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drummer dynamics

bill7122

bill7122

Feb 23, 2003
68
0
71
Albany NY area
bassplayerbaker.com
#1
Hey troops,

Thanks for the many good tips over the years. When I need an answer, I can always go to my bass brothers & sisters on Talk Bass. Here goes:

My drummer has become Mr. Dynamics. We play mostly small-to-mid-sized clubs and events and only mike his bass drum. In any event, as most drummers can, he can really pop the **** out of the drums when he gets excited, but when he backs off for verses, etc. he just dissappears. I'm talking a difference of say 100% volume to 20%. Can't hear a note I play when he's wide open, or can't hear the drummer at all when he backs off. :eyebrow: If I split the difference, I'm too soft and too loud. :bawl: I'm thinking of using my boost switch, but that's just one more thing to do, and don't want to get to "tap-dancing" all the time.

This whole problem is compounded by the lead player who refuses to let me record any gigs to show them what I mean. How the hell do I resolve this?:help:

Baker
 
#6
bill7122 said:
He has an issue with recording live. I think he doesn't want anybody to hear if he made mistakes. Hell, we all do.
Click to expand...

So...He doesn't want to get better?

anyways, I hear you, I dont know how to tell someone to do something different that they think they are doing fine.
In the quiet parts I would just tell him "we need a little more drums here" If he is exagerating the dynamics that much, he cares about dynamics. Which is more than we can say for a lot of skinners. I think he would care enough to really dial in those dynamics.
 
#7
Or you could turn your amp up to be loud enough during the loud parts and play quietly during the quiet parts. Control your dynamics with your fingers. I don't know, maybe it's because I mostly play DB unamplified, that seems to be the natural thing to do.
 
#10
If your guitarist won't let you record shows, you have a bigger problem than your drummer.

A lot of drummers don't even understand dynamics. Treasure the gift you've been given and start recording practices whether your guitarist likes it or not.
 
#12
I love this board. Yea, I've talked to him, and of course I have a volume control. I'm not talking about really soft passages, I'm talking about mega volume in solos and off the aural level quiet during verses.

We played a gig last night, and I turned up loud enough to hear me when he was a bangin, and kinda forced him to be more pronounced on drop. I have a Crown CE1000 1,000 watts, BBE pre-amp and a Mesa Powerhouse 1000. He WON'T win a volume contest.
 
#13
Sorry we can be of more help but I would definitely not use the boost pedal when he gets loud. Can you position yourself so you are not at the mercy of his on stage volume then have him put in a monitor? You should not have to use a stomp box to make up for thiis drummers lack of musical common sense.
 
#14
Clearly, the problem is not one of the bass having to "match" the volume of the drummer when he's playing either too loud or not loud enough. It is a problem of the drummer either a) not being able to hear himself properly in context of the band (insufficient monitor mix?), or of b) simply not being sufficiently aware of how to complement the other musicians, dynamically speaking.

In either case, the solution is to work directly with the drummer to give him some constructive feedback - although it certainly would be best if he could actually hear himself better...on a recording or otherwise...

As to your guitarist, this is a problem of a higher order of magnitude altogether (can you say "inflexible control freak?")...

Bands: so many hidden land mines...so little time...

Arghh!!!

MM
 
#15
I had a friend come to several gigs to record the band live with her video camera. I didn't ask the band or anyone else - I just had it done.

Not only do people, especially egomaniacs, like to see themselves on video, but they thrive on it.

I was able to show how the drummer thought he should have water, towel himself, and tweak his drums between each song thereby delaying the set and the audience. That problem was solved quick.

Plus we were able to look for any other problems in song delivery/performance and make corrections.

Granted not everyone likes that or wants to be better, but it had to be done, and so I just did it.

Try video instead of traditional recording.
 

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