Download this app on the iTunes store
My review: 5 stars. Tempo Advance is probably my most-used practice tool. It is not for the beginning student, but rather for students who are looking to go deep in their practice. If you have an iPhone and are an intermediate-to-advanced player, this is the metronome to buy. At $3.99, it is more expensive than most metronome apps, but if you really use it, it is worth every penny.
What do I love about it?
The Interface
The interface is intuitive without being over-simplified. For students who are uncomfortable with anything beyond a simple click or 4 beat, it might require some experimentation, but once you understand the layout on the main screen of the app, it becomes easy to operate. Short of having physical buttons, this is as good as it gets.
The Sounds
Multiple beat sounds are available, including a collection that sounds believably close to a drum set. This comes in handy if you’re working on a phrase that you have to really slow down so that sounds for the 8th and 16th subdivisions are required. Additionally, I’ve found removing the sound entirely on some beats helps me hone my sense of timing.
Automatic Acceleration/Deceleration of Tempo
Want to loop a four-measure phrase and go up by 5 beats per minute on each repetition? This app can do that. Or perhaps you want to gradually slow down by 1 beat per minute every 5 seconds — that can be done as well. No one gets good at an instrument without some repetition; this app allows you to be that much more strategic with your practice technique.
As I implied above, this is not the best app for beginners and/or students who don’t have a fairly firm grasp on rhythm concepts — but the maker of this app (Frozen Ape) does make a metronome app for beginners: Tempo Light. It has a similar style, but is simpler to operate without some of the more mind-boggling features. It would serve as a good stepping stone to the more professional app reviewed here.
Download this app on the iTunes store
What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
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Wes Freeman is private guitar lesson teacher in the Atlanta metro area of Georgia. He teaches lessons primarily in the cities of Lilburn, Snellville, Marietta, Decatur, and Brookhaven. Learn more about taking lessons with Wes on his Lessons page.
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