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TIME!!!

grummer - Sun, 09/05/2010 - 17:02 | 423 views

Let me start by saying I had a really bad start with drums. I started playing - as a job - at 19, that's 18 yrs ago. Having no previous experience in live performance, I was at the mercy of the lead/soloist. Whoever is familiar with Greek music I'm talking about the bouzouki. Now, this guy would speed up the songs like crazy when he would get into solos. Me, not knowing any better, would just follow along. I stayed at that job for about 2 1/5 years. Until this day I am having problems with time keeping and being "in the pocket".
I stopped playing drums for about 10 years. A couple of years ago I decided to start playing again. Ever since I've been practicing with a metronome but can't seem to be able to be a solid player when playing live. I am very very conscious of my problem when I play and I guess in my attempt to be solid I either pull back or I rush the song. And that's a HUUGEEE problem!!! Any advice or practice routines that can maybe fix that would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Panos A.

Drummer Comments (2)

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grummer Says Re: TIME!!!

Submitted On: Tuesday, Sep 7, 2010 - 2:11 PM

Hey, Jason.
I see what you're saying. I agree, I think that by thinking of keeping time and being so uptight about it I just lose it.
Thank you for the input. I'll take your advice.

Thanks again.

Jason_ Says Re: TIME!!!

Submitted On: Tuesday, Sep 7, 2010 - 11:16 AM

Hi Panos,
I think you may be overwhelming yourself mentally over your timing dilemma. Try to become familiar with the idea of "internalizing" the songs you are playing. You can do this by using various "mechanisms". My favorite is to hum the tune(melody) loud to myself while the soloists are at it and REALLY LOUD through my fills. Sometimes I will use grunting noises or almost beat boxing to keep the feel of my subdivisions solid. I'll click my teeth, shake my head, snap my neck, or whatever I have to do to truly "feel" the song and make it fill up my consciousness. This is very important. If the thought of time keeping pops into my head(or any other thought for that matter) I'm in trouble because I'm not completely enveloped in the tune. So put your focus and emphasis on the song and not your job as time keeper. Practice to solid music and keep your feet steady. Remember feet are keeping the timing, so put something in the ol' practice routine that locks in on the idea of keeping the feet steady while the hands do their thing.

Paying attention to the motions within your stroke is something that is very beneficial. All motions should be smooth and even when playing steady with the stick coming off the head an equal distance. Of course there is no fast way to steady timing. It takes practice and repetition. Keep hittin' em!