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How important do you consider a good drummer?

#81
My main band had what I considered to be an excellent drummer. He had an ear for listening to what I was playing as the bass player, but also knew who to follow in the song, which sometimes, wasn't me. Great dynamics with also an ability to suspend his belief in timing for instances that called for it, then snap back in. He was full of helpful advice for the rest of us (he also played guitar and bass) and also able to take advice from the rest of us if we needed him to do something that he didn't think about or didn't want to do. Now that he's gone, he's a lot like that "girlfriend that got away". He left my band to start a Magic the Gathering shop. Feel free to add your favorite "face palm" here.
 
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#82
If you have ever played with a drummer that can't keep good time, you know the answer.

I'm lucky - I've played with the same drummer for about the past 5 years in several bands (jazz, rock, modern country). At this point, we both know where the other is headed, and we listen to each other. Even when I don't like the song, I can find interesting things to do. It's a pleasure.
 
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#83
I guess for some kinds of styles, for example sort of trashy garage rock, etc., you can have a drummer who is not technically very skilled, and it actually works--it's part of the vibe. But that's a niche kinda thing. I've seen plenty of young indie bands here in LA in the last few years where it's clear the drummer never really took it seriously enough to "get good". They sort of bash away, horrible/hard-to-watch technique, heck--the kit even SOUNDS bad--they never learned how to tune the drums, set them up properly, etc. I mean, cringe-worthy drumming to my ears(and eyes!).
What's the first thing that happens to most of these bands if they get a shot with a real producer in the studio? A session drummer is brought in. A good drummer can still play intentionally raw music if that's the vibe, but have all the other things in check that matter--time, tone, feel, consistency, dynamics, etc.
 
#84
It's really hard to carry a bad drummer. Not impossible but really hard.

I'd rather play Primus parts while singing with a good drummer, than play Nirvana parts with a bad one as the former is less work.
 
#87
cantstoplt021 said:
I asked this question on a guitar forum and was quite surprised with the pretty much unanimous answer. Practically all of the 100 replies said extremely important, potentially the most important. What's your opinion bassists?
Click to expand...
I'm surprised you're surprised. Why are you surprised? Maybe you have a different expectation of a good drummer. Would you elaborate on your own answer and what is the acceptable level of drumming you'd accept. I'm curious, not trying to be difficult.
 
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#88
image.jpeg


'Nuff said.

:laugh:
 
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#89
To me, a good drummer isn't necessarily flashy. They have to be a metronome. If they can be one, they're good enough for me. If they can't handle a standard 4/4 beat well.... the answer is pretty obvious.
 
#91
cantstoplt021 said:
I asked this question on a guitar forum and was quite surprised with the pretty much unanimous answer. Practically all of the 100 replies said extremely important, potentially the most important. What's your opinion bassists?
Click to expand...

Scottkarch said:
I'm surprised you're surprised. Why are you surprised? Maybe you have a different expectation of a good drummer. Would you elaborate on your own answer and what is the acceptable level of drumming you'd accept. I'm curious, not trying to be difficult.
Click to expand...
^ i'm interested as well: at first blush: seems obvious: i'm wondering what underlies the inquiry of the OP. thanks,:thumbsup:
 
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#92
There is a saying ... "a band is only as good as the drummer" that I subscribe to. I've heard people make jokes about drummers not being "real" musicians every now and then. I suspect that they've never played with a really good drummer because a good one makes the music "magically" come together and enables the whole to be better than the sum of the parts.
 
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#96
very important.....we had one but he had to quit due to his job. So after 2 years of auditioning we don't have a drummer and don't need one (that's possibly why we are booked solidly and have to turn down gigs...truthfully!) We went with a singer w/egg shaker (mic'd) bass and guitar
 
#98
I think he's the most important person in the band. The drummer is always the captain of the ship, setting mood and tempo. Our job is to bridge what he's doing with the melody of the song.

Take it this way. I've been in the same originals band for 2 years. We haven't gigged much because it was always some life crisis or another for someone. I really dug the singer's music. He records it to a drum machine and it sounds fine. We rehearse just the two of his (he also plays guitar) and it sounds fine. Somehow whenever we play with the drummer it becomes a sloughing train wreck. Somehow I can't seem to remember my parts and I'm never sure where I need to be.

I'm also in a cover band with the singer from the originals band that uses someone else as the drummer. He subbed with us for awhile and then suddenly it just clicked. Everything finally came together musically in a big way and suddenly the rhythms were immensely tighter and hard hitting. Strangers at shows were telling us that we were the best band of whatever particular bill we were on.

Then we played another show with the original drummer. It was awful. And I finally realized what it was. No rhythm, no groove, no pocket. He's wailing away on the drum kit in time. Or sorta in time. We never clicked because there was nothing to click with and as a result the whole band suffered.
 

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