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how to tell the drummer??????

S

safeshow

Aug 31, 2010
107
0
#1
He cant keep time,,,My current drummer is making it really hard for me, this guy is killing me,,,just a complete lack of feel,,,also speeds up and when its time to improv forget it,,,,

I do like the guy as a friend but wow I dont know if I want to do another gig with this situation,,,,,
He will work hard and he does try to learn the songs note for note but I would rather have him play with feeling than note for note,,,,

I was thinking about getting a metronome to help him out a bit or just go looking for a new drummer?????
that is the question,,,,

I am looking to make good music in a cover band not original So I do know I can keep it in perspective......
 
#3
Try this....

Talk to the drummer about how something just isn't lining up in certain sections of various songs. Approach it as though you want to work together and sync up. Avoid telling them that they are slowing down/speeding up. Grab a metronome (its a great tool for you as well) and go over the particular spot a few times. Say stuff like "it feels like either i am slowing down or you are speeding up, lets try that spot again and really sync up with the metronome."

You could also try a drum and bass practice session without the other members in an effort to strengthen your rhythm section. Keep the metronome on the whole time, just like high school band or orchestra. It really helps.

I had to do this when I played in a string quintet in college. I found that partly taking the blame (even if you know its not you) is a way to encourage group efforts rather than pointing out the short comings of others.

DO NOT GIVE UP ON YOUR DRUMMER.
 
#4
Well, that depends on you. I personally would rather sit him down and have a chat about concerns and not dance around the issue, than to start over with someone new.

He would probably appreciate the honesty, and if you let him know what you expect/ want, he can make the call on whether he himself is a good fit, or just a buddy.

I have played with great players, and bad the like, but I was alway's up front and honest about my expectations. I have better friends for it.

Good Luck
 
#5
Talk to him about it so he's aware. Then try to work with him on it so he gets it. Point out where he's messing up so he can learn from his mistakes. Try to get a feel on his adaptability. If he seems like he's still not getting it then get a new drummer.
 
#6
It's probably a good idea not to 'call him out' during rehearsal. Nobody likes to be made to feel like the weakest link.

How are your rehearsals? Are you all supposed to arrive ready to play or do you use rehearsal time to learn you parts? Either way, you should be able to rehearse music without concern about people's feelings getting hurt. Stopping a song and saying you want to go over a part because it doesn't feel right is perfectly acceptable provided you can articulate what you think the problem is without getting personal.

Too many times I've seen rehearsal situations where if anyone stopped a song to work out a space, the rest of the band acted as if they'd just blown a song in front of an audience - as if stopping in rehearsal was the same as messing up and stopping live. Rehearsal time is the time when these sort of ensemble issues are supposed to be brought up and worked on as a group.

Just don't deliver or take criticism personally.
 
#8
Bob C said:
Really? Really?? By the way, it should be "The same way you tell a bass player he uses too many commas in his sentences".
Click to expand...

Yes, really - and thanks for the correction. I am glad you took the time to acquaint me with a problem that I didn't know I had. I will now be able to work on that and hopefully not make the same mistake in the future.

How would you phrase it to be gender neutral?
 
#13
MysterMunky said:
<SNIP>DO NOT GIVE UP ON YOUR DRUMMER.
Click to expand...

Why not???????

Life is too short to endure bad drummers. We grow by playing with musicians who are better than we are.

Rising above mediocrity requires setting high standards for ourselves and those with whom we play. Playing at a high level is difficult enough without carrying someone else's dead weight through the process.

When I was in my teens and twenties, I was "taken to school" when I gigged with pros in their fifties and sixties; these well-seasoned veterans wouldn't hesitate to "tell it like it is." It wasn't easy to hear their brutally honest feedback (e.g.,"Don't come back until you can keep decent time, young blood"), but it was absolutely necessary to my growth as a bassist.

IME, IMO, YMMV, etc.
 
#14
thanks for all of the good input,,,,,,,,,,,,I will talk it out with him and also get a metronome,,,,,Just looking for input not a English lessen,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, How do you spell ANAL iN eNgLiSh
 
#15
Jazzdogg said:
Why not???????

Life is too short to endure bad drummers. We grow by playing with musicians who are better than we are.

Rising above mediocrity requires setting high standards for ourselves and those with whom we play. Playing at a high level is difficult enough without carrying someone else's dead weight through the process.

IME, IMO, YMMV, etc.
Click to expand...

+1 This, sorry but you are responsible for setting your own mark, in my experience, he wouldn't last a second gig. It's a tough one I know because of friendships, a lot of the best guy's I've played with are more 'acquaintances' ;)

It's a different scenario with me though, I had to pay the bill's through music, anyone whom jeopardised that - 'Thankyou, but goodbye'. But as I've said ymmv, this is what I was forced to do and not without reason, I don't like hurting cats feelings.

If he's making a real effort to get on top of it, give him a bit of slack, but not TOO much.
 
#18
safeshow said:
thanks for all of the good input,,,,,,,,,,,,I will talk it out with him and also get a metronome,,,,,Just looking for input not a English lessen,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, How do you spell ANAL iN eNgLiSh
Click to expand...

Your spelling is perfectly fine. The point I was trying to make was to simply tell your drummer what you are thinking directly the same way I told you that you use too many commas in your sentences.

It was an attempt to make a point with a little bit of humor attached (very little, apparently).

The sub-lesson is that humor - if you and your drummer have a sense of humor, that is - can be used to diffuse some conversations that can otherwise end up being taken as insulting or personally.

You clearly feel your drummer has a timing issue. Are you without issues too? If so, good for you and your band. If not, then maintaining a sense of humor when discussing things like timing, note choice, and other things important to performing in a group is critical in keeping things light and still getting things done.

Good luck!
 
#19
Jazzdogg said:
Why not???????

Life is too short to endure bad drummers. We grow by playing with musicians who are better than we are.
Click to expand...

Because if the OP doesnt then someone else will have to. Like you said, only way for the drummer to grow is by playing with people who are better than him, which apparently he is doing. If no one ever gave a bad drummer a chance the world would have even less competant drummers than we do currently.
 
#20
I went through a similar experience with a drummer who was a friend and it is a delicate situation for sure. I would recommend to your drummer to get a programable metronome that the two of you can program the BPM of your entire set into and he can use it during practice. if his feel is off, this might make things worse. Hopefully this helps. But, going off of what you said (bad meter, doesn't have good feel, and he can't improve at all) -He just might not be ready for gigs yet. Might be a buddy that you get some beers and play for fun on occasion.
 

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