Timing

Band leaders choose drummers for their sense of time first.

Assuming attitude and professionalism are a given, an audition priority checklist might look something like this:

  1. Time keeping ability.
  2. Dynamic control—knowing how and when to play quiet and loud.
  3. Ability to keep the form of a song, and read if required.
  4. Everything else.

So much of what we learn is about what we play, not how we play it. It is easy to forget that it doesn’t matter what we play if it isn’t in time, if it doesn’t sound and feel good. Make timing your first priority and you will be ahead of the game.

Time Keeping Challenge Drills
Foundational Rhythm Studies
Bass Lines

Questions, comments or feedback? Join the discussion here.

Interactive, Goal Oriented