A metronome is the most valuable tool a drummer can have. It’s a huge
aid in becoming a good timekeeper, which is, after all, the drummer’s
primary job.
Any metronome — even an old-fashioned manual one with a pendulum ticking away — can be used to help you practice at different tempos, and, needless to say, being able to play grooves and fills at all tempos is essential.
Start by setting the tempo on your metronome to a relaxed 60 BPM (beats per minute) and then play a basic groove to the click. Gradually increase the tempo by 10 BPM until you reach 200 BPM, or as fast as you can play accurately. As you get more comfortable with this exercise, you can also change up the style of groove you’re playing and add a drum fill every four or eight bars to really challenge yourself.
