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Guitar chord forum - chordie → Music theory → Terminal Tempo Syndrome
I Have noticed That with many people, a constant tempo is reverted back to when they perform any song. For instance, Their "Internal Tempo" may be 110 beats per minute, and when performing at a rate of 90 BPM, they revert back to the internal tempo. A phycological answer?
-Dan
dansprHi Dan,
Not sure if I could give you a physiologically based answer, but you might be on the right track. For myself at least I think that timing is a function of my internal clock ie: heartbeat that even though we don't have awareness of it, it influences the pace of everything we do. Musicians train with a metronome for that very reason, but I tend to change the tempo of a piece depending on if I am trying to sing along or not. I might speed the count up a bit to keep within the limits of my vocal range and ability to hold the length of a note. Where if I'm just playing the instrumental, I stay pretty close to tempo as written.
When playing in a group however, as a guitarist not pulling lead, it is important to keep tempo with the percussionist as everybody else is depending on you to set the beat and timing for chord changes. Vary too much and everything gets upside down pretty quick. Drummers do the same thing from time to time and within seconds everybody is scrambling to get it all together.... that's usually when the rehearsal screeches to a halt and it goes back to "take it from the top one more time".
Take Care;
Doug
over the years I have played with a lot of drummers and some of them would speed the tempo up while others dragged it down so dont depend on the drummer as some of them cant keep the tempo steady the best drummers dont play a lot of fills just a steady beat and the band sounds tighter the same is true with the bass player keeping it simple and providing the heart and soul of the band with the drummer ergo the Rhythm section if it ain't together no band or musician playing with them can compensate for fluxtuation in meter.
Hi danspur,
I hear there are natural tempos that fit normal body movement of a person five to six feet tall.
I have found after 24 years playing in bar bands, that 120 beats per minute (marching tempo in the military) is a great tempo to get people up to dance. Your body moves in a natural rhythm like a pendulum do and 120 BPM makes you want to shake a leg. Many popular fast dance songs are 120 BPM ("Proud Mary", "Johnny Be Goode"). I bet you guys can think of many more.
It is the drummer's responsibility to establish and maintain proper tempo. My band fired a drummer for rushing. Guitar players are as bad or worse about rushing and any drummer worth his pay will rise up and smite any picker in the band that dares to rush or drag.
toots
I heard that Toots!
Not to mention that drumsticks are a tad harder to dodge than flying beer bottles.... blind side ya too! Knew a drummer once that swore he could hit a drink glass anywhere in the room without leaving his throne. Was pretty good with cutlery too!
Take Care;
Doug
Guitar chord forum - chordie → Music theory → Terminal Tempo Syndrome
