Click tracks

Only the guys who have taken the time to learn how can do it.

Having just finished playing in a band that relied heavily on backing tracks and clicks, I can tell you that it's not as easy as one would think. Like everything else, it's gets easier the more you do it. I have to laugh at the other drummers that gave me crap about the style of music that was playing in the band I was in, and that we had backing tracks. The reality is that most of them could not do what was expected of me everytime we played and make it look and feel seamless, yet allow the song to breathe. When I first joined that band, my clock wasn't perfect, but as I played more and more the clock got better and better. It actually allowed me to relax and just go on autopilot. Once you get comfortable with the click, everything slows down and you find that you can go off on tangents and not lose track of the beat or time. Mellow Fellow is correct that it's B.S. that a click track makes the song have no feel. It depends on the drummer. What I found was I could use the click, but push the beat on more upbeat tunes, and lay back in the pocket on the more funky tunes. If you're not good at playing with a click, this is difficult to do. Almost everysong recorded nowdays is recorded to some type of click, and then mastered through protools to make the timing seem perfect. The argument that "The Beatles didn't use a click track" is weak. If the beatles were recording today they would be using a click. Also, when someone makes that statement, have them do some research into how the Beatles actually recorded those songs. They will be surprised at how the recording engineers were able to get Ringo to be as close to spot on as possible. Also, peole that make that argument are affraid to embrace technology and are living in the past.

So back to the topic. Your son needs to create a click track that's not just a boring "Tick,,tick..tick..tick.." in his ear. I found that finding the right click track, maybe a complete pre-record drum track, or percussion track is the best way to go.

Also, I'm thinking one of the more important aspects of trying out for college band will be the ability to sight read music score's. He needs to be able to do that as well.

What's this all come down to? Practice, Practice, Practice. Funny how most music questions go back to "Practice" as the answer. If you son can master playing to a click, he will learn to love it, and the freedom it brings.

I think a lot of it is a control issue. A lot of the drummers out there think that if you mention "Click Track", what you're really saying is, "Your timing is terrible". It's an ego thing for sure. I use to have that same mentality. Once I got comfortable with playing along to a click, all sorts of opportunities opened up with-in the songs themselves. I didn't have to think about tempo as much. I was free to move about the set. I could turn the beat around in some crazy way, but still come back around to the down beat. There is a tendancy by us drummers to push the beat a little bit. If the song sounds good, and the whole band is clicking at that moment, you can let the excitement get the better of you.

First off, Thanks guys. I really thought this was gonna turn into a flame war on "...the music you hear on CD's don't have perfect time..." But, instead, much to my surprise, everyone said basically the same thing.

Second, the drummer in question called me tonight and asked to borrow a metronome. He said last night really humbled him in respect to his timing and wants to practice to 'perfect time.' In which I applaud him for creating his own constructive criticism.

Originally posted by F5bobcarrot So back to the topic. Your son needs to create a click track that's not just a boring "Tick,,tick..tick..tick.." in his ear. I found that finding the right click track, maybe a complete pre-record drum track, or percussion track is the best way to go. Also, I'm thinking one of the more important aspects of trying out for college band will be the ability to sight read music score's. He needs to be able to do that as well. What's this all come down to? Practice, Practice, Practice. Funny how most music questions go back to "Practice" as the answer. If you son can master playing to a click, he will learn to love it, and the freedom it brings.

Finally, F5: My son doesn't have a problem to playing to a click track, it was the drummer laying down the drum track.

And as far as trying out for a "college band" and needing the ability to sight read. He's not trying out for "a" band...he's applying to "Music Schools," in which they require audition cd's BEFORE they grant you a "live" audition, which is still not guaranteed you will be accepted into their school. Most of the schools he's looking at require: 3-6 different genres of music to be put on a cd (the applicant being panned to one side exclusively), in addition to the ability to: play all chords (all positions), all scales(starting from ANY note in the scale), have the ability to sight read (both as a soloist and with a backing track), a certain degree of theory knowledge, in addition to having the ability to play at least 1 other instrument than the one you call your primary (i.e., he's a guitarist, so they require him to be able to play NOT another stringed instrument, but say piano or drums. Which most would think, 'heck I can play drums, I'm not a "drummer", but I can at least play them. BUT, they require you can read drum music. Which to me, looks like a bunch of x's with tails), along with many many other things.
I don't want to drop school names, in case he don't make it, but he's NOT looking at the average-run-of-the-mill University's, or the schools you read the advert.'s in Guitar World Magazine. (Not saying anything is wrong with these schools. It's just not where he wants to go, and not what he wants to learn about).

Heck, who knows...he's 17yrs old. He may decide to purse a career in "under-water basket weaving." But, then again, maybe he'll grow up and you'll see his name in lights.

Again, thanks for ALL of the comments.

If you still need someone to play drums to a click track, let me know.

Watched and listened on youtube. Great song. Hope you get it worked out, if not, I could do it.