Keeping time as a band: Why it isn't only the drummer's job...

Written by Chris Senner

Keeping time as a band is essential. Musicians have become too comfortable relying on their drummer to maintain a tight performance. More emphasis should be placed on the entire band working together, as this not only aids in recording but also enhances live performances.

After touring the country for over six years, I noticed that almost every established band had all members playing to a click track. I was impressed by how tightly these bands played together night after night.

Note: The Soundbrenner metronome is ideal for musicians looking to tour or perform live. One of its standout features is the ability to keep time through vibrations rather than relying solely on a click track in your ear.

Here are five reasons why keeping time as a band isn't solely the drummer's responsibility and how over-reliance on your drummer can lead to poor performances.

Recording issues

Keeping time as a band is crucial during recording sessions. When it's time to lay down your parts in the studio, playing in time significantly reduces your producer's stress levels, even if one of your band members is producing your album.

While you can quantize most parts, this isn't always the best practice for every music style.

Relying on quantizing all your parts in the studio may lead to an over-dependence on technology. When it comes time to perform live, you'll need to execute your parts perfectly under much more pressure and anxiety.

My advice is to practice the old-fashioned way. Before recording, ensure that you have spent time playing all your parts to a metronome.

Your band's performance is only as tight as your weakest performer

This may sound harsh, but it's true. If three members are playing exceptionally well while one struggles to keep time, it detracts from the overall performance.

The solution is to practice together frequently. Additionally, focus on what you are practicing. If you only meet to write music without running songs repeatedly, your growth will be limited.

Your drummer won't always be playing

Dynamics often make a band exciting to watch live. Drummers sometimes drop out during songs, leaving the rest of the band to play independently.

Instead of having the drummer maintain the kick drum or hi-hat, someone else should play to a metronome to keep the band tight.

I personally enjoy when drummers drop out, allowing a song to break down to just piano or guitar. This can lead to effective songwriting and performances when the drums return, especially if everyone is in sync.

Your skill is often judged by how well in time you play

Aside from playing the correct parts and chords, timing is crucial in performance. If you can't play your written parts in time, the quality of the part becomes irrelevant.

The solution is to practice your parts to a metronome. While this may seem tedious, every great musician understands the importance of keeping time as a band.

When I began learning to play the piano, my instructor had me practice every song, scale, and exercise to a metronome.

I am grateful for this, as it built my confidence when it was time to play with others.

Acoustic performances

When playing a song acoustically, you won't always have your drummer. While it's important to practice with your bandmates to develop tightness, it's equally essential to practice alone.

Being prepared to perform without your drummer allows you to deliver your song exactly as you envision it.

Wrapping up

While there will always be times to rely on your incredible drummers, ensuring they can depend on you is equally important.

If you want to improve your timing skills, consider the following:

• Practice scales to a metronome
• Practice chord progression drills to a metronome
• Practice the parts you write to a metronome
• Practice other songs to a metronome

Chris Senner is the owner and operator of Keyboardkraze.com. He has spent the last 10 years writing music and touring the country with the band Vinyl Theatre. He now blogs about his experiences to help other musicians.