Courtesy of Jesse Sterling Harrison

There are times when rushing builds excitement, and then there are times when it detracts – or worse, makes the song unplayable...

Here are two scenarios that might sound familiar. In the first one, you and your band sit down to hear a live recording of your show, and your first thought is, "Wow, that’s fast!" In the second one, you’re playing a difficult piece and suddenly come to a section that can’t be played because the tempo is impossible!

Live shows cause an adrenaline rush, and that energy, all too often, makes players rush. This is not always a rookie problem. It happens with certain players on certain songs. If it’s your drummer who’s rushing, it can be almost impossible to resist the urge to pick up the tempo, too. There are times when rushing builds excitement, and then there are times when it detracts – or worse, makes the song unplayable.

Fortunately, this is not a new problem. Drummers are full of helpful hints on this matter, some of them decidedly zen-like. Here are a few of those tips...


1. Focus on the rests
Take things back to the fundamentals. Imagine a quarter note, then two quarter rests, then another quarter note. When you were a beginner musician, did your first teacher ever remind you to give the rests their full value?

In the art of music, "space" can be as expressive as "sound." Don’t short-change the silence in your songs just to get to the next beat. Focusing on those rests will prevent you from shortening up the end of a measure, and the correct feel of the down-beat into the next one.

2. Send a reminder to your right brain
This self-coaching practice can take many forms. For some, it’s looking at sheet music and focusing on the white paper under the black ink – the canvas upon which the song is painted. Some players might tape an index card that reads "pace" to a music stand. Or you could take a moment to intentionally relax yourself and say something internally about keeping really good /solid time.

These might sound silly concepts to some, or obvious to others, but in a well-rehearsed band, you’re always trying to get into "the zone," (that place beyond conscious thought in which the songs seem to play themselves through your hands). In that place, your right brain controls your breathing and your heartbeat without volition and without mistake. In this unconscious place, your playing will be as constant as the beat of your heart.I know it sounds weird, but trust me, the more you are able to focus on your unconscious mind, the better you will be with respect to the beat in the music.


3. Lock in with a band-mate
Chances are, there’s someone in your band who has terrific tempo, someone with whom you consistently lock in. Now, ideally it's your drummer, but sometimes, it might be the bass-player, guitarist or keyboard player.

Focusing on that player during difficult sections will get you through without tempo problems and without the effort of thinking about it. This "two-person lift effect" is responsible for the steady groove that most bands try to attain.

Of course, it’s always better if the whole band can lock into the feel this way. That’s a magical achievement that will make your band sound intense and powerful.

4. Address technical issues
Is there a particular song, section, or fill that’s making you stumble? Practicing that part with intensity can correct the problem. Play through the part at a slower tempo so that you can analyze the details.

When do you feel tension? When do you feel relaxed? Can you change something in the part to make for an easier transition? For example, could you change a hit from the floor tom to the left rack tom to make for a shorter throw back to the snare or hi-hat? Is there a pick-up note on your bass guitar part that you could accent? Or, how about a particular beat on your rhythm guitar strums that can lock you into the feel better? Being slightly overtaxed physically makes players overcompensate; groove and tempo will often suffer as a result.By paying more attention, you'll lock up into the rhythmic meter and play your parts with more precision.


5. Play to an intermittent click track
Obviously, working with a click track can fix the tempo in your head, helping you obtain perfect rhythm in the same way that a classical cellist might have perfect pitch. However, used too often, this can become a crutch, especially since most players don’t use an electronic beat-box onstage.

One method to constantly self-test and correct your tempo is to use an intermittent click. Using a metronome, (or a computer, phone app, or whatever time-keeping tool you have), program a click track that periodically drops out for a measure or two and practice playing to that. When you come right back in on the one, after two measures without the click, you’ll know you’ve mastered the time. 

6. Follow the drummer
The drummer (a good drummer) supports and enhances what other players do. Drummers onstage should not be biding their time until the next big fill, trying to dominate the crowd’s attention. if you have a drummer like that, it's time for a serious talk, or maybe even something more drastic like a; "you're fired."

The group should work together to express a great song, which means good listening from everyone. Also, players should have a low ego, and not somebody who's constantly being a "now for my next trick" musician.

Listening, interacting and "doing what’s right" for the song will ensure that every beat matters in the context of the song. A band member who is just filling space until some dramatic showoff piece isn't worth keeping in the act. Showing off isn’t always bad, of course. It’s just that the song is about more than that, and needs to be played that way.


7. Use technology
Building your skills as a timekeeper is a matter of continued attention and practice. If you want to go beyond the metronome, gadgets exist that will actually time you rather than just counting.

Such a timekeeping tool will measure the space between hits, inform you about your pace in terms of beats per minute, and let you know in real time when you’re wavering. These are obviously a very helpful thing to know as you keep on striving to be both a great musician and have a great band.

Jesse Sterling Harrison is an author, recording artist, and part-time farmer. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, three daughters, and a herd of ducks.