I've spent a bunch of time lately recording and analyzing my playing over the last year. I've found a disturbing trend that I constantly rush. When I line up the backbeat/snare on the 2 and 4 I find that I am always pushing the beat by a microsecond. It doesnt seem like much but in the context of playback or listening to the band Im in, I can identify it. It makes the drums sound overly urgent, its not pleasant and it borders on being stressful to the listener - if Im being totally objective. When I play time, according to my natural feel, Im out of the pocket.
I've spent an outrageous amount of time trying to learn to stay on top of the beat and play behind it. I want to master my ability to play with time in the context of the notes.....BUT To play on top of the note feels lazy and to play behind the note feels like Im walking in mud. There is no natural feel unless Im playing slightly ahead of time. I guess its just poor habits, learned behavior and trying to "bury the click"..When I bury the click (to my ears) Im playing ahead of time.
My personal opinion is that counting using 1/2/3/4 is an awful way to count time. Each number is actually a word. Depending on where you actually hit the drum while saying the word greatly impacts if you are in front/on top/ behind the count. I play better time when the click is crisp with the shortest delay. Im getting a little better after hours of practice but there dont seem to be any good lessons or advice that address this topic.
Anyone have good exercises to calm down my "in front" counting/playing and make it feel more natural/intuitive? I feel like Im starting over again and having to apply significant amount of my focus on the count while playing.
I've spent an outrageous amount of time trying to learn to stay on top of the beat and play behind it. I want to master my ability to play with time in the context of the notes.....BUT To play on top of the note feels lazy and to play behind the note feels like Im walking in mud. There is no natural feel unless Im playing slightly ahead of time. I guess its just poor habits, learned behavior and trying to "bury the click"..When I bury the click (to my ears) Im playing ahead of time.
My personal opinion is that counting using 1/2/3/4 is an awful way to count time. Each number is actually a word. Depending on where you actually hit the drum while saying the word greatly impacts if you are in front/on top/ behind the count. I play better time when the click is crisp with the shortest delay. Im getting a little better after hours of practice but there dont seem to be any good lessons or advice that address this topic.
Anyone have good exercises to calm down my "in front" counting/playing and make it feel more natural/intuitive? I feel like Im starting over again and having to apply significant amount of my focus on the count while playing.
Last edited: