Comping during a drum solo and...

[Uncle Bass]

I have a super talented drummer that I play with on occasion and when he solos, I'm horrible at keeping time and keeping the groove intact during said performance. Pretty sure I generally rely too much on drummers for timing, so I need help navigating through his chops. Any pointers? Also, and maybe related, I'm not comfortable on the "a" accent. Every other 16th note I'm confident with, but that one gets me. I've been playing for 30 years, so this is somewhat embarassing thank you for any input!!

 

[Michedelic]

I have a super talented drummer that I play with on occasion and when he solos, I'm horrible at keeping time and keeping the groove intact during said performance. Pretty sure I generally rely too much on drummers for timing, so I need help navigating through his chops. Any pointers? Also, and maybe related, I'm not comfortable on the "a" accent. Every other 16th note I'm confident with, but that one gets me. I've been playing for 30 years, so this is somewhat embarassing thank you for any input!!

Does this drummer, when soloing, go ‘free form’, dispensing with time altogether(as cliche’ an example as it might be, I’m thinking Ginger Baker), or is there rhythmic continuity? For me, this is perfect example of that…

Krupa is soloing throughout the entire tune, yet whether or not there’s another instrument on top(or below), you can tap your foot to it. Hopefully that’s the case for you…just go along with it, utilize a basic riff or line, and anchor the moment. Or else, there’s this approach…

 

[albertus]

ask him if he is doing any rhythmic displacements. sometimes they do that and is easy to fall for the trick. if he does, tell him to explain it to you. I have had to do these sometimes, and there is no shame in not knowing and asking

 

[el murdoque]

I've played with that young, super talented guy who was all about weird time signatures and everything that's hard and off the well trodden pathways.
When he would go free form anything, I often had to stop and look at him - not being able to figure out what's going on and therefore unable to play along.

Then I played with his teacher.
Basically the same guy, only older. Incredible talent, but more experienced and having studied drums on one of the more popular colleges in the US, I forgot which. This guy made you bob your head to a 7/8, never miss the 1 and keep a solid groove and feeling for time going at all times, no matter what he did.

If you ask me, a bass solo and a drum solo have one thing in common: While you're essentially free to shop off your chops, you also have a purpose to serve in the band. One that is so essential that you cannot neglect it even when soloing. You got to keep the rhythm going. The guitar, keys or sax can do whatever they desire and play all over the place, since the bass and drums are locked in and keep the foundation going. However, when you let bass or drums go for a solo, you either stop the entire band or the soloists have to do their solo bit while they do their job at the same time. Otherwise, the song falls apart.

 

[FullumMusic]

I have a super talented drummer that I play with on occasion and when he solos, I'm horrible at keeping time and keeping the groove intact during said performance. Pretty sure I generally rely too much on drummers for timing, so I need help navigating through his chops. Any pointers? Also, and maybe related, I'm not comfortable on the "a" accent. Every other 16th note I'm confident with, but that one gets me. I've been playing for 30 years, so this is somewhat embarassing thank you for any input!!

Start counting a few bars before the drum solo starts. (Whether you explicitly say the numbers in your head or just keep track of the 1 and the beats, up to you.) If you try to start at the drum solo when there's no more reference, it's too late.

Make sure you keep counting during the drum solo.

Just play the downbeat of each chord change. Don't overcomplicated it.

When you're comfortable doing that without getting lost you can start adding more groove to it.

 

[azureblue]

Only one solution - practice with a loop / click / metronome. Begin by tapping your foot to the click, at the tempos the drummer plays at. This is called internalizing. Once you can stay with the click for 4 minutes, then pick up your bass and play your accompaniment. You must develop your sense of "pocket" and how to stay in it, for each song.
Practice playing simple quarter notes to the click - stay with it - not ahead of it. Your job is to be rock solid all by your self, first..

 

[BGroovy]

If they want to go free form it’s best for the whole band to stop, including bass. Discuss a plan before hand on how they’ll cue you back in to build back up to the full band. This could be a few hits on the 1 as they wrap up their solo to re establish the core rhythm. It’s totally fine and often desirable to NOT play during a drum solo.

If they’re going to play loosely around the beat, you’re going to have to keep time with your foot. If you both click well together you’ll hold it together, and adjust subtly to each other if things drift (they always do). If you play a lot together and listen well you’ll start connecting around hits you can do together during the solo.

I’d start with talking to the drummer and asking if they want you to play at all or just drop out.

 

[turf3]

OP, it sounds to me like this drummer's going out of time during a solo, in which case what you do is to stop playing.

 

[FunkHead]

 

[mambo4]

I'm not comfortable on the "a" accent. Every other 16th note I'm confident with, but that one gets me.

Can you read rhythm notation?
That is the one thing that improved my sense of rhythm beyond all else.

 

[LordRyan]

I played with a very accomplished drummer who would sometimes go for long stretches without marking the beat. He always knew where he was but liked to try and throw the bass player. The first time he did this was at my audition. He actually said he tried to throw me and I held my own. After that I was always ready for anything. Cases like this force you to not always depend on the drummer to let you know where one is. I started counting half-time especially on very fast songs when playing with this drummer which reduces the number of beats to keep track of and also helps give the illusion of space which gives you a more relaxed feel.

 

[Ritter667]

Just follow the drummer, let the rhythm take control of your fingers.

Or just don't play.

Really depends on the music.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, it's his solo.
He'll lead you back when he's done.

Oh wait....drummers, solo....they're never done.

 

[franklindayala]

I have a super talented drummer that I play with on occasion and when he solos, I'm horrible at keeping time and keeping the groove intact during said performance. Pretty sure I generally rely too much on drummers for timing, so I need help navigating through his chops. Any pointers? Also, and maybe related, I'm not comfortable on the "a" accent. Every other 16th note I'm confident with, but that one gets me. I've been playing for 30 years, so this is somewhat embarassing thank you for any input!!

My drummer gave me a tip for this kind of situations. Always listen to the hi hat.

 

[Peteyboy]

I started counting half-time especially on very fast songs when playing with this drummer which reduces the number of beats to keep track of and also helps give the illusion of space which gives you a more relaxed feel.

This is excellent advice.

 

[faulknersj]

Ignore what the drummer is playing completely and just count steadily and hit your part in time.

If you listen to what the drummer is doing you will get thrown off….

1,2,3,4 1,2,3,4 over and over in time…tap your foot…do whatever it takes to stick to the count…

World for me 99% of ye time anyway lol

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

I have a super talented drummer that I play with on occasion and when he solos, I'm horrible at keeping time and keeping the groove intact during said performance. Pretty sure I generally rely too much on drummers for timing, so I need help navigating through his chops. Any pointers? Also, and maybe related, I'm not comfortable on the "a" accent. Every other 16th note I'm confident with, but that one gets me. I've been playing for 30 years, so this is somewhat embarassing thank you for any input!!

Some solos are not congruent with keeping time. Have a very focused moment of conversation where you ask the drummer what they want, if anything, while they are soloing. Some solos are rhythmically free... or end up there... and some are really intended to have some sort of unifying pulse or accent underneath. Have the conversation. Then you can know what to do, if anything, moving forward.

When I have a solo section as a bass player, I'm very comfortable telling others what I'd like in those sections, and almost always something that's light/quieter restatement of the basic chords (though more sparse) that gives me something harmonically to play with/against as I see fit in the moment. The point is NOT what I am doing- the point is as the soloist I'm going to communicate what I'd like in those moments. Communication is the point.

 

[MCS4]

One thing you might consider is having a discussion with the drummer regarding who is going to be in charge of marking time during the drum solo so you can both plan accordingly. If the expectation is that you will continue to follow the drummer's time as usual, then in theory he should make an effort to solo in a way that keeps good time and gives you enough cues to follow reasonably normally, although you of course might still need to work a bit harder than usual. However, if the drummer wants to be more freeform in how he solos, you could consider working out something where you instead will keep time, with modifications to your part if need be to suit, and he will play his solo but make an effort to use you as a reference for time rather than vice versa.

 

[logdrum]

Layoff if he twists the time beyond recognition

 

[Kael]

You could always do the stereotypical hit the one chord for a quarter note every other measure. Solid time tested method of keeping everyone on the same page during drum solos.