Drum Machine Recommendation--for jazz piano practice
Greg
"Aaron" <aj...@excite.com> wrote in message
news:6145d044.02100...@posting.google.com...
> Hi All,
>
>Most that I've looked
> at play mostly rock beats. Thanks, Aaron
Well, if you want to dig in a little, any "programmable" drum machine will
let you enter your own rhythms, fills, etc.
Some are certainly better than others when it comes to sounds however. The
Alesis SR-16 has been around for years and is still in production, I believe
(meaning there should be lots available 2nd hand, if that is what you want).
It has a good selection of drums, including some "jazz" kits. It allows
switching between A/B patterns via footswitch, and inserts a (programmable)
fill as transition, so it can offer some nice variations as you play with
it.
Again, regardless of brand and/or model, the real key to getting the most
out of a drum machine is to read the manual and dive in to create the
patterns you want.
Greg
Mike T
> Hi All,
>
> I was wondering if anybody had any recommendations
> for a good drum machine to practice with. I play the piano and
> am looking for a drum machine that can create jazz-oriented
> groves (latin, funk, swing, ballads, etc.) Most that I've looked
> at play mostly rock beats. Thanks, Aaron
I can`t think of a worse combination than a piano and a drum
machine. A solo piano is an orchestra by itself, if you must
have a timekeeper, a metronome would be cheaper.
Mike.
Didi
> >
> > I was wondering if anybody had any recommendations
> > for a good drum machine to practice with.
>
> machine.
My 2c:
I would have to agree, the best 'timekeeper' to practice piano to for
(swing) jazz is a metronome, set on the 2 & 4 (as in, if you want to
practice e.g. Take the A Train at 120 bpm, set the metronome to 60 bpm,
and treat it as the 2 and 4).
Trying to make your piano playing (as in stuff as bare as monophonic
solos) groove hard to a metronome on 2 & 4 is a great challenge.
IMHO, if you practiced to a drum machine that swung hard (if one exists),
you wouldn't develop your own swing as much as if you tried to make a
metronome swing.
And if that gets kinda boring try and set it on the 1, and make that swing
(i.e, if you want to practice 120 bpm, set the metronome to 30, and try to
make it groove hard!)
DD
--
====================================================================
D i d i
http://www.didi.au.com [ gig guide | bookings | audio samples ]
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Greg
"Mike T" <mjtr...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> I can`t think of a worse combination than a piano and a drum
> machine. A solo piano is an orchestra by itself, if you must
> have a timekeeper, a metronome would be cheaper.
>
Well that's not what he asked, is it?
I agree that a piano has the "potential" to be an orchestra by itself, but
what if he wants to play as he might in a group setting... less busy,
leaving room for other players, etc. It is a completely different thing to
play with a drum machine than a metronome. Again, the original poster was
referring to practicing, not recording piano/drum machine or playing live
with this set-up. And of course, the drum machine can function as a
metronome too if desired.
Cost wise, a used machine can be pretty cheap.
Greg
wrkit
>
> Actually, I've been using a metronome for years..setting it on 2 and 4..
> and setting it on just 1.
>
> But I've found this more harmful than helpful when playing with other
> musicians. I'm so used to hearing a steady 2 and 4 tick that I
> get screwed up when the drummer/bass play on off beats,
> or if the bass player does a pedal point. Or if we play something
> other than a swing tune, I have trouble. Practicing a funk tune
> with the metronome on 2 and 4, doesn't prepare me very well
> for a session with real players.
>
> Basically, I need help developing an internal sense of time, and
> not have to rely on another player to play a steady tick (like
> the metronome). Also getting a feel for other groves besides
> swing.
>
> Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of always playing with
> musicians who can help me practice these things. And it
> sounds to me like you feel that a drum machine is not the way to go.
> Let me know if you (or anyone else) have other suggestions. Thanks!
>
> Aaron
>
> didiSP...@cincin.au.com (Didi) wrote in message news:<didiSPAMBLOCK-0...@syd-ts3-2600-221.tpgi.com.au>...
> > > > Hi All,
> > > >
> > > > I was wondering if anybody had any recommendations
> > > > for a good drum machine to practice with.
> > >
> > > I can`t think of a worse combination than a piano and a drum
> > > machine.
> >
> > My 2c:
> >
> > I would have to agree, the best 'timekeeper' to practice piano to for
> > (swing) jazz is a metronome, set on the 2 & 4 (as in, if you want to
> > practice e.g. Take the A Train at 120 bpm, set the metronome to 60 bpm,
> > and treat it as the 2 and 4).
> >
> > Trying to make your piano playing (as in stuff as bare as monophonic
> > solos) groove hard to a metronome on 2 & 4 is a great challenge.
> >
> > IMHO, if you practiced to a drum machine that swung hard (if one exists),
> > you wouldn't develop your own swing as much as if you tried to make a
> > metronome swing.
> >
> > And if that gets kinda boring try and set it on the 1, and make that swing
> > (i.e, if you want to practice 120 bpm, set the metronome to 30, and try to
> > make it groove hard!)
> >
> > DD
You might try posting this to:
rec.music.makers.synth
You might find some good suggestions there. I use an old Yamaha
RX5 and it works great, for a lot of different situations.
FWIW,
wrkit