Any tips on how to be ok with bad drummer?

[Ewo]

+1 to @Nev375 's comment, above.

From your description, the band is doing well, as an act; the business is good. I get it that you're frustrated you don't have an equal partner in creating the groove, and it seems that will probably not change. That would frustrate me, too.

When I've had to work with a drummer with bad time, I've just gotten used to the idea that I'm gonna be the timekeeper. I laid it down, kept it steady, and when the drummer went off I maintained the pulse and waited for him to come back to me. Actually, that worked OK--but it wasn't as much fun as having an equal partner.

So my .02 advice is to accentuate the positive (the band is a good ride for you), and accept that you can't eliminate the negative (the limitation on the drummer's musicality is likely permanent).

 

[Revolver]

As someone else said, this is quite simple, leave ... (and take any others members who feel the same way along with you in the least confrontational manner possible). A drummer makes it or breaks it. Period. Your development as a musician is taking a hit by being in this situation (sure, you have learned how to deal with a bad drummer, which can come in handy if you are ever in the same position, but why keep 'torturing' yourself needlessly?). I mean, you are not even enjoying it, and that's the most fundamental part of being a musician.

 

[Panther]

Drummer has to pick it up or pack it up. Its that simple.

 

[petrus61]

There's no fixing a middle aged drummer that sucks. Sorry, but no amount of rock and roll band camp is going to change it. Either accept him for what he is or move along. He's probably a very nice guy, but do yourself a favor and just leave. It's not your cross to bear. A bassist in an ensemble that features a drummer is only ever going to be as good as the drummers skill will allow. If he sounds like crap, you're only going to sound like crap trying to make him sound better and you're doing yourself a huge disservice if you wish to accel in your craft. The truth hurts, but that's what it is, IMO/IME, etc. Playing at home through headphones and NO gig is infinitely better than playing a single gig with a bad drummer. My 2 cents.

 

[JMacBass65]

Here's what I do -

 

[Thumper19605]

Been there, I had to quit due to no improvement and lack of jobs.
No easy fix.

 

[SteveBass25]

Unfortunately I agree with the majority that you may need to quit. I went thru the same thing last year, drummer was all over, he'd play tons of fills and none came back on the beat. Breaking point came when he added an extended drum solo to the drum break in Led Zeppelins rock and roll and put it in the middle of our second set. Did I mention we were a cover band, it would clear the dance floor out right in the middle of the busiest set. He never practiced (but had the most amazing expensive drum kit I've seen crammed on a club stage). He vetoed any songs that were even a little challenging by saying he didn't like the song and didn't want to play it. When I quit I told the BL the main reason was I couldn't play with the drummer. She completely understood but because they're close friends she put up with it, what a shame, he is holding back an amazing singer because with him the band will never rise above a C level band.

 

[lokikallas]

I've tried to deal with crappy drummers, but I don't want to be constantly conducting the time to a drummer, I just want to focus on MY playing. I couldn't stay in a band like that.

 

[tbz]

Unde those circumstances, just ignore when he messes up, and keep playing like nothing happened.

 

[Jrussblues]

You can't change other people. You can try to influence them but you won't ever make them better or worse on an instrument. That comes from them and people handle that news in many different ways.

 

[DavC]

i would simply have to use the situation as a stepping stone to a better situation .. ! and while looking for a better gig , i would need to find that perfect ' had a few drinks , but not drunk ' sweet spot , so i could laugh instead of going nuts .. !!

sounds like he's the BL , and it's his project ... good players will leave ... unless the money is to good and they just don't care .. ! he will end up with folks of his equal ...

such things drove me to learn to program my keys/drum machines very well ... !!

 

[pbassjbass]

Chill, rehearse with a click. Bands with under rehearsed members are easy to find. Bands with rising job counts are a real rarity.

 

[DWBass]

Been there, done that. Going through it now. It's obvious the drummer does not practice and is not serious about his craft. He kills my vibe every rehearsal and gig. Not sure how much I can take. We'll see how far it goes before the BL gets sick of him. At some point, I see myself removing myself from the band. Just a matter of time. I don't like playing with bad musicians. It's just not fun.

Advice? You'll have to decide how much you can take. If it ain't fun for you........bow out. I left my last band because it just wasn't fun anymore.

 

[Mousekillaz]

no, either he's got it or he doesn't.

 

[inanimate_carb]

Get on Facebook and ask Darryl Jones for advice!

 

[bucephylus]

Having bad time is one thing; but blowing arrangements on the gig should generate serious discussion. The solution to drummers with bad time is to play the bass more simply and take on the time keeping role. No fun; but that's what it is. OTOH, if the cat is messing up his parts, that is something else. To me, the band ought to simply ask him if he would prefer to manage the band. If he isn't working on his parts, maybe he is just interested in other parts of the activity. Just ask him. Critical question time, IMO.

 

[Shortie]

My advice is to not try and fix what isn't broken.

Ditto.

If things were so terrible, how do you explain the band's continual success? Not that every successful band is great, but if the drummer is as bad you seem to claim, it's hard to understand.

IMO you either need to live with it and do what you can to work around what's bothering you, or just quit. The prognosis for change is negative.

 

[DerekW]

Assuming your playing big gigs and recording.. You've all reached the status of "professional musicians". If he is not playing up to par by now, he never will. He's set in his ways.
So you have 3 choices:
1) suck it up cuz you think the band is going somewhere, like, really somewhere. Which is questionable if the drummer sucks (how did the studio work go? That would seem to separate the men from the boys, no? )
2) make the band as a whole fire the drummer cuz he's holding you back.
3) quit. Cuz a) As stated in point 1, if the drummer sucks, you're not going to make it, and, b) life is too short to be unhappy.



Edit: life is too f'n long when you're unhappy.

The stage should be, with all the bs life hands you, the one place in this life where you are truly happy... Doing what you love, in front of people who love what you're doing.
If you don't have that, it ain't worth it.

 

[DerekW]

I'm going to buck the trend here with my take on things. Buckle up buttercup.



It doesn't seem to be a problem for the band. Just to you. My advice is to not try and fix what isn't broken.


You are not going to change his ways. You are going to have to change the way you look at things.

Consider it a challenge to try and learn and predict his errors and lock in with them. Being off together is better than being off apart.
Embrace the concept that being off is part of being human and therefore better than mechanical perfection.
All great works of art have a flaw or eccentricity that defines them to set them apart. This guy's funky drumming is part of your band's "thing".

It is not going to make you a worse or less disciplined bassist. If anything, it will make you better. Locking into a drum macjhine is easy.
Learning how to form a psychic musical bond and lock in with another person is a rare skill. It takes practice.


But if you replace him now it will probably spoil whatever weird chemistry is working for you.

Hmmm... Despite everything I just said above, this is an excellent counterpoint.

And there's been innumerable bands that have gotten a deal, then ditched a member after the fact for whatever reason.

 

[Matthew Fisher]

Think about baseball.