Rushed tempos

walknbluez · #1 07-30-2008, 12:13 PM

Not sure if this should be here or under band management so it can be moved if need be. I wanted to get some opinions on tempos. I think our drummer is pretty good and sometimes he pulls stuff out that puts a smile on my face. Most of the time, he is right on. However, *sometimes* he rushes tempos on songs that I feel need to be a little slower. So what is the best way, while playing, to tell the drummer to slow it down a bit. Any common signals that are used? Also, I noticed this with some drummers (mostly amateur)...why does this happen. Pent up energy?

fretlessman71 · #2 07-30-2008, 12:20 PM

Excitement usually. No one has perfect time, and people who get up for a song tend to push pretty hard. It's human.

Does he hear you when you're playing? Do you think he'd respond if you were playing just enough behind the beat to "find" you, or is he so absorbed with the rest of the song that he wouldn't budge? You can influence drummers who play with their ears as well as their hands - by playing in a certain way.

If, however, he doesn't pay much attention to your bass part, you may have to pull him aside and ask him if he knows he's rushing those particular tunes. A pro drummer (or any other musician) will listen with an open mind and NOT be offended. Here's hoping that's your experience.

walknbluez · #3 07-30-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

Excitement usually. No one has perfect time, and people who get up for a song tend to push pretty hard. It's human.

Does he hear you when you're playing? Do you think he'd respond if you were playing just enough behind the beat to "find" you, or is he so absorbed with the rest of the song that he wouldn't budge? You can influence drummers who play with their ears as well as their hands - by playing in a certain way.

If, however, he doesn't pay much attention to your bass part, you may have to pull him aside and ask him if he knows he's rushing those particular tunes. A pro drummer (or any other musician) will listen with an open mind and NOT be offended. Here's hoping that's your experience.

Good question about whether he really *hears* me. We are all amateurs and he is open minded. I will try to slow down my bass part sometimes but that doesn't always work well which is why I was trying to figure out some sort of cue to give him. Sometimes he'll say "sorry!" when he thinks his drumming screwed me up when in fact it was my own fault. During faster songs and certain beats I notice him looking at my plucking hand. Before the song if I say "not too fast" he'll try to slow it down and then after the song is finished he'll ask "how was that tempo?".

Recently we started learning some covers in addition to our originals and this is mainly where the problem lies. Sometimes his kick drum will match the strumming pattern of the guitar too on certain songs and I remind him to just do a regular beat. Other songs (in some cases that he's never heard) he's right on the money.

fretlessman71 · #4 07-30-2008, 12:37 PM

If he's listening, then you have a puncher's chance. Very good.

The trick is not to play SLOWER than him, which would result in you ending up a beat or more behind if you "stuck to your guns"...

The trick is to play BEHIND him; that is, play each downbeat note just a little bit late in comparison to his kick drum. (NOT TOO MUCH; you still have to sound like you're playing the same song.)

If he's interested in the band sounding tight (and it sounds like he is), he may subconsciously lay back a bit to lock with you. At this point, YOU WIN.

Another thing to think about: If he's watching your plucking hand, He May Not Be Able To Hear You Well. Try setting up where he can use his ears more and his eyes less.

walknbluez · #5 07-30-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

If he's listening, then you have a puncher's chance. Very good.

The trick is not to play SLOWER than him, which would result in you ending up a beat or more behind if you "stuck to your guns"...

The trick is to play BEHIND him; that is, play each downbeat note just a little bit late in comparison to his kick drum. (NOT TOO MUCH; you still have to sound like you're playing the same song.)

If he's interested in the band sounding tight (and it sounds like he is), he may subconsciously lay back a bit to lock with you. At this point, YOU WIN.

Another thing to think about: If he's watching your plucking hand, He May Not Be Able To Hear You Well. Try setting up where he can use his ears more and his eyes less.

Thanks I'll give it a shot (playing behind him).

E2daGGurl · #6 07-30-2008, 01:09 PM

It's my observation that lots of drummers (and others) really like the sense that they are going a bit faster than other people in the band (and of course, to some music, it's an essential feature).

So when you play just a bit behind him, he may actually like how it sounds - you might try to make it into an "it's all good" kind of thing and point out that you all have three options (to sound like he's speeding up when you're playing behind, to play faster together, and to play slower...). Maybe he'll try option 3 with you.

If you record what you're doing, he'll likely hear it.