Hey 4-ch,
I know I'm not cut out to be the next Josh Freese or anything like that, but I would like to become a decent drummer. I just can't really keep a consistent beat without speeding up/slowing down, especially when things get complicated.
Can this be learned/practiced? Are there any tricks to it? I practice often, but maybe I'm not doing it right because I don't seem to be getting much better.
Thanks,
anonymous wannabe drummer
Protip:
1.Start with a 4/4 beat.
2.Gradually speed up
3.Add fills
4.????
5.PROFIT
There are devices which beep whenever you are off tempo. Ask your nearest music store. Practice simple 4/4 with it, when it stops beeping add stuff/accelerate the tempo.
They're called a Metronome. You don't need to buy them, there are a lot of programs that simulate them. You can just download one and run it in your computer.
>>4
I meant metronomes that beep when you are offtempo, not ones that beep all the time.
They don't make those. Metronomes are made to help you keep the rhythm in your head, not to beep at you when you're off.
Actually, what you're thinking of would actually make you play worse, since beeping whenever you're OFFbeat would be distracting as fuck
actually disregard that, suck cocks, etc, they do make those
I think my point still stands though, but I wouldn't know what not having rhythm is like :[ I constantly have a beat going through my head all day.
>>7
I'm the same, but a friend of mine used one of these and says it helped him quite a lot. I think it's the frustration of the thing beeping all the time/happiness of keeping a beat without having your ears mauled by beeps that helps to condition your "mind tempo" and muscle memory/accuracy.
Oh by the way I forgot to add an easy technique to do anytime you are bored: count seconds in your head. Check your watch, start counting for short periods of time then longer ones (up to a quarter of hour or more if you feel like it). When finished, compare with the real time. This will help you keep a steady beat. But then you'll have to avoid having the reflex to fall back onto this rythm whenever you're drumming. Some people have this issue.