How do you deal with playing with bad drummers?

MiGGY · #1 07-10-2010, 02:32 AM

In my church we currently have a bit of a financial issue, which means we have no budget to hire musicians (as many other churches). So we are stuck with volunteers... and here is the problem, the only drummer that we have that is willing to put in the time (for free) isn't great. Don't get me wrong he isn't terrible, he just makes the music feel really bad (no groove or feeling) To the normal listener he sounds good but to me (a bassist) it's almost unbearable. I try and try to get him to follow me but he just doesn't listen.

How do you guys deal with drummers with no groove/timing issues? Play less? play more?

BTW I'm stuck with this guy, so there is no "just get rid of him."

trunkshope6 · #2 07-10-2010, 02:44 AM

eek that sucks,honestly when the last band i was in had to swithch to a BEEP drummer it was an absolute pain,i think u should record urselves and then show him exactly how bad he is,recording especially with drums lets u know how bad u suck BEEP

N.F.A. · #3 07-10-2010, 02:44 AM

Maybe record a rehearsal or worship service and have him listen to it? Is he open to suggestions or advice? Has he improved in the time you played together at church? Maybe he will get better as time goes on. I played with a high school violin kid at my church and over time he actually got pretty good, but started off really screetchy, etc.

MIJ-VI · #4 07-10-2010, 02:46 AM

Could you program the drum parts required?

gricko · #5 07-10-2010, 02:47 AM

play less

**barebones** · #6 07-10-2010, 02:52 AM

Tell him Jesus loves him but hates his drumming.

Edward G. · #7 07-10-2010, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiGGY

In my church we currently have a bit of a financial issue, which means we have no budget to hire musicians (as many other churches). So we are stuck with volunteers... and here is the problem, the only drummer that we have that is willing to put in the time (for free) isn't great. Don't get me wrong he isn't terrible, he just makes the music feel really bad (no groove or feeling) To the normal listener he sounds good but to me (a bassist) it's almost unbearable. I try and try to get him to follow me but he just doesn't listen.

How do you guys deal with drummers with no groove/timing issues? Play less? play more?

BTW I'm stuck with this guy, so there is no "just get rid of him."

Make him think it's your problem, and stress the need for teamwork. Then practice. If he has any talent at all, he'll improve. If not, resign yourself to being stuck.

motionkid · #8 07-10-2010, 03:15 AM

Since you said you cant get rid of him I guess I cant say "Fire him and learn how to slap... it worked for Larry Graham

" Id just try to deal with it...

Muusers · #9 07-10-2010, 03:45 AM

Dropkick in the face. The answer, for everything.

ridgeback · #10 07-10-2010, 04:04 AM

maybe you should follow him..you both have to play together..and your job as a bass player is WORK with the drummer..i have many times worked with drummers of all levels and some of the best drummers for me were not the best skill wise but were steady and true..maybe it is not him or his drumming maybe its you and your way of playing??i would take it as a challange and work out the best way to work with him..you will find a way to gel if you work at it..its not a personal thing it just how things are and i am sure over the years you will come across lots of drummers you love and hate..if you change to suit him things will stand to your playing in the long run..

Jazz Ad · #11 07-10-2010, 04:17 AM

To me a bad drummer is the worst possible situation for a bass player.
You have to always be on your toes, count all the time, pump hard to make sure everybody stays in time.
It's very tiring and frustrating.

ridgeback · #12 07-10-2010, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

To me a bad drummer is the worst possible situation for a bass player.
You have to always be on your toes, count all the time, pump hard to make sure everybody stays in time.
It's very tiring and frustrating.

very...but its also a challange and it helps you become a better bass player.but the thing is there will always be an issue unless you can learn to work around it..turn a negitive in to positive..its great to work with a solid drummer but thats what music is all about ..different styles working together..

LiF · #13 07-10-2010, 04:44 AM

In my experience, either grin and bear it, leave the band or fire the drummer.

Has he any insight into his playing? If so, talk to him and suggest he take lessons.

crack-boom · #14 07-10-2010, 05:07 AM

What's your purpose for being in your church band?

For me it's to serve my church to the best of my abilities, not to the best of someone else's. They should be there for that reason also.

With that in mind people within the band who aren't as gifted or lack the ability, yeah it's not the most fun playing with them and I'd rather play with the more skilled people in the band because it's comfortable, and I feel like I can play better. But playing with the younger members (in the team, not age), I get to develop a skill that I would not learn otherwise. Being able to be a foundation within the group on stage and keeping everything as solid as I can to the best of my abilities, not relying on the others within the team. It's all a growing experience

Persevere through it and you'll look back on it and see how much you have grown!

God bless and keep playing hard!
Thomas

odin70 · #15 07-10-2010, 05:15 AM

Act respectful and proffesional towards him. Do your job as good as you can within the restrictions opposed on you. If he works hard he will improve, but it will take time. So patience is the key word. If you where the weak link in the band, how would you want the other members to deal with you?

waleross · #16 07-10-2010, 06:03 AM

Maybe you could rehearse with a click track and bring out when he is off and what he needs to work on. I am taking drum lessons to improve my timing and I work with a click track and metronone, no shame and when I'm playing the bass or other instruments my general sense of timing is improved..........

JohnMCA72 · #17 07-10-2010, 09:21 AM

A lot depends on his attitude. If he knows he has problems & is willing to work on them, then I'd try to do some one-on-one work with him to get the 2 of you connected better.

MiGGY · #18 07-10-2010, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ridgeback

maybe you should follow him..you both have to play together..and your job as a bass player is WORK with the drummer..i have many times worked with drummers of all levels and some of the best drummers for me were not the best skill wise but were steady and true..maybe it is not him or his drumming maybe its you and your way of playing??i would take it as a challange and work out the best way to work with him..you will find a way to gel if you work at it..its not a personal thing it just how things are and i am sure over the years you will come across lots of drummers you love and hate..if you change to suit him things will stand to your playing in the long run..

I do follow him and that's the problem, he has a very generic kick pattern that he uses for almost every song! and when I try to switch it up from time to time he won't adjust. We have had multiple meetings about this already, and he's actually been playing at our church longer than I have and has shown very minimal improvement.

**Howlin' Hanson** · #19 07-10-2010, 12:00 PM

Band Leader fired the last one. Wasn't as much the bad drumming, more the bad singing and conflicts with gigs. Worship band, though, different situation. Good luck.

themarshall · #20 07-10-2010, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward G.

Make him think it's your problem, and stress the need for teamwork. Then practice. If he has any talent at all, he'll improve. If not, resign yourself to being stuck.

+1.
Make it a "me" (ameaning you)/ '"we" thing rather than a "you" (meaning him) thing. An often overlooked part of playing in groups is interpersonal (intrapersonal?) skills, both leading and following, when not playing. Also, look at it as an opportunity to grow as a musician by trying to take it as far as you can within the limmits of what he's playing.