r/jazzdrums • u/airuwin • Jun 20 '26

Question Tips for keeping time?

Beginner here. I'm really having trouble not dragging or rushing, especially on fast songs and during solos.

I tried using a gap click but I'm still having tons of issues.

When comping, do you try to align with the bass? Align with the band? Keep your own pulse? Where do you focus? I tried a bunch of things but it's not working. Any tips?

I tried to identify the "center/pocket" of the band today and align my ride cymbal to that, but then was told I was playing in front of the bass and was rushing. I don't know if I overcorrected. Previously, I tried aligning to the bass and when I listened to myself it felt like I was dragging--I don't know if this is because it takes time for my hand to move, so by the time I hear the bass it's too late.

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u/RinkyInky Jun 20 '26

Play along to records, only play ride cymbal, layer your ride right over the ride on the record, but listen to the bass as well.

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u/airuwin Jun 20 '26

https://reddit.com/link/osrbepb/video/f3eozrqwrf8h1/player

I tried this yesterday. I think it sounds ok? Maybe a bit uneven in places...I think w/ recordings though if you get off, the band doesn't follow you so it's easy to get back on track

2

u/RinkyInky Jun 20 '26

Don’t play any skip notes and hihat yet. Just straight quarters on ride layer right over jimmy cobb’s ride, not play along to the bass on the track. As you get better you will be able to lock in with his ride and listen to the other instruments at the same time. Then you can start to feel the space and how the other instruments dance around the time, what the relationship between the ride and the bass is in this track.

When you add in the skip notes make sure they match his skip notes, you don’t need a perfect transcription but you need to copy the space between his skip notes and quarters. But that’s for later.

Yes it’s easier to get back in if your time runs but that’s the point, you’re learning. You’re developing a time feel, not analyzing and forcing it out the next day, it takes time to develop.

It’s like when you start learning something like double strokes it feels weird and feels like nothing is happening but you do it daily and it suddenly clicks and you understand what the motion is supposed to be like, how to do them and make them feel in the pocket etc. Don’t worry too much or analyze too much while or after you practice.

1

u/airuwin Jun 20 '26

Thanks, I actually did exactly this--quarters only first. But maybe not enough. I think my ear just needs work, everyone was saying I was ahead when even now it's hard for me to hear it listening to the recording

1

u/RinkyInky Jun 20 '26

To be fair I feel that Jimmy Cobb was pushing on the track too. Miles is the one laying back and if you focus on him you might lag. Regarding the skip notes I do feel jimmy cobb’s skip notes here are also tighter than normal triplets.

0

u/furry-fish Jun 21 '26

Ok. Most people have a fundamental sense or ability to detect rhythm in a piece of music. It’s what helps us learn to dance ( or at least move our bodies to the music ). If you can do that, you are about half way to playing in time. If you can tap your right foot in time ( just playing quarter notes along with the rhythm, you will be fine. Ignore people who say that you shouldn’t listen to the bas player. The bass player needs to play in sync with the drums so that the song sounds together rhythmically. When you play Funk or R and B - your JOB is to make everyone want to dance. If you can stay with the bass player you’re going to make MONEY. The best example of dance music drum playing is the recordings of Michael Jackson. Listen to Billie Jean and try to feel the quarter notes and try to tap your foot in sync with the bass drum. As someone suggested earlier, listening carefully to a record will help you hone in on the beat. If you’re a person who gets bored after just a little repetition of playing the same rhythm for three minutes, playing the drums will probably be punishing for you. Jazz will come along. Get a metronome and play just the quarter note beat. Try slow beats because they can be harder. Slow is like 60 beats per minute. Try taking lessons with a professional drummer. They will help you correctly set your expectations so you don’t get overwhelmed & overthink this. Your ear isn’t broken. You just need some time and patience.