Band rehearsal with a metronome?

[abarson]

We have a new drummer with great chops and a compatible personality, and he's working hard to come up to speed with the material we've worked out over the years. We all think he's a keeper.

Most of the time he creates a good pocket and we're set, but there are certain songs that he consistently begins to speed up somewhere midway. We stop and restart but it happens again. He gets frustrated because he doesn't notice picking it up.

Does anyone's full band rehearse with a metronome in such situations, and has it helped? Are drummers offended by even suggesting this for practice?

 

[Scottkarch]

We have a new drummer with great chops and a compatible personality, and he's working hard to come up to speed with the material we've worked out over the years. Most of the time he creates a good pocket and we're set, but there are certain songs that he consistently begins to speed up somewhere midway. We stop and restart but it happens again. He gets frustrated because he doesn't notice picking it up.

Does anyone's full band rehearse with a metronome in such situations, and has it helped? Are drummers offended by even suggesting this for practice?

Sounds like a great idea. Maybe a phone app with a visual flashing metronome rather than click to give him a visual reference?

 

[albertus]

hard to say without hearing the rehearsal, but timekeeping is a matter of all the band. maybe your puhsing him and you don't notice. the use of a metronome will help a lot, but don't say it's his problem. assume that may be a band problem and things should be fine and no feelings will be hurt.

 

[Wito]

hard to say without hearing the rehearsal, but timekeeping is a matter of all the band. maybe your puhsing him and you don't notice. the use of a metronome will help a lot, but don't say it's his problem. assume that may be a band problem and things should be fine and no feelings will be hurt.

Agree! Wouldn't be the first time that I was pushing my drummer to speed up (and probably blaming him for my mistake).

To the OP: I think that rehearsing with the metronome is really usefull, because it forces each member of the band to be extra-aware of the timing thing. We used to do this specially before hitting the studio.

 

[abarson]

Great insight, albertus!

 

[Stumbo]

I suggest recording your rehearsal and during play back, see if everyone hears the same thing. Y0u can possibly play a metronome along with the recording to find out exactly where things get off track. Also, putting a click track through the PA and having the whole band play along with it may help. Sometimes putting a click track through headphones just for the drummer works out too.

 

[lokikallas]

In my experience it's very difficult as playing with a metronome is a learned skill. He should practice at home with a click, not at rehearsal though. Too easy to waste time.

 

[abarson]

Yes, we record all our rehearsals and everyone hears that the pace picks up. The drummer does rehearse at home using recordings with our previous drummer, who was admittedly much more laid back.

 

[David Jayne]

He needs to listen more to the rest of the band. If he did there wouldn't be a problem.

 

[Bassbubble11]

Sounds like it time for a new drummer. Chops or no chops if he can't hold the timing down then he is worthless. Just my opinion.

 

[miiitch]

50-50. We do most rehearsals with metronome for the drummer only, via headphones, so the other musicians get a sense for the drummer´s timing and not the metronome´s. However, new material is best done without a click first.
Our drummer only learned after 20 years of playing that the click is more than his best friend, likely a lfesaver. Both his teachers did not make him practice or ever play to a metronome, which is kinda scandalous to me.
Every drummer changes speed over time if he´s not used to playing with a metronome, simply because he does not know how much the machine´s time and his "feeling time" differ. No reason to !votekick him, give him a few months and he´s able.

Also we´re lucky to rehearse directly in my studio, always full-mic´d, and sometimes record an entire rehearsal to check our results "from a distance". Really helps a lot, even if you do it via portable recorder

 

[Bullitt5135]

It sounds like you've identified the issue as a band -- that's half the battle. Hopefully the band is open-minded about finding a solution.

My own story...I tried using a metronome at a band practice when our drummer couldn't make it. I just mic'd a cheap metronome into the PA -- a pretty easy and effective solution. The two guitar players pretty much ignored the click and ran away with the songs just as they would do with the real drummer. They said the click was distracting and insisted I turn it off. So much for that idea. Yet another nail in that band's coffin for me. If bandmates are not willing to address the problems and work together to figure out solutions, you are left with the choice between living with it or finding a new band.

 

[saltydude]

We tried it. It works but for us it just doesn't feel or sound correct because most of the stuff we do like Alice n' Chains for instance doesn't flow with a perfect tempo like you get from a metronome. So now we analyze each song prior to trying it so we know if it will work or not.

 

[monsterthompson]

I've tried running a drum machine with a live drummer. Some tracks work well. Some show there are feel changes that aren't as simple as you'd think. If we were studio pros getting a check, we'd figure it out. As weekend warriors, we can only spend so much time trouble shooting tempo vs swing vs slop. The simple solution has been to back-burner those tracks as we sort others out first.

Sounds like the op is in a position worth sorting this out. Figure out how much is the drummer and how much is the band.

 

[ReiPsaeg]

I wouldn't recommend using a metronome to try to compensate for a bad drummer. Metronomes are practice tools primarily, and while click tracks do have their place in the studio and certain types of musical productions, you should really be able to keep time for yourselves.

 

[Last Rebel]

I can't speak for all drummers but the ones I have known, a couple have frown on metronomes

Maybe they see it as an insult?

I just recently started using a metronome with guitarist and singer only,and has it ever opened my eyes.

I quote my Guitarist......

"It is everyone's job in the band to follow that click and if
you get off tempo, proceed to correct it"


It certainly is a humbling experience,I recommend everyone try a metronome even alone

I keep notes on all songs I cover ,and now also have a BPM notation too.

 

[Gigio Toots]

Your Drummer needs to start himself since it takes a little practice to " groove" with a click, then bring it to the whole band and if he gets offended then find a drummer who practices to a clik

 

[PaulJSmith]

Not sure playing to a metronome or click track is your answer. Record your rehearsals and listen to them as a band. Critique them as a band. You'll find there are likely more issues than just the drummer's tempo. If that's the biggest problem, address it first. If he can't handle that, then you probably need a new drummer.

 

[Milo Spleen]

My problem with following a click is that I'm still listening to the drummer too, and I have trouble following both.

 

[MDBass]

We have a new drummer with great chops and a compatible personality, and he's working hard to come up to speed with the material we've worked out over the years. We all think he's a keeper.

Most of the time he creates a good pocket and we're set, but there are certain songs that he consistently begins to speed up somewhere midway. We stop and restart but it happens again. He gets frustrated because he doesn't notice picking it up.

Does anyone's full band rehearse with a metronome in such situations, and has it helped? Are drummers offended by even suggesting this for practice?

Nearly every professional band performs live with a click track using IEM's, sometimes only the drummer but often the entire band.

Obviously not everyone plays in a professional band, but the use of a metronome is nearly always helpful; if you've never played the song to a click, you don't even know what the tempo of the song is.

If you're just jamming you don't need a click, but if you're writing songs that you're planning to record you'd honestly be foolish not to use one; unless of course the group you're playing with is at such a high level that you record all of the instrumentation (ie Snarky Puppy) or at least the drum kit (ie Tool) live as one take without any punches or overdubs.