what do you want from the drummer?

daverb · #1 07-13-2006, 01:33 PM

I am a drummer and am interested in what bass players like and dislike about the drummers they play with. I am not a newbie to music, just to this forum, but am just interested in the opinions and experiences of other musicians.

Drake Kennedy · #2 07-13-2006, 01:35 PM

Versatility and the ability to create a deep pocket. It's all about the groove, and you can't hold no groove, well, you know

Lazylion · #3 07-13-2006, 01:58 PM

I want the drummer to leave his second bass pedal at home! It's a country band dammit!

kserg · #4 07-13-2006, 02:09 PM

*sniff* *sniff*

And shower wouldn't be a bad idea...

kserg · #5 07-13-2006, 02:12 PM

Actually all I want from Drummer(s) is to be decent human being and to be decent at what he/she does. This is pretty much what i like to see from anyone, including myself.

Shower helps too.

tZer · #6 07-13-2006, 02:13 PM

Cash is always good.

A rock-solid groove and an open frequency to connect to. I had a 'perfect' jam session a few weeks ago with an awesome drummer - do what he did! LOL He listened to where the band was coming from, saw how to take it there, took it there and back again, never once losing control. He had no problem settling in for a long groove where he just held down the fundamental beat and he had no problem blowing the thing wide open with really great fills and really cool alternate interpretations of the groove. Rock, latin, reggae, folk, you name it, he spoke it.

But all of this was done while remaining locked down and tight.

That's what I want.

morf · #7 07-13-2006, 02:35 PM

groove. Like what you play and show it through your playing. Leave space for us though

superbassman2000 · #8 07-13-2006, 04:27 PM

timing

Atoz · #9 07-13-2006, 05:07 PM

What I want from our current drummer is for him to stop inviting his church friends to come sing at our practices.

canopener · #10 07-13-2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tZer

Cash is always good.

I'll lowball and say a slice of pizza.

Anyway, I'm not in a band right now, but I know the drummer I'd want in a band over anyone.

The dude is super tight, locks in with me and the guitar player. He's also great at throwing in some pretty heavy and groovy fills, but you almost have to goad him into doing so.

Basically, I second Tzer.

Chunk-O-Funk · #11 07-13-2006, 05:25 PM

Usually, just their girl friends. For some reason hot girls go for the dumb guys.

Seriously,

The basics.
Good solid tempo and timing. Authenticity for whatever style of music we might be doing. (ie Shuffle, Swing, Rock, Regee, etc...) Dynamics are also very important.

Advanced.
Rudiments! A lot of drummers never study their instrument.

I might not be able to tell you the difference between a Paradiddle or a Ratamacue when played quickly, but I can tell when all you do is straight 16th note rolls. If there are certain things missing from a tune like a simple double stroke roll or a Flam, I just might fall asleep on ya.

A drummer with training is a lot more interesting to play with. I always have my ears open to listen and react to different rhythms he\she might be playing.

BlacksHole · #12 07-14-2006, 08:24 AM

While many drummers have an exceptional sense of rhythm, what is missing from many is the sense of tempo. By this I mean that it is common for drummers to speed up and slow down depending on their fills even though they can play interesting and intricate rhythms. It is probably more important to have the sense of tempo (but I can't imagine choosing drums/percussion as your instrument if you don't have a great interest in complex rhythms).
One of my pet peeves with drummers is with their solos (I love good drum solos) - but so many just bang loudly and fast. A good drum solo should not lose the beat, and should be dynamically and musically interesting. Anonther feature that not all drummers have is the ability to cue the next section, i.e., the chorus, verse, bridge, or whatever. It's great when a drummer relieves the rest of the band from having to count by making it fairly obvious as there are times that the bass is easily drowned out. Tasteful fills are always welcome, but contant pounding and double bass drum (or double pedals) need to be applied judiciously. Heavy, constant pounding on the toms or bass drum can make a song unintelligible, even when it is a cool sounding drum part. This is a bit like the constant soloing done by any other instrument - it generally lacks taste and a really good group gives everyone their moment to shine and their moments to support. I also like good solid high hat work.

MysticMichael · #13 07-14-2006, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daverb

I am a drummer and am interested in what bass players like and dislike about the drummers they play with. I am not a newbie to music, just to this forum, but am just interested in the opinions and experiences of other musicians.

An excellent question. Too many drummers would never even think to ask it. So kudos to you...

Some good responses here already, but I especially agree with BlacksHole's remarks. Being able to smoothly and competently keep the time and tempo is as fundamental to the drummer as is playing the root for the bassist.

Beyond that, it boils down to approaching the music musically - not as some robotic drum machine. That means really listening to the other musicians. It means knowing how and when to allow the music to adjust to dynamics and to breathe - without either changing the basic feel, or imposing some strict or arbitrary rhythmic restriction upon it.

Like BlacksHole, I also pay particular attention to the way a drummer uses the high hat. It's the piece of gear that allows for the most expression of color and nuance in his playing, so if he uses it effectively and creatively, that tells me a lot about how much he "gets it". Likewise, if he uses the high hat in a perfunctory, banal or uninspired way, that tells me a lot about his lack of creativity...

Note: Exceptional use of the high hat: Pick Withers of Dire Straits on the track, The Sultans of Swing.

MM

Folmeister · #14 07-14-2006, 09:58 AM

The three "Ts" - timing, tone, and tempo.

Philbiker · #15 07-14-2006, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daverb

I am a drummer and am interested in what bass players like and dislike about the drummers they play with. I am not a newbie to music, just to this forum, but am just interested in the opinions and experiences of other musicians.

Talent and chops are of course the most important....

But beyond that....

MEMORY

Play the same thing every time you play the song. That way, I can, too. Not every fill of course, but the basic snare/kick/metal rhythm must be the same or there can be no pocket.

I hate when drummers play the song different every time. Unfortunately, most do.

Beer is good, too.

Philbiker · #16 07-14-2006, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazylion

I want the drummer to leave his second bass pedal at home! It's a country band dammit!

While you're at it, leave the tom tom drums there, to. A good drummer can make a two piece set with some cymbals sound like a million bucks.

I can't stand when drummers play on the toms.

The two worst things that ever happened to drummers are Neal Peart and Stewart Copeland.

whitedk57 · #17 07-14-2006, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazylion

I want the drummer to leave his second bass pedal at home! It's a country band dammit!

ROFL

fookgub · #18 07-14-2006, 01:05 PM

I want him to pay me the money he owes me.

**Vorago** · #19 07-14-2006, 02:04 PM

Pocket, groove & timing

clayton · #20 07-14-2006, 02:12 PM

I want a steady drummer, who can keep timming and teh groove and above all someone who listens and knwos how to drive the song from section to section...

oh yeah, someone who doesn't finish every damm song with a crazy fill....