Rhythm and ADHD

[Colby Slush]

Hello all!

I'm new here so I apologize if this has been covered before but I did a search on the net and I really couldn't find anything helpful on this subject.

I have severe ADHD and it's causing me a lot of problems with getting my rhythm down. I've been playing for two years now and I still can't even play one song all the way through without mistakes in my rhythm. I've tried everything I could find to help improve it and nothing works. I've heard that a metronome does wonders so I got one and tried that but it doesn't help at all. No matter how hard I try my mind will always drift off from the task at hand. I don't even notice when it happens my mind will drift then I'll kind of wake up from the daydream and my rhythm is completely off. I'm actually worse at keeping rhythm with a metronome than I am with songs. The reason is because of the consistent beat. It doesn't vary at all so my mind isn't actively focusing on it. I can usually stay focused on a song all the way through but I don't find that songs really help that much with getting a good rhythm because I'm thinking about so many other things (notes, where I am in the song, etc) that I can't really tell if I'm hitting the notes in perfect time.

It's really frustrating and I'm at the point where it's getting harder and harder to even get myself to practice, because I just don't see the point if I'm never going to get better.

It's not a lack of practice as I do usually practice at least an hour a day. I'd do it more but again my attention problem doesn't allow it. My playing kind of peaks. I'll start out playing kind of crappy then I'll play pretty decent and then finally I'll start playing like crap again, because I can't focus anymore.

I take Adderal and it helps a little but not enough.

So my question to you guys is do any of you have ADD/ADHD and how do you cope with the more boring of exercises that don't really hold ones attention? Also do you guys know of any rhythm exercises geared specifically towards people like us?

[Violen]

ADD can be an ugly beast when practicing. My first reccomendation is to check your diet. Try to eliminate any sugars that you can, and eat sensibly. I find if i undereat or overeat i get really spacey fast. I find the more protein i eat and the less carbs and the clearer i get throughout the day. Sometimes it takes a couple days to get focused though, stick at it.

I also take breaks every fifteen or ten minutes. Get up, stretch, use the bathroom, come back. Get a glass of water, come right back. Just walk arround the room, let your mind reset for a second, but make sure you dont hit the tv or computer. Just sit back down. Also dont give up.

Finding a band and getting a creative outlet helps too

[Violen]

Oh, one more thing,

Everyone makes mistakes. I have recordings with John Patitucci making mistakes, the first time i heard them it took a load off my shoulders. But he's still amazing and he got that way by practicing and having patience.

Two threads on patience tonight huh guys?

[mambo4]

You didn't explicitly state that you were reading, but if so....
One thing to try is separating rhythm from pitch.
Put the bass down, set the metronome, and clap the notated rhythm. do a few passes at the song ONLY focused on getting the rhythm right. Once you it starts to feel familiar, then pick up the bass and start playing the piece.

I'm pretty sure fluent sight readers are not "decoding" the notation on the fly: they recognize on sight groups of notes as rhythmic phrases and "already know" what they should sound like, rhythmically.

[Violen]

Nice Advice Mambo

And he's right. There isnt really anything thats sight reading. Its recalling practiced information.

Or Rhythms for that matter. Just make sure you try them slowly, and count them. Break them down beat by beat if you can.

[Eminentbass]

If focus and not your internal sense of rhythm is what you're struggling with, then I'd suggest a conscious activity like counting out loud or tapping your foot while you play. You probably don't have timing issues and might just be switching off to the time-source. If it's a piece you're familiar with, then even singing the rhythms or parts you're playing might help keep your mind busy on the task at hand.

[SnakeKappele]

OK, let's get some background.

How are you practicing? With a group? To records (OK, I'm old)? Just the bass?

Are you reading music while you practice?

[Chris K]

My sun has ADHD and his problems are like yours, being unable to play from written music either. He played the trumpet but stopped because of it. One solution (depending on what other problems you might have - there should be some at least) is medical/psychiatric treatment. I hear many people getting good results from a relatively new medicine, called Concerta.
http://www.concerta.net/index.html