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play drumset?

Do you play the drumset to complement/enhance your knowledge of bass?

  • Yes, I think it's a great idea.

    Votes: 47 61.8%

  • I like to listen to what the drums do in perfromances/recordings but I don't play.

    Votes: 22 28.9%

  • Learning the drums is time that could be spent practicing the bass! (Upright guys, I sympathise.)

    Votes: 4 5.3%

  • I have never spent much time thinking about this (carrots).

    Votes: 3 3.9%
  • Total voters
    76
Scott Lynch

Scott Lynch

Supporting Member
Nov 27, 2002
1,490
1,884
#1
How many of you play or dabble in the drumset? Many teachers and players believe that the relationship between the drums and bass is the most paramount for developing good feel and a good groove in any contemporary ensemble. As bass players we need to know how a drummer approaches these concepts. To help me understand this I have taken up practicing the drums. Have any of you tried this? Sometime in the future I would like to be able to playd rums whilst teaching my bass students, to allow them to jam with a "real" drummer (versus a metronome or drum machine).
 
#6
I finally started with drums last may after wanting to since i was a kid. i have been playing bass for 17 years. i was picking up an axe i had some fretwork done on and while i was standing there i looked at the only kit they had in the place and decided 'screwit im gonna get a drum set'. i didnt get that set, but my wife got me a 5 piece ludwig for my birthday. i think my background as a bass player has made the transition easier. i practice every day for hours, if not behind the kit, then on a pad with a metronome. its odd, i dont have to push myself to go do it. i just WANT to practice to the metronome. its freakin wierd. i jam with a few dudes now. the bass player is the drummer from a band i was in years ago who decided he wanted to start playing bass(hes been at it a few years now). its mutually beneficial, and now we switch off whenever we feel like it. its pretty cool. its funny that he approaches his bass fills like a drummer. and i approach my grooves on the drums like a bass player.
 
#7
Until recently I never owned a kit, but I would always play my drummers set when ever he would leave them at my house. My boy has a set now so I can play when ever I want and I do agree, not only are they fun, there is a a direct link between bass and drums.
 
#9
I started to play drums seriously maybe 3 years back (when I bough my kit) and it's been great. My timing and groove on bass are WAY better, (and I was no slouch to begin with, lol) but the time away means some of my chops aren't as sharp. I think the trade off is a no brainer and I am incredibly happy that I did it, but not all bassists would enjoy that bargain.

Also, as you suggest I play drums (and guitar as well) with bass students in lessons and its fanastic how much easier it is for them to see theory in practice. My students are very quick to get into bands because they feel comfortable playing at volume with other instruments - they know what to expect. They seem to ace every audition!

One unfortunate note is now I am very, very picky about drummers, lol!

Peace!
 
#10
I played the drums for 6 years before highschool. I was no childstar or anything, but I was better than the drummer's in my school (my school went from preschool to grade 12), until I just kinda lost my drive for it. I became lazy, obsessed with computer games (ie of the 6 hours between school ending and bed time iw as on them for like 5.5 hours), and it just became more of a chore than a fun thing to do. I've always been somewhat musical, took glockenspiel lessons when i was 5 and recorder when i was 6, and then drums (lessons too) from 7-13.. worst mistake of my life was not keeping up at that... or maybe it wasn't, cuz 3 years later i picked upa bass, and now here i am with 3 years experience of that under my belt (sans lessons unfortunately)

Edit: i forgot my point... which would be that, it wouldn't hurt to be a multi-instrumentalist.
 
#11
I started off on drums and I'm pretty good, when I'm in practice. But I've had wrist problems this year and they're slowing down everything but work.

I'm way less capable on bass. And even less so on guitar. But my aim is to be able to be a decent rhythm player on all three instruments by the end of the year.
 
#12
You should add something like "I'm a frustrated drummer" to the poll, since that's my case. I LOVE the bass, but I'm playing an instrument that was totally unknown to me before I started taking music seriously. I wanted to play drums. I even got a teacher, bought a pair of drumsticks, but couldn't gain access to a drum set to practice. One of my uncles had one and I played Beatles stuff like "Anna (Go To Him)", "Boys" and "Baby It's You" on it, but he never allowed me to practice because he was always traveling and I only could play when he was at home. And I did LOTS of air drumming along with "Detroit Rock City" and stuff like that! Still, Neil Peart is the one who makes me want to play drums.
 
#13
I think it's a great idea to learn to play drums. The bass, to me, is a union of rythm and harmony, like all music, I guess, but the bass moreso that just guitar or drums. While rythm is pertenent to the guitar, it's main purpose is melody. And while tuning your drums is equally pertenant, it's the rythm that's really important. Granted, there are drum and bass solos, and rythm guitarists, but each instrument has it's own serparate purpose. (Not to knock the bass or drums as solo instruments, they're perfectly suited for it) I play guitar, bass, and drums whenever I can get a hold of em. I also try to do other rythmic stuff, I learned to beat box, whistle etc. So I can sort of practice without practicing. Understanding different expressions of music will help you to understand all of them, in my opinion.
 
#14
I just bought my boy a drum set for Christmas, so I've been practicing my drumming a lot lately. It's a lot of fun. I played drums in the school band from grade 5 until grade 10, but I was never very good and never learned to play any beats on the trap set. I'm able to play a bit now, it's fun, and I believe that it will make me a better bass player. I have two kids, ages 11 and 8. One is learning bass, the other is learning drums - and they switch a bit so to some extent, both kids are learning both. Rhythm section is where it's at!
 
#15
My older brother played drums in a band when I was in gradeschool and just starting out with music. I dabbled on his drums even before I touched a bass (I already played piano and guitar). Being really into Rush and Led Zeppelin at the time, and those two bands having very influential drummers, it was hard not to be thinking about playing the drums along with Bonzo and Neil Peart.

I still play some drums now and then and have done a few gigs as a drummer in bands.

Not only is this a great idea for helping with being a bassist, but it helps you get inside the head of the drummer and relate more to how they are thinking. I think any rock musician should be familiar with playing all instruments in the band: guitar, bass, drums, keys, and sing. Especially if you write and arrange music, or make recordings by yourself. Being solely aware of what your own instrument does is pretty limiting and can isolate you in your relationships with other musicians.

I also am married to a drummer, and he also plays bass, keys and guitar quite well. A good situation for us both. :D
 
#16
I play both bass and drums, and I think the two disciplines compliment one-another quite well. I think I have a much greater ability to stay in the pocket, and be able to anticipate where the drums and bass are going, respectively.

New knowledge and skills are always a good thing.

My bass guitars are in the avatar, and here is my kit.
(Sonor Designers)


DSCN8338.jpg
 
#17
It's funny, because I was the other way around. I have played drums for 10 years or so and I recently picked up the bass about 2 years ago because I wanted to further explore that connection. Having played drums definitely made the transition easier, and I can approach things from a drummer's perspective in regards to syncopation, groove, and the pocket. If the bass and drums aren't locked, you ain't got nothin.
 

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