Played with a great drummer

zillo · #1 02-13-2011, 05:36 AM

Played with a fantastic drummer yesterday. First time that's ever happened...time, dynamics, feel, great range of styles from Allman Bros, New Orleans feel, swing, latin, shuffles, Jimmy Reed, sweet.

Absolutely monumental, and one of my great musical experiences. It was like riding a rocketship...just hang on for the ride and try not to fall off!

This is why I started to play bass at 44 years of age. I told my music teacher at my first ever music lesson, "I just want to play some Allman Brothers tunes", and he kind of chuckled. 8 years later here I am. Wow.

scott123 · #2 02-13-2011, 05:39 AM

Fun, isn't it? I have had the pleasure of playing with a couple of drummers that were FAR out of my league lol. Nothing like playing with truly top notch musicians.

Joe Nerve · #3 02-13-2011, 05:50 AM

You can be the greatest bass player in the world, and if you're playing with a crappy drummer, you're going to sound like crap. Great drummers let you shine. I love playing with great drummers. It's an awesome feeling. Congratulations and I feel your joy.

zillo · #4 02-13-2011, 05:53 AM

Fun and beyond, I think. Music is pretty primal. I think that when things are going really well, at least in the rythm section, it just taps right into some cave man, tribal place buried deep in the brain.

Man, was that fun.

RustyAxe · #5 02-13-2011, 08:46 AM

Did a sub gig last night with a great drummer. From the first downbeat we just clicked. Makes four hours go by like a flash. At the end of the night he says "you were easy to follow" ... and I said "I thought I was following YOU!"

calshands · #6 02-13-2011, 12:48 PM

Zillo, you got his number. Right? A good drummer is hard to come by (I've got one FANTASTIC drummer. And friend.) and should not be a catch and release type of situation. Set up some time to play with this cat and see where it goes.

Andysalina5 · #7 02-13-2011, 12:51 PM

playing with a good drummer helps you improve a whole lot, especially when youre just starting out

MadDogM · #8 02-13-2011, 04:47 PM

Keep in contact with him! Good (let alone great) drummers are hard to find. Some of us (including myself, thankfully) have great drummers to play with, but there are way too many mediocre drummers out there too

paganjack · #9 02-13-2011, 04:54 PM

Playing with a good drummer is the best! It really does make making music so much easier...and way more fun!

MusserMusic · #10 02-13-2011, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyAxe

Did a sub gig last night with a great drummer. From the first downbeat we just clicked. Makes four hours go by like a flash. At the end of the night he says "you were easy to follow" ... and I said "I thought I was following YOU!"

Love it when that happens! Sure makes those sub gigs a hell of a lot easier and fun. I'm playing regularly with my favorite drummer in an originals band www.reverbnation.com/cryingoutloud
shameless promo... (Disclaimer: I'm not on those recordings) and we're working on our 3rd CD.. I missed writing, now I miss the $$$ of playing the casino gigs, oh well, one day day I might get both at the same time .....sorry, went off on a tangent...anyway, this guy just makes me listen more than any other drummer I play with, I mean really listen..what a treat when u get blessed with exceptional musicians who up your game, who happen to be wonderful people and a pleasure to work with, I have found it's a rarity...Man, do I love everything about music..even the challenges!

BassBob1 · #11 02-13-2011, 05:23 PM

I love playing with great drummers. The best is the feeling when you can lock in and both you and the drummer can just read what the other is going to do next. I've been lucky enough to be in two bands with drummers like that.

I also love jamming on Allman Bros. tunes.

zillo · #12 02-13-2011, 07:20 PM

I'm still flying! This music stuff is like a drug...I can't wait for the next time. I'll definitely try to stay hooked up with this drummer, even if it's on a sporadic basis

steveksux · #13 02-13-2011, 07:37 PM

Nothing like finding a great drummer! I've had the pleasure at the very beginning of my career when I probably gave him a headache playing with me. I spent enough time playing with bad drummers over the years to balance my karma account.

Now I have a few good drummers I play with, too seldom, but at least I get the chance once in a while.

Randy

anonymous122511 · #14 02-13-2011, 07:42 PM

A friend of mine told me once that he didn't figure he was successful because he'd played on a bunch of records with famous artists. He figured he was successful because he didn't have to play with sh!tty drummers anymore.

zillo · #15 02-14-2011, 04:37 AM

And that's funny!

richtea · #16 02-14-2011, 04:55 AM

I feel your uphoria. I remember the first time this happened to me, I was on a high for days.
I have since played with many drummers good and bad and clicked with some and not with others skill level dosnt seem to be the only factor, I think it is somthing intangable that causes the "click".

Dave in LB · #17 02-16-2011, 12:14 AM

Isn't it great though when it goes both ways? The last band I was in hard gret guys in it and there were only 3 of us. The drummer and guitarist are both challenging for me , but I provide the boom that makes it go. The guitarist and I had been going to music classes in college together, but his pal the drummer says hey have Dave come down so we can jam sometime. I do and we click, but they already have a bassist and aren't sure about him. A bit later I subbed for them one show (this was in 1995) and the singer at the time comes up and says you have got to be in this band. I said well that up to you guys and you do already have a bassist. That guy sat and ran the lights for us at the show and a week later quit. And a few days after that I was in the band.

Have to agree though playing with a good drummer really makes for a fun experience.