Thinking about getting a metronome to help with practice sessions.  Any of you use one?  Does it help?

Metronomes are good for some things but that depends on the music that you are trying to play. Metronomes can also make for some dry ass practice sessions too. But either way they are good for getting you to keep time. The only problem with them is that if you arent careful that you can become dependent on them and that when you play an actual song that you may have a hard time playing a song without hearing the metronome.

Quoted: Metronomes are good for some things but that depends on the music that you are trying to play. Metronomes can also make for some dry ass practice sessions too. But either way they are good for getting you to keep time. The only problem with them is that if you arent careful that you can become dependent on them and that when you play an actual song that you may have a hard time playing a song without hearing the metronome.

+1

They are good for reinforcing your internal metronome.  Like said above they can lead to dry practice sessions and dry music too.  Try playing a CD of Jazz, Orchestra music, or well just about anything else along with a metronome - they won't fit together all the time.

I'm not a guitarist.  Classical piano.  But, passages that are fast and must sound precise will be polished much more quickly with practice using a metronome.

I'm sure the classical guitarists use them to make the baroque and spanish pieces seemless.

As a child of the 80s, I was always fascinated with the precision that Eddie Van Halen had.  He played as flawlessly as many famous classical guitarists.  

I think a metronome helps.  They are cheap so just pick one up and try it out.

Mrs. Ekie

Like the above poster stated, if you are working on specific passages, or attempting to "shred" go for it. Yet, for many styles of music, the metronome is totally unnecessary. I generally play solo fingerstyle music and I'm no shredder, so take this info for what it's worth.

Seems like you can pick up a decent one for about 30-35 bucks.  I'll give it a try.  I need to pick up my speed a lot of time, but I practice alone so it is easy to drift out of time.