Clicking Tracks/Metronome

The Volt

Hey guys, I'm looking to get a discussion going on the benefits/disadvantages of practicing to a clicking track here.

I've been hoping to introduce it into our jamming sessions, I've told the guys that I wouldn't want to go back into the recording studio without having gotten used to playing to one.

I know that they make recordings sound far tighter and more professional and they should improve consistency of tempos I'm sure.. Anyway I'd love to hear some advice from bands about how they went about introducing it into their practices.

Cheers!

Nervous Wreck

All you really need is for the drummer to listen to a click on headphones and follow it (once it's set to a suitable tempo for your song/s of course). Once the drummer sticks to the click, you're sorted cos everyone else has to follow him anyway.

Also, as far as the disadvantages go, there are none. Provided your songs keep the same tempo, a click will just help you stay on a steady pace.... I've played with drummers before who just could not manage to keep in time to a metronome... Which is really strange...

LimerickDrummer

Nervous Wreck wrote: »

All you really need is for the drummer to listen to a click on headphones and follow it (once it's set to a suitable tempo for your song/s of course). Once the drummer sticks to the click, you're sorted cos everyone else has to follow him anyway.

Also, as far as the disadvantages go, there are none. Provided your songs keep the same tempo, a click will just help you stay on a steady pace.... I've played with drummers before who just could not manage to keep in time to a metronome... Which is really strange...

....yeah.... what he said!

raindog.promo

I would recommend that the drummer learns to play with click and use this in the studio.

However, I wouldn't use it all the time when rehearsing, I think it hurts the bands playing as a unit, unless the drummer only has the click in one ear.

I think it's nice to have a mix of playing/recording with and without a click.
Alternate it.

It's not always about being exactly in time.

irishthump

Nervous Wreck wrote: »

Also, as far as the disadvantages go, there are none.

I woud'nt agree. A drummer has to have enough experience to be able to put some feel into the track. If a drummer plays too rigidly with a click then the whole feel and groove of the song will be very stiff.

And they (in my experience) aren't the greatest at jamming as they can't keep time without the click.

irishthump

raindog.promo wrote: »

I would recommend that the drummer learns to play with click and use this in the studio.

I would also add that the WHOLE BAND should get used to playing with a click. It's no good having the drummer stick to the click like glue and then having the rest of the band wandering all over the place.

raindog.promo

irishthump wrote: »

I would also add that the WHOLE BAND should get used to playing with a click. It's no good having the drummer stick to the click like glue and then having the rest of the band wandering all over the place.

Indeedy. I would recommend getting a programme such as reason or a simple wav player (that you can edit) such as Audacity (which is free, but I hate it. Adobe Audition FTW). Then the guitarists and bassists can play along athome with a timing to their hearts content.

Probably wandering into off topic banter and general rant here, but the amount of guitarists/bassists/drummers i've met that don't use any of these programmes is amazing, It is so easy to transfer ideas with them nowadays, and work on something which you then have a much better quality of then sticking a mic into a 4 track. It can also be reedited and your song structure can evolve over time without having complete rerecording every time.

The Volt

Thanks guys all muchos appreciated =]