timing problems, lost my touch or need to improve playing

[momma'sboy]

i've played bass for abbout a year and half then about the end of the year and start of 07 i had to stop for about a month (2weeks 06, 2 weeks 07) becuase of our drummer's health reasons, school and lost a vox. everything just went crazy that i cant even to practice for 10mins.. then about two weeks ago we resumed our practices and i'm practicing the same way as before(30mins after i wake up and the same before i sleep)...my problem is i cant keep up with the band during band practices in timings but when im practicing on my own i can do it perfectly.. if it's ether i fall short of a note or exceeds one. has anyone ever experienced this? any advices? thanx

[tZer]

tic, tic, tic, tic,

That is the sound of the metronome you need to be practicing with. If you are not able to stay in correct time with the band, but when practicing alone you feel you are fine, the chances are very good that you actually are not. When practicing alone you should consider a metronome or drum machine.

Also, if you are playing with an ensamble of any kind and find that you are constantly out of time, that means you are not paying attention to the band.

Practice with a metronome and pay attention to the band.

[Mark Wilson]

www.metronomeonline.com

I swear by this site.

[lemur821]

Make the metronome click only every few beats. You should be able to stay solid even when it's only once per measure. If you're not, then you know you've got a problem (I'm not 100% either, although I do all right).

[chaosMK]

Maybe work with the drummer and learn to listen to him, and vice versa.

I used to have a timing problem and solved it with the following method- do a deep "squatting" motion on each downbeat. When you get better at it, you can increase the rate to every two beats. This is also good for your legs and looks pretty cool on stage.