Time problem

fahrendorff · #1 09-18-2009, 02:15 AM

Hi.

I have a problem with my timing.

I can hear how it should sound in my head and count it and all that. Ï can immidiately hear if it isn't tight. But my fingers doesn't always want to play what I'm hearing in my head. I don't have a problem playing slow things tight like a lot of players do, because I subdivide in my head. I have worked a lot whit a metronome and if I practice the thing first it isn't a problem, but if I'm improvising something, a fast fill etc. it's not always tight.

So what do you think is the problem?
Coordination? Poor right hand technique? Something else?

Do you know any exercises?

Thank you for your help and excuse me for my schoolboy english, I'm not a native speaker.

kondensator · #2 09-18-2009, 02:41 AM

Hi,

first of all, please excuse my poor english, i´m from germany so...

I think i know a little bit of your problem.You said your timing is right when playing slow, but it gets bad if you speed up. In my opinion it has nothing to do with your coordination or a poor right hand technique. Let me put it in Jaco´s words: "You have to learn to think fast before yor play fast." When improvising you should know what to play a split of a second before play. This insures that your mind is quicker then your right hand. Because at least only your mind is able to control your time not a part of your body. I think you should practice improvising at a very slow speed first ... a little bit annoying, i know .. but there might be no way out, sorry.

Yours

Kondensator

Arpeggiator · #3 09-18-2009, 03:15 AM

It just practise my friend, using a metronome will help improve your time alot, but you just have to develop your internal metronome.

Billnc · #4 09-18-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fahrendorff

Hi.

I have a problem with my timing.

I can hear how it should sound in my head and count it and all that. Ï can immidiately hear if it isn't tight. But my fingers doesn't always want to play what I'm hearing in my head. I don't have a problem playing slow things tight like a lot of players do, because I subdivide in my head. I have worked a lot whit a metronome and if I practice the thing first it isn't a problem, but if I'm improvising something, a fast fill etc. it's not always tight.

So what do you think is the problem?
Coordination? Poor right hand technique? Something else?

Do you know any exercises?

Thank you for your help and excuse me for my schoolboy english, I'm not a native speaker.

How long have you been playing?

fahrendorff · #5 09-18-2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billnc

How long have you been playing?

Three and a half year.

Billnc · #6 09-18-2009, 10:30 AM

I believe timing issues are essentially a problem of coordination. If your technique is ok then play the piece, is there a certain point where it becomes unmanagable? Slow down a bit and practice it. Fills are another issue, we have a tendency to speed them up and miss a beat, isolate them and be sure you have them., isolate the fills and practice them. All in all if you can play well at 3 1/2 years you probably just have some things that aren't together yet, that would be expected.

Improvisation, try to stay within your limits while performing (I should heed my own advice there!) and practice improvising so slowly you can think every note. It works!

fahrendorff · #7 09-18-2009, 10:58 AM

Thank you very much. It's greatly appriciated!

Jehos · #8 09-18-2009, 11:14 AM

I don't know any technical terms for it, I just call it "rusty". I've been playing for about 17 years now, and I still get that way if I don't play for a good long while. Just practice to a metronome, working on getting your timing exactly right. Speed it up little by little, focusing on landing exactly in the right spot. Timing is good in your head, you just need to get that flowing through your fingers and the only way to do that is practice practice practice.