Ok, so how do you keep other musicians

[azureblue]

from speeding up, rushing, or losing the groove? Especially a drummer?
And how do you let them know and do you remedy the problem?

Violence is not accepted. Leaving a metronome anonymously on their doorstep does...

 

[Drop-the-One]

If you're approaching recording... tell them how much it's actually gonna cost your band spending all that time on drum takes and fixing the drums.

Everyone else.. i'm not quite sure yet.

 

[plangentmusic]

When you figure out the answer to that one let every body else in the world know. "Explaining" to someone how to keep good time is like trying to explain how to fly to a chicken.

 

[azureblue]

would be good for some entertaining rants. Both live and in studio.

"Explaining to someone how to keep good time is like trying to explain how to fly to a chicken." Or cursing in French to a cat.

 

[fivestringgecko]

I understand your pain!!!

My very first temptation is to say simply "GET A METRONOME, !@#$%!" But +1 to Plangentmusic, "you can lead a horse to water" right?...

We deal with this problem on a weekly basis with our piano player at church. I've spent many many hours with a metronome or playing with phrase samplers, which are plainly unforgiving. (currently a Boss RC-2, but I miss my Boomerang+ *sniff*) Because of that, I'm fortunate to have a good ear for time (and conversely, a good ear for timing problems as well). The drummer isn't the most talented/flashy out there, but he's rock solid on tempo and still keeps a metronome with headphones at his drums. It's clearly evident to both of us that the pianist hasn't spent nearly enough time with one (if at all). We try not to get on the guy's case though, the director does a fine job of that.

Seriously though, metronomes are one of the biggest overlooked items in a musician's toolbox, ESPECIALLY the rhythm section. When people have ask me how to get their kids started in music, suggesting a metronome is one of the first topics in the discussion!

Subscribed to see if anyone else has any good ideas!

5sg.

 

[azureblue]

my fave was the gig I did, where the drummer kept rushing. Guitar player stood up at the end of a song and dropped a five dollar bill on the floor tom. the drummer asked, "What's that for?" "For finishing the song before everybody else. Drummer got the message...

I just stomp my foot when the drummer starts rushing. It usually helps, but getting them to actually learn how to stay in time is another story. I usually tell them to record with a click and listen to their groove.

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

As long as you're all out of time together, you should be fine.

 

[capnsandwich]

-Play with a metronome
-record your sessions and play it back for the one that's not in time
-keep on him until he either changes or leaves


I've used all 3 methods and, depending the person, all 3 of them have worked but in different situations. YMMV

 

[Bassamatic]

If it is only one person in the band, talk about it with the others and try to keep your time while the other is rushing. If he has an ear, he will see what is happening.

 

[onlyclave]

from speeding up, rushing, or losing the groove? Especially a drummer?
And how do you let them know and do you remedy the problem?

Violence is not accepted. Leaving a metronome anonymously on their doorstep does...

Have better time than them and don't let them suck you into their rushing/dragging pit of despair.

 

[BullHorn]

Our drummer always records (and often plays live/rehearsal) with an in-ear monitor. Good idea? I don't know, but our band sounds tight thanks to it.

 

[Stumbo]

Put a click track in the PA and have the drummer play to it.

Something like this might work (it has a headphone out that you can run to the PA)
http://www.drummercafe.com/reviews/gear/tama-rhythm-watch.html

or check out these: http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/practice-performance-aids/tuners-metronomes/metronomes

 

[BullHorn]

Our drummer just uses a pair of 2 dollars ear-phones that he wears under his 2 dollars ear-muffs. Perfect.

 

[Jim Nazium]

In the short term, you can mention it during practice, for example right before you start a song say "Let's make sure we don't speed up." Then when someone speeds up, you can look at them, make eye contact, and motion to slow down. Hopefully that's enough to make them aware of the issue and start paying more attention.

Long term, as others have said, people need to develop a good sense of tempo, which takes working with a metronome.

 

[unclejane]

from speeding up, rushing, or losing the groove? Especially a drummer?

Get rid of em; that's the most effective solution. Buy a guitar and, perhaps in the meantime before you learn to play drums, get some kind of drum machine or programmable software and just DIY.

Course the drawback is you have to do it _all_ yourself, which can be kind of limiting. But it does work

LS

 

[azureblue]

Get rid of em; that's the most effective solution. Buy a guitar and, perhaps in the meantime before you learn to play drums, get some kind of drum machine or programmable software and just DIY.

Course the drawback is you have to do it _all_ yourself, which can be kind of limiting. But it does work

LS

yeah, but I'm talking about what you do on stage while the music is happening.. Like drummers can throw sticks at bass players that are speeding up or rushing - happened to me way back when I try to get real close to the speeder and tell them to slow down, but that doesn't always work in the din of the music. I am working on the "Glare of Death Scowl". I think I'll have it as soon as I get the bared teeth part down...

 

[OPBASSMAN1994]

A. If the drummer speeds up, you speed up.

B. If the guitarist speeds up, give him 'the eye'.

C. If the drummer and guitarist speed up. Speed up.

D. If A/C apply, and you're playing Harris/Squire style triplets. You're screwed.

 

[Gaetano Paul]

Our drummer always records (and often plays live/rehearsal) with an in-ear monitor. Good idea? I don't know, but our band sounds tight thanks to it.

He sounds like a real keeper there!

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

from speeding up, rushing, or losing the groove? Especially a drummer?
And how do you let them know and do you remedy the problem?

Violence is not accepted. Leaving a metronome anonymously on their doorstep does...

Talk to them, diplomatically. Record them. Use of a metronome is nice to address TEMPO. Feel is somewhat a different matter, however.

 

[xed]

Any drummer not willing to play along to a click is either both arrogant and ignorant of their own time keeping problems or they are fully aware that they can't keep time and just don't want to admit it.

Feel free to sub in any other word above where "drummer" appears. It all still applies.

If the bass player is the only one sitting around playing with a click track and trying to make a point of keeping good time... well then you know who the real musician is in the band.