Drum machine

Nitebob

Anybody here do live performance with a drum machine?

AlanRatcliffe

I have, but not recently. Also did the sequencing thing for a few years (playing drums in a band with sequenced bass and click track).

What do you want to know?

deefstes

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: What do you want to know?

I think he wants to know how it felt being pelted off the stage with rotten tomatoes ?

AlanRatcliffe

deefstes wrote: I think he wants to know how it felt being pelted off the stage with rotten tomatoes ?

Lol! They are a bit unpopular these days. ?

I'm trying the drums with the feet thing (two kick pedals and triggers), specifically to avoid having to use sequencing or drum machine. Whole other host of independence issues though.

Nitebob

Though about the pedal kick thing, but its hard enough for me to keep my head while singing and playing.

Drum machine I considered as an option but some songs (especially my own compositions) needs drums to start almost in the middle of a song, which also seems to me might lead to some hand to eye problems. Playing fingerstyle balads is cool only on guitar, but if you wanna get people out their seats, you're going to need some beat.

I hear what everyone says about keeping live music live, but I think the only people appreciating a good muso as opposed to a good entertainer are good musos. IMHO

AlanRatcliffe

Nitebob wrote: Though about the pedal kick thing, but its hard enough for me to keep my head while singing and playing.

The thing is, if you can tap your foot along with the beat while you play, you can stick a pedal under it and do the kick drum thing. As long as you keep it simple. ?

Drum machine I considered as an option but some songs (especially my own compositions) needs drums to start almost in the middle of a song, which also seems to me might lead to some hand to eye problems.

Easy enough - Just use a stop/start footswitch.

Playing fingerstyle balads is cool only on guitar, but if you wanna get people out their seats, you're going to need some beat.

Absolutely...

I think the only people appreciating a good muso as opposed to a good entertainer are good musos.

You have a point, but a lot of venues are resistant to the idea of drum machines or backing tracks.

deefstes

Nitebob wrote: Though about the pedal kick thing, but its hard enough for me to keep my head while singing and playing.

Drum machine I considered as an option but some songs (especially my own compositions) needs drums to start almost in the middle of a song, which also seems to me might lead to some hand to eye problems. Playing fingerstyle balads is cool only on guitar, but if you wanna get people out their seats, you're going to need some beat.

I hear what everyone says about keeping live music live, but I think the only people appreciating a good muso as opposed to a good entertainer are good musos. IMHO

Nah Nitebob, don't take my comment too seriously, it was really just tongue in cheek. If a drum machine improves your performance, then use a drum machine. Just make sure it actually does improve your performance. I'm not sure what type of audience you'd be targeting but bear in mind that guys like Tommy Emmanuel gets bums off seats with only an acoustic guitar and plenty of improvised rhythm on that one instrument.

Arno-West

Just do it. Judging from your posts you want to get out there and gig regularly and earn some cash. Dont bother with what the purists say, they are in the minoraty and to tell you truth, I find one guy noodling around and strumming and singing on an acoustic guitar extremely boring. But that's just me. The rest of the world want to go out, get drunk and make themselves look stupid on a dancefloor 90% of the time and there's no way in hell you'll "rock the joint" with just your voice and acoustic. Get backtracks then you'll be more versatile and that is the key to get gigging and stay gigging.

strataxe

Dr Avalanche of Sisters of Mercy is... a drum machine. ?

DaFiz

I had a Boss Dr Rhythm in my collection some years ago and it taught me a helluva lot about programming drum machines, including learning to write drum patterns and whole songs and
setting different accents. Spent a lot of time programming the thing but not much time using it in live performances.
Downloading midi file backing tracks took over and they could be edited on a PC and played through the keyboards with full backing orchestra... far simpler, but I've never liked them.
I'd rather play without it... Just me, myself & I with an acoustic guitar...
My excuse... I can speed up and slow down as I please :-[