You know what pisses me off ..............

[Jayster]

You know what pisses me off ..............

I just had a friend bring a drummer over and his timing was great, however about a quarter beat off\ consistently !!!

Damit, it's so hard to find the right chemistry - it almost makes me understand the constant line up changes of some bands!!!:think:

[Newc]

Well, that's what makes us human. Some folks can carry a mechanical beat, some can't. I spent so many years playing with delay taps that my timing was rock solid. It was also stiff as a board.

Loosen up and groove.


However, if the guy's trying to be artsy and built his style around being slightly off-beat no matter what, then either send him packing or follow his lead.


He might also need a spot monitor to hear either the bass or guitar to know where he's supposed to be, as he may be holding back a bit to hear those instruments and then trying to sneak in late and hope no one notices.


Granted we all know the same songs from memory and play them just like we heard them on the CD, but some of us heard it just a bit differently than others, and we play it differently.


Mention the off-beatness to him, and he'll either say he wasn't aware of it, in which case you move on to spot monitors, or he'll say he knows, and that's his style. If that's the case, no matter how you try to adapt to match his timing, he'll keep on being off-time from that just to be off-time.

[skintaster]

I've been playing in industrial/electronic bands many years now. As a result of playing to programmed drums and sequences, my timing has really tightened up... Perhaps a little too much. It's fun for me to play with a human drummer now and then. All the minor "imperfections" that a real drummer inevitably presents can create a more organic sound.

If the drummer you're playing with bugs you and can't tighten up to your liking, then at least you have lots of options as far as drum machines go.

[Marc Snow]

It's fucking boring. Or when you find some right members, an outside thing just come over like visual, location, etc...

[DonP]

I think my timing is something like that Saturday Night Live skit - "4 floggen beats man!"

[Spivonious]

We just got a new drummer (original guy didn't want to play shows ???) and he is constantly speeding up. Lots of our songs have a nice groove to them and he doesn't seem to be feeling it.

I think dealing with other band members' faults is just part of the game. Although in the OP's case, it sounds like he can't hear you guys.

[Musician78]

Ya.. It can definitely get loud behind the kit.

[ekalb09]

It's really hard finding chemistry with bandmates unless you find that special person, and it figures the one guy I click with the best when we play guitar is always busy or experimenting with other kinds of bands/music when i want to focus on one.

[Cygnus X1]

Stupid Q-don't a lot of pro's use click tracks, or in-ear monitors?

[tonemonster]

I cant drum or keep a beat to save my life. I was recording once with this friend of mine that played keyboards. he was running my recorder while I was trying to throw some drum fills in........he finally said, "hey, why dont you let me try to play the drum fills? Yours sound like two tennis shoes in a dryer."

Holy shit did I laugh. his fills sounded awesome compared to mine.

[Jayster]

Stupid Q-don't a lot of pro's use click tracks, or in-ear monitors?

Yep a lot of pro's do and some guys just clubbing, etc .....
I'd never really experienced this problem before or after(as I haven't hooked up with this guy again).

Since going to the 3rd shift, I'm gonna just focus on writing and recording 'Aldo Nova' style for a while.

Slightly off topic ~ but do you guys know of a good forum for recording(gear, software, tips, etc...)?

[VitaminG]

It's really hard finding chemistry with bandmates unless you find that special person, and it figures the one guy I click with the best when we play guitar is always busy or experimenting with other kinds of bands/music when i want to focus on one.

that special person? Are you looking to make music or pick out drapes?

[ekalb09]

that special person? Are you looking to make music or pick out drapes?

It helps to find someone that actually fits in and has similar views in music.

Edit: Wanna go check out some drapes G?

[Axe_V]

that special person? Are you looking to make music or pick out drapes?

[Axe_V]

I cant drum or keep a beat to save my life. I was recording once with this friend of mine that played keyboards. he was running my recorder while I was trying to throw some drum fills in........he finally said, "hey, why dont you let me try to play the drum fills? Yours sound like two tennis shoes in a dryer."

Holy shit did I laugh. his fills sounded awesome compared to mine.

Haha, I used to work at a different firehouse downtown. One of the guys there left an electronic drum kit in the basement so whenever I brought in a guitar & amp we could jam if we had time. He was always losing a beat here and there so I just tried to adapt to him.

One day he was playing by himself and every person that came downstairs thought the washer was uneven. :ROTF: