Help! Keeping it slow....

[projectapollo]

We have the "click" in the in-ear monitors for every song. Its (contemporary) church, its a big room with big PA support, but it works.

 

[Aussie Mark]

You have to kind of gut it out and make eye contact and non-verbal communications (using body motions which swings tempo with headstock works well) to convey message.

I played in a band where the drummer and I set up a series of check points in certain songs so we would communicate to make sure we're good.

+1, that's what I do when needed.

For some freakish reason I always have the right tempo in my head, so with drummers who speed up it falls on me to rein them in.

It's not a problem in my current bands, but is has been in the past with others. Non verbal communication on stage usually fixes it.

 

[CElton]

Get a better drummer!

+1...it's amazing how much more fun it is to play with a good drummer. Not to mention, a good drummer makes me sound better.

 

[MK Bass Weed]

Yeah...we've all had to hold back the drummer eh?

Since we measure BPM against the rate of our hearts as reference..AD...you nailed it: adrenaline. If you heart is beating faster...it won't feel wrong when you play faster.

Watch old Police videos...Sting and the boys going a bizzillion beats too fast..

I don't agree that you have to keep the tempos at 130BPM on My Girl to keep the asses wigglin', or it's "Natural" to play the song faster live..Yeesh..to me, that means someone sucks, and not used to the groove denominator: silence..

Bun E Carlos says ; You have to practice at tempo.

or

Use a click with a light...at least as a reference..Hold the tempo..If the drummer can't well..Use the MIDI files.

I feel for ya though..seems pretty common, some of the time! Maybe a beer would help.

m

 

[Infidelity]

My band drummer is the same, but what can we do? We need to stay on the tempo or be lost and your the one to be blamed..

 

[Kirby]

Has your drummer ever worked with things like a beat bug? It will surely help even if he does not want to play to a click. It is a purely visual signal of the tempo. I have several drummers who swear by them.

 

[Bobbo 77]

adouglas,
As a bassist, I feel your pain on this... tough thing since we all variate one way or another.
For the past 12-13 year's in my neck of the wood's, my band's been playing with sequenced drum's track's I program. I'm old school (50yrs old), grew up playing with drummer's all my life, but because of my area I live in and the LACK of R&B-Funk drummer's here also, this is what we have to do to play THIS style of music, and work. Nothing but Country/ Rock and Metal player's here...
The advantage is that I do the track's, I lock with them, and I have to "think" like a drummer and program accordingly...the rhythm section is tight. Downside, you're tied to your arrangement's, no going BACK to the bridge! But, the song's are tight, if you "think" they feel slow/fast, it's you...
Till I run into a drummer that can play and groove a straight 4 on the floor dance groove, this is the way we roll and we're working and the only R&B Funk game in town!

 

[DTG]

Funny thing is in my band the guy with the worst timing is our guitar player, he teaches music in a local college and is doing his masters in guitar at present. Some
Things you just can't teach

 

[maddog]

practice with a metronome.

practice a lot.

Coming from the classical side, rehearsal was all about intonation, dynamics, tempo and blending. Everyone was expected to show up knowing the music and to focus on working with each other.

get an outsider to volunteer their time and come listen at rehearsal. Somebody who knows music and can give good feedback.

 

[Powman]

Love this thread...because I can relate.

I play with two drummers. One is an awesome guitar player, University trained musician who is simply incredible. This younger guy also plays drums for us to broaden his skill set. The second is a guy who is in his early 50's and has been drumming for years.

The second older guy is an amazing drummer is is calmed and composed. We sound so good with him. He is not fazed by an audience and as such does not get the so-called adrenalin rush. When he counts us in we have perfect tempo.

So I think it is experience that helps you keep to the proper tempo.