click track to help bad timing?

ed kerns · Newbie Alert Joined: 26 Dec 2003 Posts: 1

Hi fellow drum types. I'm new here so sorry if this subject has been done but.. I've been drumming for over 30 years and suddenly I'm having all kinds of trouble holding tempo - or even establishing tempo for that matter. I'm thinking it's a mental (concentration) problem, but it is driving me (and my band mates crazy. Second guessing myself and sense of time takes a lot of fun out of gigging. I'm thinking about working with a metronome or click track of some type and I'm looking for advice on what might work well in a live situation. I know their are a number of causes for my difficulties. (New Bass player, singer likes to roam with a wireless mic causing a mili-second vocal time delay) but I'm not making excuses - just trying to get my groove back! Thanks for your input.

Premier Artist · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2003 6:17 am Post subject:

Seriously, I'd accuse the new bass player... Bass/drums are the fundamentals and even though You lay the groove the bass player is equally responsible in keeping the tempo and time. My guess is that it will solve itself once You guys get more tight together, but sure - good time keeping will help You foresee a dip or a bump and maybe manage to correct it before it even occurs.

My tip is that You get a drum machine or similar, and loop a 4/4 click track on it to which You play. I prefer drum machines since an ordinary metronome just has a click and no sound variety, and If you're trying to play to a metronome it might be a problem to hear the actual click. I normally use a "cowbell - rimshot - rimshot - rimshot" loop, just to be able to point out the 1 in the tempo.

However, start with a 4/4 tempo, rather slow. Work at different tempos until You almost feel the tempo even before You start the click track. Always go very slow, it's much harder to play to a click track at a very low tempo.

Now, just for fun, once You feel pretty good at tracking, try some odd times! I usually go with 5/4 and 7/4, but at like 11/4 my mind is starting to totally freak out. It's hard but very educative since You move from just keeping time to thinking offbeats and predict the groove as well at the same time. Sort of running the brain thru a blender, but fun. Very Happy

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Drummin_Dan · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2003 10:39 am Post subject:

I'm more partial to 13 8 Embarassed

. Fills are generally groups of subdivided notes. If you're unsure as to your being on time, keep very simple and straight forward fills. I usually try to put an emphasis on each beat to keep everything in time. If you keep everything simple enough, then you won't loose your groove. Alot of drummers I've seen have trouble doing "fills" and it sounds like a bunch of mush, but whenever they go to play a fill, time seems to go out the window. That's a very bad habit. If you're unsure as to whether or not your fills etc. remain on time, get used to clicking the highhat while you play.

DanielBM85 · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 6:23 am Post subject:

There are a few things that i do that definitely dissolve these problems.

1) no matter how ridiculous it sounds, especially if the groove is tight, i catch myself bobbing my head to the beat, just having that motion in your body (doesnt have to be head), just having that feeling will help, so just try to let loose

2) i go to college about 2 hours from my kit, and i only have 3 courses a week where i play on a drum kit so about every other day i go without set practice so i just hook up a metrinome, go through advanced snare rudiments, and try to develop a better since of time (especially for people who have independence problems, a few years ago i couldnt do polyrhythms that involved my left hand and left foot at the same time while doing stuff with my right side, i practiced rudiments with my right and left hand, then did them with my right and left foot, then started mixing them between foot and hand and within six monthes i was able to do most polyrhythms with ease)
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Drummin_Dan · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 11:46 am Post subject:

polyrhythms are fun in grooves. A classic example being Pat Metheny's: Minuano. That was an awesome song...

DanielBM85 · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 1:58 pm Post subject:

A fellow pat fan!!! And we have the same name!! And we play drums!! and we post on a forum!! are we lost brothers?
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Drummin_Dan · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 2:11 pm Post subject:

or clones

...*shudder*... I enjoy lots of music