’s so many different ways to find some rhythmic accountability.
I’ve been studying with a brilliant Polish player who lives in Germany named Adam Sikora. He’s tough to be on Sonny Terry style playing, and has given me some of the best Harmonica lessons of my life.
I was asking him, “what’s the best way to practice this? Like with a metronome.” He was like, “this is blues man I don’t practice with a metronome. I’ve never practiced with a metronome!”
But he’s a freak of nature I think lol. Some people are just born with natural rhythm. But for the rest of us, we have to intentionally work on it to really get good at it.
If I DID put on a metronome I guarantee you that Adam could play right along with it.
Anyways, in the final analysis, I think if you never play along with some kind of rhythmic accountability, then you’re just guessing if you’re getting it right. You might not actually be playing what you think you’re playing - you might just be pretending. Not that there’s anything wrong with pretending! if you’re happy and you’re having fun then…Rock on!
You may have worked me out. If people stop to ask me about my harmonica playing, I often say things like that: “Ive got no idea what I’m doing, I’m just pretending.” But I am having fun with it as you suggest, and that’s why I play. Of course, I always respect your opinion, so I’ll try to find another way to be more accountable to the correct rhythm. I just need to work around my limitations and find my own pathway. Beginners like me are fortunate to have a forum where we can interact with and learn from professionals. Thank for taking the time to reply.
Luke can you play any song and the tabs generated? I walk a very steep driveway and find myself walking as you suggested. It is also a good way to learn the train chuffs. The uphill portion is 225 yards and i go up about 250 feet plus. I play and just started using my foot. Have no idea what caused this but it helps. Keep in mind if if phones were still cranked to initiate a call I would have one. I am a low tech guy in a high tech world.
With respect to using a metronome how do you deal with songs that have rhythm changes, I get the rhythm correct by listening over and over until I can play right over the sound track and not hear anything but the notes i lay. recording them also is a huge benefit. It points out weak notes and off rhythm issues. It takes me a long time to get a tougher song correct but so far this is the best method i have found. Whatever the case I rally found something i will love till my last breath is gone..
I will try it with a c a 2.. I just remember the album having a pretty girl covered with whipped cream, which is now what I think is the album name that has his best music on. Been a few decades but the songs are great My son son heard him and put several of his tunes on his phone, Who does not like listening to his music.
This is the best LOW TECH Metronome on the market!
I tend to walk at about 108 beats per minute at my normal pace. Stepping it up takes me to about 120 Bpms.
Now, it’s hard for me to walk at one rhythm and play at another. I’ll get confused and either mess up the tune or trip and fall
Walking also helps with rhythm changes within the song or in transition from one song to another. Change your pace, change the tempo.
Certain songs feel best at a brisk gait, others in a slow, relaxed way.
As @Luke says, it seems to be about “accountability” to know if we are in track or off track, though we generally feel it when we are off. Our ears tells us when we make unexpected changes.
What a beat does now for me now is to help me get back on track when I wander off, which is quite often.
at first 
more constant. I hear previous recordings I made and my rhythm basically depended on how well I knew each part of the song.
|Herb Alpert|Easy Listening |Fm|Ab|
|Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass|Easy Listening |F|Bb|
|Herb Alpert and Tijuana Brass|Easy Listening |A|A|
the song is in and the harp I use to play it
if you’re happy and you’re having fun then…Rock on! 
