Taming a Drummer

mikedubbs · #1 12-09-2007, 06:00 PM

Has anyone had to deal w/ a drummer that will play a song perfectly 100x's in rehearsal, but then at the gig throw in new fills, speed up tempos, or just can't end a song w/out 30 seconds of symbol crashing. We're playing our first show coming up this weekend & I've caught wind from our drummer's old band that this was an issue they had w/ him. So I hate to get on his case for something he has yet to do, but at the same time I want to prevent it from happening......Anyone got anything I should say that's not too harsh or accusatory.

adammazza · #2 12-09-2007, 06:07 PM

Depending on how he left his old band maybe this is just them trying to make him look bad, or maybe it was unique to that situation. I don't know your situation, or the type of gig you going to be playing, but I'd probably give him the benefit of the doubt for the first gig.

Adam

(disclaimer - I've played drums for many years, and bass it just something I've picked up recently, so I may be slightly more sympathetic then others

)

fenderhutz · #3 12-09-2007, 06:14 PM

I have seen a ton of drummers play with a metronome live.

mikedubbs · #4 12-09-2007, 06:18 PM

Yeah....I definitely don't wanna be out of line w/ him. But I also get the feeling in my gut that it "could" happen just based on his hyper personality. Personally I'm a lot less worried about this than the singer/guitarist. He's a friggin trainwreck worrying about what might happen.....lot tougher for him to react than it is me.

subtomic · #5 12-10-2007, 07:07 PM

Bring up the topic but don't necessarily direct it at the drummer....

Just have somebody say "Hey, this is our first gig, so let's make sure to stick to playing the songs the way we've been practicing them. Otherwise, if anyone tries anything new, it could throw the whole band off."

Dave R · #6 12-10-2007, 08:40 PM

I played for a while with a guy who said "all drummers are boneheads and should be beaten regularly."

I don't believe him. But I thought it would be fun to pass it on.

Just tell him to play like he does in practice. If he won't, then see number 1.

SKATE RAT · #7 12-10-2007, 08:58 PM

i used to play with a drummer who was really creative but he would fill up everything way too much filler and extra stuff and he would almost never play the same thing twice.the guy would never just play a straight beat.i think he had A.D.D.

chaosMK · #8 12-11-2007, 10:44 AM

I fired our original drummer a while back. Not trying to give you ideas, but just saying.

PaulMacCnj · #9 12-11-2007, 10:49 AM

Sounds like the drummer that I used to jam with. It was a real pain in the @$$ to play with that unpredictable beat. I had to mentally drown out his drumming and keep my own timing. Not fun at all!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKATE RAT

i used to play with a drummer who was really creative but he would fill up everything way too much filler and extra stuff and he would almost never play the same thing twice.the guy would never just play a straight beat.i think he had A.D.D.