Stupid things your bandmates have said.

[Jason Wilson]

At a practice for a band I had just joined, I was having trouble getting the count for when the band comes in after a break in a song. I asked the drummer what the count was, he said' "Oh I don't count man, I just go by feel".
Unfortunatly that was how all the songs were, nothing stayed the same, so everyone always just had to watch him.
Oh yeah, I also played him some Dream Theatre stuff while on tour & he say's, "Oh yeah, I could play all of that". I'm sure Mike Portnoy doesn't count either.

I left the band soon after.

[Stilettoprefer]

Me: "those toms sound like plastic bags, it may be time to tune them"

Drummer: "I don't have a drum key yet, I'm saving up for new cymbals"

New cymbals for a kit that he doesn't own.

[JohnMCA72]

Originally Posted by Stilettoprefer

Me: "those toms sound like plastic bags, it may be time to tune them"

Drummer: "I don't have a drum key yet, I'm saving up for new cymbals"

New cymbals for a kit that he doesn't own.

A real drummer, if he owns one single piece of drum hardware at all, it's a drum key. And he always has one in his pocket at all times, even when he's nowhere near a drum kit.

First question for a drum auditionee: "Do you have a drum key with you?" If the answer is "No", there's no need to go any further.

[DwaynieAD]

Originally Posted by JohnMCA72

A real drummer, if he owns one single piece of drum hardware at all, it's a drum key. And he always has one in his pocket at all times, even when he's nowhere near a drum kit.

First question for a drum auditionee: "Do you have a drum key with you?" If the answer is "No", there's no need to go any further.

that's some pretty good advice. its like "no i don't have strings on my bass cuz i'm saving up for a new pick guard."

[paparoof]

I'm not a drummer and I own TWO drum keys. One of them is in my car right now.

[bkbirge]

Originally Posted by Unprofessional

The setting is our blues/rock band practice. One song in the set list is not coming together. We're looking to replace that song.

The drummer is noisily screwing around over the conversations as per the usual. All of a sudden, he stops and says, "I know what, let's play Love Gun".

Personally I think your drummer is a genius, lol.

[bumperbass]

Originally Posted by Rebop

Last week my band played with a fill-in drummer.
The intro of one of our songs has a two measure intro that ends with a dotted eighth note followed by a sixteenth (basically a swing); then break for 2 measures and into the song.

I explained the dotted eighth - sixteenth note rhythm to the drummer and he said, "you can call it whatever you want as long as we play the same thing; I call it a 'bam-bam'".

So we play the song and his "bam-bam" is straight eighth - eighth.
Ironically his facebook says he has a doctorate in drumming from University of Miami. Pure BS.

Are you guys reading your parts....sheet music? There is NO WAY I'd go to that length to get a drummer to come in at the right time. They either can or they can't. They can either feel it or they can't. Back in the day I played with a drummer that didn't know when to come into China Grove after the guitar intro at the beginning and at the middle of the song. You can't explain that to someone who can't do it. Whatever you use as notation; sixteenth notes or dotted whatever, it's a waste of time. Some of it's FEEL and you cannot put that down on a staff.

[Ozonbass]

18 months later and these posts still make me chuckle.

Lead singer: You're not using a pick?
Me: No, not usually.
Lead singer: Do you have one?
Me: (digging through my pocket) I could use a quarter.
Lead singer: That'd be cool.

[Bert Slide]

From my guitard tonight:

"It's not cheating if your girlfriend leaves the gig early."

[BillyIVbass]

"Why does everybody say they're influenced by The Band, they've never had a popular song!" - A singer I work with...ay yi yi!

[oniman7]

I love when this thread gets revived

[davidjackson]

"It doesn't quite feel right, we should speed it up."

Comment on every song where we don't quite get into a groove. You would be amazed (appalled) at how fast a band can play "Ain't Too Proud to Beg"...

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by bumperbass

Are you guys reading your parts....sheet music? There is NO WAY I'd go to that length to get a drummer to come in at the right time. They either can or they can't. They can either feel it or they can't. Back in the day I played with a drummer that didn't know when to come into China Grove after the guitar intro at the beginning and at the middle of the song. You can't explain that to someone who can't do it. Whatever you use as notation; sixteenth notes or dotted whatever, it's a waste of time. Some of it's FEEL and you cannot put that down on a staff.

But in his case you can put it down on a staff. If someone has a doctorate in music they should be able to site read that easily.

[RichardCranium]

Originally Posted by paparoof

I'm not a drummer and I own TWO drum keys. One of them is in my car right now.

I have one in my spare cable/toolbox. Lame excuse for not having an essential $5 tool.

[hibachiduck]

Originally Posted by JohnMCA72

A real drummer, if he owns one single piece of drum hardware at all, it's a drum key. And he always has one in his pocket at all times, even when he's nowhere near a drum kit.

First question for a drum auditionee: "Do you have a drum key with you?" If the answer is "No", there's no need to go any further.

I have a drum key on my keyring and the last time I played drums in a band was in high school.

The dumbest thing I heard a bandmate say was "Freebird!" during the middle of our set. It makes more sense if I also mention he's a _former_ bandmate and I'm in a different band now.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by paparoof

I'm not a drummer and I own TWO drum keys. One of them is in my car right now.

Youre hired!