Fixed our band's timing issues by using a free click track app

6 comments

6 Comments

Used to avoid clicks thinking they'd make us sound robotic. @the_kevin, your worry about live sets feeling planned was mine too. But last month our drummer rushed the chorus in every song, crowd noticed. With a click, he locks in and I can actually hear the bass line for once. We even tried a slow build in one tune, click held it together so we could add more feeling. Now it feels less planned, more secure, like we have a solid floor to play on.

charlies501mo ago

Our old bassist would rush the bridge in "Brown Eyed Girl" every single time.

corad701mo ago

Reading that line about rushing the bridge, it reminds me of our old drummer. I was against clicks too, worried they'd make us sound stiff. Then we had a gig where every song felt like a race, and the crowd was confused. Using a click now, we can build tension in slow parts without falling apart. @wrenh79, maybe the debate is overblown because once you try it, the benefits are clear. What made you guys finally give clicks a shot?

wrenh791mo ago

Question whether it needs this much debate.

the_kevin1mo ago

Hey, solid fix. Ever worry that relying on a click might make your live sets feel too planned out, or does it free up space to actually listen to each other more?

fiona_garcia781mo agoMost Upvoted

But what if a click doesn't make your set feel planned, it just keeps the beat steady? (you know, like a friend tapping their foot to keep you on track.) Then you can stop stressing over tempo and actually listen to what the other players are doing. That freedom lets you react in the moment, which is where the real magic happens live. So it's not about being robotic, it's about having a solid base to build on.