Internal Tempo

[ez_willis]

Do we each have an internal tempo that we operate on?

Some people talk faster than others, walk faster tan others, etc..

I ask because slower tempo songs are harder for me to play, maybe because I'm a hyper fucker, in general. Maybe the more space between beats, the more room to fall out of the pocket???

Thoughts?

[Cult_Status02]

I think we each have our own preferable BPM when playing an instrument, or maybe when doing anything. I'm also prone to going faster than I should.

[zed32]

i think that it is harder to keep a steady rhythm when playing slower beats. not quite sure why, but yeah i know exactly what you're talking about here. and i'm not what most would consider "hyper".

[Greg_L]

Originally Posted by ez_willis

Do we each have an internal tempo that we operate on?

Some people talk faster than others, walk faster tan others, etc..

I ask because slower tempo songs are harder for me to play, maybe because I'm a hyper fucker, in general. Maybe the more space between beats, the more room to fall out of the pocket???

Thoughts?

Dude, I'm the exact same way. Slower stuff kicks my ass. For one, its too slow for personal taste. I like stuff around 170-200 bpm. Secondly, like you said, way more room for error.

[RAK]

You just need to sub-divide (at any tempo). That's the key to playing in time.

For example, if you're playing a really slow 1/8th note pattern on the hi-hat or something, you should have 16ths or 32nds running through your head. Always in music you have to play the space. Never rest on a rest. They should actually probably be renamed.

But I could definetly agree that people have inherent internal tempos that feel right. Probably depending on how fast your heart actually beats.

[mikeh]

Interesting concept about internal clock! It would seem logical that a hyper person would feel more comfortable with faster tempos. Although I suspect a more likely factor may be that younger musicians (in particular drummers) prefer up tempo, relate to it better and play it better.

RAK is very correct that sub-division is key (in any tempo really). In slow music there is indeed more space which you have to count through and/or feel.

When I came up as a drummer (many, many years ago) I hated playing slow songs. I didn't like them and I did not have a feel for them. Then the Vegas years came and I had to play waaaay too many ballads (while backing various singers). In recent years I've worked with a band that performs every big ballad (all the theme songs from Disney movies, etc). So, I've got a lot of experiance with slow tempos and I had to learn how to play them well - or lose a lot of work. I now consider myself a very good ballad drummer - unfortunately, that also mean I get a lot of calls for that type of work

I find that breaking things into smaller sub divisions and chosing which notes to play are key. As an example, maybe the kick only plays 1/4 notes on the 1 and 3 and the snare hits backbeat 1/4 notes on the 2 and 4 - so you maybe need to count 1/16 notes - but don't play all the 1/16 notes on the hi hat. Paly a couple of 1/16 notes on the hat at the start of the measure, maybe a couple 1/8 notes in the middle with a 1/16 ghost snare note after the back beat, etc.

In essence, set up a sycopated drum pattern groove, which doesn't require a straight 1/8 note count. This is a subtle way to fill the space (count wise), without actually playing too many notes.

As long as you keep your tempo steady, you can create an interesting groove using subdivisons (without actually playing too busy) and it makes the slow tunes groove rather than trudge along.

[ez_willis]

Originally Posted by mikeh

In essence, set up a sycopated drum pattern groove, which doesn't require a straight 1/8 note count.

I record drum tracks for songs that I write. Before recording the drums, I always program the drum machine and use it for a click track. I'll usually put a wood block on the 1/4's and have a shaker on the 1/8th's, at least.

It's not what I'm hearing that is the problem, I just naturally push forward rather than back.

Drums are not my primary instrument. It might just be the learning curve.

Might be the crack, too.

[Dogman]

I love Stoner Rock....80 Bpm or so.....

[RezN8]

I was just talking about internal clocks the other night with a fellow musician. We were fixing ourselves Jack Daniels & Cokes on a break and I said "too much of these and the tempo will be rushed and dragged all at the same time" .

I started taking about 5 different meds (my girl moved in with her two cats and I'm highly, highly allergic). Believe it or not, the meds have had a strong affect on my pulse as well as my perception of where the beat "feels" right. Nothing a click track couldn't cure, but I found it very interesting. I remember reading how you can control your own pulse through meditation, but who has time for that these days ( pun intended ).

Obviously on the gig there is nervous energy and the tendency to rush is a fact of life. But I do know with practice and patience, you can achieve a rock-steady clock at any tempo.

[ez_willis]

Originally Posted by RezN8

Obviously on the gig there is nervous energy and the tendency to rush is a fact of life. But I do know with practice and patience, you can achieve a rock-steady clock at any tempo.

IMO, a live performance should be a bit faster than a recorded track.

[zed32]

you should try drumming with snorkling gear on your face. it will help you to keep a steady tempo. i heard that's what the beatles did for their studio sessions.

[ez_willis]

Originally Posted by zed32

you should try drumming with snorkling gear on your face. it will help you to keep a steady tempo. i heard that's what the beatles did for their studio sessions.

I heard they used a studio drummer.

[RAK]

Originally Posted by ez_willis

I heard they used a studio drummer.

Well when Brian Epstein first introduced the Beatles to George Martin for their first sessions, George wanted to replace Ringo and did bring in a studio drummer for their first trial recordings. Although I'm pretty sure it's Ringo who's playing on Please Please Me (recorded all in one day as we all know).
Paul also played drums throughout their career. I hadn't heard about other drummers being used in the sessions, but it wouldn't shock me or anything.

[scrubs]

I tend to write on acoustic guitar and most of my stuff ends up as slow ballads, around 70-80bpm (72bpm seems most common). Drumming that slow sucks ass.

[mikeh]

That's not snorkling gear - that's just a mask used for serious shotgun hits - which almost assuredly will cause the tempo to drag

[metalhead28]

Most of the stuff I've been doing lately is 300+ bpm. I wonder if I could be considered a hyper person?