Question:
Our drummer seems to have problems keeping the tempo in songs. He always starts them off at just the right speed, but then he always seems to have a tendency to speed the song way up. On occasion, instead of speeding up, he'll slow down too much. Of course, I am just another worship leader who knows nothing about drums/drumming, so I have no idea how to help. Are there any drummers out there who have some tricks to help? I'd love to hear them. Thanks!
Answer:
Congrats! You have a drummer!
It is the natural tendency of humans to speed up during songs.
We don't let drummers have coffee on Sunday mornings...
If you play guitar, namely acoustic, or piano, make sure your instrument is turned up in his monitor, and play percussively, and keep YOUR tempo. This isn't a totalitarian power trip thing, its just one way to help a drummer fall into the grove.
Your bass player could also be a big ally of yours in keeping the drummer in the pocket.
Answer:
Give him visual cues--big ones during practice. If you've got a singer with good rhythm, they can hold a mic in one hand and "conduct" with the other. I've done that before. If not...try using the neck of your guitar...or calling out "1 2 3 4 ... "
Answer:
Its just generaly a sign of lack of experience on the drummers part, speeding up normaly occurs at loud volumes, decreases in speed generaly occur at low volumes, drummers by nature want to do this. First let him know he is having this problem, but do so kindly and with respect for him as a musician. If he doesn't believe you or gets mad or something, try recording a practice session, and listen to it together with the whole band, the tape will not lie if he is speeding up he will hear it. Generaly the best help is not trying to fix the problem for him, make him recognize the problem then he will want to work to fix it. Chances are after a while he will get better at it.
Answer:
Definently use a metronome. Use it to keep beat while you are playing, and have him practice with one.
Answer:
Originally Posted by HeavenOnAStick Definently use a metronome. Use it to keep beat while you are playing, and have him practice with one.
I wouldn't neccessarily use a metronome live. In practices, maybe, when he's practicing by himself, definitely. But part of being a band is having a little give and take in tempo. Just my thoughts.
Answer:
I'm not sure if this calls for a new thread/discussion. But I disagree. Rarely does the temp speed up or slow down on purpose. Occasionally a song slows down at the end, or picks up right in the beginning, but almost all the time it stays at the same tempo.
But I agree that he should use it during practice. It helps build an internal metronome.
Answer:
Originally Posted by HeavenOnAStick I'm not sure if this calls for a new thread/discussion. But I disagree. Rarely does the temp speed up or slow down on purpose. Occasionally a song slows down at the end, or picks up right in the beginning, but almost all the time it stays at the same tempo.
Not necessarily on purpose...just as the natural ebb and flow of a live performance.
Answer:
Then what's wrong with the drummer speeding up and slowing down?
Answer:
The drummer should be in "the pocket".
This doesn't mean the beat is strictly metronome perfect, it does mean the beat is consistent.
There is a vast difference between being in the pocket and the drummer taking the tempo where the rest of the band isn't.
Answer:
Originally Posted by georgeo The drummer should be in "the pocket".
This doesn't mean the beat is strictly metronome perfect, it does mean the beat is consistent.
There is a vast difference between being in the pocket and the drummer taking the tempo where the rest of the band isn't.
Wise words - that's a great way of expressing it
Answer:
Originally Posted by georgeo The drummer should be in "the pocket".
This doesn't mean the beat is strictly metronome perfect, it does mean the beat is consistent.
There is a vast difference between being in the pocket and the drummer taking the tempo where the rest of the band isn't.
Agreed.
There's also a question of degree. Speeding up a little can be OK (or can be not). Speeding up a lot (as indicated by the OP), is generally always problematic.
Answer:
Either way... you can't go wrong with keeping the same tempo through out the same song (aside from major "bring downs" or "pick ups" in the songs). Also because if a musician can't hear the rythm in the monitors, then it could throw the whole group off.