Ever had a drummer you just locked with?

[Fnord Explorer]

The drummer in my one band is by and far the best drummer I've ever played with. We do a lot of weird changes and fills and we always synchronize; like one knows exactly what the other is going to do. He listens very well which is not something I'm used to from drummers. It probably helps that I play drums and he plays bass as well; the best perspective on the role the other guy is approaching from.

 

[ryco]

Yes - Ted Owen, my current summer jazz trio buddy.

He's from the old school and backed up many cats in Vancouver BC in the 50s and in the Bay Area in the 60s.

I've played with some very good drummers in the Seattle area incl Steve Smith (not Journey) founder of Seattle Drum School.

Dennis Larsen, Gary Crown, Carl Heckitt, Mark Guenther to name a few.

 

[bassmanbigs]

I played in my Campus Ministry praise band in College and one day I came into practice and we had a new Drummer and without a saying a word we broke into a jam. After we hit multiple breaks and fills together the guitarist stooped us and asked what we were playing. I turned to him and said i have no idea who this guy is. We introduced ourselves and have been Great friends ever since.

 

[TheMutt]

I've been able to lock decently well with most of the drummers that I have had the chance to play with. But one drummer stands above the rest. He used to be a dancer and coreographer earlier before I met him and has a very simple approach to the beat and fills. You can definitely tell when he likes a song though because he will sneak in some dance beats that even make someone like me who can't dance want to. It's funny too, because when we play it's never rehearsed beforehand and is essentially off-the-cuff (this is for Sunday service at my church mind you), but he's consistent and easy to follow or lead where the song needs to go.

As for jams, his younger brother also plays the drums and we've jammed for hours before and had a great time. One of these days I'll have to record our noodling if for no other reason than that it gives me a chance to play around with my effects in new and different ways.

 

[Rudreax]

I ended up playing with the drummer from the All For Nots (look them up on Google if you have the chance) for a practice, since she's filling in for our currently vacant drummer seat for a couple gigs. It was honestly scary how well the two of us clicked. Maybe it's because I'm not used to being around good drummers, but playing with this girl pretty much made me feel much better and more confident about my playing.

 

[Kenny Allyn]

Oh Yeah !!!

So much so that the "band" evolved into the two of us working in the SRV and Double Trouble tradition of backing up a singer/songwriter blues artist in a trio, Darren J. and Link Removed.

... We clicked from moment ONE and have been together ever since.

 

[dhomer]

I have always said I'm only as good as the drummer... I have been fortunate to have played with some excellent ones, and those guys to a man would jump at the chance to work with me again. The band I'm currently playing with is unfortunately another story. Drummer is a real nice guy and all, but as the bandleader told me he's there more for his vocals than his drumming. I knew I was going to have a hard time with this band when one night the drummer told me I was too loud... He starts concentrating on hitting the harmonies, and the beat turns to no kick and an annoying little shuffle between the snare and hi-hat. At least got him to mic the kit so I can at least hear something...

 

[Cyber Soda]

My drummers. There's four that I play with. They're amazing drummers, all with hand drums. I do well with others, but they're just great and it's hard not to sink into the groove with them.

 

[JehuJava]

To be honest, almost every drummer I've played with, except noobs, I have been able to lock with.

+1

If they can groove...I can lock in.

 

[ChrisB2]

Drummers lock with me

I've heard this before... not sure who locks with whom... but I've had drummers say they lock with the bass, say they follow the bass... one would often say he looks to the bass for the feel and groove of the song...



But to the OP, I think I know what you mean, though, except I would call it "gel with the drummer." You know, when the magic happens... I'm not "locking," I'm lost in the groove.

I'm not even sure I can lock with a drummer, unless it's when I have to match his weird off-beat/off-tempo. I can only lock the groove in my head to the song, and my fingers do their best to play it.

Have you ever noticed a drummer copping to your groove? I have.

 

[CharlieCraver]

Yes. The drummer i'm with now, we just have really good chemistry together. My band does a lot of improv and me and him are always laying down a good solid foundation

 

[Wasted Bassist]

The drummer in my current band (the first drummer I had ever jammed with) and I have a groove that kills. I didn't realize how extrordainary it was until I played a few charity gigs with people who clained to be drummers (mostly relatives of bandleaders). Each time I'd go back and jam with Andrew and just rock it. It's a skill that really helps a lot when we have technical difficulties and need to fill space. Drum n' Bass thrash metal jams between songs get peoples' attention.

 

[bigcatJC]

I'm pretty lucky - I always had good drummers. But the best guy...it was like magic. We were taking a break during our first practice together, and the singer and guitar player made a soda run. We hung around and schemed. I thought it would be funny if we would "bump" the groove over by 1/2 beat (like Tower of Power occasionally did/does) without telling the other two. I knew I had the right drummer when he knew what I was talking about! We decided to pull our gag during the guitar solo in Led Zep's "Rock and Roll," the first song we were going to do after the break.

Song starts, we're laying the beat down hard, and here comes the solo. We look at each other and nod...and BUMP! I doubt the guitar player even heard me, but pushing the snare to the "and" of 2 and 4 was enough. It was like someone turned gravity off. He looks around at everybody, his foot tapping starts to slip, he fumbles through another measure or two, and finally grinds to a halt. The drummer and I laughed our a$$es off! Pretty good for a first practice. We promised never to do it again without asking.

 

[John Wentzien]

The 3 I locked with the best were total TOOLS!

 

[Phalex]

I only ever played with 1 drummer that I couldn't lock in with. That's mostly why I only played 1 gig with him. He thought he was awesome, but opinions vary.......

 

[Bobby B]

Yep, and it's a wonderful thing when it happens.

 

[destruction1992]

I have played with a drummer for the past five or so years. He's the best in my area that's my age. Throughout the years we've developed a pretty strong friendship. We used to chill and play/write new music all the time. Our styles matched really damn well. Then he started sleeping with my girlfriend.. so we stopped playing for some time. We still get along (as musicians) and I recruited him to a band I recently started playing in and it sounds great. We just can't joke around about certain things when we jam haha

 

[Ric5]

A good drummer is a bass players best friend.

 

[bassist4dalord]

Yep. Two that I've really loved playing with, both named Jake! What a coincidence... Anyway, one of them I played with at church and grew up with; he ended up going to Elmhurst College to major in Jazz Composition and the like. Fun guy, too, almost no ego. The other was in a trio with me and an excellent guitarist. We made a TIGHT band, if I do say so myself

 

[Joe.shaffer]

YUP.

I am still playing with him...

The miracle is ... he is my brother.

There's you answer as to why.

As for me, in the last 11 years I've found two I could really lock in with off the bat. The one I play with now and the one I played with in my first band.