• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Playing with a click track

E

ETThompson

Jan 3, 2011
257
29
#1
Hi Justin,

I'm trying to get back into recording after mostly playing live for the past few years (did lots of recording early on, but not always with click).

Anyway, I'm finding that I'm having a hard time getting used to playing with a click, or more specifically, my groove either goes out the window or I get off beat. I prefer to play without but then if I'm sync'ing up to stuff (like, I usually use computer drums), it doesn't work.

Do you (or others on the forum) have any suggestions for how to get good at this? Other than (I guess), just doing it alot? I'm a good amateur player with a great feel but I cannot seem to get that into the box.

Thanks Eric
 
#6
Try hanging "behind the beat" so you're essentially hearing the click a fraction of a split hair of a nano millisecond before you're hearing your note. Not that playing behind the beat ALWAYS fits the music, but it's a good way to get used to "sitting" with the click (my guess is you're trying to play dead on top of the beat which makes you anticipate the click too much, get off, etc. . .)
 
#7
You could try practicing with a click AND a drum sequence or loop. I work with people in the studio that aren't used to playing to a click from time to time, and I find that if I take two seconds and program a little drum track in Reason or something to go along with the click, BANG!! They have an easier time feeling were to play naturally.
 
#9
Dan Bozek said:
You could try practicing with a click AND a drum sequence or loop. I work with people in the studio that aren't used to playing to a click from time to time, and I find that if I take two seconds and program a little drum track in Reason or something to go along with the click, BANG!! They have an easier time feeling were to play naturally.
Click to expand...

Jamstix is excellent for this...... we did some scratch/guide tracks this weekend, and my guitarist was having a horrible time with the click. It took all of about 2 minutes to get a drum track set up for each tune. LOL... I love that little program!
 
#10
There's no substitute for just getting better at it.

A couple of years ago I was in a nice studio backing a local singer/songwriter with a couple of top-flight players on drums and guitar. We were booked for about six hours. The singer had already tracked his vocals using a click track, so he was there supervising.

We had to restart the first song about a dozen times because we kept getting off of the click track. It was comical and frustrating, because our ability as players was obviously good, but we just couldn't find it for awhile. Finally we settled in and ended up getting around 7 or 8 songs down, never getting off the click track again.

Practice makes perfect. When you're not used to doing it all the time, you just need to relax and adjust. It'll come.
 
#11
Edward G. said:
There's no substitute for just getting better at it.
Click to expand...

very true. We practiced with a click before we recorded our first ep. We started slow and worked our way up to full speed. It's amazing how tight those tracks sounded and as an added bonus they were all first takes for the main set of tracks (not doublings and vocals etc.).

The second cd was recorded without click practice or click during recording and it was not near as tight nor first takes.
 
#12
As people already said, practice and you might want to record as well when you think you got it, for me at least it can differ from what i think i hear (laid back or driving etc) when I play and listen to the playback.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back