I need advice practicing playing with the rythm of drums and vocals. I might be starting a band with my friend and a few of his friends from school, and this would be my first band EVER. Do I just need to practice a crap load or are there better techniques (e.g. playing with a metronome?). I've been playing for 6 years and I'm really good by myself, but playing with a constant beat for several minutes without slowing down or speeding up is new for me. Any ideas are appreciated!

#1 bands can slow down and speed up and be generally crazy
#2 get a loop programme, sequence some beats and try playing to different beats and timings.
3# just practice on the day and get into the flow with the band
4# noodle away!

Definately start playing with a metronome. I'm in the same boat as you, I suck the big one at trying to play at a consistand speed. Regular practice with a metronome will help out with that a lot. One little trick is to try practicing things faster and faster (with a 'nome), and then when you bring it back to the regular tempo it will be easier to stay in time.

One of the disadvantages to being a drummer is the whole metrinome thing (and drummers need to be on time more than anyone else, hell, they keep the beat). It's kind of hard to hear a metrinome over the drums and cymbals, plus the ear plugs (that all drummers should use). The only way around this dilema is to buy a fancy set of earphones that keep the loudness out, but have a metrinome ticking inside. If you're looking for a nice quality pair, you might end up spending quite a bit of pocket change. I don't have a pair yet, but I should probably look into it.

While each of you individually may know your instruments, I wouldn't go working on playing your own material right off the bat, when none of you have been in a band ever. I'm not saying you aren't advanced enough to be writing your own music, but its one thing to write a song, and another to get people to play it the way you hear it.

In my first band, we were all somewhat seasoned musicians to our own right. Not anything spectacular, but individually we could all play pretty well. None of us had been in a band, and the first things we tried to play were King Crimson and Claypool's Frog Brigade version of Shine On You Crazy Diamond. Needless to say, it just didn't work out at first. No one really knew eachothers own musical limitations really, or how to play as a band. My bassist was trying to keep time with guitar!

So we went small, played some Primus and Deftones tunes we all knew, that were pretty simple and we knew like the back of our hands. Once we got those down, it was easy as pie from there. Those are some of the major hurdles you're going to go through as a band; keeping rhythm, how to keep playing if someone messes up, or you mess up, how to improv as a band, stay on task at a rehersal, etc.

Truth. In all honesty, you guys shouldn't even worry about songs for a while and should just jam. Learn each others musical abilities, learn your ability to play with others. It'll slowly solidify and then you can start playing covers or writing music without getting frustrated at each other and getting in a fist fight (it might happen).

Cool. Thanks yall!

Just play!

I've always played along with a CD or something almost since I first started learning guitar. I generally like to make up my own stuff as I play along, though, just for something new, but the point is that I developed a good sense of rhythm and timing (which I may have already had since I've been drumming since I was like 3).

Drumming ftw!

I've been asked to play bass for a band just for a few weeks. They are all ready to play at Fall Fest (A concert in my town with a bunch of small bands) but they have no bass player. I got the hang of most of the songs pretty quick, but Sugar from SoaD is harder than it looks >.< Pretty much the entire song up until the end is just repeating 0765\0765\0765, but keeping it at a constant steady pace is a pain. After a while I start to fumble from doing the same thing over and over and the song gets all f-ed up. >.<

[QUOTE=Victor Van Dort]I've been asked to play bass for a band just for a few weeks. They are all ready to play at Fall Fest (A concert in my town with a bunch of small bands) but they have no bass player. I got the hang of most of the songs pretty quick, but Sugar from SoaD is harder than it looks >.< Pretty much the entire song up until the end is just repeating 0765\0765\0765, but keeping it at a constant steady pace is a pain. After a while I start to fumble from doing the same thing over and over and the song gets all f-ed up. >.<[/QUOTE]
Start at a slow tempo. Slowly (very) increase it. Once you mess up, start over. Rinse, repeat.

Sugar was one of the first guitar songs I learned (similiar to the bass part). Increasing the max tempo you can play it at will help you solidify your ability to play it slower. Bass players learn to deal with repetition.

most important part about playing in a band is learning to listen to the other musicians. Timing is important, and if you have a good steady drummer, just listen to him and stay with him. If you're playing bass, pay special attention to the drummer's kick drum, and play along with it.

It's all a matter of listening and complimenting the other instruments.

[QUOTE=Victor Van Dort]I've been asked to play bass for a band just for a few weeks. They are all ready to play at Fall Fest (A concert in my town with a bunch of small bands) but they have no bass player. I got the hang of most of the songs pretty quick, but Sugar from SoaD is harder than it looks >.< Pretty much the entire song up until the end is just repeating 0765\0765\0765, but keeping it at a constant steady pace is a pain. After a while I start to fumble from doing the same thing over and over and the song gets all f-ed up. >.<[/QUOTE]

You just got a guitar, maybe practice up before you're going to try being in a band?

Yes, definitely do that.

You failed at being mean. Slick.

I wasn't trying to be mean, I was trying to be helpful actually.

JEEZ MONOXIDE WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO MEAN

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