Skill?

Some Drummers perform this way others don't.

I think the real trick is being tolerant of each other.

     

A pro needs to be able to lock in with a click, but also needs to be able to play rock-steady time without one.

The old guys used to record without a click i.e., Santana , and if you listen closely the time varies here and there; like slight sectional tempo changes or gradual speeding up. Its subtle but also its just part of the music.

I played some Celtic stuff the other night and although most of it was steady, in one song the tempo fluctuated like hills and valleys - but it was necessary for the music. If it was on a click, it wouldn't have worked..

So.. you definitely need both techniques (click & non-click). I practice by myself with a click 50% of the time, play with my band without (although I use a metronome to get the count-in meter as I hate counting in at the wrong speed - even if its off by 1 bps). I also record with a click.

I use an el-cheapo Korg MA-30 which has a big LCD display so you can see the graphical 'arm' going back & forth - and its on mute of course(!). As soon as the song is finished I punch in the next tempo and start the next count in.. and yes - I have the tempos listed in big print on a single piece of paper. I keep both the ma-30 and the sheet well concealed so I doubt if anyone even knows what I'm doing.. except for my band mates - and I count in every song;

It works for me, but there are better solutions out there with more expensive metronomes that you can program meters (which works as long as your setlist doesn't change), or a flashing light etc.

I used to use no tempo aids and relied on quickly remebering a key phrase from each song to get the meter.. but when you have to learn a lot of songs fast - its a lot to remember.  If I know the songs inside out I can ususally pull off the right meter without a click aid.

Ah, that would be the tune "Big Fat Money" off of VH's 'Balance'.

lol get off your high horse ranmannete.  click keeps me precise each and every performance.  i'd rather be right on with headphones on than fluctuate +/- 1 bpm without them.  makes for a much more rewarding experience when listening to recordings.

My philosophy -  

Timing is a means to an end, which is to get into the pocket and groove.  If you find that pocket and stay in it, you've got it.  It doesn't matter if it is precise to the nano second, just that it grooves.

There are times when playing to a click is unavoidable.  I was recently in a studio using Pro Tools.  Contrary to popular belief, the engineer wanted everything recorded to a click, because it was easier for her to edit that way.  So, instead of having any timing errors "fixed", I had to nail the time for the sake of the editing, so other mistakes could be easily "fixed".

For some tunes, like the straight ahead rock ones, this worked.  But much of this was world music, and some tunes just didn't work with the click.  We couldn't do it, and stay with the click.  But, once the click was shut off, we nailed these tunes in one or two takes.   Some of the rhythms were not "typical" western rhythms, and I don't think the the programming was designed to accomodate that.  

Bottom line - There are situations where playing to a click is required, and if you get into that kind of situation, get out the metronome and practice with the click.  You're gonna need that practice.

If you're just going to be playing with a band, and all you need is to stay in the pocket, do spend some time at home with the metronome,  just so you'll understand what good timing is.  However, when you get together with your band, leave it behind and just play.  As long as the band is cooking, the timing is plenty good enough.

The thing about practicing with a click (at least part of the time) is that it gives you a reference point and is great for pinpointing where in a song the time fluctuates. I play in a band that has a lot of syncopation (vocals,guitars etc) and if I don't drive the band these guys will drag too much across the bar sometimes. Its also great for figuring out what's not flowing i.e., if a part isin't flowing right try isolating the hands , if that's OK add in the BD part.. the click will point out whats not meshing with the groove really fast.. if you don't practice with a click; you basically have no reference point - its a great sanity check! I agree with Gus - there's absolutely nothing worse than hearing an obvious time fluctuation on a recording - and nothing better when the time is rock solid and grooves..

I think its just a misunderstanding. Things can be taken wrong on a Forum.

On my behalf I apologize to Gus and all others concerned.