Got no rythm

[james0tucson]

I'm as keyboard player. A piano player actually, and I can hold my own on guitar as well.

One thing I'm definitely not is a drummer. I don't even have the beginnings of the ability to create drummish things. I have all kinds of great percussion sounds at my disposal, and when I try to use them for anything, I sometimes put together a good idea (I mean, for a measure or two), but that's it.

I'm kind of wishing for something automagic that can do stuff like, play a rock ballad drummy thing while I play chords on the piano. Maybe even be able to do a 6/8 rock ballad percussion thing. Or maybe even a hippie style/tropical thing. The 21st century version of what the old folks had on their organs, you push a button marked "fox trot"

Is there something cool and obvious that I'm missing, or do I just need to find somebody who's into drummy things to collaborate with?

If I've got a rythmic thing to work with, I can do a fine job of the rest. And even if I had something that was quite mechanical sounding, I'd still be able to use it for songwriting the kind of thing that I'd go get a real drummer if it's worth recording, etc.

What's out there for someone in my predicament?

[ouroboros]

someone with experience (munchkin, I think has written positively about it.(?)) can tell you more, but I've heard great things about Jamstix

[Hink]

I'm as keyboard player. A piano player actually, and I can hold my own on guitar as well.

One thing I'm definitely not is a drummer. I don't even have the beginnings of the ability to create drummish things. I have all kinds of great percussion sounds at my disposal, and when I try to use them for anything, I sometimes put together a good idea (I mean, for a measure or two), but that's it.

I'm kind of wishing for something automagic that can do stuff like, play a rock ballad drummy thing while I play chords on the piano. Maybe even be able to do a 6/8 rock ballad percussion thing. Or maybe even a hippie style/tropical thing. The 21st century version of what the old folks had on their organs, you push a button marked "fox trot"

Is there something cool and obvious that I'm missing, or do I just need to find somebody who's into drummy things to collaborate with?

If I've got a rythmic thing to work with, I can do a fine job of the rest. And even if I had something that was quite mechanical sounding, I'd still be able to use it for songwriting the kind of thing that I'd go get a real drummer if it's worth recording, etc.

What's out there for someone in my predicament?

you're talking about me yah know, but I got rhythm, but I couldn't play drums... think I'm okay on guitar (I'll let you be the judge)...but what I did was to really listen to songs I liked, and studied the drums and tried to write them...eventually I used midi files as well...now when I listen to a song I am much more aware of the drums, now I understand them and notice the subtle things...I still couldn't sit behind a kit...but I understand drums a lot more....to sum it up...practice makes perfect, what's out there? Whatever you want, what matters is how bad you want it...

[xoxos]

jamstix, dk virtual drums.. aint all the 'new drum things' (guru, other refx..) all ~'automatic' ?? :p

if it helps you do it cheap an cheerful, as a melodist who doesnt give a shit for rhythm; it's not relly a difficult discipline, since sensitivity to rhythm is a key element to melody in harmony.. you feel when beats counter or augment a pulse..

if you lay down a basic iteration and a couple fills, do yer song, then take 20 minutes to go thru th track and add a handful of changes.. extra hits, moved or vel. adjusted notes.. it adds that 'someone was paying attention' feel that can help kill the plastic.

[james0tucson]

if you lay down a basic iteration and a couple fills, do yer song

Right, I have a problem getting *to* that step. I don't have much time to work on music these days, and 10 minutes screwing around might be the difference of whether I actually get my idea down. If I *do* get an idea down, I can develop the idea, and if that means getting a drummer, great! But getting to that point won't happen if I spend all my time struggling with something I'm just no good at.

I'll try the jamstix demo, maybe that's just the thing. Thanks!

[Hink]

if you lay down a basic iteration and a couple fills, do yer song

Right, I have a problem getting *to* that step. I don't have much time to work on music these days, and 10 minutes screwing around might be the difference of whether I actually get my idea down. If I *do* get an idea down, I can develop the idea, and if that means getting a drummer, great! But getting to that point won't happen if I spend all my time struggling with something I'm just no good at.

I'll try the jamstix demo, maybe that's just the thing. Thanks!

dude, download some midi files of songs you like (music robot),load it in your sequencer, go to channel 10 and it will be drums in general midi...you can it play with any gm pluggin (or the wave table thingy in your pc) and hear it. Solo the track watch, listen and you will learn...

[SuitcaseOfLizards]

I recommend downloading the Jamstix demo and trying it out. It works quite well for me!!!

Eventually you'll have to learn to program drums yourself, but Jamstix is a good way to get the party started as it were.

[sangha]

Another Jamstix recommendation here.

You might also want to look into loops, both REX and MIDI. And there are plenty of drum vsti's (BFD, RMX, DFHS, Battery, etc) that come with basic patterns and fills.

None of these products will make it any easier for you to create custom loops and fills, but they will give you a lot of that "rhythm box" functionality.

I'm in your position. I can't drum. Instead, I mostly use BFD along with some additional BFD-compatible loops from GrooveMonkee. Though they are all in 4/4, there are loops for country, hard rock, alt rock, pop, soft pop, blues shuffle, and a number of other styles. I browse through the loops, and when I find one (or more) that seem suitable for what I'm doing, I play them while I work on the other parts.

[Wine]

Don't forget to try out DK+ to. Has certainly helped me out.

Michael

[stanlea]

Just try to make a percussion-only piece... listen to drummers... buy a drum and try to play it... try to make your own groove, repeated many time without changes, learn dances, make love and drink good old wine (with moderation), live and let it die.