So I have a group of guys that I play with and for whatever reason we tend to play too fast, or play faster as a song progresses. I think our drummer just gets a little excited and needs to calm down. We're getting a handle on it with practice but I would like to speed the process along.
That's where the thought of a group metronome came in. I know some folks use a click track for practice, and we may try that too. That would be easy to put into the monitors.
But I was wondering it anything with a light indicator existed. I was thinking it would be nice to have a big LED display in the center of the room. Or maybe 3 or 4 on the walls. We stand in a circle in our practice space so we are all looking in different directions, but still at each other. The other thought was individual lights on our music stands.
Either way they would all have to be coordinated and centrally controlled.
I've looked without success and have thought of building something, but maybe this wheel is already invented.
Cheers,
George
Light is going to be hard to concentrate on, and you're not going to want to waste the potential of visual clues. In-ear monitors, or just headphones for everyone or even just a click from a laptop coming out of a PA or something would be preferable. If you get in-ear monitors, then you'll have them for shows ... and can use a metronome live as well.
A really comprehensive solution would be controllable by the band leader, or the drummer, for when you actually DO want to change tempo.
Most of the time it's only the drummer that has the click in his earphones.
If he's tight on it, rest of the band should. ;)
Quote from: GrindCustoms on July 09, 2014, 08:30:58 PM
If he's tight on it, rest of the band should. ;)
Agreed, but don't rely on your human drummer as a metronome. It's everyone's job to practice with a click. It will also save you when you go into the studio!
Then there's this: Peterson BodyBeat Sync BBS-1 - Wireless Pulsating Metronome
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/peterson-bodybeat-sync-bbs-1--wireless-pulsating-metronome (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/peterson-bodybeat-sync-bbs-1--wireless-pulsating-metronome)
Quote from: midwayfair on July 09, 2014, 08:33:11 PM
Quote from: GrindCustoms on July 09, 2014, 08:30:58 PM
If he's tight on it, rest of the band should. ;)
Agreed, but don't rely on your human drummer as a metronome. It's everyone's job to practice with a click. It will also save you when you go into the studio!
If you can't rely on your drummer playing with clic... might be time to look for another drummer.
You then, send snare, kick, hihat to the other musicians, way less annoying than a clic track when playing, gives a better feel when playing and shows in the performance of the band.
But i agree, when studio time comes, if a band member is not able to play on clic... you're in trouble.
Being a drummer for around 20 years I lived, ate, and dreamed DR BEAT!!!!! Its one of the best metronomes and is a super useful tool.
In marching band, we'd play along with dr beat over the PA. It works, or just feed it to the drummer. But hearing a click will help the whole band practice for recording, as Jon said
I don't know if anyone noticed, but the Peterson product I listed earlier allows "an unlimited number of performers—each equipped with a BBS-1—to synchronously feel or hear the same beat it through wireless connectivity."
It's pricey - especially if you outfit a band with them - but the feature list is pretty impressive. I especially like that it has a vibration clip so you can all silently feel the same beat.
I have used a sub mix from Pro Tools/Logic to a Roll headphone distribution box I had and have everyone bring their headphones.. This was really for the more electronic stuff we were doing. When we had a drummer it was easy to do a sub mix of the bass player and a click to the drummers headphones and set him off to carry the band. I wish I still had the ambition to record a full band again. haha
Cody
Quote from: bcalla on July 09, 2014, 09:53:52 PM
I don't know if anyone noticed, but the Peterson product I listed earlier allows "an unlimited number of performers—each equipped with a BBS-1—to synchronously feel or hear the same beat it through wireless connectivity."
It's pricey - especially if you outfit a band with them - but the feature list is pretty impressive. I especially like that it has a vibration clip so you can all silently feel the same beat.
This is an awesome product. I sold a couple while working at daddy's. They are pricey but supper nice and very user friendly!
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Quote from: GrindCustoms on July 09, 2014, 08:43:52 PM
If you can't rely on your drummer playing with clic... might be time to look for another drummer.
This...been there done that. Got the new drummer to prove it. :)
Practicing to a click is always recommended. Playing live to one...well there is a time and a place (such as U2s drummer synching to Edge's delay) however I prefer the feel of a good drummer that is "in the pocket" to speak.
Quote from: rullywowr on July 10, 2014, 03:21:06 AM
Quote from: GrindCustoms on July 09, 2014, 08:43:52 PM
If you can't rely on your drummer playing with clic... might be time to look for another drummer.
This...been there done that. Got the new drummer to prove it. :)
Practicing to a click is always recommended. Playing live to one...well there is a time and a place (such as U2s drummer synching to Edge's delay) however I prefer the feel of a good drummer that is "in the pocket" to speak.
+1
If your drummer can stay with a click, you're halfway there.
It's all about musicianship.
Get a drummer who's willing to learn his trade - keep a ******* beat.
Get a drummer with ears, who's willing to listen to you others and willing to adapt.
All need to listen to each other. Then if only a few have a decent sense for timekeeping you're saved.
Learn to cycle, don't depend on training wheels.
Hmm I'm gonna ignore these drummer comments. :-p I hear a lot of "learn your trade" and "adaptability" being thrown around. Drummers trade is to keep tempo and structure, not to try and figure out what the guitarist feels like doing when ever he wants. (Not aimed at anyone in particular) I am both drummer and guitarist. Nothing annoyed me more as a drummer than the rogue guitar solo, and nothing annoyed me more as a guitarist than a overly structured drummer. Clicks help everyone during practice, even the guitarist! Just my opinion.:-)
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Quote from: rullywowr on July 10, 2014, 03:21:06 AM
Quote from: GrindCustoms on July 09, 2014, 08:43:52 PM
If you can't rely on your drummer playing with clic... might be time to look for another drummer.
This...been there done that. Got the new drummer to prove it. :)
Apparently it's raining drummers where you guys live. >:(
It's been two years since Midway Fair had a drummer for live shows. I've more or less given up. Our engineer played drums on the new EP. (He was the drummer for Oxes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OXES).)
Quote from: midwayfair on July 10, 2014, 01:38:23 PM
Quote from: rullywowr on July 10, 2014, 03:21:06 AM
Quote from: GrindCustoms on July 09, 2014, 08:43:52 PM
If you can't rely on your drummer playing with clic... might be time to look for another drummer.
This...been there done that. Got the new drummer to prove it. :)
Apparently it's raining drummers where you guys live. >:(
It's been two years since Midway Fair had a drummer for live shows. I've more or less given up. Our engineer played drums on the new EP. (He was the drummer for Oxes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OXES).)
True, lots of drummers are around...however not to many "great ones". When you play with a kick-ass drummer, its one of the best feelings in the world. You pretty much can tell from the first 20 seconds of playing with a drummer if it's gonna work out. The planets allign, the clouds part, a ray of sunshine beams down, your playing seems effortless, and you look around at the entire band to see nothing but smiles. If/when you find a drummer like that...you gotta hold on to 'em.
Quote from: flanagan0718 on July 10, 2014, 05:49:41 AM
Hmm I'm gonna ignore these drummer comments. :-p I hear a lot of "learn your trade" and "adaptability" being thrown around. Drummers trade is to keep tempo and structure, not to try and figure out what the guitarist feels like doing when ever he wants. (Not aimed at anyone in particular) I am both drummer and guitarist. Nothing annoyed me more as a drummer than the rogue guitar solo, and nothing annoyed me more as a guitarist than a overly structured drummer. Clicks help everyone during practice, even the guitarist! Just my opinion.:-)
I'd say it would depend on what kind of music you want to play. If you play well structured songs, then tempo and structure are king. If you play music with lots of room for jams and loose structure, then you better damn well be prepared for rogue guitar solos and be prepared to figure out what your fellow musicians are doing.
Quote from: rullywowr on July 10, 2014, 02:31:10 PMTrue, lots of drummers are around...however not to many "great ones". When you play with a kick-ass drummer, its one of the best feelings in the world. You pretty much can tell from the first 20 seconds of playing with a drummer if it's gonna work out. The planets allign, the clouds part, a ray of sunshine beams down, your playing seems effortless, and you look around at the entire band to see nothing but smiles. If/when you find a drummer like that...you gotta hold on to 'em.
I've played with drummers that were exceptionally musically gifted but were truly pains in the asses to be with (both playing and private). I've played with crap drummers that were also a pain in the ass. I've had good drummers who were a pleasure to be with and I've had crap drummers who were also a pleasure to be with. Obviously the 2nd category is the one to shoot for, but I'd rather have the last category then the 1st. Doesn't matter how well talented you are, there is no excuse for being an asshole. The drummer I've had the best connection with ever was a very poor technical drummer. But when the two of us jammed together new music would flow. I often recorded our jam sessions and from one session alone I was able to create 5 new songs.
I think one of the biggest reasons so many bands go belly up is because they ditch one of the nice guys for a better musician, who is all that often not a better person. They think themselves as being professional when all they're really doing is bringing the seeds of destruction into their band.
Well, our drummer is actually really good and is a good guy too. All of them are actually nice people and great musicians. I'm actually the one that is trying really hard to keep up with them musically. I like to think I'm nice too and that part is pretty cool. Makes practice a lot of fun.
As for our drummer, he's good and nice. He just plays a wee bit too fast sometimes. He even says it himself sometimes when we finish a song.
Lots of great advice coming from a lot of experience. From what I'm hearing it sounds like the click is the way to go. Either PA, in ear, or synced. I'll bounce it off of the boys and see what they think.
Thanks again!
Cheers,
George