If the drummer feels the need to hear the click track they will inevitably drag behind it. The drummer that can play to a click track does it by getting the click to disappear and to stay away because it stays obscured OR the click track is done with eight notes so that the drummer can hear the intermediate notes.

Ah, a more objective approach, and I think very close to the heart of the matter. I do think there's maybe also a simple physiological reason that might be involved - the timing mechanisms in our head that allow us to speak without stuttering (singing is easy, speech is clipped) are not equally well developed in all of us. Put on headphones with a slight delay, and EVERYBODY will start to stutter, and get hopelessly lost rhythmically.

So I think that's somehow involved , but by no means implies that our 'normal' vocal stuttering is directly the 'culprit' in this case, just trying to make a connection that I think could very well turn out to be a valid one.

Some drummers might just lack the talent to switch off their 'internal' earphones, pick up the wrong beat, and go out of synch.

Anyone thinks this is exaggerated, fire up sonar, put on the headphone, plug in your mike and put in a nice delay and start a speech, and I wish you good luck. You never knew you had it in you.

D-d-d-d-d-dats all, folks, without trying.

The drummer that can play to a click track does it by getting the click to disappear and to stay away because it stays obscured

Very true - usually the advice I give to people who have a hard time with a click is "if you can hear it, you're off", because a lot of people will listen FOR the click so they feel like they are on, but the trick is to ignore it best you can until it just blends with what you are doing. If you have natural internal rhythm, it will make it easy to maintain this.

Some drummers might just lack the talent to switch off their 'internal' earphones, pick up the wrong beat, and go out of synch

No offence intended, but these people shouldn't be drummers. You wouldn't say "Some singers just have a problem hearing tones and sometimes are just off pitch and can't get back on" and say that they are still a good singer. There are FEW exceptions to this: Bob Dylan was somehow accepted regardless of how bad his voice is, Punk Rock, etc...

Been playing drums for 30 years....love playing with or without click....you shouldn't hear the click if you are the drummer..
To hear the click means you are off time....usually....listen to guys like simon phillips, vinnie colauita, weckl, and many others who use them extensively...all would do well to follow suite...

Also there are just as many guitarists, bassists, keys, horns that can't lock on to a click.....I see them every day...

On stage, in the studio......speed up, slow down.....

All thinking they have great time.....the egotist of music.......Guitarist and singers....

No wonder they don't have events like modern drummer festivals...they'd kill each other with their ego's...quit
turning your backs on others and show them what you do!!!!!


Wow!!!!

ORIGINAL: Vskills

I'm also a drummer and have no trouble playing to a loud click in my ears. I don't know if it's just because I practiced or if it's inate, but it's very very necessary. Especially if you want to sync midi to your song later...

Bingo.

ORIGINAL: PBLOXAM

To hear the click means you are off time....usually....listen to guys like simon phillips, vinnie colauita, weckl, and many others who use them extensively...all would do well to follow suite...

... and Bingo.

I'm mostly a guitar player and bass player who dabbles a bit with drums. Playing guitar or bass to a click seems relatively easy, drums are much harder for me. The funny thing is, I can always tell as I'm playing (guitar or bass) if I'm a little bit off, but it's usually too late. I just keep practicing until I get it. I think it's a skill that can definitely be learned - it's not quite as simple as "you have it or you don't". I just don't practice enough these days.

But in response to whoever said that a large dance band would have dancers falling all over the place without a steady rhythm:

Have you seen some people dance? I think they will fall all over themselves no matter how good the band plays. I've even seen people dancing to stuff like 9/8 and they had no clue what the time sig was...they dance just like it was 4/4.



I play bass with a steel drum band and have had the opportunity to work with several drummers of varying levels. The one kid I played with most is extremely smart, very technical, learned tons of rudiments, can write out anything he hears, etc. But I suspect he never practiced with a click. His timing is all over the place. On recordings he seems to drag a bit, but I'm probably playing a bit ahead of the beat. Other drummers I've played the same music with kept very good time and it was a joy. Suddenly I wasn't trying to lead the entire rhythm section alone and had a little more freedom to improvise or just enjoyed falling further into whatever groove the drummer laid down.

But every experience has been good...just one more piece of data in the musical journey.

ORIGINAL: droddey

Don't forget:

Q: What do you call a person who hangs out with a bunch of musicians?
A: A drummer

:-)

Well, I'm glad this is a guitar forum...

That's not an ignorant, arrogant, and offence remark...

Nope, not at all...

Thanks for sharing....

*.

I think its much easier, and more natural (at least in my experiece) to play with a click on 2 and 4 only.

I don't know about others, but for me having a metronome click on 2 & 4 automatically switches my brain to swing mode (especially on fast tempos). But not if it's a slow tempo.

Answer to thread topic:

"Because nothing worthwhile is ever easy."

"I don't know about others, but for me having a metronome click on 2 & 4 automatically switches my brain to swing mode (especially on fast tempos). But not if it's a slow tempo. "

It would put me into Reggae mode, which means I'd have to go find a giant spleef and all that. Way too much trouble...