Basically what I do is set it at a certain speed and play along to it whether it be rudiments, grooves, beats, fills, whatever. This is probaly the most common and basic way to do things but does anyone do anything creative with this?

[Coach McGuirk]

Try setting the metronome to play one half or one quarter of the speed that you are playing at. In other words, the metronome will click on half notes or whole notes instead of quarter notes. This way you can't use the metronome as a crutch. You have to play solid time with little input from the machine.

For example: Set your metronome at 30 bpm. While the metronome clicks 30bpm, play along with it at quarter note = 60 bpm. Transition to double time (120 bpm) and back down to standard time. Play time, fills and improvised solos. Transition from one groove to another, from one style to another (rock to reggae or samba or ??) and so on...

coach has a good idea.. i have a hard time transitioning from one time signature to another or different styles so using the metronome would do you a lot of good.

thanks for that coach