Bassists who learned without the metronome

[Gopherbassist]

the digital Boss I replaced it with is way more useable but sounds ghastly.

I bought one of these not too long ago:

Amazon.com

It has, I believe, four different click sounds. I have it set to a nice woody clunk sound, it's so much nicer than the digital beeps of so many metronomes.

 

[scrubhelmet]

Don't worry abouy Jeff Berlin, he doesn't matter. TalkBass is the only place I've heard of him, and what I've read of his opinions on music has amounted mostly to some profoundly stupid mental vomit and needless judgement of other people doing things differently than he does them.

I didn't grow up in the US so I certainly had a different musical journey and had a different set of influences, but I think my ignorance of Jeff Berlin or other popular American influences won't impact my or other non-Americans' growth negatively. On the other hand, I don't know him so I'd refrain from saying negative stuff and just leave him be.

 

[Gopherbassist]

I didn't grow up in the US so I certainly had a different musical journey and had a different set of influences, but I think my ignorance of Jeff Berlin or other popular American influences won't impact my or other non-Americans' growth negatively. On the other hand, I don't know him so I'd refrain from saying negative stuff and just leave him be.

You could ask 100 Americans who Jeff Berlin is and they would not know. He isn't famous here.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

I never played to a metronome or a click, for that matter, through the first 30 years of being in original, recording acts.

Through those years I played primarily with 3 drummers, each an excellent player with great time.

So I was spoiled, really. We strove (and rehearsed) to be “tight” and well drilled on our material, especially before recording sessions.

Later I played in a band with an average drummer who recorded with a click. We would rehearse that way for a month or so before a session.

For all that, when I put together an act with drum machines and sequences synths it took a while to adjust to fills that didn’t speed up! They seemed to lag.

Now I compose and record to clicks and/or drum machines all the time and it feels easy to me.

If I was to start as a bassist again now I’d play to rhythmic tools from the jump.

 

[BassicJazzy]

I almost never use metronome, prefer drum machine, have for years. I do find the metronome useful for breaking down 16th note intervals to learn more complex syncopations involved in some jazz. If I use a click track I have to dial back the volume or it sucks all the creativity out of me, I don't know why, it just wrecks me. Some people have said they use an old style mechanical metronome because it gives them more feel for the rhythm without being as distracting as a click.

 

[doctone]

I feel the same, BJ. Most electronic metronomes have a "click" sound which I just can't stand. It is actually a high-pitched note rather than a true click. The Korg KDM-3 has at least 1-2 usable sounds, as well as my trusty old KDM-1 has a real click.
But I love to practice with some good drum tracks too. Right now, I'm using the "Drumgenius" app over my Bluetooth capable Eris Monitors. Minimal setup is really important to me, and yes, the computer needs to be off. Too distracting. I also apreciate that my monitors are a few feet away from my combo, giving some acoustic separation, like I would be playing with a real drummer.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

I think a lot of us cue as much from being in a space with a drummer and kinda feeling their motion as much as sound.

At least it works that way for me.

I added one of these to me electronic music rig but, as cool as it is, I really only want it for count-ins, longer rests etc.

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[turf3]

I almost never use metronome, prefer drum machine, have for years. I do find the metronome useful for breaking down 16th note intervals to learn more complex syncopations involved in some jazz. If I use a click track I have to dial back the volume or it sucks all the creativity out of me, I don't know why, it just wrecks me. Some people have said they use an old style mechanical metronome because it gives them more feel for the rhythm without being as distracting as a click.

"sucks all the creativity out of me"?

Sheesh.

 

[BassicJazzy]

"sucks all the creativity out of me"?

Sheesh.

Yeah, well, there's not all that much there to begin with.

 

[fokof]

I sometimes practice with a click but it’s mostly to Check if I’ve nailed the difficult parts.

Jamming over recordings and loops is more interesting than that « click clack click clack ….. »

YMMV

 

[KenSmithFan]

Also I was thinking of the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

That’s a recipe for mediocrity.

 

[scrubhelmet]

That’s a recipe for mediocrity

I don't care about other people's perception of 'skill level', but I always try to improve and learn new things (which I already voiced out in my other comments in this thread.)

 

[Deleted member 394181]

I dont want to know if my timing isnt perfect.

 

[KenSmithFan]

I don't care about other people's perception of 'skill level', but I always try to improve and learn new things (which I already voiced out in my other comments in this thread.)

Other people’s perceptions are irrelevant to your skill level
.

 

[sean_on_bass]

There's nothing bad that can come up with trying something, so maybe I'll search how to use it the next time I practice with my bass.

However I was just thinking that maybe it would mess up with my internal sense of rhythm, because there might be too much for me to think about when playing with a metronome? Also I was thinking of the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Anyway, yeah I'll just try it.

Just think of the metronome as a drummer that is very consistent. it won't mess up your feel. with that said it's not some sort of hard requirement to practice with a metronome, just that musicians in general feel it helps their time.

 

[TomB]

It’s been hinted at here but you need to work with a click in most studios these days - it’s critical for editing that isn’t painfully laborious. I like the idea of a drummer who plays to the click and I play to him, but where do you find that drummer? Even some of my favorite drummers, whose “feel” I love, sometimes struggle with it. We always get it done though.

 

[Topkat13]

To much analysis = paralysis

 

[BassicJazzy]

It’s been hinted at here but you need to work with a click in most studios these days - it’s critical for editing that isn’t painfully laborious. I like the idea of a drummer who plays to the click and I play to him, but where do you find that drummer? Even some of my favorite drummers, whose “feel” I love, sometimes struggle with it. We always get it done though.

Garageband drummer is pretty adept at playing to the click. Set him and forget him. Then turn off the GB metronome. Works for me.

 

[60bass]

I've been a bassist since 1969 and when I first started a metronome was something you saw the classical piano geeks sitting in front of while they played their pianos. I guess that I'm somewhat lucky because I have always had a pretty good sense of timing and the ability to maintain it without help.

That said, it's something that every player needs to do. Get out the metronome and practice and I agree with the method of starting the metronome or click and then starting to play your part stopping the metronome or click and continuing to play. Then bring it in again and see if you are still on the beat. That will help you become proficient at counting time and feeling it in your head and when you play. I was lucky my younger brother was a drummer and a damn good one who had impeccable timing so playing with him was a huge plus.

That's one thing too to remember is that a metronome or a click track is perfect it's mechanical and steady but real musicians who are humans interpret timing differently and play differently you may find yourself absolutely killing it when you practice with your metronome but then when you get with other people you're having a hard time because people aren't perfect. IMO nothing will prepare you more at becoming proficient on your instrument and becoming a better musician than playing with people and frequently.

I find that to be true especially if you are a bassist. You have to form a bond with the drummer because you will be the foundation on which the music is built. You will know who that drummer is by not only their personalities but the way they play. That makes a better rhythm section and a more pleasurable experience. When you two can get locked in and look at each other with big smiles on your face everything is good. You do not get that kind of experience from a metronome nor a quick track. Nor will you ever get it. In fact, I don't think I've ever myself or seen another musician play a part along with a click or a metronome and smile at it and say man dude that was great! And if I did I would back away slowly or if it was me that I said that to I would run away fast. LOL

I've always felt that the use of a click track makes it easier for the engineer if he has to go back in and do overdubs and things like that cuz that way the click makes sure that every other musician is all on the same spot. One time I did some recording where a friend called me in to do some bass lines and the drummer was having a very hard time getting in groove with the click track. That led to more and more frustration and finally I suggested to the engineer why don't we just run it without a click and see what happens I felt somewhat safe and suggesting that because the other three musicians had played together a lot and I already knew they were pretty tight so I just had to lock in with them and everything was good. They were happy and the engineer was happy.

And another thing that I've always found that is super important as much so as a metronome or a click is having a headphone mix in the studio where you can select only what you want to hear and not everything. Every musician is different and when they play live they will be aware of everything that is going on but they tend to lock in with one or two things. With me it's always been the hi-hat snare and kick but I also like to hear the guitar as well so in the studio I say Lyft this is all I want to hear in my headphones. And you can run it with or without the click cuz it's not going to bother me I can do it either way.

So practice with that metronome or click and get proficient with it cuz once you start doing any kind of recording it's going to be really hard not to use one.b

 

[JohnBrown13]

When I was trying to learn how to play the bass, I just watched the covers and live videos of a few bassists (Buddy Zabala, Flea, Tony Kanal, Stuart Zender) and their bands and learn their songs. I also tried to learn other songs as soon as people knew I was playing bass and hire me up for their band. I also have a bit of music theory knowledge when I was learning the guitar, and I think it helped with improvisation and composing. Recently I'm also trying to learn jazz bass and have read books such as Ed Friedland's Building Walking Bass Lines.

However, the idea of practicing with a metronome only came up recently to me because I'd read it in forums such as this. So in a way I don't know how to utilize it. But I think it didn't affect my bass playing negatively. I know that bassists in general are in demand so I won't count this as an evidence of me being able to play properly; but on the other hand, there are several instances when I'd play with a drummer and lock in with them, and both of us would want to play with each other again due to the mutually good experience.

Anyway, so are there other bassists here who had the same lack of knowledge about the metronome as me? And if you went from not using the metronome to using it, what are the improvements that you felt?
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EDIT: In lieu of the metronome, I think that I just have a feel for rhythm and groove, to the point that it makes me tap my foot or dance while playing.

If drummers enjoy playing with you and you feel locked in, that’s a strong sign your internal time is working. Groove and feel are the real goal.
That said, a metronome can still be useful — not to replace feel, but to expose small timing inconsistencies you might not notice. Many people find their subdivisions get cleaner and their confidence improves, especially at slow tempos.