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Is a drum machine really necessary to learn bass?

#131
As someone who practiced with metronomes for years in my piano days, I'd say . . . . . get the drum machine IF you need to practice to regulated time. No substitute for a good drummer, obviously, but you'll begin to get a little insight to playing with a kit, and you won't feel like you're in rhythm prison playing along with that tick-tock, tick-tock. I learned to hate metronomes, even thought they did me a lot of good. I would suggest one where it will tell you the beats per minute, as a metronome would.
 
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#132
No! Listen to songs, lock in with those songs. When you start playing with other musicians (drummers in particular), they will not be playing a syncopated beat like a drum machine or metronome. Every band will have their own "timing/beat/groove". Try this... play a song from one of your favorite groups (that doesn't use a drum machine) and cue up a metronome (or drum patch/beat) that has the same beat as the song. You will find that things will be (eventually) out of sync... at least for the most part. That's because we, as human beings, are not machines. Forget using a drum machine or metronome... unless you think it can really help.
 
#135
You don’t need a drum machine. You need a bass, a love of the low end, and desire.

Back in the day I used to listen to vinyl over and over again. Drop the tone arm, play the passage, repeat. We didn’t have no stinking apps. We didn’t have drum machines. We didn’t have YouTube. We did it the old fashioned way. So it should be easier to learn now. You young dudes got it easy.

I’ll go sit down now :)
 
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#136
Cycleops said:
I was just on the point of buying a budget one and thought I would ask on here. Could I get away with a an app on my phone? Do I need one at all?
I'm starting out after coming from guitar.
Click to expand...
A metronome will be your best friend. Of ALL the gear i've had, my metronone app is probably the most valued tool in my toolbox. I use the "ProMetronome" app on iPhone...(Nothing has accelerated my playing like daily practice with metronome...."
 
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#139
the problem with a drum machine is that it is precisely on the beat. In the beginning, this is a good thing, because it will help you lock in your bass patterns and be steady and solid. And being steady and solid is way better than having a ton of chops. Drum loops, recordings, etc., will teach you about when to push and when to lay back. I believe that every bass player needs to develop a sense of time and groove, so I say always practice with some sort of time reference -a metronome, a drum loop, etc, and record yourself playing along with it, even if you are just playing scales. There are lots of free apps like Garage band that have loops to play along with. I sometiems will drop an MP3 of a song into GB and play along with it to see how tight I am.
 
#140
The best piece of gear I have ever owned was the Digitech RP-1 that had a "drum machine" in it. It was basically twenty or so patterns with a tempo control in the multi effect pedal. I hardly ever used the effects, but I've worn out the drum pattern feature. My guitar player and I get together at least once a week and just jam to the thing. Its amazing how tight we stay with it.

Buy one.

BnB
 

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