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Things drummers need to understand

ronlitz

ronlitz

Apr 20, 2008
427
219
Northern Virginia
#1
Like many others, I am frustrated by the same 3 or 4 issues that 90% of drummers seem to have. Here are my top two complaints - what are yours? What the heck can we as a community do about this? If we act in unison, and consistently say the same things repeatedly to the "problem" drummers, will they start to get the message? Probably wishful thinking - but I can dream, can't I?

#1: You are too loud. Stop hitting so hard.



#2: You are overplaying. Hit things less often.

 
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#6
I play covers as a drummer, covers and originals as a hand percussionist and as a bassist. I stay busy.

I learned long ago that being a drummer is about keeping time. Be solid, play appropriately for the song, support the singer. It isn't about being flashy, it isn't about playing loud. If there is a signature fill, learn it and nail it. This is what we are supposed to do, and if we do it well the band can be great.

I am often surprised that some drummers don't understand these basic truths. As a teacher, I beat these principles into my drum students. (Figuratively of course, and the pun was intended...)
 
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#7
ronlitz said:
#1: You are too loud. Stop hitting so hard.
Click to expand...

#1A: If you must insist on hitting hard, keep it to the drums. EASE UP ON THE CYMBALS.
#1B: In regards to #1-1A, try using lighter sticks, or..
#1C: Save up for some better sounding cymbals. :D

...

#3: 'Less is more' in regards to playing style can apply to equipment too. A huge drum kit and 14 cymbals is overdoing it in most situations.
#4: Pretty much everything drummer5359 said.
 
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#8
I'm not a drummer but I know this
The drummer is a clock. The clock waits for no one. The clock doesn't wait because he didn't hear the guitar do a fill or for a vocalist to say a certain lyric
The clock keeps ticking at a set rate no matter what other players are doing or not doing.
The band follows clock not other way around.
Many lesser drummers don't get that they are in charge of the song
 
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#10
SV777 said:
I'm not a drummer but I know this
The drummer is a clock. The clock waits for no one. The clock doesn't wait because he didn't hear the guitar do a fill or for a vocalist to say a certain lyric
The clock keeps ticking at a set rate no matter what other players are doing or not doing.
The band follows clock not other way around.
Many lesser drummers don't get that they are in charge of the song
Click to expand...
I don't see it this way at all. I don't want a clock, I want a listening, responding, drummer. One who hears my bassline, the rest of the band, and his own kit, all at the same time, and plays appropriately.
What you're looking for is a drum machine, and it's boring as hell to play to/with.
 
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#12
Leave your Neil Peart size drum kit at home when the stage or band area is small. Don't take all the area with your drum cases when you are setting up. I hate having to wait for the idiot drummer to set up because he was too lazy or stupid too set all his drums down in out the way area. God forbid that he might have to walk a few steps when he needs a drum to set up.
 
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#13
i tell ya, I get more drum gigs these days because I use thin sticks and play softly.

I'm not a super awesome drummer, but I can keep steady time and throw a sweet lick when my time comes, but I am happy to sit back and play a solid back beat if the other folks are doing some cool stuff.

the sound guys always tell me I am easy to mix because I am not a "basher"
 
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#14
SV777 said:
I'm not a drummer but I know this
The drummer is a clock. The clock waits for no one. The clock doesn't wait because he didn't hear the guitar do a fill or for a vocalist to say a certain lyric
The clock keeps ticking at a set rate no matter what other players are doing or not doing.
The band follows clock not other way around.
Many lesser drummers don't get that they are in charge of the song
Click to expand...
Yeah, I too disagree with this...
My band is a vocal and acoustic guitar based thing where some of the songs tell stories and the tempo actually changes subtly within some of the songs as the story progresses. Our drummer didn't get it for the first few weeks until he too learned all the lyrics. After he learned the lyrics he really dug it.
 
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#16
I agree with both the OPs thought. Too loud and too busy. However, both videos are horrible examples.

The first guy is using soooooo much arm and core muscle energy to hold back. And, while he talks about being solid and keeping perfect time loud or quiet (and is using a click!), his time and feel is all over the place within the non-existent pocket. His technique is dreadful. He should take a lesson on how to hold drumsticks.

The second guy clearly tries to use metal drumming backing The Beatles to demonstrate simple vs busy playing. We all get the point. However, the example is totally extreme. I'd like him in a Beatles style rock band as much as I would like Ringo in a metal band. Wrong guy, wrong job. Both styles are valid within their own contexts.

Anyway, to reiterate...

1: Have the ability to play softer.
2: Be able to reduce or expand complexity to fit the piece.

I'll add...

3: The click is a tool, not a sign of weakness. ALL MUSICIANS (not just the drummer) can keep better time with practice against a solid reference.
4: Know where the 1 is, always. If the fill is going to throw you off, don't play it. Ask your instructor for help before the next rehearsal.
5: More than anyone else in the band, lock in with the bass instrument. Drums and bass can get establish groove without the need for any other instrument.

However...

6: Play the set of drums you are comfortable with. If it's large, that's great. If it's a four piece, that's great too. The drummer doesn't get to tell the pianist to play a 49 mini-key synth and leave the big ol' 88 weighted key digital piano at home. (OMG - Who needs 88 keys?!?!) If the bassist with 5+ strings gets after you about the size of your kit, remind them that Jaco only needed four. And Jaco's bass was clearly the best bass for metal, too. And frets are just speed bumps. Yes - #6 is clearly meant to be funny. But seriously - don't tell the drummer what kind of kit to play.
 
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#19
flam said:
It's kind of odd how most of the problems people have with drumming (overplaying and following the guitarist in particular) lean towards things I enjoy in metal. I much prefer busy drumming that follows the guitar over the more simplified drumming in "groove" metal.
Click to expand...
True that. Metal breaks a lot of rules of "conventional" music, but I guess that's what I dig about it. And yeah, Vinnie Paul may be a rock solid drummer, but when it comes to metal I much prefer drummers like George Kollias.

Anyway, "overplaying" by most people's standards can totally add to music when the dude actually knows what he's doing. For example: The Who's rhythm section. The problem is that most drummers don't have the sense of how to use that; they aren't good enough to back up how fast they can play.
 

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