Are Any Of You Any Good On The Drums?

[Tituscrow]

Apologies if any similar threads exist (did a quick search and couldn't find one)

At practice the other night, I had a little tinker on my drummers kit for 5 mins (whilst he had an argument on the phone with his ex wife), but it got me to thinking...

I have always loved the driving, percussive nature of our beloved instrument. Whilst many players love to noodle and shred, I see myself much more as an essential part of the whole groove. Many tricks and techniques I've learned over the years - from slapping to tapping to dampened strumming etc - merely enhance what the drummer is sort of already trying to do.

So despite being pretty good as a bass player, I am mediocre at best as a drummer. And I would love to be better.

Anyone do both? Anyone good enough to be a stand alone drummer? Anyone tried it, loved it and taken it further?

Serious and silly comments most welcome!

[bassgruvn]

I used to play drums fairly well, in fact I was the drummer for a rock band for a year or so. The bass player is a good friend of mine and they needed a drummer, so why not.
Unfortunatly I had to make a choice between drums and bass as my wrists where not happy doing both.
So needless to say, there are no more drum kits in my house.

[JMac4strngr]

I own My own kit, that I very seldom play. I bought the kit because I wanted to learn the basics, and get some perspective from the other side of the kit. I got an old drummer friend of mine to give Me some starter lessons on the fundamentals of keeping a good beat, and went from there. I can play basic beats, keep good time, and do simple fills, However I do not consider Myself a "drummer". I mainly like to jam on the drums with friends and relatives (who are also musicians) when the occasion calls for it.

[rouge127]

I can play all the basic beats pretty well. Im not a drummer in a band though. Has anyone noticed that drummers who actually play an instrument are generally more tasteful? Ones that actually understand music can usually service the song better from my experience.

[prd004]

I'm not any good on a traditional drum kit but I started playing Congas a couple years ago and got to be pretty good at it.

[fourstringdrums]

I'm a drummer, so yes.

Another Divide

[Bassdirty]

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

I'm a drummer, so yes.

Another Divide

also yes.
Havent Drummed for a band in yrs (Bass is my main gig now)
But I'm .."Decent" at drums.

I've noticed, timing is a big deal for bassists too

[agreatheight]

I've been playing bass for 25 years, drums for about 10. If I had the time to practice a little more, I could definitely gig in a band as a drummer. I am working on some recordings now that I play drums, bass, and guitars on... I'll post some of the raw tracks up tonight.

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by rouge127

I can play all the basic beats pretty well. Im not a drummer in a band though. Has anyone noticed that drummers who actually play an instrument are generally more tasteful? Ones that actually understand music can usually service the song better from my experience.

That's a really good point. Most drummers I know just want to bash the hell out of anything and everything, but the few that can play a few chords on a guitar or keyboard or whatever are much more respectful of the other players in the band, and know when to back off or when to go for it. Thats my experience anyway.

I've thought about buying a kit. I think the link between bass and drums is so, so important, that a hands on appreciation of both can only help. Or is it a question of jack of all trades, master of none?

Les Claypools stickwork on Whales and Woe is more than competent, to say the least.

[JdoubleH]

This is actually a very good question. The way I see it- especially with modern music, bass and drums are often one instrument played by two people. In order to be a good pocket player, you have to understand the drums and vice-versa. The best live bands in my opinion are the ones where the drummer and bass player mind meld and lock in. I've always hated doing tracked recordings where the drums and bass are recorded separately- it is just lacking that solid groove.

I have spent much of my life playing both. I'm not currently playing drums, but it has been a passion for most of my life. My dad, who is also a bass player always discouraged any interest I had in drums or guitar, since drummers and guitar players are a dime a dozen. Good bass players are less common, so more work. He also pointed out the headache of load-in / out for the drummer.

That said, I largely ignored his advice on the drums, and he relented while I was about 10 and bought me my first set. As a music teacher, he knew that he had to let me explore all aspects that interested me or risk stifling my interest. I went on to play in several bands and record and gig on both instruments.

To anyone interested in taking it up, get a practice pad and some sticks. Develop your feel and stick control. If you are buying a drum set, the most important things are probably the the hi-hat (stand and cymbals), the bass drum pedal, and your ability to tune the snare. The snare heads are more important than on any other drum. Take your time and learn to do it right. Even a bargain basement snare can be made to sound good with new heads and some tuning. You may need to replace the snare wires, which is fairly easy. From there, learn how the bass line and snare and bass drum interact in the groove. Keep it up and you will be a better bass player as well as a better drummer.

It may just be me, but each time I take a break from either instrument and come back to it, I end up better than when I left off. It takes a little while, but I come at it with new focus. I'm just starting back up playing bass after several years of not playing anything.

I still consider myself a bass player first, but the drum lust is always there. I will give in to it again, soon. I can't help it. It is in my bones.

[whisper14072]

I actually started playing drums when I was 6, took lessons and played till I was 18, never in a band unfortunately... time goes by and I am 24 and I see a really nice Yamaha BB300 white bass.... always liked bass so I got it and started playing..... once again on my wn never in a band.... fast forward to 2000 and I kinda just stopped playing.... fast forward to abut 3 years ago and I started playing bass in church.... one day I just jumped behind the Roland set we have at church and just jammed with everyone... and they wee like WOW!!! I am a very simple drummer.... no fills just a good constant beat.... haven't had the time/set to practice on. So now they use me as both.......primarily bass but when no drummer can fill in... they turn to me

Ok and were was I going with this???? Damn cold medicine... sorry for the ramble..

short story... yea I can play drums


oh and I am now 43....lol

[Tituscrow]

JdoubleH...

That's just the kind of advice I was hoping for. Thanks. And you are right about stickwork...I watch Mike Mangini, knowing that I will NEVER be able to play a kit anything like that, but I can watch Les Claypool and do a pretty good likeness of most of his stuff.

[Jaycephas]

I am a true tempo "nazi" in my bands. I can't stand it when a drummer drifts in and out of time on a song so I've learned to play basic drums and can keep a steady, solid tempo. I am always telling my drummer buddies I'll bring my Alesis and run a click track if they don't stay awake on the tempo! The times I've played bass with a professional drummer have been magic - my bass seems effortless to play. Those same professionals typically can play guitar and/or bass and some even keys. IMHO - it's good to have an overall sense of your part in a band and a basic sense of theory.

[JdoubleH]

I left one thing out - enjoy it! Okay, make that two things- never give up trying to learn to play something because it seems awkward or impossible. You just have to train your muscles to do it without having to think about every twitch.

[JdoubleH]

Originally Posted by Jaycephas

I am a true tempo "nazi" in my bands. I can't stand it when a drummer drifts in and out of time on a song so I've learned to play basic drums and can keep a steady, solid tempo. I am always telling my drummer buddies I'll bring my Alesis and run a click track if they don't stay awake on the tempo! The times I've played bass with a professional drummer have been magic - my bass seems effortless to play. Those same professionals typically can play guitar and/or bass and some even keys. IMHO - it's good to have an overall sense of your part in a band and a basic sense of theory.

No doubt! Well said.

In jazz, and even in much of rock, the bass player IS the time keeper. Without us, the drummer is often lost... and late (as usual). But it is such a thrill when the drummer eagerly follows the bass player's lead in lock step.

[Sharky1450]

I've played bass for 7 years. 3 years ago I taught myself drums so I could join my older brother's covers band (he played bass, my bass in fact - still quite annoying TBH). Dropped a few thousand into a kit, and we're still going strong. If anything, it's helped me appreciate how much of an impact the drummer has on the band as a whole. It's a good thing learning guitar/drums etc, gives you a better appreciation of how the bass sits in the mix of the band instead of just focusing on the bass, and making your riffs as interesting as possible. Makes you a better player IMO, YMMV...

[GreggBummer]

I goof around on drums. I think that getting come experience in percussion will benefit any musician. Bass players even more so.

I don't have much time to practice the drums. I spend most of my time on bass and keys.

Using a drum machine (or software) to make your own beats and jamming along with them has great benefit as well. Especially if you build a beat in an odd time signature. You learn how the beat is put together and then jam your bass over top.

[WJGreer]

Mark King was a drummer first. Clearly, it shows in his technique.

I do believe that the thought patterns of drummers and bass players are complementary.

[jgbassking78]

I know it looks like the thread is about done, but I just wanted to add my two cents, if that's ok.
I started out as a drummer when I was around 12 or so. Got pretty good at it too. Got to the point that I was playing in a couple bands, for a couple of community choirs, and church. There were always drummers readily available everywhere. Everyone wanted to play drums but you could never find a bassist. So playing bass, initially, came out of necessity (not so much for me as for others).
For at least the first 3yrs I kept up skills on both, playing drums steadily and learning more about the bass. That is, until eventually my nephew came along as a drummer and started giving me a real reason not to play. Now when I play drums, its almost strictly because the drummer at church woke up late and missed his bus. Which really isn't often at all now. But I am a firm believer in pocket, no matter what the instrument.

From time to time I have "sheds" with young musicians that basically challenge them to play pocket. I'll remove all the cymbals except the hi hats, all the toms except the first. When guys understand, most specifically in a band setting, that pocket is important for a band to be a band, that that's when the real magic happens. Individuals disappear and all you see is the music.

I say that to say, yes I still play drums, but I always think "band" no matter what. Having chops is great, even greater when they're placed properly. So I say learn drums, embrace the pocket, it will make you a better bassist, I guarantee it!

[jmac]

Doug Johns recommends sitting behind a kit once in a while. I know some bassists would play from a drum book.