I have been trying to play with a metronome to help with rhythm, but am unsure at what speeds to set it for the different tunes… jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas. Any help out there?
jeff
There’s a couple of ways to approach this. First of all, if you are using a counter with just the one tone you can use it either to count notes or count beats, e.g. a reel is usually played at 118-120 beats per minute, which is the first and third quaver/quarter-note of every bar. However, if you are as stupid with dots as I am, you can use the metronome to count quarter notes to help you figure out a new tune from the dots, which would then be 240 beats (2 X 120). Or, you can slow the whole thing down until you get the tune right.
Some of the more complicated metronomes play one tone to help emphasize the beat, but play different tones to count the lesser notes. The BOSS DB-12 Dr. Beat is an example of this. Not too expensive, and helpful for working out unfamiliar rhythms.
Here’s some common timings measured in bars per minute (keeping in mind that nothing is set in stone, and just watch the quibblers come out of the woodwork to pick nits over this):
Hornpipes: 39 - 60, avg. 49
Jigs: 64 - 74, avg. 70
Polkas: 64 - 74, avg. 69
Reels: 52 - 64, avg. 59
Slides: 69 - 84, avg. 76
From “Johnny O’Leary of Sliabh Luachra”, edited by Terry Moylan
djm
Find your favorite CD of piping music and set the rhythm to the tunes you like…the jigs, reels, HPs, etc. Whatever you do, don’t use old Bothy albums, and esp Molloys, Brady, and Peoples old record…they play way too fast, IMO! I like Brian Macs speed…nice and slow, and articulate. But I also like Mick O’Brien’s tempos…being a little faster than Brians.
There’s a free online metronome http://www.threechords.com/hammerhead/
For jigs I set it at 212. For hornpipes, around 75 (by configuring the drum beats differently). For reels, 227. Don’t know how that translates to the numbers on your metronome’s pendulum.
Of course, regular foot tapping is the best, w/o the met…once the tempo is in your head!
Here’s another software metronome that’s kind of fun and simple to use.
Be warned!
It is a well known fact that metronomes, even digital ones, ALL speed up and slow down!
Or is it just me? 
Sorry, I think it is just you. Any quartz-based electronic device is known to be incredibly accurate. That’s why even expensive watches use them.
djm
Gee djm, I though you were averse to practicing with metronomes… 
Anyway-my vote goes for my McAdams metronome. They are made in Houston and are made specifically for use with high school and junior high bands, in that they have an inbuilt speaker and can be heard (when cranked at full volume) above a 200 piece marching band…which makes them perfect for practicing with pipes!
They do all the duple and triple subdivisions of Dr. Beat but the electronic beat is much crisper, and much easier to hear. The downside is that they run about 500.00, but I think they are well worth the money.
Please look up the word “irony” in the dictionary 
I was being silly of course.
It has long been a joke amongst musos playing for Irish and Scottish dancers that, when using a metronome to keep everyone in check, the damn thing seems to speed up and slow down!
Cheers, Phil.
I thought you were talking about the wee folk on the subway. 