Aloha Gang, I hope I can get some help here for the drummer of our band. As many of you may have had experience with a drummer who speeds up or slows down during a song. I have the bright idea of getting him a Metronome. Bit of course there seems to be a ton out on the market. Sooo any one have a recommendation for drummer Metronomes?? I konw some blink and some beep what is an industry stander! Any help would be great! As for my self I use an old school one you wind up and swings back and forth..Old school or no school.. MarkDavid.. P.S. its about 80 and sunny here on Maui to day... ouch!!!

Hi markdavid: I was a drummer before I was a guitarist, so I see this from both sides of the fence. Playing with a drummer who can't keep time is misery, that's for sure. Just ask Pete Townshend...

Far as metronomes go, that's tricky for drummers. It is actually amazingly hard to play drums to a metronome or click track because if you are in time you can't hear the beats over your own playing, no matter how loud you have them in headphones or whatever. You only hear the clicks when you stray from the beat - and then it's too late.

So get one that blinks. Vital.

Though that isn't the issue when the band are playing together. For drummers there is a certain "feel" thing that happens when you are grooving correctly with the rest of the band. You have to be listening to the others more than to yourself, which doesn't come immediately. And although that is true for all musicians there is something different about how it feels when playing drums. It's hard to describe but there is just a sort of physical sensation to it. There comes a moment when you lock in and suddenly neither push the beat nor drag on it, but just kind of put a "point" on it.

Very hard to put into words - and the nasty truth is that not everyone ultimately gets there. Buddy Rich described having a sort of pulse running inside you, and not everybody does...

Good luck - C

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He just needs to jam more. Practice will put it in you. I found that I could pick up drums last year, and when I did, I was a quick study- It wouldn't have worked if I hadn't been playing guitar all of those years. Playing on the worship team at my church taught me how to keep beat- all in all, practice makes permanent. If you only practice with yourself and other musicians who are off-beat, you'll only harm yourself. If you practice on beat, you'll be much more successful. Tell him that, maybe.

Edit: Not saying you're off beat, especially since he's the one that needs work, being the drummer... Just have him drum along to his favorite tunes so much that, maybe, it rubs off on him more?... I dunno. Hopefully he'll get it.

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"Speak the truth, and speak it ever,
cost it what it will
for he who hides the wrong he did
did the wrong thing still."
-Miss Uel

Thanks you guys, I think the blinking light metronome is the way to go. Mahalo! Mark