How To Master Playing To The Click 🏆🥁 With One Exercise! 

I remember being very humbled by a click once. I was brought in to play in a studio session for a jazz/funk group. It was a full band live recording with a huge horn section. Really good music. Before this I never really played with a click much other than private practice, but wasn’t very disciplined. When the music started, I started out ok, but as soon as I went for a fill, I was way off time. The band stopped 4 times, and was kind of annoyed with me. Luckily the conductor was really patient and very encouraging. I was beyond embarrassed. After the session, I went home and started practicing with a click and worked to become disciplined. It’s so important to use a click especially if you’re a drummer.

BRO!!!😏 if some of these drummers really understood how important this lesson really is. And to all of my drummers out there, everyone had to start from "somewhere" that has gotten good on the drums. They wasn't born knowing how to play with a click etc lol, therefore practice really does makes perfect. This is gold Mr Rob, you're truly awesome in what you do my brother!🙂

I’m so intimidated by the click track. I just found this video and will do this exercise for the next couple of weeks. Thanks so much for breaking it down so easily!

I absolutely love the way you teach. You instill confidence and break things down into easy to understand pieces - critical to being an excellent teacher and communicator!

That intro was a clinic. I want to live in 16 th triplet

Bro, you are a monster!!! 👍👍💪🔥

Broken down to simple form so even a luddite like me can figure it out. You're the man.

You break things down in such a simple and clear way that it instills confidence before the exercise has even begun!

One thing that help me to play to a click while playing a gig was to find a click pitch that didn't seem to blend into and be absorbed by what the other instruments were playing. Kind of like when you mix multi track and EQ so everything has it's own space. A lower pitch seems to work best for me. Then I just imagine the click is a procession player with really great time that I am interacting with.

Bringing the concept of confidence when it comes to playing to the click is EXTREMELY relevant. I always felt it’s more complicated than a practical issue. There is something deeper about this, the click could somehow be experienced like being deprived of your main role in a band or an orchestra. It’s like an unreachable horizon that will always be better at keeping time than you. It can make you feel that when it appears, it becomes in charge and takes the rhythmic lead above all the instruments including you, one of its subproducts. The way you consider the metronome plays an essential part. It drove me crazy so many times, at some point I became scared of recording my drums and only anticipated failure, listening back only to catch all the small flaws instead of how it looks like from above. The point being: the metronome will improve you and make you better on one essential aspect of your art, BUT in itself it’s pointless, it will never make music, and you should see it as a wave that you want to move along with, not as separate dots that individually remind you how not straight you are (and always will be). Great job!

Thanks so much for this, i was humbled yesterday with the worship team at church. Now working on myself and building confidence. I have practiced with a metronome, but haven't played live with a click. Never played live with a click, and i wasn't even practicing with a metronome, so the click threw me off.

What a wonderful and "put your mind at ease" way to show drummers how to use the click track and not be afraid of it. I tip my hat and I give you a hug as a drummer brother. In myh heyday in the 80s I got a lot of gigs by walking into a studio that I was called to and they didn't tell me who the artist was. They would ask me to go into the big room of Electric ladyland or the Record Plant and in the center of the room would be an electronic drum kit. The room is pretty dark I would put on my headphones and it would start begin different time patterns through the cans. Then the guy running the audition would say okay play a straight beat in 2/4. Then I would do that and they would either speed up the click track or they would ask me to go around the kit in time. If I could do it then they would complicate the time. or ask me to switch to a funk groove play some Clydie Stubblefield to The click track. Then we might speed it up really fast to 160 and asked me to play Disco beat or punk beat. On one occasion I did just that and the lights go on and Billy Idol walks out of the control room and he wants me to be his drummer. I got a bunch of gigs like that and when you get a reputation for being able to play to a click, and then learn how to play ahead of it and behind it, then when you're on stage your time is automatically better because those subdivisions are always with you. Wonderful way to introduce drummers to a click track. Using the click and learning how to read will triple or quadruple the number of gigs you will get. what a user-friendly video thank you Rob

I am all over RU-vid watching drumming instruction vids.... I keep coming back to yours..... they are simply the best. Great job Rob !!!

Right on thank you

This was a huge help. Thank you!!

My favorite lesson yet! A lot of ground covered here. Thanks, Rob!

Your confidence with the click is inspiring!

Thanks, Rob!

Thanks Rob for making it plain and simple 👏

Getting ready to audition for a local cover band in about a month, and I'm pretty sure they play to a click track live which is something I'm not comfortable with. Gonna start practicing this!

Nicely done Rob.

Great way to teach this stuff. thank you

Being struggling with my drummer on click tracks ,im sure he will improve after watching this video

You have right! I like this exercise.

Great for feet workout as well .. feel the struggle.......thanks Rob!!!!!!

Thanks man. I'll give this a try this weekend. Great lesson.

Thank you Rob!!! I always learn something new from you. And I am grateful for that. 🤘🏼

Excellent and it makes all the sense in the world. Thanks for taking the time.

Another great lesson, Rob! Thanks

Fantastic!!! Thanks

My brain just melted. Great video, Rob!

Thank you, Rob !

Thank You Rob!!! Ur the man!!!!!

Great lesson. You make it look easy.👏

Thanks Rob. I'm going to record with my band with a click and this helps me a lot. It's also so much fun to watch you. Keep going. 🙏

So simple, but super effective... another great vid Rob...

Excellent video. You are a gifted teacher, Rob. Keep up the great work!

Not only are you a great player Rob, but you're a natural at laying things out in a manner that's approachable and sensible. Every time I watch one of your videos, I learn something, and I've been playing for quite a while. If it's something I know or can do...it doesn't matter, because you bring a new and fresh perspective. All the best to you!!

Very helpful. Thank you!

Love this! Been playing in a band with programmed synths for years, and my only “click” has always been a pulse or some other marker that already exists in the main audio. This is an excellent way to keep track of the tempo while freeing up headspace. 🤘

Very Helpful video Thank you . Respect always!

Thank you man !!

Mind blowing!!! 💯🔥

Great lesson helped me alot yesterday on a recording session. I was able to nail it down thanks

Amazing I’ve been watching this in a loop

Thanks rob , ive always been a little afraid of the click but it ain’t that tuff if you get locked in and mess it up a bit. Great playing and some fab chops nice one thanks man 👍🥁

This is an excellent exercise I need to re-visit! Thanks for the reminder.

Very nice! Thanks, again! 😁🥁

Great exercise Rob. I'll do it! Thanks

What? You make it seem totally effortless. This is an ingenious exercise. I'm a guitar player but will definitely be trying this technique.

Gotta try this immediately. I'm currently working towards my first gig in years and haven't played to a click in all that time. Makes me a little nervous, tbh. Love your videos, man!

thats great man, wish i could play drums, always wanted to play drum past 50 years

This was the best video. This works for scratching... Appreciate sharing !

Man that is so brilliant cut and dried simple to the point I love it man thank you so much I needed to hear that

Thanks Rob

Love those shuffles.

Love it!

Great jewels of information.

Great video and the click exercise becomes a very good practice tool for keeping good time. Thanks.

First class video Rob this will help me in my pursuit of accurate time on the kit thank you bro

Like just watching how relaxed you play

KILLAH lesson bruv!!😎👍🏾 Thank you!!!🙏🏾

You are the Real Deal, Bro. Another awesome lesson. Thanks!...

Thanks Rob. Awesome video again. Your videos are the only ones that make me feel like I’m jammin with my friend when I watch and play along.👍🏻

for a beginner like myself, this exercise has benefits far beyond just staying with a click....thanks again

Once again you’ve helped me check a weakness off the list 🔥🙏🏼

very use full ,mental thing .get it in your head first .now easy . thanks

Thanks buddy, for your crystal clear explanation and demonstration on how to become a better drummer !

Killer good exercise. I've been playing for over 50 years, but still a good one. Thanks.

Good advice. The tempo definitely feels different depending on what you’re playing. When you stop it can seem to be faster. Very interesting.

Thanks Man!

Great advice Rob! Im going to do that, forcing myself to play to click at all my gigs, great lesson! Thank you!!

Hey Rob I just love this one man, simply but one can get a lot of mileage out of the exercise! Nice job as always.

Thanks Rob ... now let's see if I can continue with this & dedicate myself to it ....

Yes sir!!!

this is very helpful man. simple yet profound! Thanks man! :)

dude you´re a beast

Great exercise tricky elements at the drum kit part but that's good cuz it challenges. I dig it

Great video man

2:20 Wait... thats illegal

Great Drill! I’m going to try that tomorrow after my Pad Rudiment drills Thanks a bunch🤘🏻🥁👍🏻

Just joined your channel about a week ago you are a great teacher keep it going please .thanks

Thanks!

Thank u Rob

Also wanted to note how good your video's look! The quality, the editing, the visuals, superb!

"... It's just highlighting one of the subdivisions I already hear...." so insightful... I hear them, but they're a little messy in my head... Getting there though... Thanks man... This is awesome

😊 great explanation 👍

Nice! Nice! Nice! Good work. Enjoyable & educational as always. I have a very similar exercise where I start really slow at say, 60bpm with one hit per click, then two, then three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine & ten hits. Then back down. Then repeat faster. Haven't figured out eleven hits yet but it will come! As an added bonus, it also helps smooth out those singles strokes.

Love your lessons rob. Already paying huge dividends in my playing.

That intro play is freaking cool.

You know I'm usually enraged to get a notification for some video i don't care about - but not for your vids sir. Have been learning for about a year, your vids have been a big help.

Super awesome bro. Gonna be sending this to the drummers who play at our church!

Great exercise! As others have mentioned I would also add to the grid the very hip 5 beats per quarter note (after the 16th notes and before 16th note triplets.) Billy Cobham's "Stratus" starts with him doing a roll with 5 to the quarter note, killer! There's also 7 beats to the quarter note as a possibility if you like the challenge. It's good brain food, some players choose to use them or it could happen spontaneously if it's in your vocabulary. It definitely helps one get more comfortable with odd times.

You da man Rob 🤘

I dig it

Thanks

Wow excellent , your drum sound wonderful :)

More great exercises, thanks! I kinda got hooked on playing with a click while touring around with a hip-hop/electronic band. It just made more sense, and some of the keyboardist's delay effects were much nicer if I was at a precise tempo, for obvious reasons. Honestly I now have trouble feeling comfortable without it with a kinda theatrical comedy rock thing I'm doing now- a pretty analog situation. I'm working on it, counting and practicing more without one so hopefully I can get cozy soon.

It’s fun to get up to 32nd notes then drop back down the subdivisions to quarters again.

I’m happy I have no struggle playing with the metronome but duuude !!! You’re one hell of an educator 👍🏾