Now then,
More recently I've become very self aware about some bad timing issues with my playing, particularly lead playing. I am practicing with a metronome on a regular basis but I'm wondering if any of you have any rhythm based exercises I could be doing whilst I'm at work without a guitar? I'm assuming the classic drumming on the desk will be a good way but don't really know how to get started... Try hold the 1,2,3,4 (working on a 4/4 basis) with my foot whilst doing quarter/eighth/sixteenth notes with my hands? Drummers - do you have any patterns that would help? I literally know nothing about drums...
I listen to music for most of my day so is there any way I could try keep time with that? I also do have a metronome on my phone that I can use through my headphones but I'd like to avoid listening to *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK* all day!
General suggestions for rhythm improvement welcome as well!
Comments
A very good video on how to practice with a metronome when you do have your instrument at hand...
ignore everything after 7:25 for the time being
I'll try and come with suggestions for practicing your timing when you don't.
You might end up with your foot and hands being in sync but the whole thing being not "in time".
* on the Guvan reference, not if he was right or not, you'd have to take that up with him.
- use the stopwatch or clock on your phone. What matters is that it show the seconds.
- start by counting the seconds (60bpm) as you look at your phone until you feel you're pretty much in sync with it.
- next, look away from your phone (or close your eyes) for every other second and try to stay in sync with it:
Count 1, close your eyes and count 2, open your eyes and count 3, close your eyes and count 4, open your eyes and count 5 ....
Once you feel confident you can do it for a while and stay in time...
- count 1, close your eyes and count 2, count 3, open your eyes and count 4, close your eyes and count 5, count 6...
- etc etc... until you're able to count ten seconds in a row without looking at your phone and come back in sync.
Edit: if it helps, to start with, count in half-seconds, as in "1 & 2 & 3 & 4....".
Then you can try to add alternate picking (on your thigh, the seam of your jeans...) while counting.
It's something I do for fun sometimes when I use the microwave (for 1~2 minutes), getting the timing by looking at the display for the first few seconds, then walking away while doing a count-down in my head.
I normally end at 0 within a couple of seconds of the microwave going "beep-beep-beep".
And a pic that might be useful...
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PglZOFzG0xw/T61WMvlve6I/AAAAAAAAACU/KusSVlYMpiw/s320/Simple+meter+rhythm+syllables.jpg
You'll "learn" nothing, you will not improve if the musicians you play with don't have good timing.
If playing along with a piece of music, you have to make sure it's not one of these rare records that is not perfectly on time, hence using a more reliable, if boring, metronome or drum machine (or good quality backing track).
The "Tap along to a piece of music then somebody turns the music down ..." exercise is very similar to the counting seconds one, the latter only requiring a stopwatch.
I can only be credited for doing a Google/youtube search, but thanks nonetheless, I'm glad to be of help.
Those are the sort of challenges I like setting myself. Sometimes I hold my breath with the purpose of being able to beat something else (like the kettle boiling). The counting with the microwave sounds much more safe!
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=toykJwk9zmU#t=94