Sounds like your drummer is a really nice person who wants you both to excel. This is my truism: Good drummers are good listeners. I bet you will 'break the ice' if you pick and play a song both of you know well.
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Tips on jamming with an experienced drummer
- Thread starter carlosjrf
- Start date
Just start playing. I can jam solo with a good drummer until the wee hours and I’m certainly no virtuoso. There are no wrong notes or other instruments to clash with. You can do whatever you want! Dive in!
Maybe practice jamming with a drum loop at home to give you some time to work out ideas ahead of time.
Maybe practice jamming with a drum loop at home to give you some time to work out ideas ahead of time.
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If the guy is a jerk, I would tell him thanks but no thanks. Find someone else to abuse. Life is way too short to put up with that sort of nonsense regardless of how experienced he is. There are plenty of tracks available online to jam to with much better drummers.
Some fatherly advice here. While creating basslines can be fun, I would suggest as a newer bassist to spend time studying other bassists that are playing the type of music you like, then work off of that. Apps like Chordfy are great for it. There are even other apps that will walk you through reading tabs.
Best wishes.
You have to play notes (pitches) and do so in an interesting rhythm. He can only do rhythm. He can't help you with notes, no matter how good he is.
So learn how to play some notes.
So learn how to play some notes.
Perhaps set the scene: Each of you walks in with 4 patterns.
Play yer #1 riff to his drum pattern #A.
Then have him play his #B drums to yer #2 pattern.
Then put those two together - do #A1 like 8 x and #B2 like 4 times, repeat. Then switch 'em up.
Next, start with yer #3 bass pattern to his #C pattern, then do the second part starting with his #D drum pattern and you adding yer #4 pattern.
8x + 4x, then reverse, 4x + 8x.
Now in the middle or back 1/3 of each and for a bridge, add a breakdown of, say, 1/2 or 1/4 of yer riff on mebbe 1/2 of his drum riff; consider raising it a whole step, or lowering it a whole step.
Add a cool place to stop, before or after something else (ex., the bridge).
Mebbe do a half/time or a double-time (he can show ya).
You might actually end up with two songs.
(As always, beer may help, altho' I prefer whiskey. Or whisky. Point: stay loose, have fun.)
You'll certainly learn how to play together.
Play yer #1 riff to his drum pattern #A.
Then have him play his #B drums to yer #2 pattern.
Then put those two together - do #A1 like 8 x and #B2 like 4 times, repeat. Then switch 'em up.
Next, start with yer #3 bass pattern to his #C pattern, then do the second part starting with his #D drum pattern and you adding yer #4 pattern.
8x + 4x, then reverse, 4x + 8x.
Now in the middle or back 1/3 of each and for a bridge, add a breakdown of, say, 1/2 or 1/4 of yer riff on mebbe 1/2 of his drum riff; consider raising it a whole step, or lowering it a whole step.
Add a cool place to stop, before or after something else (ex., the bridge).
Mebbe do a half/time or a double-time (he can show ya).
You might actually end up with two songs.
(As always, beer may help, altho' I prefer whiskey. Or whisky. Point: stay loose, have fun.)
You'll certainly learn how to play together.
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Learn to hum the bass part, and then do it slowly until it gets down to your fingers. You’ll be making the brain-fingers connection. I did that with “The Mayor of Simpleton.” What a fun tune, and a feeling of accomplishment when I figured it out. Then I worked on getting it up to speed (slow-downer apps are a great tool for this).
I saw several posts above that mentioned root-five-octave. Good starting point; then throw the flat seven in there for some great grooving.
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If you can’t keep it in time, nothing else matters. The groove is paramount. Hug it like a baby.
Try being really friendly and encouraging and win their confidence. Lure them with beer if necessary. Then fire them.
Carl Palmer told Greg Lake to only play on the Bass Drum and that he would do the rest.
I would lead by starting on just the root of your favourite key and playing a little, simple rhythmic pattern. When he joins in, stay on that note until you feel the two of you are starting to get in the feel pocket together than gradually add some simple lines. Listen to how he responds and work that into your lines also.
I have heard and read so many bassists and drummers say, in one way or another, that nothing else much matters if the feel and the groove aren't happening.
"It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing."
I have heard and read so many bassists and drummers say, in one way or another, that nothing else much matters if the feel and the groove aren't happening.
"It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing."
Been good friends with a drummer that has retired, but played for a nationally well know band for over 30 years (I’m not going to name drop without his permission). Anyways, I am nowhere near his skill level but the few times we have played together he was always great about suggesting some really cool bass lines he has heard others play. Might be a great ice-breaker to just tell him he is way better than you and what does he suggest would be some good songs, or lines to play.
Good drummers are also good musicians and in my book, good musicianship will allow for experienced musicians playing one instrument to give some great advice to musicians playing another instrument. Anyone playing an instrument thinking only another player of that instrument can give them advice is likely not much of a musician.
Good drummers are also good musicians and in my book, good musicianship will allow for experienced musicians playing one instrument to give some great advice to musicians playing another instrument. Anyone playing an instrument thinking only another player of that instrument can give them advice is likely not much of a musician.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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He's a drummer. He needs something to drum to. Play something. Anything. He doesn't need to know what notes or chords or key, he just needs you to play something. Just play. He'll do the same.
A good drummer is a blessing. You could work on some riffs when you're jamming on your own at home, so you have some starting points to show him. That could eventually trigger his ideas, which in turn would feed back to you and empower the product. That's the basic "incremental" dynamics of creating music with other people. Don't be afraid, just drop your grooves, play them together, discuss them, modify them (even if he doesn't play bass/guitar, he's probably perfectly able to sing a certain correction he wants or a new melody line, isn't he?). Try to see his apparent inability to come up with the starting idea (not uncommon amongst drummers), not as an ostacle, but as an oportunity to make any music in your head become a reality. Just accept the challenge, you'll be fine.
An example of tune you could start with is "seven nation army" from the white stripes. A riff rythmic and melodic wich can lead you to other ideas. Even if there is no bass in the original version 
I have nothing to add to the thread, I just wanted to say this hit home for me:
In the few instances I have been lucky enough to play with other musicians, this is ALWAYS what happens. It's such a negative way to start what should be a positive experience, and it really does feel awkward.
In the few instances I have been lucky enough to play with other musicians, this is ALWAYS what happens. It's such a negative way to start what should be a positive experience, and it really does feel awkward.
Just watched this preview clip (lesson one, 12 minutes) off the SBL site. Really interesting and made me think of this thread. These guys have a bit of a discussion first and then demonstrate the concept and play some together.
I have limited experience outside of learning at home and then playing with my cover band, but watching this opened my eyes to pushing myself to be more aware how drums and bass can "flow" back and forth in terms of keeping timing.
Lesson 1: Thinking like a Drummer
I have limited experience outside of learning at home and then playing with my cover band, but watching this opened my eyes to pushing myself to be more aware how drums and bass can "flow" back and forth in terms of keeping timing.
Lesson 1: Thinking like a Drummer
