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Riddim's post is an example of what can go wrong when everyone isn't listening to the click. However, if the band is used to the drummer "driving the bus" then having only the drummer listening to the click can work.
Wally Reyes, Jr. at one of his KOSA classes told us about using the click by himself in order to help hold things together when playing in some really large venues.
To click or not to click.........I dont click.
In the studio...for sure....live...hell no....
using loops........ okay I'll use a click....
Keeping proper time is what drummers are suppose to do....not machines....well thats just what I think.... gives a good reason for a band just to use a drum machine.....
I use clicks most when practicing by myself. That's when I find they come in very handy.
I have never used a click in a live setting, for an entire tune. Instead, I will usually use my Tama rhythm watch to count in the tune. It has programmable memory, so I just feed in the speeds that the band (and I) agree on beforehand. I feel more comfortable when I'm not a slave to the click, but rather use it as a useful starting point to get things going. Here's a link to the rhythm watch, if you haven't checked it out. It's a fantastic metronome.
http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/world/prod...ssories/rw105/
to me if a band asks for the new guy to use a click it's because they have had trouble in the past.
it doesn't have anything to do with you,... it has to do with either them,.. or the other drummer.
sometimes playing with a click settles disputes as to how fast a song should feel.. or who's rushing/dragging ect. as well things are way more consistant from show to show.
i don't have a problem with it if it makes everybody feel better about things.
chris perra
I hear you Andy. Still, seems to me that you can always turn the click off whereas if the entire band gets off the click during the gig, you're guaranteed a train wreck. (or an ugly recovery at best)
Thanks for all the responses, guys! Yeah I really have to agree with Derek and DSOP - I don't think the entire band should hear it, and I don't think they did it this way in the past either. If there are no loops/sequences then it's kind of pointless even using one live... assuming the drummer had solid time - maybe give or take 2-4 BPMs on any given song.
cjbdrm: that was a great point about "pretending" to play to a live click and then telling them. lol
P.S. Yeah I have been meaning to get a TAMA RW for AGES! Thanks for the link [img]smile.gif[/img]
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Go for it, it's so worth it. I believe it has 30 memory slots with endless beat variations to save. The large turn dial is something that has often been a life-saver for me, when you need to make last minute adjustments on stage.Quote:
Originally posted by CLWarunki:
P.S. Yeah I have been meaning to get a TAMA RW for AGES! Thanks for the link [img]smile.gif[/img]
I absolutly agree with Randy... As long as the band is following you, then you should not have a problem keeping to the click. If for some reason the tempo runs away from you, just turn it off.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">There is no click on 99% of the songs. What I get is what the audience get, all the extra instruments and vocals on the tracks and a few 1 and 2 bar gaps here and there. It's like playing to karaoke.Quote:
Originally posted by JPtheDrummer:
But Rudy_Ment, you say minidisc, but how does that sync with your click? Or do you play with just the minidisc?
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I used to play in a band that relied on sequenced stuff for additional background vocal/sound effects. It was great! Really added to the whole BIG sound. We used a MiniDisc player which I controlled. I had the sequences mixed to one side of the cans and the cowbell click on the other side.
Word to the wise though: If the band is VERY loud to the point where you find yourself having to turn the click up and up and up, kindly tell the band the situation. I completely blew out my left ear one night trying to play at the volume of the band while turning the cans mix up more and more.
Seriously, I completely shot my hearing in my left ear. Almost ended my career. [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/storm.gif[/img]
That's a whole 'nother post, that one....
The band doesn't need to hear the click at all. If the guys in the band have any sense of rhythm at all they should be playing to you and locking with your groove.
A previous band I was in (different band in South Florida) opened for Edgar Winter one night. Carmine Appice was the drummer. It was just Edgar, Carmine and a bass player, so all the rhythm guitar was sequenced.
Anyway, they decided to have the cowbell click going through all of the monitors on stage, ALL NIGHT!
Man, it was absurd...... [img]confused.gif[/img]