I played with a drummer who would speed up and slow down through every song. The only solution is to find a new drummer.
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How to keep a drummer on beat
- Thread starter mixmastermike
- Start date
Play simpler fills. Really.
Tell him to actually LISTEN to his CD's (NOT instructional DVD's) and absorb the fact that *MOST* of the times the guys don't do huge 2 bar extravaganzas when they do a fill.
Tell him to actually LISTEN to his CD's (NOT instructional DVD's) and absorb the fact that *MOST* of the times the guys don't do huge 2 bar extravaganzas when they do a fill.
One of the most common mistakes amateur drummers make is, thinking they have to play a complex fill every eight bars! Just listen to most great studio recordings. The drummer plays the groove, and only plays short accents when moving to a new section.
I've explained to many drummers to think of it like you're writing a few paragraphs, and use simple accents like you would use punctuation. A comma here, a period there, but you never see a paragraph end like this.?.%#.,*^,;.*,;::;;;#*:!..... Do You?
I've explained to many drummers to think of it like you're writing a few paragraphs, and use simple accents like you would use punctuation. A comma here, a period there, but you never see a paragraph end like this.?.%#.,*^,;.*,;::;;;#*:!..... Do You?
Be honest, direct, and kind. I have encountered similar scenarios at my church and the culprit usually doesn't realize the problem. If they do, but think no one else does they will continue to "get away with it." the best part of discussing it is that they become a better player, but it also builds your relationship: they will look to you for advice musically and likely spiritually.
Yup. Biggest problem I see with younger players today... too much focus on technique and not enough on taste, i.e., playing "musically". The guys who get hired to play on records don't get hired cause of what they play, but cause of what they choose not to play.
themacinator
Always looking for the perfect gig
- Oct 8, 2009
- 1,511
- 138
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Babicz FCH Hardware
I have a drummer that doesn't even have a practice kit at his house. He says he works on songs by listening to them on his iPod.
Needless to say this is not going to workout and I am exiting after Saturday's show.
Needless to say this is not going to workout and I am exiting after Saturday's show.
Whoooa, hold on there. Sure, the rest of the band is going to listen to the drummer for time, but most of them never learn that silent, unspoken rule which dictates that the bassist is the only member of a band who is actually capable of keeping time. Make sure she learns to play along to your pulse.
BTW, not sure why all the "she" references in the responses.
Read the OP... the drummer in question is a guy.
Read the OP... the drummer in question is a guy.
Buy them a metronome? You gotta talk to him/her about it. You could do it intervention style and have the whole band do it. I think the drum clinic idea is a good one (with said metronome).
It sounds like the drummer is not counting. You could get him/her to do the old "count the 2 and 4" on the hi hats with the good old foot.
I have found that it's easier to teach someone something when they find that they were doing wrong on their own. Tell the band to stay on the count. Don't follow the drummer. Eventually, he/she'll figure out that something is wrong. You may want to mention it to him/her first... like before rehearsal.
You could always remove the drummer's toms. It's hard to do a really long roll on just a snare and not be bored.
It sounds like the drummer is not counting. You could get him/her to do the old "count the 2 and 4" on the hi hats with the good old foot.
I have found that it's easier to teach someone something when they find that they were doing wrong on their own. Tell the band to stay on the count. Don't follow the drummer. Eventually, he/she'll figure out that something is wrong. You may want to mention it to him/her first... like before rehearsal.
You could always remove the drummer's toms. It's hard to do a really long roll on just a snare and not be bored.
Give the "one" a little extra oomph, focus your stink eye on the drummer, and conduct the beat with head nods or your headstock.
second post. refers to a She drummer.
To me it sounds like the drummer and the bassist need to practice together more.
As an ex-drummer of almost 40 years, I can say it isn't acceptable. If one can't keep time, they have no business on a trap set. I say dump the drummer unless they are willing and able to take lessons and come up to speed quickly.
On a side note, why does it seem like everybody thinks they can drum? It isn't easy, though good drummers make it look like it is.
have him play along with a click track of each song. if that doesnt work, time for a new drummer
Same as everyone else has said... Metronome and record some practices or shows and listen to them as a group.
