As a drummer, more often than not, one of our responsibilities is to count-off the song. In some bands I’ve played in, someone else counts off the tune, but most of the time, it’s me or you (I’m assuming you’re a drummer; that’s generally who reads this blog). Counting off the tune is a significant responsibility. The wrong tempo can ruin a great song or make it very difficult for some of the musicians to play. So, how do we get it right every time?
Well, the obvious answer is to use a metronome, but I’ve heard some debate about the use of a metronome on the gig for this purpose. Some drummers believe as a matter of pride that they should count-off tempos from memory. Singing the song about to be played in one’s head and taking the tempo from that is probably a good way to try to get your tempo if you wished to forego the metronome. I’ve tried that, but when you’re on the stage with the lights on you, what if you can’t pull those first few bars of the song out of the memory banks? With the pressure of the gig upon you, it’s possible you’d blank on that. It’s happened to me. I want a full-proof-even-if-I’m-nervous solution.
When I saw Steve Gadd using a metronome on stage with Paul Simon before counting off a song, I decided that if Steve is OK with it, I should be. It’s just a matter of precision.
OK, so metronome it is. But, it’s more complicated than that. You need to keep the show moving. Too much time between songs will kill the momentum of the show. Picking up your metronome, finding the tempo on the dial and putting it up to your ear is too long of a process. Plus, it looks lame. You want to use a metronome to get your tempos, but you don’t want to broadcast that fact to your band and more importantly, to your audience. It should be seamless.
My fool-proof method is below. It requires the use of 4 items:
1) set list with the tempos (bpm’s) written next to each song title
2) Tama Rhythm watch
3) one cymbal stand without any cymbal washers, cymbal sleeves, felts or wing nuts on the top of the stand
4) a black in-ear bud style set of headphones with one side cut off
The Set List
Your guide. I know, this is obvious, but you need it. Make sure everyone has the same list.
The Tama Rhythm Watch
This is very useful piece of gear. The Rhythm Watch can serve as a stand-alone metronome, but it has key features that make it perfect for a live setting. You can program up to 20 tempos into this box in a specific order. On the gig, you can move to the next tempo by just touching one button. Then, you can hear the tempo by pressing a different button. Quick and easy. No more fumbling around with the dial to find the right tempo. Simply program the Rhythm Watch to match your set list.
The Cymbal Stand
The other cool thing about the Rhythm Watch is that you can screw it onto a cymbal stand. I set mine up to the left of me, within easy reach. Find the best height and positioning for your ease of use. The cymbal stand adjustments allow you to set it up properly for your height. Pretty cool, huh?
The Black Ear Buds
I use a black pair of in-ear buds because when I play, my usual “uniform” is a black t-shirt, and this combination makes it almost impossible to detect that I’m wearing this ear bud (in my left ear–the second ear bud wire has been cut and removed). This head phone and its wire are virtually invisible to the audience. In addition, I don’t want any wires interfering with my playing. With one ear bud in my left ear only, I can perform freely.
The Rhythm Watch is just to my left and I move my left hand over to where an auxiliary snare might be in order to operate it. In between songs, I press one button to move to the next tempo and a second button to hear it. The click sound goes into my left ear and is silent to all others on stage or in the audience. I press the second button again to turn off the click, and I have my next tempo. This method is easy, fast and no one is the wiser. Try it. If you have a different method, please feel free to share.
He first gained attention as one of the winners of Modern Drummer magazine's very first drum solo contest, judged by Rush's Neil Peart.
He's played with Oz Noy, Will Lee, Alison Krauss, Curtis Stigers, Emily Remler, Joel Hoekstra, GE Smith, Andy York, Marshall Crenshaw, Tony Shanahan, The Drifters, The Marvelettes, Big Brother and The Holding Company, and many other artists.
For more info: onlinesessiondrummer.com
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Nice article! I’ve always wished to use the Tama Rhythm Watch at shows. However, the other musicians insists that each night the feel may be different (faster or slower) but they never are all on board with which tempo and in what song. The last to groups I was performing with, the keyboardist insisted on the tempos (whether they were right or wrong). The next group (if there be another) I will use the Rhythm Watch regardless.
And … speaking of the RW … aren’t there 30 tempos one can program into the unit? Also, a very nice upgrade to the Rhythm Watch would be to have a SIM card slot to give the capability to have more than 20 or 30 tempos at ones disposal. I have had more than 30 songs to perform in one night as a usual program.
Thanks again for the great article!
Sincerely.
M.S.
Hi Michael – Thanks for your kind words on the article. Yes, you’re right. The new model of the Rhythm Watch (RW 200) has a memory of 30 tempos, not 20. Thanks for pointing that out. My Rhythm Watch happens to be the RW100 model, which is quite old and only handles 20 song tempos….
Regards,
Mark F
PS- the issue of tempo agreement among band members can ruin everything…. 🙂
Thanks for the tips, very useful! You can use metronome apps for marketing a complete setlist on your smart phone or tablet. Keep that next to your kit and it can be even more practical I think. My recommendation is PolyNome app for iOS, not only a metronome but a versatile practice tool in one. Just my 2 cents, thank you.
Hi Richard -thanks — I’ve seen some comments on facebook about that as well. Appreciate the info. I’ve heard about the Polynome but haven’t checked it out yet….
Mark F
Here’s another comment from Facebook:
from: BRIAN FIELDS (via Facebook)
Great Tips, Mark! I used a very similar set up for some time.
A few years ago I started playing in a cover band that plays a three hour set straight through. Unfortunately, this is more songs than a Rhythm Watch can save tempos for, and dialing in the tempos for the next song while playing can be cumbersome and distracting.
I started using an app on my Apple products called Tempo. It allows me to create, name, save, edit, rearrange, select songs on the fly and share set lists without a limit as to how many songs are included. In “Gig Mode” it operates similarly to a RW. I only need to hit buttons for start/stop and the next song. Other modes provide more customization for practice, subdivisions, etc. Click sounds are customizable as well. I found this to be a very welcome tool when the job demanded more than the RW could handle. Hope this might help someone. Cheers!
Hi Mark: I found this post illuminating. I suppose it is because I do not play with a band, but I never realized that drummers use a metronome in counting a tune off. I assumed all this time, they were working from their own internal time mechanism. As you mention in the post, singing the first few bars in your head. Now I am wondering which is technique is used more widely? The more precise way, or just by using feel?
I can’t say I know for certain what method is used most widely…. that is an excellent question. Any other readers, feel free to chime in!
is there an app for wireless headphones that anyone knows about
I’m not sure I understand the question