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Is a drum machine really necessary to learn bass?
- Thread starter Cycleops
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no, you don't need a drum machine. i used to use a really cheap metronome (like under $10), but i'm sure there are apps that would work just as well.
you can play along with songs and listen carefully so you're playing with the drums in the song.
did you use a metronome with your guitar?
you can play along with songs and listen carefully so you're playing with the drums in the song.
did you use a metronome with your guitar?
Never used a metronome but was thinking with a bass you need to be more mindful of rhythm and keeping in time.
It's important to have some kind of time reference, but it doesn't have to be a stand-alone drum machine.
There are lots of metronome and drum machine phone apps that would work fine for practice.
Metronome app on your phone is fine, no need to actually buy one.
One of my amps has a very basic drum thingy I sometimes use. I don't think it's a necessity.
A metronome I consider a necessity for learning any instrument.
A metronome I consider a necessity for learning any instrument.
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Just throwing this out there, you can find drum tracks to play along with on YouTube. Various genres, tempos, etc.
Nope. You will spend more time knob twiddling when you should be actually plucking strings
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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Why would you need an additional instrument to learn how to play an instrument? Not to mention, you already know how to fret and hit the strings at the same time. 1 step ahead of the game.
I love practicing to a metronome as well as with a drum machine. Yes there are free apps and free drum grooves you can download. For me it is more pleasurable to jam with a drum machine. It also provides timing. It's important to know your bpm's so you can slowly push yourself and help you with more challenging phrases.
Drum machine = fun. Fun = more practice. IMHO of course.
Drum machine = fun. Fun = more practice. IMHO of course.
No, but will you be a much better trained Bassist... absolutely. You'll never know if your pushing or sitting in a pocket without something to play against.
Knowing how to play and program means you "Know" the beats. Bass is a lonely instrument on it's own. There is a book called "Bass Grooves" by Ed Friedland that gives you the drum notations to program the beat of all genres and audio tracks to hear examples. Now you have the resources to be a rhythm hero.
I would reccomend getting a Korg Volca Beats or Drums. Metronomes are 18th century and Apps suck IMO.
Knowing how to play and program means you "Know" the beats. Bass is a lonely instrument on it's own. There is a book called "Bass Grooves" by Ed Friedland that gives you the drum notations to program the beat of all genres and audio tracks to hear examples. Now you have the resources to be a rhythm hero.
I would reccomend getting a Korg Volca Beats or Drums. Metronomes are 18th century and Apps suck IMO.
I used a metronome for years. It’s great for your timing. But later on I bought a drum machine to do some home recording, and I never went back to the metronome. It’s much more interesting to play (or practice) with drums backing you up.
If you have Garageband, there are drum loops in there that you can mess around with.
If you have Garageband, there are drum loops in there that you can mess around with.
It's fun to play with drum tracks and can inspire new ideas. I use my old Alesis with really outdated tracks almost all the time. Any drum loops or tracks will work, though preferably you should be able to adjust the tempo.
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