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A drummer rants about guitarists….

Michedelic

Michedelic

MId-Century Modern
Jun 18, 2013
29,403
72,104
Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree
#1
apple.news

I’m a drummer. You guitarists have made me hate being in bands — Guitar World

Your noodling, new toys, bad cables, and blasé attitude to learning songs is turning me into a rehearsal-hating retiree. But there’s hope for you yet…
apple.news apple.news

But he doesn’t really let us know how he feels about bass players…so, ignored again.
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#3
I've been working on my animosity to guitar players.

Almost every one of them I know doesn't like music, they like guitar. Very much like someone who only watches marvel movies- they don't like cinema they like superheroes.

When you meet one that thinks like a musician- handcuff yourself to them. If you talk to a guitarist and they can't name five bass players, five drummers, and five horn players.... RUN.
 
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#9
One thing I do agree with him on, is why wanking out for at least 10 minutes is part of the setup process. I don't mean dialing in the room or troubleshooting an actual issue, I mean TWEEEDLETWEEDLTWEEDLE for an extended period without adjusting any settings. Some even do it at gigs in front of a bar or club full of people. Like, bro, you can show off when we are doing the set. Let these people enjoy a Cobb salad for a few minutes.
 
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#10
Pings Bass said:
Guitarists aren't the only ones prone to being untrained as ensemble musicians, but they're often the worst offenders when it comes to for fiddling with gear for sure
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The thing that gets me riled is the guitarist turning up 20% for the second set, and I can't even hear with my IEMs because it's so loud. Unless we have a dedicated sound person on the ball out in the crowd, it also means they're now drowning out not only the stage, but the music as well. It's like they don't "get" that their amp is mic'd, not fed into the board direct.

It's wayyyyyyyyyy too common. And yes I've dealt with it for years. I'm known (by the rest of the band) to watch the master on my guitarist's amps and put it back where it was right before the set comes up. :laugh:

Also, have run into the drummer not wanting to rehearse. All the excuses. Unless a band is playing at least one night a week, preferably more, they're not going to be cohesive / tight and they'll make mistakes during transitions. This really bothers me, because I take pride in our ability to please and entertain. Never one to hold my tongue, I've threatened to leave a band unless we're going to either gig or rehearse every week.
 
#12
In nearly every band I've ever been in, the guitarist was the weakest link (while believing themselves to be great). Everybody reads - except the guitarist. Everybody learns things quickly - except the guitarist. Everybody keeps their solos tight and crisp - except for the guitarist, who has seen "School of Rock" too many times and tries to imitate Jack Black stage diving onto a concrete floor.
 
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#14
The guitarists in the comments are soooo mad. Lots of them telling the drummer "you're replaceable!". Like bro, 99% of the musicians i've ever met are guitarists and they all play crazy train and think they are cool. Get the hell out of here with than nonsense son


almost all of the problem is rock music. I've never met a jazz/R&B guitarist that does this crap.
 
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#15
Eh, everyone's been guilty of this behavior at some point. There are plenty of can't-sit-still drummers and slap-happy bassists who are just as noodly as the "offending" guitarists in the article.

He's had so many issues with so many guitarists... I dunno, if you've had so many problems with so many people then maybe you're the problem.
 
#16
Swamp_Ronin said:
I've been working on my animosity to guitar players.

Almost every one of them I know doesn't like music, they like guitar. Very much like someone who only watches marvel movies- they don't like cinema they like superheroes.

When you meet one that thinks like a musician- handcuff yourself to them. If you talk to a guitarist and they can't name five bass players, five drummers, and five horn players.... RUN.
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Who thinks Page is the greatest guitarist who ever lived. Doesn't know who Jeff Beck is at the same time.
 
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#17
I've definitely had this experience, except it was the singer in the last thrash-metal band I was in. He spent a half hour (or more) trying to dial in an effects pedal for his vocals. The bass player was so steamed that he left practice without saying to anyone. Later told me that he was so irritated that he couldn't be in the band anymore.
 
#20
JohnFrancis said:
I call ********, 90 minutes of downtime in a three hour rehearsal? Not likely.
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I'm guessing that (while based on a true story) the article (or people in it) are made up. It's a Guitar "magazine", obviously the article it there to get a reaction. I'm pretty sure it worked, based on comments at the end of the article.

Keep in mind, all the things/ issues mentioned in the article are 100% real problems, not ALWAYS the guitarist, just usually. :whistle:


IMO, YMMV, etc..

:cigar:
 

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