Should you practice to a metronome or click trak?

Silencio · Post by **Silencio** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:02 pm

There you go, sir. A click is a placeholder. It's not the groove. But if you can play, you can swing while listening to it.

Al Quandt · Post by **Al Quandt** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:18 pm

quote fixed.

No i just think it is an ignorant and pompous statement to claim that playing to a click is the only way to be a good drummer.

I played to a click all through out piano lesson and while in high on percussino but I tell you what. i got 10 times better after I stopped messing with that and just played whatever I want and how I want.

Its a preference, bottom line.

sevesd93 · Post by **sevesd93** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:35 pm

No you don't know me, and you and I were just fine with having a differance of opinion till you started calling me an butthead without knowing anything about me. Its pretty bad when the only way you can defend your opinion is by personal attacks.

sevesd93 · Post by **sevesd93** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:40 pm

bassjones wrote:Bonham
Buddy Rich
Ringo Starr
Ginger Baker
Carl Palmer
All the Motown Drummers!!!
Etc... Etc... Etc...

Fantastic drummers - No click track - Great "feel"

Frankly, to be musical, I think the time SHOULD fluctuate a little. Too much and it ceases to be musical, but if it's too locked to the metronome it gets robotic and loses the groove.

If you use a click in the studio for ProTools editing purposes, you need to learn how to push against the click and pull against the click - to make it feel less robotic - allot of this falls on the bass player as well. Pushing the one on the verse (or pulling it a little), then locking right onto it on the choruses can have a nice subtle effect. Another trick I like is the bass player playing on the "and" of 4 while the kick drum hits right on the one. It creates a nice tension - CAUTION, do not overdo it!

Point being, to simply say that not being able to play to a kick means you should take up a new hobby is at least silly, if not downright arrogant. And it's arrogance without knowledge, which is just about the worst combination of traits a musician can have. I've been playing 20 years and I'm still learning new things.

All those drummers can play to a click.

To learn drums you need to be able to play to some form of click. ex. Radio

Arrogance without knowledge? Hardly, I have played for 13 years and I am always getting better and learning new things. Arrogant, Yes Very, not knowledable, I dont think so.

Al Quandt · Post by **Al Quandt** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:32 pm

sevesd93 wrote:No you don't know me, and you and I were just fine with having a differance of opinion till you started calling me an assh*le without knowing anything about me. Its pretty bad when the only way you can defend your opinion is by personal attacks.

calling you an butthead is not a personal attack. it just means I dont like your attitude.

a personal attack is saying that I cannot play drums because I dont play to a click track.

thank you.

Hutnick · Post by **Hutnick** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 7:54 pm

Hey, how about those Cubs?

=^-..-^= · Post by **=^-..-^=** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:36 pm

Now, I KNOW them Cubs kin play with a click. . . .

Post by **cwallace** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:47 pm

the click of the gun as it c*cks...did the cubs end up in last place?

Oh..and I want to see a stage set with two drummers face to face battling to the death...

WHY you ask??? Because...death of one of them would be ONE LESS DRUMMER!!!

Ahh...now let's start with the drummer jokes...since we have their attention...

What do you call a guy who hangs out with a bunch of musicians?

a drummer!!!

<rim shot>

but I digress...others?

Chris

hahursey · Post by **hahursey** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 12:12 am

How do you confuse a drummer?

Put some sheet music in front of him.

Post by **cwallace** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 12:18 am

or apparently a 'click'...

Chris

sevesd93 · Post by **sevesd93** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:27 am

kimaliz wrote:
sevesd93 wrote:No you don't know me, and you and I were just fine with having a differance of opinion till you started calling me an assh*le without knowing anything about me. Its pretty bad when the only way you can defend your opinion is by personal attacks.
calling you an assh*le is not a personal attack. it just means I dont like your attitude.

a personal attack is saying that I cannot play drums because I dont play to a click track.

thank you.

Oh, ok I see. Well then, you have a little b*tch attitude.

Learn to play with a click.

Thank you.

Al Quandt · Post by **Al Quandt** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:53 am

this has got to be the gayest argument I have ever been in. Thank you god of drums for belittling me.

=^-..-^= · Post by **=^-..-^=** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 10:10 am

What's the last thing a drummer says before the band fires him?
"Hey guys, let's play one of MY songs. . ."

How do you get a professional drummer off your porch?
Pay him for your pizza.

Why do drummers put their sticks on the dashboard?
So they can park in handicapped spots.

What do drummers get on their IQ tests?
Drool

How many drummers to change a light bulb?
None, they have machines for that now.

What do drummers use for birth control?
Their personality.

Roland has just rolled out a new kit that costs less, has completely natural feel, awesome response, a sound that completely replicates real drums to the finest nuance, are more reliable not to fail in a live situation, and drummers actually prefer to play.

They're called Tama Artstars. . . .

BassPM · Post by **BassPM** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 5:25 pm

First off I'd like to say that drummer jokes aren't that cool man. If you've ever played with a drummer that is good then you'd know not to underestimate the power that a good one has or how good he can make a track feel. Now I'm a bassist and I know that there's jokes out there for me too. I think that this post got a little too serious too quick but this is really interesting.

Being a bassist also requires good time. Super straight time doesn't always make a great song either. I'm a strong believer in that time and feel are cousins. You need good time to make something feel good and consistant, but being able to play right on the beat and in the center of it isn't always needed. Playing exact time might work for some styles but not all. Playing on the backside of the beat is a wonderful thing which I wish more people did especially when it comes to really digging into styles like dub and funk. Then again not everyone has the same concept of the same genre. When you up a vocalist you do alot of shifting for dramatic effect.

No one technique works for everyone and using anything that is a means to a good end is perfectly fine. Jeff Berlin is a wonderfull player and from what I hear a wonderful teacher, but imposing a belief one's students isn't always the best. Everyone learns different and can find thier own niche in music. DO WHAT SERVES THE SONG THE BEST! Less judging and more sharing of ideas would greatly benefit this community and help the musicians in it become more encouraged to get out and play more. We should all be life long students. The music comes through us. As soon as you close your mind to an idea you lose the opportunity to learn from it.

P.S. Al is a fun drummer to play with.

Much love to all and keep thumpin

Garr · Post by **Garr** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:24 pm

There are a lot of replies here and I am not going to read them all just to post my opinion, so there may be some replication here. Sorry.

The metronome can be adjusted which will keep you in time even if you're learning or practicing at a slower rate to learn a part or master it. Once you have proficiency at that tempo, speed it up.

I think that being able to stay in time is invaluable and learning to a tool that keeps time for you then doing away with that tool once you have learned the part and gained your confidence is a great way to learn and improve.

I am all for a metronome as a learning and educating and composing tool. . .but I wouldn't want to have to rely on it.