John Hendow

Last night at preons rehearsal we played our main set of songs with a metronome keeping time. In my experience this is usually more difficult that it sounds, and can be a challenge for seasoned musicians. Our songs have a degree of internal syncopation at times, and it’s a natural tendency to rush or drag a bit. Although the steady pulse is a good reference for tempo, it takes a degree of concentration to stay locked up with it.

When practicing at home I use a metronome / click track, or sometimes I fire up a drum loop to give me something to play against. When I’m practicing fretless bass I also have my digital tuner in-line… I’m getting much more consistent at finding the finger placement that puts me in tune but it’s always nice to be able to spot check when changing positions on the neck. So, which is more important: to have perfect rhythm or perfect pitch?

It’s been said that in music it’s more important to play in time than to play the right notes. I would tend to agree. Of course this is a simplification; both are important in music. But I have discovered that it’s much more difficult to develop a precise sense of timing. So this is where I put a lot of effort in my ongoing learning process as a musician. When practicing at home, the metronome and tuner are usually close at hand. When practicing with a band those devices are rarely in use. I trust my sense as a musician. Getting in sync through a solid rhythm is very rewarding for the band, and is the emotional foundation for communicating with listeners. As my friends in the reggae scene so often say “riddim is life”.

Next week at practice we’re going to run the metronome again, and I’m certain everyone in the band will have spent time individually working on their parts with a click. It will be interesting to hear the results of this team exercise.