Excellent posts. I hope some folks will take advantage of the software. Also note that on the MIDI FILES page are a few MIDI files that only have the drum track and are great for practicing to to work on timing.

Play on,
Dave Gage

I would also like to mention another potential tool. My son has a Casio Keyboard.
I sometimes have a blast practicing and messing around with that, because there are sooo many rhythms that I can play along with as well as control the tempo of each of the rhythms. Sometimes my 10 year old son like to mess with me and choose different rhythms and change the tempo on me just for fun.

It is very easy to do only drums with keyboards or have more of a rhythm section as well.
A lot of fun to practice with and play with.

There may be some individuals who were blessed with a natural perfect sense of rhythm, but I would think to pick up that sense of rhythm would be just about next to impossible without someone accompaniement, teacher feedback and/or recording oneself. I was rather shocked when I first heard my recording of myself playing on one track and the music I was "attempting" to jam with on the other track.

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Jon,

Excellent posts. I hope some folks will take advantage of the software. Also note that on the MIDI FILES page are a few MIDI files that only have the drum track and are great for practicing to to work on timing.

Play on,
Dave Gage

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I'm glad you like the MIDI files. I just recently added all the additional keys for those playing chromatic or wanting to practice the "feel" of different key diatonics.

I agree about the Casio. There are lots of fun drum patterns to play to. I used to recommend Drum Machines, but they got very expensive and you can basically get that and much more out of inexpensive keyboards.

JON: "There may be some individuals who were blessed with a natural perfect sense of rhythm"
DG: That certainly wasn't me. I got where I got by playing to drum machines (way back in the 80's) and doing simple exercises like quarter notes on hole 4 blow and draw until I felt the unison beat with the machine. 10-15 minutes a day for a few weeks can create a drastic improvement in timing. These days I mostly jam to house and hip-hop beats for their strong adherence to beat and timing.

Play on,
Dave Gage

I'll take you up on the suggestion on working on the timing. It really isn't easy and I sometimes get flustered when I know I "missed", and need to get back on time.

Dave,

Is the timing aspect the type of thing that you practice and that at sometime, then you get the "feel" of it ?
It appears to be something as important as any parts of the practice because if that rhythm and timing isn't there, it could be rather embarresing to try to jam with people. I got humbled again last night when recording myself.

What I did was to put on the little Metronome software and record while it was playinmg. What is good that I here my playing with the Metronome in the background. You can set this little freebee product to have different sounds and amount of beats per measure.

I think I will keep it very simple from know on when I record myself so I do not get discouraged.

JON- "Is the timing aspect the type of thing that you practice and that at sometime, then you get the "feel" of it ?"
DG- Yes, at the minimum it takes months. It is not an overnight kind of thang. Again, there is nothing better than practicing 1/4 notes to get a feel for the beat.

JON- "It appears to be something as important as any parts of the practice because if that rhythm and timing isn't there, it could be rather embarresing to try to jam with people."
DG- I firmly believe timing is the most important aspect of playing. It is more important than note selection and your techniques. But obviously, those other things are important also.

Play on,
Dave Gage