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Drummer with no groove, what do you do?
- Thread starter bslayton
- Start date
Just before covid hit, I was asked by a local folk-rock band to play a show at a theatre: original material, presented over two nights to two packed houses as the headlining act for a big arts festival.
The show required lengthy rehearsals honing original material - specifically written for the show and previously unperformed - to the point of being presentable as headlining performance. I was asked to write and submit two original songs for the twelve-song program.
To cut a long story short, the drummer - brought in because the guys fronting the band considered him to be 'good enough' - was just not up to par.
The show required lengthy rehearsals honing original material - specifically written for the show and previously unperformed - to the point of being presentable as headlining performance. I was asked to write and submit two original songs for the twelve-song program.
To cut a long story short, the drummer - brought in because the guys fronting the band considered him to be 'good enough' - was just not up to par.
- Could not play the correct time-feel needed for the song ( had to be told what and how to play );
- Could not cue sections properly ( rehearsals took twice as long as they needed );
- Continually forgot arrangements ( did not work on the material between rehearsals );
- Continually played snare in front of, or behind the beat (rushing/dragging etc, prompting me to lean in, look at him square on, and bob my head in time to get him back on track ).
When time is short and critical everyone needs to be on it and drummers can make this easy or messy.
If you dont know how the songs end, make it obvious how it is going to end.
Drummers have to have good time and groove as the absolute basics and the best person to make that choice is the bass player as they have to make the songs work.
Poor drummers kill bands. imv.
If you dont know how the songs end, make it obvious how it is going to end.
Drummers have to have good time and groove as the absolute basics and the best person to make that choice is the bass player as they have to make the songs work.
Poor drummers kill bands. imv.
I feel your pain. Just put in a year with two different drummers in a band that were problematic in some of those ways. Tried working things out, but in the end it never got better.
The lesson I took from this is, if the drummer doesn't have things right then don't join the band.
We have a drummer who's our go-to sub. Very good drummer, technically spot-on. But, damn, I have a hard time creating a pocket with him. Keyboardist feels the lack of pocket as well.
For us bass players, it's all about the drummer for sure. Last time I was in a band with a drummer like the OP's I told the BL that it was either the drummer or me (though I worded it more politely). Band broke up because we couldn't find a drummer that made everyone happy.
Note that the decision was easy because that band was a side project for everyone. I get that it's tougher in a situation where you don't have another band, and replacing the drummer isn't an option. In other words, a "difficult" band might be better than no band at all.
But drummers like the OP's... if so many aspects of his playing are wrong, there's essentially zero chance of making him right. The drummer I mentioned in my first paragraph: he'd been taking lessons from one of the best drummers I've ever performed with. I'm sure it was helping, but he had too many problems, they couldn't all be fixed at once.
Note that the decision was easy because that band was a side project for everyone. I get that it's tougher in a situation where you don't have another band, and replacing the drummer isn't an option. In other words, a "difficult" band might be better than no band at all.
But drummers like the OP's... if so many aspects of his playing are wrong, there's essentially zero chance of making him right. The drummer I mentioned in my first paragraph: he'd been taking lessons from one of the best drummers I've ever performed with. I'm sure it was helping, but he had too many problems, they couldn't all be fixed at once.
Sometimes it is just musical chemistry.
My last outing i just knew it wouldnt work from day 1, I even said as much but the band showed much promise in others areas. However 6 months on the drummer is still the problem and will forever be.
But if ppl can't or will not see it, that is going to be their problem.
My last outing i just knew it wouldnt work from day 1, I even said as much but the band showed much promise in others areas. However 6 months on the drummer is still the problem and will forever be.
But if ppl can't or will not see it, that is going to be their problem.
- Jul 27, 2008
- 176
- 121
- Disclosures
- Builder DPinton Guitars and Basses
Yes, it's a seven year old thread, and my most common advice in this situation is not to expect a quick fix due to conversation. Talk to him all you want, but expect him to progress at the rate that anyone who is not good will progress. If you can put up with pulling someone along through their early learning stages, that is fine, but you need to know that's what you're doing and not expect miracles.
That said, I wonder what happened with the OP in this thread
- Jul 27, 2008
- 176
- 121
- Disclosures
- Builder DPinton Guitars and Basses
My thoughts exactly. I genuinly wonder if there was any improvement.
That would be proof that it's possible !
That would be proof that it's possible !
Over seven years, a lot is possible! Over six months, not quite so much. It'd be great to start a thread that would encourage people to share their real-life experiences with trying to pull a rhythmically challenged drummer along. Did it work? How long did it take?
Why would you do that? There is no way to try and drag someone to another level because the other players in the pool wouldnt take the gigs.
Its up to them to do the hard yards to make that level, whatever it may be.
The goal is to get 10 drummers you can call on because you know they can cut it at the level required.
Do same for gtrs and keys.
Vox is more tricky.
Probably down to about 5 you can call on
Its up to them to do the hard yards to make that level, whatever it may be.
The goal is to get 10 drummers you can call on because you know they can cut it at the level required.
Do same for gtrs and keys.
Vox is more tricky.
Probably down to about 5 you can call on
Why would I do it? Because there are dozens of threads on here with advice about how to help a drummer improve and I want to know if it any of it actually works.
For the record, I'm skeptical. But I started the thread, so we shall see.
The drummer is the most important piece of the band. How you describe him is the description of the band.
I once played with a drummer; dynamics all over, couldn't come back on one after a fill, didn't take advice/ no democracy, didn't listen, only wanted to play what he liked….
We played sober by tool every rehearsal, and every gig, over the course of 4 or 5 years. He NEVER landed the fill in the intro once.
I will never get those years back. And I'm hard on myself about it.
We played sober by tool every rehearsal, and every gig, over the course of 4 or 5 years. He NEVER landed the fill in the intro once.
I will never get those years back. And I'm hard on myself about it.
