How do I improve the guitar players time?

[robbotbass]

Click track to show him that he's off first off. But to be honest it's hard to teach good timing and groove and with a guitard player it's even harder I've found. Sometimes it's not worth the trouble.

[charliefreak]

Buy him a bass!

[MarkMgibson]

I wouldn't right him just yet; if he's only 15, he's probably never actually played with other people, so it's just inexperience.

I was lucky; my brother is a drummer, and the first jamming I ever did was just me on guitar and hm on drums. To this day, it's always the drummer I look to most when playing guitar in a band (and certainly when I play bass).

[bearhart74]

if hes out of time then hes not nailing Jimmy or Stevie

[MarkMgibson]

He sounds like most very young guitarists who have mainly practiced in their bedrooms. If he's as good as you say, he'll probably improve very quickly the more he plays with a band.

[Munjibunga]

I once knew a kid who could shred like a mofo, but had no sense of time. I think there are a lot of those out there. Some can probably be salvaged but others, maybe not. Practicing with a metronome over time will tell whether your friend is the former or latter.

[Luke19Boarder]

Try jamming on some slooooowwwww songs. If you're just shredding a solo at maximum speed, the timing is less consequential. If you can get him to play songs where every note matters, it'll (hopefully) help him develop a keener sense of rhythm and timing.


One important question, though ... is he aware that his timing isn't great? Because knowing is half the battle.

[scrumpyjack]

Thanks a lot for all the replies guys. Sorry I'm a bit late in replying here.

But I'll try to address a few things here:

1. They kid plays guitar and by that I mean his awareness in general extends to guitars alone. Now, his ears are fantastic. He has transcribed SRV, Mike Landau and Scott Henderson tunes by ear in a short time. And, at 15 that is great.

2. As great as SRV, Landau and Henderson are, you have to understand where THEIR INFLUENCES COME FROM i.e., Led Zepplin, Cream, Jeff Beck, etc. I have been pushing him to listen to 'Bands' and not solo projects of guitar players. No disrespect, I love guitar players but there is a different vibe and it's a different type of playing that you've to undertake when playing songs with a singer.

3. He doesn't seem to like it though. His tastes may obviously differ, but still I find it odd that he doesn't seem to enjoy listening to anything that has influenced his favorite guitar players.

4. I have to point out to him that he's rushing. He can't make it out on his own. And even after that, his tempo constantly keeps on jumping.

Look, I'm no trying to bitch about him. I am stating the facts so that the more experienced members on TB can come up with some solutions. He's only 15 and he's doing really well for someone of his age. I don't want to demoralize him. As I said in my first post, Playing with a metronome is cool. But I'd like to him to become more RHYTHMICALLY AND DYNAMICALLY AWARE. Like for example, when the whole band takes it down, he keeps on playing at the same volume. Is there a set way in which I can teach him these things?

Thanks.

[derrico1]

Originally Posted by scrumpyjack

But I'd like to him to become more RHYTHMICALLY AND DYNAMICALLY AWARE. Like for example, when the whole band takes it down, he keeps on playing at the same volume. Is there a set way in which I can teach him these things?

As you say, the first step is awareness; and the key to awareness is feedback. If he misses that the band has cued one another to bring it down, get his attention while you're still playing and say "bring it down." Soon enough, he'll start to attend to stage direction and keep his eyes and ears open more.

Build more of those moments into your arrangements to bring him along quicker.

[Luke19Boarder]

What about recording him, and have him listen? That way you can more easily point out where he could use improvement

[lastnotleast]

This comes from not playing by himself and your bass alone is not enough to force him to play in time.
Working with a drummer who stays in the pocket will do wonders.
A proper musician should be able to play in time even without a drummer but he is young and needs the subconscious fed.

+1 learning to play drums

[marmadaddy]

I saw Victor Wooten at a clinic yesterday and he did a great exercise with a guy that would be appropriate here.

Tell your guitar player not to listen to himself, but to the drummer. Have him focus on what the drummer is laying down. He's going out of time because he's not referencing anything else. He's used to only listening to what he's playing. He needs to develop the habit of listening to the other musicians around him. As a guitarist he's probably already listening to notes and harmony but he needs to specifically listen to the groove that's being laid down.

[jaywa]

Reminds me of the young drummers that win these "drum-offs" at Guitar Center and then you see them with a band and they can't play a solid 4/4 beat to save their life.

[MarkMgibson]

Padlock him in a room and make him listen to The Who and The Stones for 24 hours. Playing fancy solos note for note is one thing, but Rock and Roll is all about rhythm, no matter what instrument you play.