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09-23-2009, 05:08 PM
| | |  Metronome or Drum Machine
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Been back to bass for 8 months after a 40 year hiatus. Things have changed.
Question:
Which is more effective for timing and rhythm training for bass.
Metronome (drives me nuts) or drum machine?
Most of what I play is Motown 112 to 126 beats.
Thanks,
JR |
09-24-2009, 09:29 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Illinois, USA | | | Get a simple drum machine. But the reason the 'nome drives you nuts is because you ain't together with your time. So, here's the difference. A drum machine is great for practicing full-blown grooves. But it's awful for working on your time. That's because it's got so much going on that it covers up the errors and as long as you land on 1 with the drums, it'll sound OK.
So, when you get the drum machine, just set it to give you the snare hit on beats 2 and 4. Then try to play something simple like "My Girl", "Ain't Too Proud To Beg", or "I'll Take You There". If you can't nail the groove with just the snare hits, then you need to learn that instead of playing with full drum kit. Your job is to keep time (that's the job of all the musicians) and for the bass especially, that's hitting the 1 and the 3.
In my experience and in my opinion, bassist need to work on both aspects, but the basic time stuff is more critical than full grooves.
John
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09-24-2009, 10:21 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NYC | | | +1 What he said. Also try click on one only, a healthy challenge.
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09-24-2009, 10:22 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: IL | | | yea i do metronome while at home and use drum machines in the studio.
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hmmmm....
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09-24-2009, 10:49 AM
| | | | Also play without a clock ( metro, machine etc ), and RECORD your playing.
A few days later listen to your time.
Do not 100% rely on a machine... any machine.
Develop your own clock inwardly too. |
09-24-2009, 10:56 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Angelo, Texas | | | Along these lines can y'all recommend a drum machine that is easy to use and doesn't cost a lot (I know that is relative).
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09-24-2009, 11:07 AM
| | | | Both. the metronome is cheap so you should have one. If you dont have the drum machine make the investment!!! |
09-24-2009, 11:08 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Alpharetta (Milton) GA Georgia | | | I just picked up Ed Friedland's Walking Bass Lines book, and in the preface he says to get a metronome. It's harder and less fun, but will help with timing... because it's harder.
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09-24-2009, 11:30 AM
|  | nyuk nyuk nyuk
Affiliated with Tune Guitar Maniac | | Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Los Angeles California | | | +1 to the above suggestions. And remember that you can also use your drum machine as a metronome in creative ways....try programming it to play just a click on every other bar, for example. |
09-24-2009, 01:02 PM
| | | | Yes, but also play without a metro gnome and record yourself
Rely on your inner clock too.
playing with humans is yet a whole other deal |
09-24-2009, 01:11 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sioux Falls, SD | | | Drum machine if you want to have fun. Metronome if you want to get better. |
09-24-2009, 10:03 PM
|  | Relic'd by life™ | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Los Angeles CA SoCal | | | |
09-25-2009, 11:42 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Illinois, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by jaywa  Drum machine if you want to have fun. Metronome if you want to get better. | +1
Why can't I come up with succinct answers like this?!
John
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Spelling, grammar, and punctuation do matter, despite the threats of death by grease fire!
"Without space, music is just noise piling up on itself." TRK
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09-25-2009, 11:44 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah GA | | http://www.weirdmetronome.com/
best of all worlds
plus its free
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09-25-2009, 11:49 AM
|  | Registered User | | | | | There's a video of a class by Victor Wooten on bassplayer.tv where he gives a live lesson with a drum machine, starting with a full beat, but eventually just giving one hit every four bars. His confession - "I'm almost always a quarter note ahead."
I don't think bassplayer.tv has direct links otherwise I'd post it...
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09-25-2009, 11:54 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Takoma Park, MD (DC) | | Quote:
Originally Posted by gregmerrill Both. the metronome is cheap so you should have one. If you dont have the drum machine make the investment!!! | +1
The drum machine is (obviously) much more versatile, so it's worth having, but I find that it's nice to have a simple battery-operated metronome that I can just grab, dial up a tempo, and play when I don't feel like setting up the drum machine, turning on speakers, etc.
The Alesis SR-16 is a classic stand-alone drum machine that's pretty easy to use and sounds great. Many of the software 'virtual' drum machines are great too if you don't mind being tied to the computer. | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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