Drum Forum

[JakeTheSnake]

Originally Posted by kindbeats

Hey guys, just a reminder that there are no questions on the weekends. I'll be back with a new question Monday!

then would this be a good time to do a recap of this week's questions?

That way those can be answered over the weekend by people who haven't already and the thread won't stagnate.

[kindbeats]

Originally Posted by JakeTheSnake

then would this be a good time to do a recap of this week's questions?

That way those can be answered over the weekend by people who haven't already and the thread won't stagnate.

Sounds like a great idea, Jake! I'll do that right now.

THE WEEKLY RECAP

2/28/11 - How often do you practice?
3/1/11 - How big is your kick drum?
3/2/11 - What is the last thing that you've worked on on the drums?
3/3/11 - What are some of your favorite styles of music to play?
3/4/11 - How often do you break sticks?

[satman]

never really , 5a

[race81]

Ive only broken one stick in the past 10 years. It was a cheap stick from somewhere,,,very light....and brittle. playing the rock747's hickory for a few years. I can widdle them down, and the tips will give up, but never break.

[kindbeats]

Today's Question: Do you prefer to play with a click or without one?

I personally like working without one, but sometimes they're needed so I feel it's important that ever instrumentalist get used to using one.

[the DW]

For live performances, I prefer not to use a click. When recording, I like a nice loud click. Even better, a drum machine playing a simple 2 and 4 beat (assuming a 4/4 time sig).

[kmart]

Depends on the situation.

Recording: absolutely prefer having an accented click or sequenced percussion track in time.

Live: One band I play with uses sequences & some backing tracks. Click is a must have. Other band, not needed or wanted.

[race81]

Live, I have never used a click. Live situations can lead to problems if everyone isn,t on the same page. Never had a group that was comfortable enough to use one.......Can be very useful in studio though..........

[kmart]

Originally Posted by race81

Live, I have never used a click. Live situations can lead to problems if everyone isn,t on the same page. Never had a group that was comfortable enough to use one.......

Solution: only give the drummer click and everyone understands the drummer is in charge of keeping time.

[zildjian@consol]

I've never used a click

[aenemated]

i never use a click live. in recording, it's obviously quite necessary and i don't mind it one bit. i feel like i keep pretty solid time on my own and have actually been complimented by other drummers about it several times.

which i think i appreciate more than any other compliment i could get.

[SYMBOLIC]

recording yes, live no.

[danrothmusic]

NEVER live, 50/50 when practicing, and I feel that I really should do 75/25 (that is, mostly click)

[marko46]

Not usually. But, I would like to be more "schooled" on the use of one. I can do that myself, I just don't take the time to set everything up. I've used one in recordings in the studio, but honestly I'm not comfortable with one.

[cdawg]

i use a click during studio sex, but not live.

[Gremson]

I wouldn't want to play to a click live. For studio stuff it wasn't completely necessary with all the tempo changes in Leaves Russell songs.

But I do enjoy playing to a click just because it's difficult. About a month before we went into the studio we used a click track at every practice. It was very educational.

[jenksdrummer]

Originally Posted by kindbeats

Today's Question: Do you prefer to play with a click or without one?

I personally like working without one, but sometimes they're needed so I feel it's important that ever instrumentalist get used to using one.

Without...when I'm playing with a click, there's no adjusting on the fly...studio situation, sure - click wins, live playing, click is good if everyone's on it, else other members will drag you off the click.

[jenksdrummer]

Originally Posted by kmart

Solution: only give the drummer click and everyone understands the drummer is in charge of keeping time.

That backfires, unless the drummer can ONLY hear the click and knows the songs through and through. Otherwise, people will drag the drummer off the click, and like me, I'll either make a snap adjust (if it's slightly off) or I'll slow it down/speed it up noticably to get it back on tick.

Without it, not a problem.

I have thought about using it, once I know the tempo for the song, using it live to make sure the song at least STARTS at the right tempo. Takes anxiety/adrenaline out of the picture.

[kmart]

Originally Posted by jenksdrummer

That backfires, unless the drummer can ONLY hear the click and knows the songs through and through. Otherwise, people will drag the drummer off the click, and like me, I'll either make a snap adjust (if it's slightly off) or I'll slow it down/speed it up noticably to get it back on tick.

not at all: what you just wrote might be your solution, but it's 100% not true for me.

I'm speaking from experience playing in an actively gigging band with tracks/sequences (and click for me)on 90% of the songs we do.
I get all 4 vocals, both guitars, bass, tracks and click in my IEMs, mixed by me to the right levels. Everybody else in the band knows that there's a click, I start the tracks and I set & keep tempo; they must play with/to & follow ME, period. As long as that's understood, and the players agree with that plan, there are no major issues.

Occasionally on a newer song we're working on, someone may play too ahead or behind on a given song/part/etc. I keep on the click, and when we've stopped playing, I make sure to point out "Hey, on the choruses, it seems you/everyone else is pulling back too much, so let's make sure to pay attention there." We make sure to get those parts happening, and move on; no issues.

Just need to have the discipline to not let the rest of the band pull you off the click. I know what that's like, it has happened to me on occasion; like anything else, the key is recognizing it as it's starting to happen and locking back in w/the click.


And before everyone jumps in on the 'couldn't play like that, it's too sterile' bandwagon...we're doing 80's alternative & new wave covers, most of which was programmed and played to a sequence/click to begin with; that's the vibe of these songs already. It works, believe me.

[melvinspeed]

Originally Posted by jenksdrummer

I have thought about using it, once I know the tempo for the song, using it live to make sure the song at least STARTS at the right tempo. Takes anxiety/adrenaline out of the picture.

This is the only way I use it. To start the song at a consistent tempo. We may not end there, but at least we started at the right bpm.