how to tell the drummer??????

[steamthief]

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

L-e-s-s-e-n

 

[safeshow]

You know, I think the issue of timeing is just one thing,,,but the bigger issue is the lack of feel, and the not listening to the other parts of the band,,,,,I had to yell at him saturday night, its to fast,,,,,
but I like to play with dynamics and improv some during some songs and it is so hard if possiable at all,,,,I even told him when I start to crouch down during a song it means the dynamics are coming down,,nothing,,,

it frustates the hell out of me, Its hard to put a round block in a square hole,,,

 

[tZer]

Sounds to me like you've tried communicating you needs and your drummer is either unwilling or cannot deliver the goods.

Does your drummer know he has these issues or does he think it's you who have issues with him and are just hard to please? How does the rest of your band feel about how he plays?

 

[Jazzdogg]

Why trust in people and help them grow? Why practice? Why do anything?

Don't be selfish like jazzdog, help out your fellow musician.

EXPERIENCE, n.
The wisdom that enables us to recognize as an undesirable old acquaintance a folly that we once embraced.

 

[FrankGravis]

<sigh> So many drummers, so little time.

 

[Skitch it!]

EXPERIENCE, n.
The wisdom that enables us to recognize as an undesirable old acquaintance a folly that we once embraced.

+1....What the man said

 

[rtslinger]

I say sit down with him since he is your friend and explain to him what you hear happening he may be unaware of it. And since you have not mentioned it to him I am sure that is the case so he thinks he is doing okay. Suggest the metronome only if he is coming back with a positive attitude. His reaction maybe anger caused by hurt, which is the direction it could go in. Just be honest and tell him you are only trying to help then ask him if he hears anything you are doing that you may not be aware of to try to get him to understand the future of the band is at stake. If the band is important enough for you guys to get together and spend all this time practicing, then you should work it out. Good Luck.

 

[Lowbrow]

The same way you tell a bass player they use too many commas in their sentences.

Keeping time in music and proper punctuation in writing are almost synonymous. Take note.

The same way you tell a bass player that he or she uses too many commas when writing. - ed.

 

[tZer]

The same way you tell a bass player that he or she uses too many commas when writing. - ed.

There ya go!

See? I am coming away with all sorts of useful info and feel like a better forum participant because of it. Thanks for coming right out and saying it. I really wasn't getting the crouching and yelling stuff. But now that you've laid it out for me, I see exactly what you mean!

 

[puddin tame]

if he's got no feel he's not going to suddenly develop it. move on or deal with it

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I played with a guy for years who would double on keys/guitar...

He never practiced. Never bothered to learn tunes. Never made ANY effort beyond the absolute minimum to more or less cover the tune... He was an old friend, but I eventually started cutting him out of my music work. It just sucked the joy out of it, playing with a guy who didn't care.

Were he a drummer, it would have REALLY sucked...

 

[Korladis]

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

Ugh. I can't stand it when people think it's somehow "anal" to think communicating clearly is important.

There is no reason to put dozens of commas in your sentence. One will suffice.

This is not /b/.

 

[Giraffe]

I almost never comment negatively on a bandmate's playing anymore, and absolutely never do it in front of anyone else. If someone's playing is bugging me too much, I might ask the bandleader, when we are alone, if he thinks that the third party's playing could use a little work in a particular area. Then I walk away without another word.

Leave that sort of thing to the designated leader. Absent a designated leader, maybe think about another gig! The overwhelming majority of players can't or won't react constructively to this sort of thing no matter how diplomatic you think you are, and it is never worth the drama to me.

 

[Korladis]

Not everybody plays in a band with a bandleader.

 

[Joe_K]

Do a live rehearsal recording anyway you can. If the drummer's timing is really terrible AND he fails to notice during a playback of it, then you have real problems. If he notices, then there is hope. But don't nail it all on the drummer ... if he fails to notice, you can says things like, "it seems like we were speeding up right there" or "we are playing this song way too fast".

Anyway, the first few bands I was in, rehearsal recordings revealed problems we didn't even know we had. We corrected as a group.

 

[S.B.]

To me it depends on you and what you want. I would decide if I am willing to work with the guy. Once I decided what I was willing to do I would talk to him. Give a chance to see his response. If you decide its worth working with him then give it a try. I have found that working with the drummer outside of practice can really be helpful.

I have played with great drummers who were complete jerks and average drummers who were great guys and a lot of fun. Depends on what your priorities are IMHO.

Good Luck

 

[beggar98]

When communicating with drummers, I find it best to have flash cards or someone there to act out your words. If at all possible, create a pamphlet summarizing your concerns and offer follow-up counseling to help deal with any confusion or anxiety your discussion may have caused.

 

[klejst]

I would say invest in a metronome and give this guy another chance to see if it helps. If not and you are still getting discouraged and frustrated then perhaps it is time to look for a new drummer.

 

[aprod]

I am in a similar situation. But I don't have the option of hiring or firing. The band leader wants him, he's in. I struggle every gig with tempo and feel. We are a funk band and he is a rock drummer. I have had to change my basslines. Then the leader is saying it doesn't sound right. I have talked to him and the drummer to no avail. I have offered to rehearse with the drummer, too busy. I guess I just have to shut up and collect my paycheck or move on. But they are good people and I would hate to leave.

 

[big evil robot]

Put a metronome on his snare.

With a smiley face drawn on a post-it note attached.