Drummer WAY Too Loud!

[Russell L]

Heh, heh, ya'll's some fiesty characters.

But see, here's where it is for me: I wanna play the gigs and make the dough. I know, I know play for the love of playing...but, you CAN do both in the right band. My other band is the one to play in for the love of playing. I don't mind just being a working musician sometimes. But, when I repeat working with someone I gotta complain when it's not all right. Like I said, I'll put up with the nonsense until I've had enough. The keyboardist is about to leave them, too (he's also in my other band), and for the same reasons.

Earplugs? I hate 'em. The only time I wear them is while riding my motorcycle to kill wind noise. I wore some headphones for awhile on the gig, but the leader complained about how they looked onstage.

To DirtbagDan, I hear ya, but it's ok just to work for the money sometimes, IMO. You don't have to love every gig. I remember back in the day when some of us would play the circus gig when they came through. Just work, that's all. But we love playing anyway, no matter. See? That's the difference.

You can love playing for the love of playing, even while just working.

I can get in my own mind while playing, no matter what the tune or gig, or band. But, when the sound is messed up, it gets my attention away from the enjoyment.

 

[Marko 1]

Too loud of a drummer? Are you playing chamber music good god?! Some of you seem to forget what playing music is all about....the love of playing music not getting paid. Yeah getting paid is great n all but if that's what you are doing it for you are wrong in every way. The only problem I seem to encounter is sound guys telling me that I don't need any more vocals in my monitors(UH hello and thanks but if I didn't need anymore I wouldn't say that I did!). I'd quit because it sounds like you aren't enjoying yourself and like I stated earlier its the love not the money...

Kids...

 

[Audiophage]

Situations like this really suck the life out of playing.

In my experience, a drummer like that can never change.

If they get booted from enough bands they might change.

 

[Russell L]

If they get booted from enough bands they might change.

I don't think this one will get booted. It's been like this ever since I first joined them back in '03. He's never gotten any quieter or any better. The leader just keeps telling him to play softer. It's the leader who is the only one who could change it all. But, he doesn't wanna look for another drummer either. See, many, many folks in this area have already done their tour of duty with this band sometime in the past. No one wants to return to it. The guitar player did, though. I did, but only as a sub, albeit it a kind of indefinte sub. I think he called me because there was no one else he could call.

Don't get me wrong, I like everyone in the band. They just have bad sound troubles. I think it sounds good out front, though. The band gets good reviews.

 

[Stinsok]

A lot of guys have depth perception and ego problems. They think they should be playing in arenas and may actually think they are.

 

[modulusman]

Too loud of a drummer? Are you playing chamber music good god?! Some of you seem to forget what playing music is all about....the love of playing music not getting paid. Yeah getting paid is great n all but if that's what you are doing it for you are wrong in every way. The only problem I seem to encounter is sound guys telling me that I don't need any more vocals in my monitors(UH hello and thanks but if I didn't need anymore I wouldn't say that I did!). I'd quit because it sounds like you aren't enjoying yourself and like I stated earlier its the love not the money...

Yeah the soundmen are telling you that you don't need anymore vocals in the monitors because there turned up as loud as they can go. Maybe if the band would turn down you could hear the vocals. Just a thought.

 

[BskhdbidkubbdkuNcisiifyy]

is he new on playing, or new in your band?

 

[Marty Forrer]

I would quit right now! Why? Because every time you play with this turkey you are doing more and more damage to your ears. Believe me, partial deafness and constant 24/7 ringing when you get older are not compensated by any amount of money. Been there, done that, regretting it.....

 

[meycom]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned a drum shield, I have been trying to convince our drummer to use one, especially if they mic all the drums. I even would chip in to pay for it.

 

[Bassdirty]

Not to sound alarmist but this is possibly a sign of high-frequency hearing loss, very common among musicians... earplugs are must these days, IMHO!

Man I always show up late.
That's what I thought as I was reading that about not hearing the "high end".I find that sound (almost all sound)these days...Movies/tv /radio has PLENTY o Treble-y ness.

YMMV..so on.

 

[Russell L]

Oh yes, I do have hearing loss, and that is part of the problem I have with some movies. But, it's not the problem I have with this drummer and stage sound in this band.

"RBetoGT," no the guy ain't new to drumming or to the band. It's just the way he is. He holds up his hands as if nothing is his fault, saying it's all about what "they" are doing with the sound. He's partly right, but if he just had any sense about how hard he hits it would make all the difference. After all, when he played softer I could hear everything just fine. But, he always gets loud again.

"meycom," he has a 6 ft. tall plexi screen all around him, except for the extreme edges. It doesn't cover that one cymbal that is so loud (I don't know what you call it, it's turned up all around the edge, but he hits it as hard as he can, and it will make you lose your balance, no kidding). When he is warming up, before the PA is even on, he is already too loud, and that's from behind the screen. Everyone goes on along setting up and rolling their eyes.

Oh, and get this, it takes him 1-1/2 hours to set up, and to tear down. No one wants to ride to a gig with him. Dangest thing I ever saw.

 

[ChrisB2]

No wonder they lost their bassist.

 

[Mushroo]

It doesn't cover that one cymbal that is so loud (I don't know what you call it, it's turned up all around the edge, but he hits it as hard as he can, and it will make you lose your balance, no kidding).

The cymbal you're referring to is called a "china boy" and it's the #1 reason I have tinnitus (standing next to the drummer this cymbal is directly in my ear). I'll post this one link and then I'll shut up, I don't want to beat a dead horse.

H.E.A.R. | Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers | www.hearnet.com

 

[ChrisB2]

Earplugs are cool, but I went a bit further…

My guitarist used to be too loud. I complained but he kept making the typical guitard excuses (“tone” “feel” etc), including that he wasn’t actually loud, it was just the shape of the stage or some crap. Finally I brought an SPL meter and gave it to our sound guy, and they don’t lie.

Anyways, after I got done beating a new GK 212MBE into a rattle trap in a few gigs (even having it propped up to my head level), then bringing out the huge rig and becoming a problem myself,

I left the amp/cabs at home went straight DI to the board, and from the DI to a headphone amp into in-ears for me (iow, only bass in my ears), and they get whatever they put in the drummer’s wedge (front is using those little HotSpots, so can’t put any bass in there), and that’s what they’ve got to hear of me on stage. (Drummer’s quite happy with it)

Guitarist is finally to an acceptable volume now, but he waited a bit too long I guess. He’s not happy with my new setup, as he can’t hear me as well, and blames certain problems with the fact that I can’t hear what he’s doing as well (I hear him, but the in-ears dampen the volume some, so if he does something different sometimes I don’t catch it right away).

He complains (very diplomatically and tactfully), but I just ignore it. He knows that he brought it to that, and now he’s just gonna have to deal with it.

Awesome story!

I'm doing friendly battle right now with a guitarist who thinks he should use the "I'll drill into your ears with a 1-1/2" paddle bit" volume level. Your idea is great, I especially like how he ended up wishing he'd turned down sooner.

How do vocals come through? I'm struggling to hear our singer now over the guitars, it seems that your setup would make the vocals softer too.....

 

[bassbrad]

That's the real reason for earplugs!

 

[Marko 1]

Awesome story!

I'm doing friendly battle right now with a guitarist who thinks he should use the "I'll drill into your ears with a 1-1/2" paddle bit" volume level. Your idea is great, I especially like how he ended up wishing he'd turned down sooner.

How do vocals come through? I'm struggling to hear our singer now over the guitars, it seems that your setup would make the vocals softer too.....

Thanks.

I have a HotSpot monitor (little personal monitor on a mic stand) in front of me, as well, and it’s all vocals. I still hear everything, just not as loud, and adjust my heaphone amp volume so the bass balanced.

I go from an out on the DI box into the “monitor in” on this.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I don’t have the Shure headphones screwed into my ear, just set in the pocket/whateveryacalit and with a little facial muscle movement or sometimes just a smile, I can at-will let the sound leak in louder.

Not a perfect setup, but less of a problem than anything else. Best would be complete in-ear monitors for everyone, but for now this is how it’ll have to be.

And, I love the lower volume on stage. After a set when I take them out, everything sounds so friggin loud, haha.

 

[Rattman]

Most bars I play at request digital drums since they know we have them. Is isn't the 1987 wall of deafening sound anymore and bands are doing bar patrons a disservice making them go deaf.

If I go see a local band and they are too loud I walk right back out. Not worth wearing ear plugs to see a band play.

This is exactly how I feel... and I too have walked right back out of any venue, (even churches) where the volume is dangerously extreme. Good point too about the digital drums.. I'm very surprised actually that more band leaders themselves aren't insisting the drummers they hire bring those in instead. It's way past time that drummers began reeling in their assaults on hearing.