Question for musicians / bandfolk?

[penk]

So, our band is having a leeetle problem. Our drummer is not the most metronomic person on the planet. He has talent for the runs and sounds okay, but if there's a simple rhythm, he cannot keep his timing dead on. With wavering rhythm, me, the bass player, starts to wander also, and the rest of the band starts losing it.

I've heard of folks using in-ear monitors with a click track to help things stay on the beat, and I'd be keen on hearing from folks who have ever used these, and how well they work.

I would -love- to go "Okay folks, Stormy Sunday, it's slow, 50bpm, here's the click track *tic... tic... tic...* go!"

We're an older set of players (40's, 1 fellow over 50), we kick along nicely, but I think we need a little assistance. Lots of old-fashionism (though our drummer is currently using an all-electric kit, which is great, because we can go "TURN IT DOWN!" and he can). The other players are rhythm guitar and lead guitar and bass (me). We all have our own amps right now, but we do own and use on gigs a nice 24channel mackie mixer and PA. If it comes down to "we mix everything, we monitor through the mixer, we add the click track to the wireless", then we'll go with that, but I've never done that. :)

Thanks...

Comments

[coraline]

personally, i loathe playing in ensembles with click tracks, because it robs you of all flexibility, and once you get off it's just amazingly irritating.
(not very helpful input i suppose...)

[penk.livejournal.com]

I think this is a level of skill issue. We're not great musicians - and while I understand click tracks stifle creativity, the sort of improvisation that you can do needs to be built on a solid foundation of rhythm and melody. If the drummer cannot keep a beat, the foundation falls apart, and that's where we are right now.

[chillguru.livejournal.com]

playing with a click track is HARD, and like, coraline said, is really annoying when you get away from it. i think your best bet is to just give the click track to the drummer, and then as long as the bass follows the rest of the band should be fine. it's much easier for one person to follow it, then for a group to follow it.

[jacflash.livejournal.com]

I second this. I'll add that I always hated playing with anyone who was on a click track -- the music just doesn't breathe right.