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Analyzing band's playing and isolating the problem

B

belzebass

Feb 21, 2012
305
78
#1
Hi there!

When our band is playing, many songs (some more than others) just don't "click". It's not very fluid, not clean, just doesn't sound nor feels right. I find hard to put my finger on it. I'm not sure what is wrong and whether it's a member (or two or three) messing up the feel, or it's a sum of everyone's small shortcomings. I was wondering if it was me, or drummer, or guitarist :-\

I have trouble staying in the groove, though usually I'm pretty solid. It just doesn't feel right :-\

I would like to analyze the playing/the sound of the band and identify/isolate the biggest problem.

Any tips on this?

Thanks!
 
#4
Yep, here is a live recording: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Or a home recording (everybody recorded separately, drums are sequenced):
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
or
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Comments on bass playing welcome.
 
#5
First thing I noticed is that the lead guitar sounds really out of tune. Could be it's just not tuned, could be an intonation issue.

Sounds like the drummer's timing is messed up too, can you all hear each other ok on stage?

You're doing the right thing by going back over your live recordings and looking to improve - I wish more bands would do that. Hope it works out for you!
 
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#7
bassresistance said:
First thing I noticed is that the lead guitar sounds really out of tune. Could be it's just not tuned, could be an intonation issue.

Sounds like the drummer's timing is messed up too, can you all hear each other ok on stage?

You're doing the right thing by going back over your live recordings and looking to improve - I wish more bands would do that. Hope it works out for you!
Click to expand...

buldog5151bass said:
I listened to the live recording.

1 Definite pitch issues, both vocals and guitar.

2 Drums are not in the pocket.

If drums and bass lock together, and are in the right spot, song has a foundation. If either is out, song is $%&*ed.
Click to expand...

Were you talking about the live version?
Or the home recording?
 
#9
To me while it sounds like the drummer is keeping correct time with you but his rhythem is not in lock with the bass and guitars. That makes it sound like he is dragging when he is actually on the bet. If that makes any sense...
 
#10
jthisdell said:
To me while it sounds like the drummer is keeping correct time with you but his rhythem is not in lock with the bass and guitars. That makes it sound like he is dragging when he is actually on the bet. If that makes any sense...
Click to expand...

If you are talking about home recordings, the drums have perfect time, they are sequenced on Hydrogen :-)
But it's exactly the patterns played by the drummer.
 
#11
belzebass said:
If you are talking about home recordings, the drums have perfect time, they are sequenced on Hydrogen :)
But it's exactly the patterns played by the drummer.
Click to expand...
No, I only listened to the live track. To me it seemed that while his 4/4 time was spot on, his playing in that time did not compliment what the bass and guitar were doing, so it sounded like he was dragging, IMHO.
 
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#12
jthisdell said:
No, I only listened to the live track. To me it seemed that while his 4/4 time was spot on, his playing in that time did not compliment what the bass and guitar were doing, so it sounded like he was dragging, IMHO.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's one of the problems: He uses mysterious ways to choose his bassdrum patterns (that don't compliment the accents of the song), I asked to change some to go better with guitar and bass, he complies, but 2 weeks later he descreeply rolls back to his initial patterns :-\
 
#14
belzebass said:
Yep, that's one of the problems: He uses mysterious ways to choose his bassdrum patterns (that don't compliment the accents of the song), I asked to change some to go better with guitar and bass, he complies, but 2 weeks later he descreeply rolls back to his initial patterns :-\
Click to expand...
But of course my banjo player gets frustrated at me for not playing a straight bluegrass bass line all the time!
 
#15
On the live recording, the drummer is very behind the beat and drags the tempo during the verses. The other instruments are trying to push the beat and are out in front of the drummer. Overall the drummer needs to improve in order for the band to sound better.

I also concur with the others that the guitarist is out of tune, and the vocalist is pitchy. But the biggest issue is the drummer. There's no way to lock in with someone who plays like that.
 
#17
I think the essence of the problem is that the drummer's timing is off, which isl throwing everyone else off. He's playing REALLY behind the beat. Does he have a click-track he can rehearse with? If he uses it, it doesn't help, and honestly would need to be replaced. If he doesn't have or use one, I would highly recommend getting one.

The out of tune-ness of the guitar and vocals can be fixed easily by throwing a tuner at both of them (or the same person, depending on the situation), though as a singer myself, I know that I generally take my pitch from the guitar, though years ago when I was in choir in high school, my teacher loved me because of the fact that I have perfect pitch, and if someone was off, I'd call them on it.

Just my two cents.
 
#19
In your group is it the drums job to set tempo and rhythem? Seems as though the drums are trying to follow everybody else and dosnt really establish a pocket for others to play off of. For me to grove I need to hear the bass drum and the snare very clearly. Could be an artifact of the live recording but I can't really hear the bass and snare, and the accents all seem to be on other pieces of the kit.
 
#20
The "studio" versions sound a lot more solid. So perhaps some of your troubles stem from not hearing yourselfs well on stage?


That being said... your drummer is the weak link. Not very articulate, no groove, or sense of pocket, constantly changing patterns, and to top it all off not a very good sense of time.
 

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