HAae Me For Asking...

Shoot_A_Hostage · #1 05-15-2009, 01:10 PM

I need to know.
What's all this locking in with the drummer?
I've been playing for awhile anfd recently joined TB.
While on TB i noticed people saying "lock in with your drummer"
Which means... what?
I tried to lock in with my drummer kick but that makes my bass playing sound a little strange and sloppy.
Any answers would be well recieved!

nightcityburn · #2 05-15-2009, 01:16 PM

It is playing in the pocket, and knocking out a solid groove. It doesn't mean you are playing only root notes with the kick drum pattern, but that is generally your back bone to start.

Do you play with a band currently? If you do, you may naturally do it. If not, you should tighten up your playing so you do and it sounds good.

**Thor** · #3 05-15-2009, 01:17 PM

You don't have to be on the drummer's beat to 'lock in'.
It means synchronize with the drummer.

A good example of a classic locked in rhythm section is
John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. Mac has got the ONE locked in
and Fleetwood almost always pops on the two. So you get a
consistent one/two punch on their hits. He is not on top of Mick, but in lock step.

Example, 'You Make Lovin' Fun'.

The rhythm section totally drives that line. You could do that
song without any guitar and it would rock.

Shoot_A_Hostage · #4 05-15-2009, 01:26 PM

[quote=nightcityburn;7401034] Do you play with a band currently?... [quote]

Yes. Since we are only teenagers I get to play with them everyday, so I like to experiment with things.
Also,
Thanks for enlightening me. it was REALLY frustrating hearing people go, "Lock in with the drummer". I didn't know if I was a bad abssist or I just was missing something.

bomofiglio · #5 05-15-2009, 01:57 PM

one way to put it, is that locking in with the drummer kind of means that you are almost a second drumline to compliment his. That helped me to understand it better.

Deacon_Blues · #6 05-16-2009, 01:27 PM

It's about sharing the same timing and sense of timing (i.e. laid-back or driving feel). You don't necessarily need to follow the bassdrum pattern religiously all the time, but it's cool to do do it sometimes.

It takes a tight drummer to lock in with him/her properly. If you don't have access to a great drummer, try a drum machine and lock in with it instead.

Barcode31 · #7 05-16-2009, 08:58 PM

The best way I can describe it, is you and the drummer are the metronome. Hence why you are called the rhythym section. You two should be playing together as if you were almost a separate band. You follow the guitarist for the chord changes and melody. but your drummer is where you take your cues for fills and such.