The band can't play in time

[Futant55]

Originally Posted by Babazon

Oh i was forgetting this

**** coffee

Tomorrow on CNN innocent words caught in the crossfire, lol

[DT Chris]

Originally Posted by Andrew07

What do you guys do? Basically I told the guitarists to go home and practice playing a click until they could play in time...it's been two weeks and they still can't do it

In my opinion, this may seem like a small matter, but actually is a big one.

If a band wants to be serious, there is no reason why they wouldn't want to ensure that they're playing in time, and would be interested in finding ways to improve their skills and 'tightness' in that area.

If a member gives you an attitude about it, or attempts to lay a guilt trip on you by suggesting you are somehow insulting 'their skill', chances are there are other things wrong in the band, and this will be an issue that will cause a stand-off.

I performed in an original rock band that started the song at one tempo, and ALWAYS ended up sounding like a sped up record at the end. Sure dynamics and energy may have affected it, and it may have been fun when playing live, but when I listened to our recorded live performances I couldn't help but wince. Every song started off good, then ended up sounding like a runaway train - in particular I couldn't stand how my lyrics/melody/and singing and to compensate for this and sounding rushed and nullifying any dynamics or feeling in the song.

Our first drummer refused to play to a click track. We focused on the drummer, because it was he would have to set the pace for the rest - he's the backbone of the rythmn and tempo. He somehow just couldn't wrap his head around playing to a click track and we replaced him. The next drummer, though he was more talented, had the same problem. At this point, my band was so worried that they wouldn't find another drummer, they basically let him get away with it - along with other things that led me to believe they weren't serious as I was to put out a pro act, I eventually left the band.

I find that if there is a weakness in the band,and the member(s) refuse to, or somehow "haven't got around to" improving their skill in a needed department, it goes to show the lack of dedication to the band's goals - and inevitably need replacing.

It's always funny how such a thing can be turned around on you, to make you look like the asshole, when all you were trying to do was improve the band for the better. The member of your band may get insulted and the drama ensues. This is why a good producer/manager is good for a band. He can say stuff that is true about the band, an outside opinion, that keeps the band focused and intact.

[thesilentdrummer]

This is a great thread, and even though the majority of the talk is about producing (Some great inspirational tips BTW), at the core is timing. Probably the greatest musical advice I have ever been given is this: "a right note at the wrong time is a wrong note." I think that I would tell anyone who is having trouble with timing that first and see what to do from there (so you do make a drastic decision unnecessarily).