Counting the beat

[Budokan]

Hi Guys,

I have played six-string guitar for about five years and have recently started to play 4-string bass. I was wondering how the majority of you guys learn new songs and play stuff when in a band. More specifically do you count every crochet, quaver, semi-quaver etc from the sheet music along witha metronome or do you 'feel' your way through the chord changes of the song by locking into the drums? The reason that I ask is that I have a lot of bass scores and ven the simpler songs (Wild World Cat Stevens/Don't Look Back in Anger Oasis) seem awfully complicated when counting form he score. I hope this post makes sense. This also leads me to the question of whether to buy a drum machine to play along with or stick to playing along with the relevent CDs.
All thoughts and comments would be greatly appreciated
Cheers
Steve

[Melf]

Get yourself a metronome buddy! When I learn songs, I play them slow with a metronome then up to speed with a metronome. After a few tries I don't need a metronome or I can get by just listening to the drums. I would recommend a metronome over a drum machine because a drum machine creates groove for you, which impairs your groove-developing abilities.

[JimK]

Originally posted by Melf
I would recommend a metronome over a drum machine because a drum machine creates groove for you, which impairs your groove-developing abilities.

FME, a drum machime improves one's "groove-ablity".