slimman53 - Posted - 02/26/2011:  06:07:34

I never thought that playing the fiddle could be so complicated. Where did the old timers playing in the mountains of Appalachia and my forebearers in County Donegal get a metronome? Could have been hidden under the pot, you know the one they didn't have enough to p.... in!

I'm just a newbie here but in all things.....keep it simple!

bluemandolinman - Posted - 02/26/2011:  07:38:01

If your bandmates make you wear a shock collar to gigs, you might have bad timing.

leemysliwiec - Posted - 04/13/2011:  15:00:33

I'm wearing a shock collar now......I was recently invited to an "invitational" jam session and have been asked to invite friends who "play well with others".  I'm sure that that just means invite nice people.  I am having reservations about inviting one of my regular jam friends because he has a habit of speeding up whenever there are several short notes played in succession.  This tendency throws off other musicians and can cause a group to speed up.  Very annoying.  Of course he is unaware that he is doing it, and repeated suggestions that he follow the timing of the musician leading the tune don't seem to sink in.  I may have to break down and tell him that "you don't really know a tune unless you can play it along with a metronome or other non speed-up device such as a CD."   

     Two things appear to be true at this time.  One, I didn't have to worry about timing when my own timing was bad.  I was oblivious to it.  Secondly, now that my timing is better, it is really hard correcting others.  Sometimes I feel like " the pot calling the kettle black".   It took 20 years before the importance of timing sunk into me, so I guess I have to be patient and trust that some of  my friends may just not be ready to work on timing.   They are still my friends, and I still love playing music with them.  Guess that that is the most important thing.

BetteB - Posted - 04/23/2011:  19:53:13

A whole heapin' bunch of reasons to make a metronome you rnext bff (even if you're a guy).

bsed - Posted - 04/23/2011:  20:41:53

OK, which is worse? Bad timing......or bad intonation?

Bart - Posted - 04/23/2011:  21:36:32

quote:

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Originally posted by bsed

OK, which is worse? Bad timing......or bad intonation?

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Isn't that a little like asking, "What would you rather have in your lunch today...anthrax or sarin?"

alaskafiddler - Posted - 04/24/2011:  00:04:52

quote:

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Originally posted by BetteB

A whole heapin' bunch of reasons to make a metronome you rnext bff (even if you're a guy).

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I have always found the dance floor to make a better friend. I have found solid internal rhythm to be a better tool myself. 

quote:

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Originally posted by bsed

OK, which is worse? Bad timing...... or bad intonation?

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Bad is bad. What constitutes bad is a bit subjective. I usually don't pay attention to timing, good or bad, I pay attention to steady flow of rhythm. That said, never heard a poor or weak rhythmic playing and think "but wow they had such great intonation" nor  from a bland rhythmic playing  "but their metronomic timing was excellent" - nor have I ever heard others make any such sentiments.

I have heard musicians pump out a strong rhythmic groove, neither most others nor myself seemed concerned their intonation was hardly perfect 12TET, nor thought about timing.

I believe, neurologically, our brains can tolerate a wideness in intonation (as 12TET indicates) much more than it can tolerate a ambiguity in beat, rhythm and tempo.

Don't get me wrong, I do love great intonation built on natural acoustic properties. I don't hear it enough.