How do you practice with a drummer?

[Raw Amateur]

I know this is a bit like asking why the sky is blue or whether or not time possesses mass, but I thought I'd give it a go.

Been playing for a year now. My teacher says that I should step out and play with other folks. My buddy got a drum kit a few weeks ago. He plays guitar but wants to learn drums. So we are going to get together and "jam" (and that's using the term very loosely).

Um, so for those of you that practice/jam with just a drummer....what do you like to focus on? Do you just fiddle with chord progressions while he lays down a beat? Do you work on synchronization with the drummer? I am having a hard time actually expressing the question short of "what do you like to do?"

My buddy is a raw novice on the skins so it may be difficult to get anything together short of him keeping 4/4 time and me practicing my pentatonics and arpeggios.......but everything has a beginning.

Thanks in advance.

[sammyp]

when you're starting out it's just best to try and play the main riffs to some songs you both like ....nothing too hard

maybe walk thru some blues forms....

[VanillaThundah]

Alternating between you playing along to a beat he lays down and him playing along to a bassline you started with is a good place to begin. Both of you can get a feel for working your instrument around someone else and learning how to "lock in" as a rhythm section. Guitarists are one thing, but the cement between you and the drummer can be WAY stronger and carry the music so much further than just focusing on what the guitar is doing when jamming.

Being completely transparent here, I feel a lot "safer" when the drummer and I are locked in during a song. Keep it simple at first and work towards synchronization rather than pulling the other guy around what you are playing.

[MalcolmAmos]

As you both are new - having someone else to go down the road with will be a big help.

Just the drummer drumming and you locking in with him is going to need something else as a guide. Jam to some music. Jamming tracks would be my suggestion. Google can help. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q503AaTtQ-w Look on the right hand side of the screen at all the possibilities.

Sounds like great fun.

[Cristo]

Just play and go where it takes you. You are free to do whatever works. Sometimes it doesn't work and that is OK too. You don't have to satisfy anyone.

In short, just try it out. Don't think about it so much.

[bassinplace]

I would suggest sticking to roots in order to get your feel down and then branch out from there as you feel comfortable. Time is paramount, that's your job, so focus on that.

[Raw Amateur]

Thanks for the advice from everyone.

I'm sure our first session will be fairly comical, but these tips will help us figure something out. Roots, go with the flow, cop some favorite riffs...

@MalcolmAmos thanks for the youtube link. I sent it to my friend with a note "I bet you can at least play something along these lines."