I wish! Smallish town, and we just play for the fun of it (no money).
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We have no drums. Use metronome during rehearsal, yes or no?
- Thread starter G Aichele
- Start date
In my experience, it's better to have the wrong instrumentation with the right musicians, than the other way around. The right musicians can figure out how to make it work and sound good. I once played an entire set of just bass and vocals, because the pianist was late, and it worked out just fine. I'd do it again.
"Music" is just bass plus jingle-jangle anyway, right?
It's not magic at all. In all those groupings you mention, someone USUALLY sets time for the rest of the band. Bluegrass bands often look to the bass player to keep time. Classical groups also typically have one of their members lead time ( most often horn or flute in a woodwind group, usually first violin for a string group). Of course, in a perfect world, each player would have perfect time and be in perfect sync with the all the other players, but in the real world, that is often not the case. The OP is realistically seeking guidance to get his band synced up on time, so there must be some issue with that.
My pro band practices and plays live to a click track. And so does U2. And so should you
Honestly, it’s a bit harder but the results are much better
Honestly, it’s a bit harder but the results are much better
There are rock genres, such as postpunk, in which a drum machine is totally accepted as traditional. But if you're doing blues rock, well... you're more or less expected to either have a human drummer or go acoustic.
Update: we just had our first rehearsal since I started this thread. I ran the metronome quietly without comment along with nearly all of the songs. My wife, who is also a member of the band, says she could hear it clearly. No one complained. Too early to say it's helping, but I'm optimistic. Thanks to all of you!
Yes, at the beginning in most cases. But they keep the beat without THUMP WHACK THUMP WHACK wailing away behind them. Thus the constant statement "you have to get a drummer" is not accurate.
Why would any one be insulted? If somebody does, why would you want to work with him/her?
Not sure the internet will have the answer, but the band probably does.
If you do use a metronome, it will drive you insane.
Drum loops can help but limited.
Finding something that keeps time is a great exercise regardless to play too
Learning to stay in time can be important, and guarantee there is that one person with awful timing.
That will cry like a baby when they find out how awful their timing is.
Its a good idea, for the most part. Good luck.
Remembering the classic stories of musicians adapting to no drummer.
Including Larry Graham father of slap, inventing the technique to mimic a drummer with bass.
If you do use a metronome, it will drive you insane.
Drum loops can help but limited.
Finding something that keeps time is a great exercise regardless to play too
Learning to stay in time can be important, and guarantee there is that one person with awful timing.
That will cry like a baby when they find out how awful their timing is.
Its a good idea, for the most part. Good luck.
Remembering the classic stories of musicians adapting to no drummer.
Including Larry Graham father of slap, inventing the technique to mimic a drummer with bass.
well, no. In each of those cases, the group relies on the timekeeper throughout a performance, particularly when there may be dynamic tempo changes. Of course, it would not be appropriate for any of them (string ensemble, woodwind ensemble, bluegrass band) to use a drummer going Thump Whack Thump Whack ... but someone in those groups is keeping time for the whole ensemble.
I did not read a lot of responses to the OP calling for him to get a drummer ... there were plenty of replies (like mine) that addressed metronome, click or some other time keeping tool.
Those who dislike the metronome are often the ones who need it most.
The drummer in the band I left recently was really quiet (and not the best timekeeper even when audible) so I suggested that we try rehearsing to a click track for a while to shortcut the tightening up process. 3/5 of the band considered this an insult to the drummer, and huffed and guffawed when I insisted that, while time is the drummer's *only* job, time is actually *everyone's* job. Didn't tighten up one bit in the 6 months I was on board.
that's too bad. the ability to play with a click is de rigueur in my world...i know drummers in the rock/pop genres who insist on a click!
if the drummer i'm playing with is getting a click: i like to hear it, too. if there is no click: we're all keeping time.