Poll: 96% Of Bands Looking For Slightly Better Drummer

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by powderfinger

7 drummers? Who do you play with, Paul Simon?

If only...

The main reason I play with so many different drummers is down to my two main bands not getting enough work to keep me happy, so I just started saying "yes" to anyone who wanted a bassist for a gig. It's kept me reasonably busy for the last two years or so, although even that strategy has not prevented work from being thin on the ground for me recently. I'm really hoping things will pick up again soon.

[Downunderwonder]

Originally Posted by bassybill

I play with at least 7 different drummers - three of them are, imo, superb; three more are very good; one is just okayish on drums, but an excellent conga player/percussionist. I guess that makes me pretty lucky.

If you're a better player than 96% of bassists it's not by luck.

The better I have gotten the better the drummers who deign to wack things in my presence have become. No replacing my present drummer. He could get me replaced if he was of the mind to. That's lucky.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

If you're a better player than 96% of bassists it's not by luck.

The better I have gotten the better the drummers who deign to wack things in my presence have become. No replacing my present drummer. He could get me replaced if he was of the mind to. That's lucky.

That first sentence is a nice thought. But it's true that I do consider myself very lucky to be able to play with the calibre of people I generally gig with. Most of them are pros and I'm one of just a few in my musical circle whose main living is made by doing something other than music.

I certainly agree that you tend to work with better and better people as your own playing improves and matures. Not that mine is any great shakes, but it's better than it once was, a long time ago.

[mcblahflooper94]

My first drummer that I played with was very good, and sounded/ had a style that was generally "normal". So, when he left the band, it was odd having a drummer with a different style, and before him there was about 5 "average" drummers that weren't exceptionally good. My band decided that we're not going to just settle for an "average" drummer.

[millsbass5]

Man,I am sooo lucky here. I've been with the same drummer for goin' on 20 years. I know him so well,that I CAN TELL HIM WHAT HE DREAMED ABOUT LAST NIGHT.

[cadet]

When people ask me how I learned to play bass, I tell them two drummers taught me. The two guys I was playing with most often for the first several years I played were both formally trained, strong readers, and theory savvy. What's more is that they were serious groove machines and nice enough to bring me along. Watching their kick pedal has done more for my playing than anything I can think of. I am the four percent!

[Schpector]

I agree with the OP. Of course, I am a drummer as well, and I silently critique the hell out of both the drummers I play with (I'm in two bands). It's a stark contrast because they are polar opposites:

Drummer A: Pocket drummer to the max. Doesn't want to try anything out of his comfort zone. Plays in a quiet, reserved manner. Has difficulty understanding complex rhythm patterns. Not a showman. Keeps a beat in a subtle, continuous, almost "shy" way.

Drummer B: Look at me, Neil Peart is my b**ch. I will never play the same beat in a song twice, every song is an opportunity to try something off the wall, and people will think it's awesome if I do the exact opposite of what would be "expected" here. On the same token, his technical ability is unmatched, he comprehends the most complex rhythm patterns I have every physically played in my life, and we write with a fluidity and originality that is unparalleled in the local scene.

It is a double edged sword. I have no place to cast judgment, as I certainly (as we all do) have plenty of room to improve. I'm just responding to thread.

What I can say - they are both great guys and I love them to death. They are similar in one primary respect: they consider the band a brotherhood, as do I.

[klejst]

This may be true, however how about 96% of bass players and drummers in a band looking for a better non-egotistical guitar player(s) and singer(s)???

[BullHorn]

My band is made of friends and even though we all know that our drummer is pretty bad, there's nothing we can do. :<

[Unprofessional]

+1 on the above. ^^^

[drummer5359]

I love this thread for some reason...

[bassbully]

I have been lucky in all the bands I have been in in the past 10 years they all had solid drummers so I don't agree with this at all. I would of said guitar players myself. We have a new drummer sitting in this weekend and I hope he works out...looks good so far.

[mellowinman]

Few people realize how many shallow graves litter the great, arid Southwest, containing the remains of drummers no one is looking for.

[CrashMiller]

Not sure if its been brought up yet, but The Onion is 100% Satirical. This is not a real poll.