Should my drummer be bringing a cowbell?

[Zephrant]

None of the four drummers that I've had in or sub for my country band have brought a cowbell. I've hinted, and they all own them, but just don't bring them.

So, should a modern country band really have a cowbell or is it just not used much anymore? We do classic rock too, not much classic country, but a little.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

If you do "Fear the Reaper", you'll need it.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Err, B.O.C., Don't fear the Reaper.

 

[rufus.K]

I wouldn't think bringing a cowbell is expected of anyone but a cow. If you want one, ask them to bring one.

 

[jmverdugo]

Have you played with a drummer or singer hitting a cowbell next to you? You should be happy they don't bring it. (;

 

[David Jayne]

If the songs you play have a fairly obvious cowbell part, SOMEBODY should be playing it. In my band the horn players or singers play it and other percussion gadgets when possible. Of course someone must have a limb or two available. We have 18 arms so it's rarely a problem.

 

[SkinCoffin]

Genre aside, cowbells are cool

 

[chungweishan]

Singer uses a cowbell when we play Nazareth's "Hair of the Dog." Before the song he exclaimed, "Where's the cowbell?" into the mic. Some random guy in the audience yells, "Check my wife's neck!"

No one in the band heard it but me, as I instantly started to laugh.

Sometimes the drummer already has a specific drum part already being played. Or perhaps it's just a pain to get an extra drum-thingy to attach a cowbell. Or plain hates cowbells.

It is, after all, just enough percussion-sound effect, but I feel it's not my place to ask what gear the drummer should be using. It would be equivalent to band members telling me I need to use specific strings or a pick for songs, or a whole different bass (which they do when I bring out my fretless).
--

What we did learn is never give a tambourine to the drunk guy in the audience. That took a lot of super-concentration to stay in tempo. He seemed to have a great time though. Good for him.

 

[David Jayne]

Singer uses a cowbell when we play Nazareth's "Hair of the Dog." Before the song he exclaimed, "Where's the cowbell?" into the mic. Some random guy in the audience yells, "Check my wife's neck!"

No one in the band heard it but me, as I instantly started to laugh.

That's awesome. But not for that guy. ..
Oh yeah, gotta be careful who you trust with a tambourine. Or a cowbell. Or anything else that could make a noise.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

 

[David Jayne]

 

[Downunderwonder]

Standard issue round my parts. Probably what every drummer gets for his 14th birthday.

 

[2cooltoolz]

Nah. Just hire a cowbell player. I hear Juilliard has some available.

 

[knumbskull]

No.





Three is the minimum.

 

[bolophonic]

The last gig I played, one of the percussionists decided to turn our longest song into a six minute cowbell solo. I thought I was going to die.

 

[Brother Goose]

In my world - yes!

 

[Lobster11]

If drummers stop using them they'll go extinct. I mean, cows don't wear them anymore....

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Killing in the Name requires two cowbells.

 

[Bodeanly]

Killing in the Name requires two cowbells.

Or one cowbell with a cowbell pitchshifter pedal.

 

[bassrich]

of course get your own and let him use it if they do not have any all songs are better with cowbell