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Performing with a Click

DirtPoorRobins

DirtPoorRobins

Apr 18, 2005
1,494
472
VA
#1
Hi Justin,

I was wondering how many times the bands you've performed with live use a click either just the drummer, or other musicians when the tune doesn't start with drums. I know this happens when you have sequenced parts, but do they use it when there is no pre recorded tracks. Thanks man
 
#4
Our drummer always uses a click when we are live and I'm running IEM i have the click in there for the entire song. It takes a bit to get used to but it works fantastic when you get it down. In the band only the two of us use it but when you have the drums and bass tight everyone else will follow.
 
#5
BBKINGBASS said:
Our drummer always uses a click when we are live and I'm running IEM i have the click in there for the entire song. It takes a bit to get used to but it works fantastic when you get it down. In the band only the two of us use it but when you have the drums and bass tight everyone else will follow.
Click to expand...

I can see that... And like the other guy said, if you're working with sequences... but I *like* to work with drummer, let things ebb and flow... So I'd hate to have a click on me. Let the drummer deal with it.
 
#6
Playing with a click. Plenty of times. Never had a problem with it causing me to lose my groove. I really have not problem with it or without it. I do hear plenty of local bands who could use a time keeper.

And since when does keeping time fall solely on the drummer's shoulders?

It's a group effort. IMO

Mark
 
#7
Never use one during the whole track. Certain songs, our drummer will set the metronome on the given BPM and just watch the light blink on it to get the tempo at the beginning of the song. That would suck to play to one the whole time, really limits the improvisational possibilities.
 
#8
I would have had more issue with it if I didn't have a drumming background. I started playing with clicks as a drummer a few years ago and it was a seamless transition into the live world for bass.

It's may not be for everyone or every band but one thing i know for sure is that when you first try playing with one you realize how inaccurate your timing really had been.
 
#10
We recorded the singer's voice saying, "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8" and a few cues, like, "Drums in", "Bass in", and saved them as individual sound files.

Then, when we created the click track, we substituted this for some of the clicks. So the drummer would hear something like this: ""Ready", then 4 clicks, then vocal count in "1, 2, 3, 4", then the click would start and continue. Then, for instance, when the bass was to come in, he would hear "Bass in, 1, 2, 3, 4" or "Vocal in", etc.

We used MP3, with the backing tracks panned hard left, and click hard right, fed the tracks to the PA and the clicks to the drums. But it can be done right off a computer if you drop the vocal cues in.
 
#11
azureblue said:
We recorded the singer's voice saying, "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8" and a few cues, like, "Drums in", "Bass in", and saved them as individual sound files.

Then, when we created the click track, we substituted this for some of the clicks. So the drummer would hear something like this: ""Ready", then 4 clicks, then vocal count in "1, 2, 3, 4", then the click would start and continue. Then, for instance, when the bass was to come in, he would hear "Bass in, 1, 2, 3, 4" or "Vocal in", etc.

We used MP3, with the backing tracks panned hard left, and click hard right, fed the tracks to the PA and the clicks to the drums. But it can be done right off a computer if you drop the vocal cues in.
Click to expand...

That's cool that you did that, but why would you? Shouldn't the drummer already know when the bass and vocals come in?
 
#14
What type of gear can you use to accomplish this? We have an in ear system already set up, what else would we need? I want more than just plugging a metronome into the system and having to type in the new tempo before every tune. Like a program run on a laptop, or maybe there is another piece of hardware you use?
 
#16
My band runs a click track for every song we have sequenced. In fact, our drummer came from a band where every track had a click and hadn't played without one live for over 2 years. He had a freak out when we said "no click unless there's a sequence", but he is awesome and had no issues adjusting.

I have no issues, I set it low enough that I can just hear it and usually once the song starts I just groove with the drummer anyway and zone the click out. I run IEMs so have a monitor feed running into that anyway, so the click is just one more thing in the mix.

We do an 18min 15 song medley with tempo changes almost every song all sequenced, we would not get through it without a click!!
 
#17
tony moore said:
a great drummer can play with it and still swing.
Click to expand...

This. I do a lot of musical theatre stuff, and playing with a click is something we do in order to make it easier on the performers who are worrying a lot more about lines, dancing, etc.. over the tempo of the song.
 
#19
Any DAW. Perhaps even Garage Band, Live Lite, Logic Express, Reason, whatever.

In fact, something like Reason is probably good, because all the songs could be open at the same time, basically. And you just select between them with your mouse. I think Digital Performer and Live can work that way as well.

Best,
JMJ
 

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