Jump to content


Please note: You can easily log in to MPN using your Facebook account!

Just a band-leader venting about tempo issues


Arlee

Recommended Posts

Click tracks are from hell. There's such a thing as phrasing in music, and click tracks do not provide for it. The click clicks on, just the same, regardless of what is happening in the music! It knows not phrase endings, phrase beginnings, rubatos, acclerandos, ritardandos, fermatas... it's a total dumbcluck. Nobody home!

 

It's a damned poor subsitute for a conductor, if that's what's called for.

 

Many, many of the world's musical rhythms could never be integrated with a click track. Those that can, are by and large imitating stuff recorded with click tracks! Or imitating drum machines.

A WOP BOP A LU BOP, A LOP BAM BOOM!

 

"There is nothing I regret so much as my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" -Henry David Thoreau

Link to comment
Share on other sites



  • Replies 36
  • Created
  • Last Reply

One time in the studio a while back, we were having a lot of difficulty on one particular song. Since the tempo was rushing, we tried a click track. It didn't work. Then one of the engineers, who was also a musician, came into the studio, and did a impromtu conductor routine for us. It worked beautifully. The tempo still moved some. But if it started to creep up, he would start doing a "pulling back" motion with his hands, and everyone would relax back down. We finally got a great take.

 

- Bill G.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All that may indeed be true. But it's a damned good tool for developing a sense of time. I wish more people practiced to clicks.

Originally posted by Tedly Nightshade:

Click tracks are from hell. There's such a thing as phrasing in music, and click tracks do not provide for it. The click clicks on, just the same, regardless of what is happening in the music! It knows not phrase endings, phrase beginnings, rubatos, acclerandos, ritardandos, fermatas... it's a total dumbcluck. Nobody home!

 

It's a damned poor subsitute for a conductor, if that's what's called for.

 

Many, many of the world's musical rhythms could never be integrated with a click track. Those that can, are by and large imitating stuff recorded with click tracks! Or imitating drum machines.

I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist.

 

This ain't no track meet; this is football.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, an excellent rehearsal tool!

 

I would really like to work with a good conductor. I saw the Jazz Passengers play with a conductor who danced as part of the conducting! Cool! I've worked with a dancer as a timekeeping aid and it's really a nice thing.

A WOP BOP A LU BOP, A LOP BAM BOOM!

 

"There is nothing I regret so much as my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" -Henry David Thoreau

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Let's assume at some point in time you, as bandleader, decided to hire your drummer hopefully based on his (or her)abilites to, at the very least, keep tempo. What you heard obviously impressed you. I'm assuming, again, that this drummer is someone that not only "fit" as a drummer but also had a personality that would not clash with other band members. He didn't overplay, or underplay, but played with taste. I would suggest first look at the personalities of your band members. Is there a clash? Unless the new drummer did an about face something else is going on. After all, you were impressed initially with his talent. If this drummer does not fit with your band then a change is in order. Either with him or whomever you decide is the real problem. Let's face it. We all have ego's. It's only after someone's ego interferes with their job that creates problems. Let's assume ego's are not the problem and the drummer has the talent to fit the bill. If that's the case then it is imperative the drummer and bass player cop a grove and hold it. If not then your heading for a freakin train wreck. Once the bass player and drummer lock in that grove the rest of the players can play on top, on bottom, or anyway they chose. Nothing wrong with that,as long as the grove is maintained. I'm kind of like freelance, been around for decades. He raised a very good point. When a drummer is working with a bass player that plays on the botttom and a guitar player that plays on top then the natural reaction for a drummer is to compromise and try to play somewhere in the middle. If that happens a groove will never be established. Again, the drummer and bass player establish the grove. Once they find the pocket the other players can play on top, bottom, in the middle. It doesn't matter unless they are playing in another zip code. The groove is set. Period. If the drummer and bass player are not setting the correct tempo and holding the grove some type of action is needed. Sure, taping a rehearsal using a click track may be the answer. If, after hearing the rehearsal on tape, ya'll can't agree on what you are hearing then there's no sense in prolonging the torture. Make a change. Remember, we first must all "hear" the same thing. Once it's determined everyone is on the same track we then have the ability to play with our ears, relax and let the music flow.

Establish what the problem "really" is and act accordingly. Good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

A (somewhat) tangetial comment:

Last night I watched a band on TV that, to many, might've seemed to have an erratic drummer.

The tempo drifted throughout the song, even in the same parts...but it wasn't the drummer's fault!

This trio was led by a very enthusiastic, guitar strumming vocalist (not quite singer ;) who played so furiously that you could watch him tire trying to maintain the pace he set for himself, then occasionally he'd get a second wind & speed up again.

The drummer did a terrific job trying to match what this guy did but many might presume this to have been the drummer drifting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...