Tips for playing without a drummer?

Axtman · #1 11-30-2009, 10:14 PM

Our church group lost their drummer. Since many of the contemporary Christian songs are drum driven, how can I fill in on bass?

tobie · #2 11-30-2009, 10:40 PM

From my experience there's no substitute for drums (not even bass), so it's a difficult one. You can perhaps stay with more rythmic grooves, but spending energy on getting a drummer from somewhere should be the band's preferred option.

rabassaf · #3 11-30-2009, 10:48 PM

maybe a percussion player?

standupbassman · #4 11-30-2009, 10:51 PM

Larry Graham developed his slap technique because he played in a band that didn't have a drummer.

HogieWan · #5 11-30-2009, 11:09 PM

I'm playing as a drummer at a church. I'm coming into a group that has been drummerless for years. I constantly have to get them to slow the tempo on slower tunes, so maybe picking up the tempo helps give a little weight to the slow stuff. Everyone will need to change how they play without a drummer. Acoustic guitar player will need to be more rhythmic. AFA you on bass, you probably need to do less, not more

**jmattbassplaya** · #6 11-30-2009, 11:12 PM

Slappa da bass, mon!

Seriously, it`s why the technique was invented.

Thunderthumbs73 · #7 11-30-2009, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axtman

Our church group lost their drummer. Since many of the contemporary Christian songs are drum driven, how can I fill in on bass?

It's my guess that you're going to sound your best being the best bass player you can be, rather than trying to be a bassist who is trying in some way to fill the shoes of a drummer at the same time. Basically, don't overplay.

Music without drums, like music without bass can be great, but it will be, and should be different than music with both a bass and also drums.

Find a new drummer. Don't re-write your approach to the music if this is, what I presume is a temporary condition.

Stumbo · #8 12-01-2009, 01:35 AM

More cowbell!

Jefenator · #9 12-01-2009, 01:57 AM

You'll probably experience a lot less tempo and volume issues!

I've done a fair number of gigs without a drummer. I definitely feel like I get more license to play percussively. (Sometimes I'll "slap" the back-beat, upright-style, whacking 2 or 4 fingers against the fret board.)

Needless to say, some styles & players will adapt to the lack of drums much better than others. (A good rhythm guitarist would help a LOT.)

Oneirogenic · #10 12-01-2009, 03:53 PM

I used to play in a worship and I sometimes had to play without drums present. Playing off your rhythm guitar player instead of the drummer is key. You might actually have to play less instead of more. In the end I say follow your instincts and don't over think it. do what feels right to you

FunkMetalBass · #11 12-01-2009, 04:10 PM

This is easy, but you need your guitarists to step it up too. One of you uses your foot to control the hi-hat while you play, the other one plays the bass and snare (provided you can rig a foot-controlled snare). You're probably tapping your foot to the beat anyway... just put a drum underneath it!

It's be basic for sure, but you'll look really cool doing it and it'll fill that pulsing, sonic space.

jaywa · #12 12-01-2009, 04:20 PM

I am occasionally in this situation at my church, too, and frankly it stinks. If you have anyone that can play bongos or congas at least, that may help, PROVIDED they have good time and rhythm and don't try to play those hand drums like a drum set. Try to keep the best time you possibly can, and I agree with others that you will probably have to play less, rather than more. Rather than more notes, play fewer notes but make sure every one you play has value. Concentrate on note duration. If you can cut off notes where the snare would hit normally, that silence will imply a "beat" that can help move the song along.

Finally, if you've done your best but a certain song just isn't working without drums, don't be afraid to propose to your worship leader that you bag it. If he/she has any musical sensitivity at all, he/she will probably recognize the same thing. Ain't no shame cutting a tune if it's just not happening.

MarkTAW · #13 12-01-2009, 05:24 PM

Play fewer different/weird notes & focus more on the roots.

Play the pulse - play quarter note or eighth notes.

In short, simplify, simplify, simplify. You lost the guy everyone was listening to for time, so now you have to keep time (though sometimes guitar or piano can do a good job of keeping time because of the percussive nature of the instrument).

Since they're listening to you for time more, cut down on the walking & the playing wild notes. Basically if you were a 5 piece and are now a 4 piece, everyone is 20% more visible than they were before and it's your job to keep them grounded as they find their sea legs, so to speak.

GreggBummer · #14 12-01-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkTAW

Play fewer different/weird notes & focus more on the roots.

Play the pulse - play quarter note or eighth notes.

In short, simplify, simplify, simplify. You lost the guy everyone was listening to for time, so now you have to keep time (though sometimes guitar or piano can do a good job of keeping time because of the percussive nature of the instrument).

Since they're listening to you for time more, cut down on the walking & the playing wild notes. Basically if you were a 5 piece and are now a 4 piece, everyone is 20% more visible than they were before and it's your job to keep them grounded as they find their sea legs, so to speak.

Good advice!

rakirksey · #15 12-01-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

More cowbell!

+1

I actually played with an acoustic act and we lost our drummer to another band. As the bass player I didn't want to simplify or drastically alter my technique to act as a drummer.

So I bought a kick-drum pedal and a mount (the latin guys use these all the time) that attached to the kick-drum pedal and you could attach a cowbell or tamborine. So I just sat on a stool and kicked quarter notes out while I just kept bass as normal.

... and if anyone got off, MORE COWBELL

CharlieDog · #16 12-01-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

More cowbell!

Just when I expect a post full of links and tips, this comes up.

Well played.

RONQUITO · #17 12-01-2009, 05:43 PM

Play more octaves, with...taste, according to the context and work with yer metronome more, one of my gigs is playing with a singer songwriter with him playing guitar and me playing bass only...i just think of kick-drum lines that i would like to hear and make grooves around that and the chord progressions i´m asked to play, it´s very satisfying experience, i play all of the other gigs with drummers, in this one i have kind of twice the fun...

Don´t tell Jeff Berlin about the metronome part...i hear he´s a good boxer, i don´t want my butt kicked

Edit: Here´s a link illustrating what i mean, if you hear the original bassline of this song, you´ll notice is a busy one, but in this acoustic version "Dela" makes it busier (in a good way of course) because there is no drummer...have fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oPe9vkM-EQ