Hi all,
I've been playing for a long time and have developed a solid sense of tempo (I can play well with a click or without and keep a steady 1/4 note pulse), but I've noticed, when listening to recordings of myself, that my subdivisions tend to waver around. I'll be steady on the 1/4s, but the 16ths within them won't be dead on. Any suggestions on how I can improve here?
Thanks,
Larry
If your sixteenth-notes are not even, then I can almost guarantee you that your quarter-notes are not even either. You may
think they are, but they aren't.
Anytime you play and allow for space, that is when you'll move the time around ever so slightly. Playing subdivisions should make your time more precise, not weaken it.
Your internal clock will really develop if you'll practice with a metronome which is also playing subdivisions. Play your sixteenth-notes along with the metronome (playing it's sixteenths). Listen and feel each stroke ... lining it up with the metronome.
When you are playing live, the human-factor will always be there ... you don't have to worry about sounding stiff or that you will sound too much like a robot ... that isn't going to happen, I promise you that. You'll begin to internalize the subdivisions, which is going to make your quarter-note grooves sound even tighter ... simply because you are now feeling the space in between the notes.
Playing subdivisions exposes the timing problems. You can do the same thing by counting out loud. Simply say
1 2 3 4 over and over at a moderate tempo. After awhile, purposefully slow down slightly or speed up slightly. If you record yourself doing this, and listen back, you'll see that it's difficult to hear changes. NOW ... count subdivisions out loud ...
1 e a u 2 e a u 3 e a u 4 e a u ... slightly slow down or speed up. You can REALLY hear the slightest change in your couting. The reason ... there's less space between the notes, which exposes the slightest change much more easily. Do this same thing with your time keeping ... and you see what I mean ... especially if you'll record yourself.
Work with a metronome, as already mentioned, but be sure to spend time with it making subdivisions for you. Also spend time playing with music that is really tight; good groove, pocket, etc. Play along with this, not only on the drumkit, but also your practice pad ... and don't forget about working on your feet.
I've got a product (soon to be released) that will be yet another way to practice this type of thing, and retain the
human feel. Stay tuned!
