How to practice keeping tempo other than with a metranome?

Question:I play drums but feel like quiting because I can't keep a tight enough tempo with the others players who get very angry and frustrated with me. I'm at my wits end. I use a metranome and was wondering if there is a way of speeding this up.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I play drums but feel like quiting because I can't keep a tight enough tempo with the others players who get very angry and frustrated with me. I'm at my wits end. I use a metranome and was wondering if there is a way of speeding this up.

the best thing to do, is play a beat at say like 150bpm. for 2 minutes, then do 160, then 170, then 180...etc until its too fast for what you'll be playing. also, practicing basic rudaments helped me a lot. but ive been playing for 14 years w/out a metronome, last year i picked one up and started playing, and its increased my playing abilities by a lot in only 8 or so months. just keep practicing dude. play basic rudaments to commercials and **** you hear on tv just sit there and practice practice practice, you'll get the feel for it.

tap
your
foot

Start the metronome at say 50 beats play the song SLOWLY and then increase the speed of the metronome gradually! If you cant play a song slowly then you cant play is fast!

what eaxtly r u having problems tap your foot and play 8th notes then 16th notes tsrat slow don't start to fast

bcooper's answer is the best so far.

Don't start out too fast. In fact you get a much better work out (so to speak) if you use your metronome on a very slow setting.

Also, you have to stay loose and free of tension. Are you tense when you play? That will screw up your time.

Tapping your foot helps, but you still need something with a steady pulse to measure against.

I like to tap my foot to the down beats while I drive. Then once I have the beat I will turn the volume all the way down. Then after 15 or 20 seconds I will turn the music back up and see how accurate I am. Next time I'll go 30 seconds, and so on.

But the issue isn't the metronome. A metronome will only help you. But its likley how you are practicing. Considered taking lessons?