I find that drummers often overplay on cover songs. The other musician have defined parts to learn but drummers sometimes wing it and put in fills where they’re not needed which can change the feel of the song. Singing drummers sometimes speed up as they approach their vocal part. Or even speed up as a part of the song gets louder. Bands can move the tempo about but it has to a collective groove thing, not someone changing tempo because they’ve stopped listening to the rest of the band or have got lost in their solo. To be fair, all of the above apply to everyone in the band. Each member needs to serve the song, not themself. The best lesson I learnt from a very good pro bassist was “listen”.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
How to fail a drum audition within seconds
- Thread starter themickster
- Start date
MDBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,890
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
That wasn’t mentioned in the OP.
Regardless, it doesn’t seem to matter whether they just listened once or several times without practicing or learning the songs.
The drummer was obviously terrible
I literally had a drummer say they were more of a Keith Moon type drummer when he canceled his audition this morning. First time for me, too.
I learned not to put up with a drummer who can't play a pick-up fill ending on "1".
He "couldn't hear the bass" with a 1x15 cab aimed at his head.
Great rehearsal space though.
He "couldn't hear the bass" with a 1x15 cab aimed at his head.
Great rehearsal space though.
How the drummer that came off one fill a beat out and next, a bit of a beat out? He was fired from a band for doing that again and again. A drum teacher told him to count 1 2 3 4 whilst filling. Maybe he should have said to count at the same speed as the band, because it didn't work.I learned not to put up with a drummer who can't play a pick-up fill ending on "1".
He "couldn't hear the bass" with a 1x15 cab aimed at his head.
Great rehearsal space though.
Then there's the one at a gig I watched, who did stick-click count-in slower than the song went. Somehow the whole band got the timing right from the start. He must be like that all the time.
When we had to replace our drummer 4 years ago it was quite painful. I do remember one guy. Our ad was articulated quite clearly. Part of the ad indicated that individuals must be prepared and have had done their homework. People who auditioned had to choose 4 songs from our setlist.
Me, "What songs did you learn?"
Him, "I didn't learn any songs."
Me, "Why not? The add clearly says learn 4 songs from the current set list. I texted you and you said you were ready to audition."
Him, "I don't like to learn songs, my skill is improvisation."
Then he proceeds to ramble on about how he plays at jam every Thursday night and improvises and everybody loves his drumming.
Next....
Me, "What songs did you learn?"
Him, "I didn't learn any songs."
Me, "Why not? The add clearly says learn 4 songs from the current set list. I texted you and you said you were ready to audition."
Him, "I don't like to learn songs, my skill is improvisation."
Then he proceeds to ramble on about how he plays at jam every Thursday night and improvises and everybody loves his drumming.
Next....
He's like the last guitarist in my other band. He at least learned new songs but wouldn't learn open chords and reckoned he didn't need to know the chords in a song. Tell him his break didn't fit the chords, and he says 'What do you mean?' When luck let the chords be right for his breaks, it was stunning, otherwise he wouldn't have lasted.
