Yo, hold my metronome.

[JGriffin]

I have never given a recital to a click track. have you?

Actually, I've played entire sets with the following instrumentation: acoustic guitar, electric bass and metronome.

[NewAndImprov]

I have never given a recital to a click track. have you?

Actually, I've played entire sets with the following instrumentation: acoustic guitar, electric bass and metronome.

Was that a lead metronome or a rhtythm metronome?

[jhg]

Often when a musician gets really pissed off because of a click it's usually because they have not spent the time practicing alone with one. They do not understand how to work with it to help them mature and become a better player .

YES! It's an odd situation, by no means the case in all situations: Players used to using a click have practiced using a metronome, aren't as likely need the click. I spent years practicing with a metronome, not all my clients did - it doesn't seem to take long to see if the group likes a click. Even when just the drummer gets the click, and plays to it steadily, it can throw off the rest of the band who are used to playing to a tempo not as locked.

[drumsound]

The fact that a metronome or a click is a reference to 'perfect' time seems to intimidate them...

Doesn't intimidate me, it makes me mad. Because it's only use these days _IN ROCK/ROLL MUSIC_is to edit takes together. You could argue that having practiced more to a metronome would alleviate this stupid trend but no, seems every rock _SIGNED_MAJOR_LABEL_ band uses them anyway. AND, the music still sucks, because the editing and the fixing to perfection is everything rock music was never supposed to be in the first place. Plus, it's fucking boring to listen to.

You're comparing apples and oranges here Joey. A click in an of itself does not mean that a record will be edited to death. A click also doesn't mean that a record will sound like every other record.

[riantide]

Every musician should practice to a metronome. I'm seriously so sick of drummers that can't play to a click because they just never practice to one. I'm sick of guitarists, keyboardists, bassists, flautists and all other ists who can't play to a click as well for that matter. Meter is an essential part of musicianship and I often wish it was taken more seriously.

And the click is a handy tool. I like it. It makes my job easier most of the time and insures that I won't encounter as many limits later on down the line. Now, if I was recording a bluegrass band or if The Faces came in to record in my crappy little basement I probably wouldn't even think of using a click. It always depends. I just think that the click wouldn't even be as big a deal if more musicians were more comfortable playing with it.

Good musicians can give emotive takes to a metronome. And if a click isn't necessary or you don't like it (for whatever reason) then, just like anything else, don't use it.

[bobbydj]

The fact that a metronome or a click is a reference to 'perfect' time seems to intimidate them...

Doesn't intimidate me, it makes me mad. Because it's only use these days _IN ROCK/ROLL MUSIC_is to edit takes together. You could argue that having practiced more to a metronome would alleviate this stupid trend but no, seems every rock _SIGNED_MAJOR_LABEL_ band uses them anyway. AND, the music still sucks, because the editing and the fixing to perfection is everything rock music was never supposed to be in the first place. Plus, it's fucking boring to listen to.

You're comparing apples and oranges here Joey. A click in an of itself does not mean that a record will be edited to death. A click also doesn't mean that a record will sound like every other record.

Yeah I think it was Slider said that it can be for using with loops. And you could also say MIDI. One band that springs to mind here - or at least my very untrendy mind - is (soap-dodger alert) Back to the Planet from the early-mid '90s. Their LP was great, I thought - and involved the (super-tight) drummer playing to synth lines and squelchy keyboard phrases that were obviously, utterly programmed. To do *that* you've got to be able to play metronomically. Their songs were really good, ace female vocals, and - yeah, imo - definitely given an interesting, fresh twist with the MIDI synth lines etc.

[ryan.c.ya]

No matter what you think of a metronome, whether you are hearing it or not, that time is always there. It never goes away.

[???????]

Why does the click create so much polarization? It's like the abortion issue of the music world. Why can't each situation be judged only based on it and not every other preconception?

I have a bunch of ways to use a click. I also do a lot of things without one.

Yep! I wonder if Steve Gadd ever debates the pros and cons of using a click? Doubt it. If they dial it up, he buries it. If they don't, he'll groove the shit out of it just the same.

That's how I wanna be!!

[Knights Who Say Neve]

not all music is indie rock

you must be new here.

LOL almost snarfed my keyboard!!

[joeysimms]

not all music is indie rock

you must be new here.

LOL almost snarfed my keyboard!!

It's extremely funny, esp. since most indie rock can't groove/swing to save it's life.. the kids just love the angular clunkiness and fractured plodding.

[thethingwiththestuff]

i dont know how i feel about the comparison to EQ. i'd say its much more of an artistic, compositional decision than an engineer's tool. if a song needs a metronomic feel, maybe you should play to a click.

if you're going for a NEU! feel, god knows i wouldn't want to miss a beat or slow down at all. the feel is meant to be rigid. if i were to work on the new US Maple record, I'd probably forgo the click....

sorry, i know all music is not indie rock substitute silver apples versus the fugs, if you like, or abba and the band.

[???????]

not all music is indie rock

you must be new here.

LOL almost snarfed my keyboard!!

It's extremely funny, esp. since most indie rock can't groove/swing to save it's life.. the kids just love the angular clunkiness and fractured plodding.

yeah and jazz forgot how to have any fun