Dysclocksia (noun) a debilitating and insidious condition in which a musician cannot maintain a steady tempo. Dysclocksia often manifests as a tendency to speed up during dance tunes or to wander aimlessly through the potential rhythmic range of an air, ballad or selection of slow tempo. Usually the sufferer is not aware of the condition and when confronted about it, withdraws into the security of denial - "who me?"

Sound familiar? Well, relax; we all suffer from dysclocksia to a greater or lesser extent. Trouble is most of us aren't aware of it.  

When you begin to explore the beat window, any tendency toward dysclocksia will show itself. So, practice with a metronome. Yes, that's painful. I hate it, too. But work with a metronome until steady tempo is branded into your brain. This is especially important if you always play alone. Electronic metronomes are not expensive. Korg makes a metronome model that is just a tiny ear bud. The modern metronome is small, accurate, doesn’t need winding and affordable. 

Playing with the beat window is NOT the same thing as making the tempo elastic. A good player can lead the beat or trail the beat and still keep the beat. That's your goal: to keep the tempo and consciously decide whether the note will be played to anticipate, to follow, or to hit the beat. 

If you can, find a good rhythm guitar player to work with. You will be amazed at what a solid foundation a good guitar player can give to your music. That steady harmonic rhythm will keep you honest and set you free.  

You may be surprised to learn that many recordings are made using something called a "click track." The click track is an electronic metronome laid down on tape and played back through the headphones while the musicians are making the recording. The click track insures that the music is "tight," or "together." So, if your heroes play to a click track, you can too. Do it, your music will be better.

On to Polyrhythm >>>>>>>>