What alternatives to a metronome ??? .

ChrisMusic

So after the recent discussion on who uses metronomes, and my admission of a pathological hatred of the little beggars, I thought I should ask for your thoughts...

What alternatives are out there to practice to?

   without the psychologically disturbing "click" that takes hours / days / weeks / months to get out of your head.

Manufacturer, model, apps for phone or tablet, bring out your dead....

Any ideas would be appreciated, especially as it seems I am not the only one who hates them.

And I do think that a good groove goes way beyond the constriction of a midi file, so if there is anything out there that fits that bill then please share.

Phil_aka_Pip

SR-16

ChrisMusic

Thanks @Phil_aka_Pip

So I googled SR16 - and this is what it gave me -

http://www.knightarmco.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/sr16e3_1.jpg

No variable tempo and I'm not sure I can keep up with that  :-O

OR - is it the best way of silencing a big hairy arsed drummer ?

In which case what do I use as a volume control on one ?

And how do you switch the drummer back on after removing all the rounds ?

I presume you mean the Alesis SR16, I hope.  See I've been out of the industry for so bloody long I even had to use Google for what (probably) everyone else on the forum already knows.

Fretwired

Phil_aka_Pip said:

SR-16

^^

This or a Roland drum machine - they have a range of styles with bass or you can program your own with full control over the tempo so you can start slow and build up your speed. I have a DR-880 which I've used for years. It has guitar tones so you can plug your guitar in, select or create a tone, pick a drum track set the tempo and jam through headphones. An all in one practice unit.

http://www.roland.co.uk/products/subcategories.aspx?c=69

Obviously you can do this on a computer through a DAW or similar.

ChrisMusic

Cheers @Fretwired.

I like the idea of an "all in one" solution of plug the guitar in and be able to use headphones if required.  The addition of a bass track is another bonus.  I'll check both out a bit further.

I am not going down the DAW route just yet, not enough hours in the day as it is.  A bit further down the line it will become a necessity I think.

Phil_aka_Pip

Yes, Gentlemen, I did mean the Alesis and not the assault rifle

There are of course other alternatives but a half-decent drum machine plus a "Rhythm Pattern Dictionary" which tells you how to program beat patterns in a variety of styles, is very instructional.

The nice thing about the SR-16 is that it is just a drum machine, leaving you with all the guitar sounds and everything else you might want up to your own choices. Whereas some Boss or Zoom products with it all in the same box will lock you in to their versions of OD, distortion etc which might not be what you want.

Fretwired

@ChrisMusic @Phil_aka_Pip

The guitar tones in the DR-880 are good enough to practice with ...

frankus

a Linn Adrenalinn III

johnnyurq

How about a Boss DR-5 that I have no need for these days (newer toys means tata). It does drums. bass and synth tones wiht keys to program notes set out like a fretboard.

http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=115

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1994_articles/may94/bossdr5.html

steamabacus

I think one of the best devices for honing your timing is a looper pedal.

I've used a Line6 DL4 for years (quite basic looper) but I've just acquired a new Digitech JamMan Solo XT - this gives you basic beat box style accompanyment if you want it plus is fully linkable to a computer via usb so you could load it with any percussion loop you wanted.

Fretwired

frankus said:

a Linn Adrenalinn III

I've got one of those as well - great fun.

ICBM

The Zoom G3 has a primitive drum machine in it, and also a looper.

I say primitive, but to be fair I've worked with drummers who know fewer patterns...

Toe_Knee

Steven slate drums 4

Phil_aka_Pip

Fretwired said:

@ChrisMusic @Phil_aka_Pip

The guitar tones in the DR-880 are good enough to practice with ...

Cool guy, good demo

monofin

@johnnyurq and @schnozzalee
How much are you after for you dr's?

octatonic

Some mates.

Cacofonix

Phil_aka_Pip said:

 a "Rhythm Pattern Dictionary"

And all this time I never knew such a thing existed.  Where would I obtain one of these things?  It is the single thing stopping me from moving forward in a number of directions.

johnnyurq

monofin;238132" said:

@johnnyurq and @schnozzalee
How much are you after for you dr's?

@monofin

I will PM you just now.

Phil_aka_Pip

Cacofonix said:

Phil_aka_Pip said:

 a "Rhythm Pattern Dictionary"

And all this time I never knew such a thing existed.  Where would I obtain one of these things?  It is the single thing stopping me from moving forward in a number of directions.

I bought mine some time ago, will have to dig them out. In the meantime this might help.

Phil_aka_Pip

Cacofonix said:

Phil_aka_Pip said:

 a "Rhythm Pattern Dictionary"

And all this time I never knew such a thing existed.  Where would I obtain one of these things?  It is the single thing stopping me from moving forward in a number of directions.

Opened a few cardboard boxes in what is to be "the studio", found these:

• "Rhythmical Grooves & Patterns for Drum-Computer Rhythmic Composer Acoustic and Electronic Drums and Percussion" by Siegfried Hoffmann Pub. 1988 Voggenreiter, Bonn ISBN 3-8024-0174-3
  
• "Roland Drum Machine Rhythm Dictionary" by Sandy Felstein Pub. 1987 Alfred Publishing Co, Calif. ISBN unknown (shame 'cos its a very helpful book)
  

ChrisMusic

Some interesting alternatives coming through, thanks all.

The Linn sounds interesting and rather quirky.

Rhythm and looper is a tempting combination.

I have held off of the looper thing, as there are so many options in different price points, and never having used one I guess it's the paralysis of the unknown, or of choice.  I really should find out more, maybe I'll save that for another discussion though.

I have to say Roland do get some great musicians doing their demos.

I agree the  "Rhythm Pattern Dictionary" is intriguing.  (I take it that the book data is posted for shared information)  Thanks

Keep the ideas flowing...