Need help with ear training

[sept09]

I have a problem that is quite serious and hope to get advise. I have been having this problem whereby I am able to play as an individual however when put in a band, I just cant seem to coordinate myself.

I am not able to paly in time, im either too fast or too slow. I believe this is because I am not able to catch the drum beat.

Unlike a metronome whereby it just go tick tock, a drum have several sound in it such as snare, bass drum and etc and it make me lost on playing in time and when to start playing after rest.

How can I improve my condition? I have been listen over and over again the jam track that I have but I still cannot get the timing from drums.

 

[xiaoviper]

Don't worry... It takes practice to get to it.

Identify these the hi-hat and snare sounds to get your timing 1.2.3.4. etc. with the hi-hat. everytime the snare hits, you start 1.2.3.4 again. I started with Blink182 type of stuff to get in timing with my band. Because the beats are quite steady, tempo doesn't really change.

Normally when I learn the songs, I sync my part with the drums... Somehow when its at a certain speed I tend to follow up. E.g. after the snare, I'm suppose to play these amount of chords or these riff before the next snare sounds. but seriously... all it takes is practice. Just keep trying and practicing.

 

[sept09]

I am now practicing on some school piece. Simple song I am ok. But when the piece have many rest or each bar have different count then I will have the problem.

 

[xiaoviper]

Perhaps if you could get a backing track for it and practice along.

 

[bobby]

I have a problem that is quite serious and hope to get advise. I have been having this problem whereby I am able to play as an individual however when put in a band, I just cant seem to coordinate myself.

I am not able to paly in time, im either too fast or too slow. I believe this is because I am not able to catch the drum beat.

Unlike a metronome whereby it just go tick tock, a drum have several sound in it such as snare, bass drum and etc and it make me lost on playing in time and when to start playing after rest.

How can I improve my condition? I have been listen over and over again the jam track that I have but I still cannot get the timing from drums.

I can recommend a good psychiatrist. He'll be able to help you. He calls himself a General Aural Yemen, or G.A.Y. for short.

What he does is runs various tests on your ears to test your reaction times to varied beats. Quite severe punishment is inflicted onto you if you miss your timing, thus forcing you to obey and learn in a disciplined manner.

It might help you improve on your drumming. Let me know if you're interested in hiring the G.A.Y., or General Aural Yemen, so you can thump and bang properly. I'm here to help as always.

 

[sept09]

Perhaps if you could get a backing track for it and practice along.

yes I am using the the backing track

 

[sept09]

I can recommend a good psychiatrist. He'll be able to help you. He calls himself a General Aural Yemen, or G.A.Y. for short.

What he does is runs various tests on your ears to test your reaction times to varied beats. Quite severe punishment is inflicted onto you if you miss your timing, thus forcing you to obey and learn in a disciplined manner.

It might help you improve on your drumming. Let me know if you're interested in hiring the G.A.Y., or General Aural Yemen, so you can thump and bang properly. I'm here to help as always.

Its ok.No thank you

 

[rex922]

if u hear a song often enough it should come to u naturally seems to work for me......

 

[xiaoviper]

if u hear a song often enough it should come to u naturally seems to work for me......

totally agree with you rex.

 

[bf0502tr]

once u listen to a song long enough, u should be able to get which are the major drum beats u should follow to get ur timing. for me, i usually play gnr and aerosmith stuff. sometimes its the bass drum i'm listening to sometimes its the snare or the crash. it really depends. there's no trick to it. just listen to the song over and over again till u get ur root rhythm to follow

 

[domfecpedals]

just catch the bass drum. that's the frame of your song.

and, if u cant catch up some fast song, just impove your finger, sometimes, finger skill may cause u out of beat.

 

[steady]

Hi, the first thing is to have the tempo in your head when the drummer counts in. On slow songs something like 4,4 time 60 bpm or slower, you might want to add the & between beats. The drummer starts countin 1,2, mentally you count together &3&4&down. That makes intervals between beats shorten by half. Tap your foot will help you play on time. I always ask the sound engineer for more high hat on my mon.
Steady Goh
Blind guitarist/singer/guitar instructor
email: steadyguitar@singnet.com.sg