SEIKO DM50S Clip Digital Metronome

The Seiko Clip Metronome was a gift for my dad, as he is an active runner.
However, he wanted me to see if it was easy to use so I tested it. I found it quite
easy to use, which is great.

I’ve had this product for about a year and it works well for my purpose; I use it for running and keeping my pace. However it needs to be better engineered when it comes to replacing the battery. The first time the battery went out I had to go to an auto parts store to purchase a phillips head screw driver small enough to get into the tiny holes and remove the tiny screws. I have a lot of very small screw drivers and none worked. No big deal, I now have a screw driver just to replace the battery. The next time the battery went dead, one of the tiny screws completey stripped and I am unable to remove it. I’ll try to drill the head off and see if it will work with only two screws. However this is too much hassle to deal with each and every time I need to replace the battery. For this reason I will be looking to buy another brand of metronmone.

This is a small, light weight metronome with easy to understand functions. I was able to figure out all that it is capable of doing within a few minutes. The sound is plenty loud, too. I bought this for a running workshop that I attended and 1 was sufficient enough for our group of 20 people abreast to hear clearly. I would have given this product more stars if it had been a little cheaper and if it had other sound options other than just a high pitch chirp. A clicking sound that is not so annoying would be nice. This thing does what it is supposed to do even though it is typical cheap plastic. Also, if you toss it in your bag and then toss your bag on the floor, be prepared to have to dig through the bag immediately because the on button has a hair trigger. This is a tool for running drills to dial in your cadence but personally I would not want to run for a half hour with it chirping. Will you have buyer’s remorse for getting this one over another one? Doubtful.

I use this metronome to clip on the rim of my 5 string banjo to assist me in practicing Scruggs style bluegrass type picking. The usual pattern is basically a barrage of eighth notes mixed with a few quarter notes while using 3 fingers on 5 strings at 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4 time. It usually takes years of practice to get really good and a metronome is critical. The coolest thing is that it is always with my banjo and is ultra-convenient so I have no excuse for not using it. As you might know banjos are very loud instruments, basically a stringed instrument built over a snare drum head with short note duration like a drum. I have no problem hearing the DM50 partially because it is less than 2 feet from my ears when I use it. The highest speed, lowest speed, beat divisions and volume options are all within the usable/useful range of what I need. The CR 2032 battery actually lasts a surprisingly long time.Although I have several stand alone metronomes and some app-type on my iPhone and iPad, none are not as handy as the DM-50S for my purposes. Stand alone metronomes are great if you practice in the same place every time you play your instrument but I don’t. I not only have 2 or 3 places in my home where I practice but I am a traveling salesman in 2 bands who goes to open Bluegrass picks as well. I like pulling out my instrument anywhere and having it right there. I had a 2 hour wait for my plane at Salt Lake City airport this week and found an empty gate and sat down for an hour and practiced. App-type metronomes are not loud enough and it seems like my phone has so many purposes that a text or message or phone call often interrupts or I am distracted to use it for something else like listening to a song that I am learning. I did file down the spring attached plastic clip on the back with a bench grinder to make it smaller. You could probably use a knife or a file or some sandpaper to do the same if you don’t have a bench grinder. I also looped a thin double sided velcro type material to keep it stable around the clip. I have louder metronomes with more options but for my purposes this thing is perfect. Other banjo players and musicians are always amazed when the subject of timing or metronomes comes up and I just turn it on instantly. I am about to buy another one for a new banjo that I’m assembling from parts. I would think that some guitarists and mandolinists would clip this to their strap for convenience as well. Once again the fact that it is always within hands reach; it has a dedicated purpose; I never misplace it and it’s not a multi-purpose device for phone calls, messaging, e-mail etc..which just gives me more reasons to use it often.

Tout est dans le titre. Ce métronome est facile à régler, tient bien en place et fonctionne correctement. Il permet de garder une allure régulière sans avoir à consulter sa montre ou son GPS.