I got no rhythm!!!

[timboZ]

I am just learning to accept the fact that I have no rhythm, and my bass playing sucks.

I've been trying to play this thing for the last year and I am not progressing.

Anybody have any tips to help me with rhythm.

 

[Outlaws]

Don't give up.

Also, play slow at first. They say if you play something 3 times in a row, you learn it. But, if you play something wrong 3 times in a row, you learn it the wrong way.

 

[andydeedpoll]

I am just learning to accept the fact that I have no rhythm, and my bass playing sucks.

I've been trying to play this thing for the last year and I am not progressing.

Anybody have any tips to help me with rhythm.

i've found (through personal experience and through observing other people) that playing in bands is the best way to 'feel tight'. but i'm not sure if you're referring specifically to your bass playing (i pluck a bass, but wouldn't be able to tell you anything about technique to make you feel tighter rhythmically) or your musicality in general. if it's the latter, get in a band and play with some people (even if you don't play live.) you'll soon find you become tighter and a better musician generally. i play lots of jazz music, especially on trombone, and i found playing syncopated patterns easy with my teacher, but difficult in band situations hard at first - now my rhythmic feel is better, and syncopation is nothing i get scared about now - i don't believe this is because of my teacher, but because of the fact i was playing in a band.

Andy.

 

[timboZ]

It's more when I try to play with others.
When I play at home with a CD I am fine.

 

[32-20-Blues]

Buy a metronome. They work well if you want to tighten up.

 

[punkin]

Ditto the metranome! Better yet, if you're working with a multi-track system and it's possible to superimpose click track on top of a backing track, do it! Turn up the click track TICK damnit TOCK, get closer to the drummer "FEEL HIM". Get one with the fact that you're boundaries are within the Boom and the BAP. Nothing more, nothing less.

Seriously, if you're not feeling the music, take time to exersize your listening. Listen to drum tracks, tap your feet...both together. It's harder than you think. If you can dance (I'm bettin' you can't) start learning. Move...ever gone to a pianist solo gig? Some of them can hardly sit still. You have to feel it. Maybe you're hanging on too tight. Relax, feel the tune and find the groove. You're dancing with your instrument and the fingers are doing the work. Don't over analyze it.

Think 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 break it down even further if you have to 1 didahda 2 didahda 3 didahda 4 didahda. Say it out loud, tap your feet and move a little...seriously. What's up with Flea of the Chili Peppers anyways? Later on, when you get into concert band or orchestra, they'll beat the beat out of you and chastise you for tapping your feet but that's another story.

 

[ez_willis]

I am just learning to accept the fact that I have no rhythm, and my bass playing sucks.

I've been trying to play this thing for the last year and I am not progressing.

Anybody have any tips to help me with rhythm.

It's the curse of the white man. You probably deserve it because of something your great, great, great, great, great, great grandpa did.

The only thing left to do is pick up the accordian or the clarinet, neither of which require rhythm.

 

[Dogman]

My rhythm also sucks ass....so went ahead and purchased some drums.

 

[thewanderer24]

A million times over: buy a metronome. Get used to playing parts SLOW with the metronome with no other accompaniment. If you can't do this, you can't play em regardless of how well you think you do with the music accompanying you. Speed covers up lots of deficiencies, as do other instruments.

If you really want to improve your timing, start slow and worry about accuracy. If you make mistakes at the tempo you are at, go slower. When you are comfortable slow speed up a little. Rinse and repeat.

It's REALLY hard to play slow with a metronome at first. The advanced training is to go even slower with the metronome. Once you practice it and get good at it, you will be amazed how much your timing improves all around.

Experiment with playing with the metronome only clicking the first beat of a measure, or only clicking 2 and 4.

Nobody in the universe has perfect timing. Timing is something you practice forever and hopefully continually improve on.

Edit: any practice you do with scales, rhythms, etc. should be done with a metronome.

 

[punkin]

A million times over: buy a metronome. Get used to playing parts SLOW with the metronome with no other accompaniment. If you can't do this, you can't play em regardless of how well you think you do with the music accompanying you. Speed covers up lots of deficiencies, as do other instruments.

If you really want to improve your timing, start slow and worry about accuracy. If you make mistakes at the tempo you are at, go slower. When you are comfortable slow speed up a little. Rinse and repeat.

It's REALLY hard to play slow with a metronome at first. The advanced training is to go even slower with the metronome. Once you practice it and get good at it, you will be amazed how much your timing improves all around.

Experiment with playing with the metronome only clicking the first beat of a measure, or only clicking 2 and 4.

Nobody in the universe has perfect timing. Timing is something you practice forever and hopefully continually improve on.

Edit: any practice you do with scales, rhythms, etc. should be done with a metronome.

BAM! Exactly! It really is hard to play slow and accurate. All the teachers will tell you play slow and clean then slowly build up speed.

 

[punkin]

My rhythm also sucks ass....so went ahead and purchased some drums.

So how are the ass drums workin' for ya? AWww come on! It's a joke for cryin' out loud...get it...ass drums...ok...it paints a visual for me that I find simply irresistable.

Sorry, my bad

 

[Dogman]

So how are the ass drums workin' for ya? AWww come on! It's a joke for cryin' out loud...get it...ass drums...ok...it paints a visual for me that I find simply irresistable.

Sorry, my bad

They aren't here yet...hopefully by next weekend. It's just a cheap kit, so I can see if I even have the ability to whack em....

 

[punkin]

mmm...cheap. something about the word cheap

Smack em' and put up a sound byte man. It's all for fun -n- games but I'll tell ya, I've had the best luck with cheap kits (not cymbals...you'll get what you pay for there) but a well tuned cheap set sound damn nice while a nice set tuned poorly...sounds cheap.

Bottom line, a decent set of head (don't go nuts here) and take your time tuning. This can take an afternoon but will reward you!

Kick ass and smack 'em

 

[Jouni]

Stealing the thread for a second.. About the cymbals; our drummer broke a Ziltijan titanium series cymbals in a month... Then I borrowed him some 300euros to get some cheap ass set to rehealsals, and they've lasted for months now without a single crack.... weird.

Back on topic here:

I also think my timing sucks hairy lollipops on our metalband, but not so much on other occasions, then I noticed that the drummer sucks... It might be something else offtiming in your band, or someone isn't hearing something enough....

And one thing I've been wrestling with is that when my initial pick-attack is on time, the louder bass-part seems to be DRAGGING BEHIND!!...
its kinda "ta....OOOOMPH"... and gives me the impression that I'm lagging..
haven't figured how to deal with it yet...

But playing in a band is HARDER than recording on your own OR playing to a cd... That's why bands practice...i guess.

 

[ez_willis]

But playing in a band is HARDER than recording on your own.

HAHA! Good one!

The only thing harder about being in a band is that there's a drummer there, and his chick always makes him late or drops him off to rehearsal drunk!


Your band needs a new drummer. The timing issues will iron themselves out almost immediately.

 

[Dani Pace]

Improving timing takes practice. Lots of it. A metronome is the first response bu most people or teachers. I find the simple rythm on an inexpensive keyboard (Casio, Yamaha, whatever) works better for me than the monotony of a metronome. Most of us don't have perfrct timing, we had to work at it too. The one thing that can not be said too many times is PRACTICE. Practice accuracy and timing, speed will naturally come as you get better at slow easy materal. Don't rush it, we all learn at different rates. Keep trying, don't give up. Learn the concept of "3 Ps," PATIENCE, PRACTICE and PERSISTANCE.

 

[metalhead28]

It's more when I try to play with others.
When I play at home with a CD I am fine.

In that case, you should just blame everybody else.

 

[Zaphod B]

+100000 on the metronome. They can really help you dial in your brain to tempo.

 

[thewanderer24]

I find the simple rythm on an inexpensive keyboard (Casio, Yamaha, whatever) works better for me than the monotony of a metronome.

I prefer the metronome because it makes you responsible for the subdivisions, the accents, the feel: i.e., the groove. The more you have to fill in the blanks the better it will develop your sense of feel and timing. Of course, YMMV.