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Topic: Ahead of the Beat |
Allen Peterson
From:
Katy, Texas
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Posted 24 Aug 2003 4:43 pm |
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| I had the opportunity to record a demo tape with my band yesterday. Everything went well for the most part. I even played in tune. While recording one song, the engineer told me I was slightly ahead of the beat. When I listened to the playback, he was right. After a few takes, I managed to get it on the beat. Has anyone else ever had this problem? If so, how do you avoid playing ahead of the beat? While recording I could have sworn I was right on the beat, but I wasn't. |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 24 Aug 2003 5:09 pm
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Oh, I have several old tapes of myself where I sound as if I have to catch a bus or something.
It's very much a question of getting used to the studio/recording situation, and it usually gets better as you get more comfortable with the situation.
One thing that helped me was to be aware of my own breathing,- make sure you breath properly (slow, deep, with your stomach), as this helps you relax better.
Also, make an effort to 'lay back',- as long as you're aware of the problem you're on the right track. |
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Andy Greatrix
From:
Edmonton Alberta
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Posted 24 Aug 2003 5:21 pm
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It's been my experience
that playing ahead of the beat
is a habit developed by working
with drummers who slow down.
Subconsciously, you get in the habit
of pushing them. if you don't,
they will slow down and suck
all the energy out of the song.
If You practice with an electric drummer,
You can play behind the beat, knowing the rythmn won't slow down. |
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Jeff Lampert
From:
queens, new york city
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Posted 24 Aug 2003 7:15 pm
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| This is a very common problem and easy to correct. Buy a metronome. A battery powered one is around $15-$20. Whenever you practice at home, always set the metronome to the time of the song you are working one, and play along. No matter what practicing you do, solos, intros, scales, doodling, always have the metronome on. ALWAYS. It is much more effective than playing to a CD or drummer because there is less ambient music and rhythm elements. All you hear is the single click. You will know right away when you are not on the beat. Assuming you practice most days of the week, you do this for a month to two months and I guarantee you you will be playing in time. At first, you'll find it hard to stay perfectly in time. It'll become easier and after a while completely automatic. It will improve your tempo in the studio, gigging, everywhere. This is how to solve it. If you're smart, you'll buy one tomorrow. It'll be the best $20 you ever spent. Trust me on this. |
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Orville Johnson
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 24 Aug 2003 8:14 pm
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| one other metronome tip. it's much more fun AND easier to stay in time with the click if you make it the off beat rather than the downbeat. instead of clic clic clic clic it's ONE clic TWO clic THREE clic FOUR clic. it actually swings a bit like hearing the drummer hitting the backbeat. |
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Allen Peterson
From:
Katy, Texas
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Posted 25 Aug 2003 4:13 am
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| Thanks for the response. I think I have a metronome buried somewhere in a closet. I'll get it out and give it a try when I practice over the next month or so. All your suggestions are good ones. Our drummer has a tendency to start slow and then gradually speed up a little until he reaches the speed he wants. Once he plateaus, he maintains the tempo pretty good. He doesn't speed up extremely, just slightly, and I think this may have been throwing me off. I might suggest to him that he borrow my metronome after I am through with it. Might do us both some good. |
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Miguel e Smith
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 25 Aug 2003 1:32 pm
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Hi Allen,
Sometimes it very hard to tell if you are rushing unless you have that valuable feedback from someone else. If you are aware of it you can work on relaxing a bit. But, if you have even a little pocket cassette recorder, think about practicing (with a metronome or whatever) while letting it run. Sometimes the best criticism is from yourself. Kinda like hearing your voice played back for the first time and thinking...man is that how I sound?
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 25 Aug 2003 4:24 pm
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| It just might be where you feel time,That your internal clock ticks a couple of pulses faster,I am one those people who live at the tale end of the beat .Not dragging just a little lazy.Boss makes a Dr.Rythm unit that is a little easier to practice with and get your time closer to the beat. |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 25 Aug 2003 4:28 pm
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| One more thing.If you are recording to a Click,Make sure that the click is as loud as you can stand it.That should help. |
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