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How to keep a drummer on beat

#41
Shock therapy?

Get a hold of the drummer during the week and practice to a click as a "rhythm section". If not, buy a kick drum and a snare, then go get some pedals and play them with your feet while grooving on the bass. You're probably tapping your foot anyway.
 
#42
I'd talk to the drummer and ask him to practice with a metronome. It'll do him no end of good!

I'd agree with the others who have suggested you have a jam with him so he can get some decent practice staying in time.

I find drummers who don't really play in many bands often have this problem.

At my church band the singers think everything will just play in time with them and don't think they need to follow us and it just doesn't work and they just drift off. When we have a decent drummer he can usually do a decent job of locking it all together but sometimes our less experienced drummers will follow the singers.

You will probably find that time and practice are the best healers in this case.
 
#43
Hugh9191 said:
At my church band the singers think everything will just play in time with them and don't think they need to follow us and it just doesn't work and they just drift off. When we have a decent drummer he can usually do a decent job of locking it all together but sometimes our less experienced drummers will follow the singers.
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Big fat +1. And since church vocalists invariably rush (IME anyway), well, the whole tempo thing can get out of control in a hurry.
 
#45
This is the big difficulty in doing Christian music, how to explain to someone when they are truly BAD at what they do without offending. It's usually a singer and a soundman who knows what he is doing can do wonders. (Turn them UP in the monitors to back 'em off the mike, down in the fronts.)

When it's a drummer it's a real challenge. You need to explain the concept of the 'groove' and the responsibility of the rhythm section. Also the concept of bringing an acceptable offering to the Lord.
 
#46
There is not much you can do.

funny story: Band i'm working with had a sub drummer for a rehearsal - it was the keyboardist's teenage son. I was expecting the worst, but the kid had *dead solid* meter. Not much flash - his fills were a bit awkward, but his meter was great. After we wrapped up I pulled him aside and gave him mad props... But he really is the exception - inexperienced drummers just can't help but speed up then slow down. It comes with experience.
 
#47
Scott1 said:
On a side note, why does it seem like everybody thinks they can drum? It isn't easy, though good drummers make it look like it is.
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As a drummer of 25+ years, I could not agree more. It isn't easy, just like picking up the classical guitar or electric bass isn't easy.

It took me over five years of playing percussion to develop a good sense of tempo. The good news- it can be learned. The bad news- it takes hundreds of hours playing along with a metronome.

I, too, play in a praise band. I'm the back-up drummer (because I prefer to play bass). Our regular drummer has had the same rushing-fill problem. I made a simple request, which seems to have fixed the problem for the most part: limit fills to two beats on average, no more than four if it's a long crescendo. He's obliged because he figured out that we're tighter as band when he follows that advice, and he loves locking in a tight groove. And maybe that's the key- he understands that we're a rhythm SECTION. I back him up, he backs me up.
 
#48
play pop and slap it will make the drummer try to follow along with you and if that doesnt work then whoever they are should not be playing drums. strangely i lock in with my guitarist more than my drummer anyways he keeps time but i dont play rhythm bass.

if nothing else works get an in-ear metronome and make your drummer use it... although that can mess them up too since when playin live no one seems to stay in time anyways.
 
#49
Marley's Ghost said:
Have him swallow a metronome? :help:
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You have installed it backwards.

272298037_380e5ab736.jpg


Randy
 
#52
BigOldHarry said:
...the kid had *dead solid* meter...
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I have a 16 YO nephew the same way. Rock solid and very tasty.

As for the problem described by the OP...is the object praise and worship, or is it perfection? It's not like there's anything more serious than pride at stake here. Should the focus be prideful concern over something only the band is likely to notice, or should it be gratitude that someone is interested enough to give their time and what talent they were blessed with for the greater glory?
 
#53
BigOldHarry said:
There is not much you can do.

funny story: Band i'm working with had a sub drummer for a rehearsal - it was the keyboardist's teenage son. I was expecting the worst, but the kid had *dead solid* meter. Not much flash - his fills were a bit awkward, but his meter was great. After we wrapped up I pulled him aside and gave him mad props...
Click to expand...

Good call to prop him. I don't play with many young drummers but when I do play with one that's "got it", I make sure to let him know. You can't teach time and feel. If you find a kid with that inborn, you encourage him/her to keep going and eventually the "flash" stuff will come.
 
#54
First, let's define the problem here. Is it a time issue or technique issue? See, you didn't indicate there was a tempo problem, you said the drummer has a problem keeping the beat.

Moving the "one" around randomly is not the same as not keeping a steady tempo. From what you describe I don't know that a metronome will help at all. If the drummer does not know the proper number of beats in a measure or how many measures per section, then the tempo can be perfect and it is still a mess.

Are you sure it is a timing issue or is it maybe that the drummer doesn't know what he is supposed to be playing.

-eSmith.
 
#56
Best Idea I could think of, would teach her to play drums. Most drummers "think" their drummers.

A buddy of mine "Thought" he was a drummer, my drummer "taught" him to play drums. until than he just banged a bunch of stuff with two sticks.

The way he told me, is start with Simple 4/4 Count outloud if you have to, so 1 2 3 4.. Simple right,

Now keep the 4/4 on the high hat, Now every 3, hit the kick, on every 1 Hit the Snare.


After awhile, stop hitting the high hat, Keep the time with the kick and snare, than add a roll to a splash, do it until you can do a 1 bar roll, and not miss the Snare when the new bar starts, and without speeding up or slowing down your Kick.
 
#57
eSmith said:
First, let's define the problem here. Is it a time issue or technique issue? See, you didn't indicate there was a tempo problem, you said the drummer has a problem keeping the beat.

Moving the "one" around randomly is not the same as not keeping a steady tempo. From what you describe I don't know that a metronome will help at all. If the drummer does not know the proper number of beats in a measure or how many measures per section, then the tempo can be perfect and it is still a mess.

Are you sure it is a timing issue or is it maybe that the drummer doesn't know what he is supposed to be playing.

-eSmith.
Click to expand...
I really don't know if the guy knows the difference between 4/4 3/4 12/8. I think somebody taught him a couple of lines and cut him loose, i'm talking not trash you gotta start somewhere. I think he starts listeneing to the song and forgets to count then he remembers that he's drumming panics and does something drastic. One time he even stopped.
I think him and I getting together and playing is a great idea. We've messed around a little before practice and when it's just the two of us he does pretty good, i really think that he gets distracted.
 
#58
fhm555 said:
I have a 16 YO nephew the same way. Rock solid and very tasty.

As for the problem described by the OP...is the object praise and worship, or is it perfection? It's not like there's anything more serious than pride at stake here. Should the focus be prideful concern over something only the band is likely to notice, or should it be gratitude that someone is interested enough to give their time and what talent they were blessed with for the greater glory?
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. I don't think that God cares if it sounds good as long as it comes from the heart. But..... The entire congregation notices it is, in fact, a huge distraction it breaks the mood. The last thing I want to do is discourage him from getting up there and playing, it took me a year playing the bass before i performed in front of people. I want to help him become a better player, and in doing so become better myself.
 
#59
mixmastermike said:
I play bass in a church band, and my drummer has difficulty keeping time. He does okay untill he decides to do a roll then he rolls for a measure and a half instead of one or something similar. I try to stay on but the rest of the band will just fumble to keep with the drummer. So i look like the guy who's off. I've really simplified some of my bass lines to help him but it doesn't seem to help. How can I go about communicating to this guy how to stay on.
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Real answer - unless you are all beginners just starting to learn your instruments, find another drummer.

If you want to keep working with this drummer, start off by telling them the truth - the fills aren't landing back on the one (or where you want them to land) and until he can get the fills to end on time, he needs to stop doing fills.
 

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