Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
HELP DRUMMER SPEEDS UP!
- Thread starter Snerek
- Start date
i know EXACTLY what you're talking bout... ohhh how i desire a nice steady one drop beat
Try playing slightly behind the beat. It can give a cool groove and if your drummer is listening, he'll relax the tempo a bit. If he's not listening, there's probably not too much anybody can do.
- Apr 23, 2008
- 105
- 0
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Lakland, Aguilar Amplification, JH Audio
I was once told that only real musicians tap their feet while practicing. It is a great practice tool...and if I feel a drummer I am playing with is getting off on time, I just watch his kick drum foot and everything is good.
Some drummers cannot be helped though. The best advise for those guys is to throw them overboard.
Some drummers cannot be helped though. The best advise for those guys is to throw them overboard.
LilRay
Commercial User
- Dec 27, 2007
- 4,166
- 39
- Disclosures
- Owner: Cockeyed Cow Custom Leathercraft
Start every rehearsal with an hour long version of Wipeout.
We used to do that with our first drummer and it worked pretty well.
We used to do that with our first drummer and it worked pretty well.
Yeah I've noticed with alot of the proper full on tight as a *insert cude tightness based joke ending* that alot of them are constantly tapping or moving their hi-hat foot alot of the time, if not all of it.
Give your drummer a metronome. It's not your job to "fix" his timing issues any more or less than it is the lead singer's job. He has a job to do, and he's not doing it. A metronome will really help, if he will use it.
Yup. Time to put him out of his misery. I've left good bands because the drummer couldn't keep it in his pants....not every song needs to be played at 170 bpm.
I've tried to convince a couple of drummers to try the Invalid Link Removed I haven't yet been successful.
okay .... OP here..
quick question, its a little off topic but it related to what a lot of you are saying.
"playing behind the beat"
i'm sure i either do this, or have heard this on steely dan records... but what exactly does this mean? how can it be used properly and implemented? It seems like a really groovy concept. thank you!
quick question, its a little off topic but it related to what a lot of you are saying.
"playing behind the beat"
i'm sure i either do this, or have heard this on steely dan records... but what exactly does this mean? how can it be used properly and implemented? It seems like a really groovy concept. thank you!
Playing behind the beat means you drag the tempo a little bit or you play the notes just after when they should happen . This can create the feel of the tempo sitting back just a bit. As for your application if the drummer follows you then you could potentially slow things up a bit.
It is hard for me to explain in writing actually but a really good drummer could sit back with you and not effect the tempo. Your problem could be that someone else in the group is playing ahead of the beat and the drummer is following him to faster and faster tempos.
I slightly disagree. I think it's crucial for everyone to STAY in time...but the true tempo and timing come from the drummer and bass....usually.
Hmm...not sure on that one.
Usually...the tempo is not static during the performance of a piece.
The sways in tempo being influenced by the whole group and depends on the "agreements" they make during the performance.
There are of course situations where what you say aplies.
sometimes it's the drummer who has the click in his ear... aside from it being the metronome that "dictates" the time in those instances rather than the drummer...
Drumming great Dennis Chambers once described musical meter as a 'wheel' or a fast clock, wherein the 'true beat' happens at 12:00, explaining how a drummer (or any other musician) can play 'behind the beat' by hitting a little after 12:00, or conversely, push the beat by playing a little ahead of 12:00.
It's important to note, though, that although a drummer can drag the beat by laying the SNARE a little late, the KICK has to stay on 12:00, otherwise, he's simply moved the whole song forward a notch
It would be nice if you could rig a metronome to tap him with a mallet as he played. Then ad a tap velocity control pedal to your rig, and when he speeds up up the velocity to skull splitting and he will get the gist.
Really though, try and make eye contact IMO.
Really though, try and make eye contact IMO.
