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Metronome during rehearsals: Yay or Nay?

#21
I don't see any reason why you can't practice with a metronome though. It actually promotes playing in time as a unit. If you guys wound up as a train wreck, don't just pin the blame on the drummer (unless it actually is JUST the drummer). Start over again.

I drum and play bass. If I was unable to do either to a click, there clearly is something going wrong. Everything lines up, it's not like some instruments do and others don't. As far as groove, is the whole band swinging or just one or two instruments?
 
#22
In my new cover band we have a guitarist that tends to speed up at the end of the chorus usually, and a drummer who is happy to follow. Getting the drummer to wear headphones with metronome totally solved the issue, and he was happy with that!
 
#23
I've done it in bands in the past, along with recording rehearsals, and it was quite helpful. Our drummer at the time was happy to also play with the click in his earbuds most of the time anyway. Time was not our issue...
 
#24
belzebass said:
Hello!

Our band thinks of using metronome during rehearsals. Personnally, I think this work must be done at home. Group playing to a metronome quite annoing to me, and it led to a complete train wreck when we tried :hmm:

Opinions?
Click to expand...

That makes no sense how can a metronome cause a train wreck unless you were all out of time from the get go. I.e you needed the metronome.

A metronome is the same as listening to the kick drum of a good drummer
 
#26
belzebass said:
Hello!

Our band thinks of using metronome during rehearsals. Personnally, I think this work must be done at home. Group playing to a metronome quite annoing to me, and it led to a complete train wreck when we tried :hmm:

Opinions?
Click to expand...

Practice vs. rehearsal. Practice at home. If you’re not going to use a metronome for live performances, then don’t use one for dress rehearsals either!!!
 
#28
mcblahflooper94 said:
Well it's nice if they can, but I know some drummers who just never learned how to play with a met, so they have a bit of difficulty. Not because they go off timing, but they just can't. It's interesting.
Click to expand...

not can't. won't. big difference.

my drummer has never owned a metronome, but he's always used one in the studio.

We did a gig a few weeks back that required metronome in everyone's ears. He straightened up real quickly and got the hang of it.
The next couple practices with our regular band he insisted on having click in his ear.
It was awesome.
 
#29
belzebass said:
Hello!

Our band thinks of using metronome during rehearsals. Personnally, I think this work must be done at home. Group playing to a metronome quite annoing to me, and it led to a complete train wreck when we tried :hmm:

Opinions?
Click to expand...

If playing with a metronome as a group led to a complete train wreck then you guys absolutely need to be using a metronome when playing as a group.
 
#30
TrevorOfDoom said:
The next couple practices with our regular band he insisted on having click in his ear.
It was awesome.
Click to expand...
I wonder how often the metronome or click becomes a problem because once everybody starts playing they can't hear it REALLY good. I'm going to try the metronome thing with our group if they'll let me. Just to see.
 
#31
I think it's important to establish tempos in a full band practice situation so you can practice at home with a metro. I don't see any reason why, in rehearsal, a drummer shouldn't have a little help, especially if he's the kind of guy who is prone to missing a 32nd in a fill and falling off. However, it takes some energy out of it, and prevents the song from really flexing, especially if it's an original. So I'd say, 50/50. Establish the tempo, learn the song with that tempo, and then let it evolve without it. It's amazing what playing a song purposefully a few bpms slower or faster can do to the energy.
 

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