Getting "Tight"

[Plutopowered]

How many practices a week with your band does it take to get "tight"? I find that practicing once a week doesn't really get it. Maybe twice? Three times a week?

[voldak]

the one serious band I was in only took us one practice session a week to get tight. But, we had been playing music with each other for years before joining this band. We were already on the same page when we started. How long have you been playing with this group?

[tamadrummer132]

i was in a band that just got together and had like 5 days till we had to play. We were all competent musicians so i wasnt that worried, but i knew it would take alot of work.

We practiced about 12 hours to get our set down near to perfect, and had a great show. But with a fresh band, you have to learn how to blend, and that takes time.

[elpol]

Sorry in advance if I offend anybody with this, but really, too much rehearsing is not what it's cracked up to be. 1 show = 10 rehearsals. Want to get tight? Play shows. At least, play in front of people; your friends, family, etc. Get comfortable with that. Learn to keep your ears wide open. Focus on what's going on around you (musically), not just on what you are trying to or not to do on your kit.

Everybody should know what they have to do to improve/excel on their instrument on their own time. Bring the music when you're with your band-mates. Do your homework and learn the tunes you are supposed to; talk thru the stuff that matters or is causing confusion for everybody. De-constructing tunes and listening to how your idols assemble arrangements/parts is a very constructive use of rehearsal time, as opposed to blind repetition.

Playing a song or a set over and over again 3 or 4 or even 7 nights a week isn't going to necessarily make you 'better'. It will make you an automaton, and less responsive to your surroundings because you run the risk of becoming so locked in to one way of doing things. A well re-hearsed band is very nice. Unfortunately, they can really be lacking in fire and urgency (imho) at times.

Of course, this is just my opinion, and isn't meant to be taken as being general to all situations: There are plenty of situations where the complexity of the music and/or show production would make rehearsing quite necessary.

[Plutopowered]

the one serious band I was in only took us one practice session a week to get tight. But, we had been playing music with each other for years before joining this band. We were already on the same page when we started. How long have you been playing with this group?

I've been with 2 members of my current band for about 3-4 years and a new singer for a couple of months.

[voldak]

I've been with 2 members of my current band for about 3-4 years and a new singer for a couple of months.

to be honest...i think it's all about "clicking" with the rest of the group. You and the 2 members you've been with should be really tight. What always helped us, was just jamming...not necessarily rehearsing for one of the songs we would do. But just starting to play something, feeding off of eachother and just jamming....We'd usually do that for a while, then play our set. We were always really tight.

[That Guy]

Good points have been covered by the other members. The only think I can add is... get to know how your other band members play. Soon enough, you guys will "click" and be able to read eachother.

[jangus]

A lot of it comes down to attitudes and discipline because if you want a truly tight group everybody should be practicing on their own time as well.

[catchagato]

I totally agree with with Jangus said. I am also the drummer at my church and it's sometimes hard for me to play well with the other musicians because some of them have only started playing the guitar or bass for a 2 years or so, and they just don't have the "feel" for the music yet, so I'm always asking myself, "is it me who needs more practice?" For a while I thought this was true, and so I practiced more at home...but then I figured out most of the times it's the other musicians who don't spend enough time at home practicing and listening to more music. But what can you do? I don't believe forcing them to do that is the right way either...

[rendezvous_drummer]

I've found some kickarse bandmates to play with. We all just "click" like that..so easily! We had a wedding to play of about 15 covers to learn in less than 3 weeks. We practiced 2-3 days a week for 3-4 hours per session. We nailed every cover and they weren't easy either. We now practice for about once or twice a week for 3 hours each time, and we have come up with one completed original, and three other solid foundations of what seems to me, great songs. I love it!!

Find members who you know how they play and what style they play. One guitarist in the band is completely into Stevie Ray Vaughn, the other is into John Mayer, the Bassist is into Led Zepplin, and I have the Steve Jordan thing going on. We all share similar tastes. If you find members like that, then you're gold.

[jazzin']

I've found some kickarse bandmates to play with. We all just "click" like that..so easily! We had a wedding to play of about 15 covers to learn in less than 3 weeks. We practiced 2-3 days a week for 3-4 hours per session. We nailed every cover and they weren't easy either. We now practice for about once or twice a week for 3 hours each time, and we have come up with one completed original, and three other solid foundations of what seems to me, great songs. I love it!!

Find members who you know how they play and what style they play. One guitarist in the band is completely into Stevie Ray Vaughn, the other is into John Mayer, the Bassist is into Led Zepplin, and I have the Steve Jordan thing going on. We all share similar tastes. If you find members like that, then you're gold.

Isn't it simply fantastic when this happens. It's the best feeling. Then sometimes you have to play with people that are the opposite and if it were to get tight it would take 6 months, if ever! Man, that can get frustrating. It's a cool thing to find guys you can gel with well. Hang on to them.

[Jeff Almeyda]

If you as a drummer have excellent time then the whole process of the band getting tight becomes much easier. So, practice to a click.

[elpol]

If you as a drummer have excellent time then the whole process of the band getting tight becomes much easier. So, practice to a click.This quote for some reason reminds me of a bassist whose one of my faves to play with who would tell drummers he's not locking with: "Geez man, time isn't just a magazine. You sound like a bloody shoe in a dryer". Oh and yes, he was quite qualified to make those sorts of comments... (wicked sense of humour, I mean).

[SLEEPY BRiGHT EYEZ]

You know, I thought I had the answer for this question last week. In an uncanny moment in the Universe, we were able to get together five times last week between Sunday and Saturday. The extra practice was really helping, as unfinished songs were finally coming together and we were finally nailing the parts.

Last night, as soon as I got home from work, one of my band mates called me to tell me we had a show in the city in a few hours. The other band mate decided not to go, so we made it a two piece for the night. It was raining, and I didn't want to take my kit out so I borrowed my mates, who had just pulled it down from the attic. I didn't get my hands on it till we started setting up on the stage. Each part of the kit had a different (and really old) head and nothing was tuned. The snares were held on by a shoelace wound through the snares... Oi... I haven't had to set up like that in a long time. I've definitely spoiled myself in recent times with new and better equipment.

Anyways, we started our set with the songs we had been practicing and we were messing them up as if we hadn't played them in a month or something. I don't really know why. I wasn't nervous, and I don't believe my band mate was. Definitely a lesson in 'the show must go on'. Since we didn't have the other guy, we ended up improving most of the night. One of our friends came up with a suitcase organ and joined the set. It was fun getting on stage again after a long hiatus. Our friends there watching had fun, so that's what mattered to me most even though it wasn't one our more stellar performances.

[squid]

I've got a pretty unique situation. I gig every weekend with a 4-piece classic rock cover band. During the week, we all attend college out of town, and find it difficult to find time to practice. A lot of times, especially when a new song needs to be learned, we will make time in the evening or afternoon before a gig to punch eveything out. In my experience, I have found that personally, and as a band, we have played tighter coming back from a week-long pause, than if we would have practiced the night before.

For me, I just seem to learn more at the gig than I do in the garage. I can see what people want, first-hand and I just feel more creative and alert. I think I can sum up what I'm trying to say by mentioning that a gigging musician has two responsibilities:
1. To be good at their instrument
2. To entertain people
One can be learned in the garage, the other cannot.

Without my gigging experience, I wouldn't be half the drummer I am today, and probably not even one tenth of the entertainer.