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Ask a drummer

#23
Microbass said:
i read one of these types of threads a while ago, and inspired me to learn basic drum beats, so that maybe i could get more insight as to why my drummer consistently under performs.

after a weeks... i have found my rthym to have improved, timing as well.

alas with no understanding as to why he still sucks. :p :rolleyes:
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I find that most drummers these days get into the drums because they saw an awesome solo or a really complex groove and they want to run before they can crawl.

Most players refuse to disipline their ability to hold a groove and thus overlook the drummer's most basic function.

I think new bassists stick to thier groove roots better than new drummers
 
#24
CelinderMotoMan said:
That is exactly the point that I was making, most drummer do listen ...to themselves and not to the "guy with the big guitar" (bassist I assume) who sadly is the one guy that they should.
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I was joking dude. besides bassists need to listen to drummers just as much drummers need to listen to bassists.

If your drummer ain't listening he's defective, not drummers as a whole.

once again I blame the solo before groove mentality
 
#25
88persuader said:
I'm also a drummer. Played drums professionally for the 1st 20 years of my musical career before moving to bass and keyboards. As a drummer I aproached music in almost a mathamatical way rather then a melodic way. (I was big into odd time signatures and poly-rhythms ... Think Bill Bruford) Many of the BEST bass players started out as drummers. (For example Mark King started out as a drummer) When a bass player has drums in their background it's easier to understand where the drummer you work with is coming from and it's easier to find the pocket they like to play in. Some drummers like to play in front of the beat, some right on and some behind ... it really helps to be able to hear and understand their aproach so you can lock in with them. I think you can tell a bass player who started as a drummer because their aproach is more rhythmic. They can lay into a simple pattern and make it swing and move rather then just play the notes. I'd suggest ALL bass players study drums or at least really listen to them, understand the way your favorite drummers think, understand the way the drummer you gig with thinks. Definitely a marrage! A good drummer and bass player combo will make any band cook even if the other musicians are lack luster.
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You name drop two legends in this post. You're good in my book (though I can't stand Yes/King Crimson, Bruford's solo stuff is great).
 
#28
fatbassjazzer said:
Why are there so few good extreme metal drummers?

I actually know why. I'm just venting cause its such a pain in the ass to find a good metal drummer.
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there isn't a shortage of crappy ones though. here is what I believe separates the boys from the men.

1. Lack of Technique - Drumming is far more physical than any other instrument in most modern music. Bad technique in a fast and loud context such as metal will result in: bad timing, inconsistent sound, wasted energy, injury, loss of speed and power. Allot of idiots just blaze ahead without any technique and then wonder why they suck.

2. The belief that blast beats are never wrong in a metal context.

3. Thinking that timing dosen't matter as long as you're very loud. I mean hey your're the drummer, you set the time!
play as fast as possible and if they can't keep up it's their fault.

I could go on but I think this is enough for one post.
 
#29
88persuader said:
I'm also a drummer. Played drums professionally for the 1st 20 years of my musical career before moving to bass and keyboards. As a drummer I aproached music in almost a mathamatical way rather then a melodic way. (I was big into odd time signatures and poly-rhythms ... Think Bill Bruford) Many of the BEST bass players started out as drummers. (For example Mark King started out as a drummer) When a bass player has drums in their background it's easier to understand where the drummer you work with is coming from and it's easier to find the pocket they like to play in. Some drummers like to play in front of the beat, some right on and some behind ... it really helps to be able to hear and understand their aproach so you can lock in with them. I think you can tell a bass player who started as a drummer because their aproach is more rhythmic. They can lay into a simple pattern and make it swing and move rather then just play the notes. I'd suggest ALL bass players study drums or at least really listen to them, understand the way your favorite drummers think, understand the way the drummer you gig with thinks. Definitely a marrage! A good drummer and bass player combo will make any band cook even if the other musicians are lack luster.
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I am a drummer also, playing 27 yrs and still teach and gig. I recently took up the bass in late 2005. I am having a blast. To add to the post above. Jaco played drums before bass also.
 
#33
IIRC-
Oteil Burbridge also played cans pre-bass.
I do recall 'jamming' with my 'hours-old' white Yamaha 5-string with him on drums...this was '85? Damn, time is flying by.

There are other great bassists that started on drums...one cool thing I ike about Latin music/musicians: Everyone's mentality is that of being a percussionist-first. ;)

...and every bassist/bass player/bass owner out there should know how to play at least a couple of drum grooves.

My question deals with polyrhythms-
Say 'part of the kit' is in an Odd time while the 'other part of the kit' is in 4/4...what timeline are you referencing to keep everything "together"?
 
#35
JimK said:
IIRC-
Oteil Burbridge also played cans pre-bass.
I do recall 'jamming' with my 'hours-old' white Yamaha 5-string with him on drums...this was '85? Damn, time is flying by.

There are other great bassists that started on drums...one cool thing I ike about Latin music/musicians: Everyone's mentality is that of being a percussionist-first. ;)

...and every bassist/bass player/bass owner out there should know how to play at least a couple of drum grooves.

My question deals with polyrhythms-
Say 'part of the kit' is in an Odd time while the 'other part of the kit' is in 4/4...what timeline are you referencing to keep everything "together"?
Click to expand...


My experiance with polyrythms is a little weak but I will try to explain. Many drummers have different ways of mentally processing complex rhythems... this is just my way.

I think of the different parts of the drumset as totaly different insturments (which they are by the way) and then I try to articulate one part with my mouth using a sort of beat boxing type of action.

I usually start with the one that has the most notes because it is very easy to get lost if there is a lot of space in between notes. Then I put it on the drumset and use that as the foundation.

Then I simply try and fit in the other peices around the original.

I am not a theory oriented guy so I try to find simple solutions to these kinds of problems.

If none of the peices are a good refrence point then I will hum or swish spit in my mouth to keep a non musical reference point to keep my playing straight. Billy Ward calles these things mechanisms. Extra non musical notes that we play to keep the our perception of where the other notes should fall sharp.

This is why you see so many drummers wiggle when they play
 

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