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i think you've got it somewhat backwards...
it's clicks that don't play well with drummers...
i love that this big philosophical question comes up everytime someone posts
a click track issue.
some drummers play well to clicks
some drummers have to have other rhythmic and feel assistance in their cans
and some simply can't do it, or won't do it.
whether or not they SHOULD, depends entirely on the project.
every situation is different, and music has different styles and purposes.
i've PROGRAMMED drums that sounded lightyears better than
some of the
actual live drummers i've recorded over the years.
otoh, there are plenty of live drummers that don't need a click,
and plenty of great live music that sounds far better without any click restraint.
all that said, there some great drummers who absolutely bring steady tempos
to life - THIS is an art, and any drummer who can truly do this, is a rarety -
it's not so much that it's difficult and challanging - and it IS that,
but more that the drummers who really ENJOY playing to a click,
can make that tempo sway and dance in all the right places - and this is YUMMY.
my experience says that if a drummer is having difficulty, they aren't hearing the
correct FEEL in their headphones, and might need an extra component,
like a swung ride cymbal sound, funky bass or guitar phrase, or some kickass vocals,
to help them really get the feel of the song.
sometimes a drummer can't play to the click, because the FEEL is wrong for the TEMPO, etc.
like a one-drop reggae shuffle at 1/4 note = 420 BPM heh
or the song just SUCKS, and the drummmer isn't getting personally involved.
or the song is SO EXCITING, that the drummer keeps rushing.
and the list goes and on and on.
just my opinion from lots of experience over the years.
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