Gotta Fix My Internal Clock!

[threshar]

So last night was an interesting gig. We had no keys, no horn and no drums. So it was guitar, bass and some "percussion" if you can call it that. Normally I practice with a drum machine or a backing track of some sort. And guess what? My internal clock needs some major work! I hadn't realized how much my brain automatically tries to lock in with the drums (I mean, that is a good thing it happens without thinking). But it was a touch annoying and fustrating. The crowd enjoyed it, which is what counts, but boy I was annoyed with myself. (it didn't help our vocalist, who was also attempting percussion was all over the place). Some of the songs came out fine, but some of them where there is some tricky timing were a touch slopparific. (It is hard to go off when you're just hittin' 8ths... but when you have those bizzare 16th note rests on the 1 beat, yeah.....)

Then today we had practice (Getting a new keyboardist up to speed) and our drummer couldn't make it because he was busy puking his guts out. And again I realized my clock wasn't so hot.. especially since we went over some of the trickier tunes.

I think perhaps the illustrious Jeff Berlin is onto something. Although normally we have a drummer so it isn't THAT much of an issue..

[musicmedic]

Sometimes we bass players forget that we are part of the rhythm section. We are as responsible for the groove as the drummer is. Being a drummer for 22 years, I can say that I hate when the bass player has no groove/rhythm or whatever. Now I doubt that you are in this category, but sometimes we have to go back to the fundamentals. Get a copy of "Everyday People" by Sly and the Family Stone. It's got one note in the bass line. One. Only one. Tell me it doesn't groove. Play along and you'll find (like I did) that it's not about the notes sometimes. Another drummer style trick is to get a drum machine and program a measure of a simple beat followed by a measure of rests. Play along and try to line up when the beat comes back in. OOOF! Extend to 2 measures each when you get comfortable. Double OOOF! I hope this helps, not that you were asking for help. As a drummer longer than I've been a bassist, I've learned some tricks in "keeping time".

[ScottyAx800]

I definitely agree with musicmedic that if you've gotten to the point of recognizing your desire to improve your sense of time, you have decent rhythm to begin with. My favorite studies for improving my sense of time are polyrhythms. Try beating quarter notes in one hand and dotted eighths in the other hand. That's three and four: that is, for every three quarter notes you'll beat four dotted eighth notes. Try it, with a metronome first, then without a metronome. It'll take some time to do this right, but it'll be worth it, trust me.

[threshar]

yeah.. the trick is just when I have no drums.

After thinking about it more I'd notice I'd start getting a little off when I'd stop really concentrating and just started going off to music-land. (Since my brain is used to always having the time being kept, it all happens subconcienously).

I like some of those ideas though. I'll have to give them a try.

But on the upside, it was one of those things that only I noticed (well, the guitarist too, who had his share of oopses).. The crowd didn't notice at alll. Stupid crowds - they never notice stuff like that One thing that still gets me a touch nervous before I play is thinking there is going to be some jerk in the crowd, who like myself, is listening very intently and will pick up on errors made

[DocBop]

I say you develop time better with a metronome than a drum machine. If a metronome it is strickly time you are focusing on.

One thing my teach does now and then is use a metronome he can cut the sound on/off with but beat keeps going. Then we start with just playing some eights on one. Then he cuts the metronome out every other measure, then every third and finally metronome every four measures. Then we move to playing basslines and same process.

Another thing I heard Victor Wooten suggest is setting your metronome to only click on One.

Last can be like a walking and chewing gum thing is.... Play a bassline and counting out loud with the metronome 1, 2, 3, 4. Then every couple bars do a fill up the neck, but keep counting. Can be tough to counting time and be playing syncopated fills. Also try doing some slap and count the time. This stuff really helps get the internal metromnome working.

[daffy]

I have found the best exercises for sharpening my internal timing are to use a metronome, but to mess round with it.

1, I usually set the metronome to beat on on 2 and 4. I then slow it *right* down - it is far more difficult to play in time when the beat is very, very slow.

2. I also change the speed on the metronome up and down around the correct speed - if the song is at, say, 100 then I will play it from 87 to 123.

3. I also work on odd 16th drills - basically I put down 2 or 4 bars of 16th notes and then randomly delete about half of them, then I play the resulting rhythm at different speeds. I then program a drum machine to play a 2 and 4 hat, and the actual 16th rhythm on a stick or bell and see how well I did it.

I also agree to setting the metronome on just the 1, as well.

These ideas came from some stuff at the start of Ed Friedland's "Bass Grooves" book. He has some nice internal clock type exercises that are similar to these.

[Blunt]

Playing without a drummer is hard. Thats a given. What you find is that the rhythm section is given a name for that reason. Most other musicians find that their time is sloppy compared to a bass player when a drummer is absent.
You have to know when to push the beat without a drummer as it can tend to lag.

[BillMason]

Originally Posted by threshar

(it didn't help our vocalist, who was also attempting percussion was all over the place).

Maybe that's what the whole problem was! Singers aren't known for good timing...