Ultimatum time!!!
5 against 1 should work.
If not mention the name of his new replacement.
Life's too short.
5 against 1 should work.
If not mention the name of his new replacement.
Life's too short.
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Way too loud...need some help
- Thread starter mello_bedwetter
- Start date
Usually with 3 guitars and a loud drummer. The best mix for the vocal only pa would be. Turn it all the way up until you get feedback. Then cross your fingers its loud enough.
Then when you have 3 guitars and a singer that tend to blame problems all on the drummer....who knows.
The Allman Brothers, Doobie Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Grateful Dead, Charlie Daniels Band. all had lots of guitars and vocals even had keyboards. Most important had very loud drums...why? most of them at one point had 2 drummers. Which i would have to guess would be very loud. So really you have to accept rock n roll is loud um kay. Drums are loud ok. Its like a Nascar driver saying ok guys I know its a race and all. but do you really have to drive so fast? can we slow this race down a bit. lol.
Then when you have 3 guitars and a singer that tend to blame problems all on the drummer....who knows.
The Allman Brothers, Doobie Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Grateful Dead, Charlie Daniels Band. all had lots of guitars and vocals even had keyboards. Most important had very loud drums...why? most of them at one point had 2 drummers. Which i would have to guess would be very loud. So really you have to accept rock n roll is loud um kay. Drums are loud ok. Its like a Nascar driver saying ok guys I know its a race and all. but do you really have to drive so fast? can we slow this race down a bit. lol.
Put the two loudest guys together, away from the mics. Have them face their gear away from everyone else, especially the cymbals - they ring out loudest straight out from the drumstick hit. You don't need to ask me how I know, I learned the painful way. 
It's been a long, long time since I've been involved in a "volume war" onstage. Our mix is perfect onstage. Plenty of low-end punch paired with perfect clarity. While we're playing, we can actually almost speak at a normal level. But, once you step off the stage and onto the dance floor. It's pure sonic bliss that hits you in the chest.
It just takes a lot of discipline and cooperation from all the players.
It just takes a lot of discipline and cooperation from all the players.
I'll see what happens tomorrow night. If they don't cooperate they will be short a guitar player and bass player...oh yea, and a PA.
Just make sure to properly blackmail them upfront. That way chances for changes improve a lot.
There needs to be more blackmailing in the musics world anyway. I try to blackmail my bandmates everytime I see a chance to. And it works. They almost always obey me now.
- Jul 7, 2010
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My question about the drummer is: when he plays, loud or not, are you guys able to FEEL the music or is it just play it to get to the next song feeling? I ask that because 1st and foremost if you can feel the music and the flow of it goes well for the whole band, then keep the drummer and put up a plexi shield. It works and he can play the way he likes. I have been in the same situation a few times and really we just mixed out front with amps and drums then brought the vocals up to match. For the vocalist I would suggest a in ear for him and let the monitors for the rest of you. If you don't like drummers "feel" then just replace him.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
As I see it, and having some experience in this vein, the problem is at least as much about the 3 electric guitarists as it is the loud drummer.
Very very few bands can really make that lineup work cause all three guitarists really need to have their egos (and stage volume) in check and really embrace the concept of playing for the song.
OTOH this particular drummer sounds like his attitude is writing checks his talent can't cash. On that basis alone I'd be in the camp of looking for a replacement.
Very very few bands can really make that lineup work cause all three guitarists really need to have their egos (and stage volume) in check and really embrace the concept of playing for the song.
OTOH this particular drummer sounds like his attitude is writing checks his talent can't cash. On that basis alone I'd be in the camp of looking for a replacement.
Best to replace the drummer. If he can't play at a volume that allows the vocalist to hear himself then the band will suck. No one wants to listen to bad vocals. Now if the vocalist gets IEM and can now hear himself better with the drums at a higher volume OK then play louder. Within reason.
As of right now the drummer needs to be a little quieter for the good of the band. If he can't / won't do that he isn't a team player or doesn't have much skill so get rid of him.
Sounds like a loud lousy sounding mess. I would can a guitar player too. No point in having three guitar players and then complaining about volume.
As of right now the drummer needs to be a little quieter for the good of the band. If he can't / won't do that he isn't a team player or doesn't have much skill so get rid of him.
Sounds like a loud lousy sounding mess. I would can a guitar player too. No point in having three guitar players and then complaining about volume.
It ended up going all right last night. I must not have been the only one that had a talk with the drummer. He was a lot better at this gig...not quite as loud but loud enough to keep "it" going. It didn't hurt that I talked to 3 people before hand and asked them to come up and say we were too loud and the drums needed to cut back a bit to get a balance. We did refuse to crank up our amps also. Overall it was a good night. 
One of the guitarists was getting out of hand at one point but it was caused by the level settings on a pedal. That was a quick fix.
One of the guitarists was getting out of hand at one point but it was caused by the level settings on a pedal. That was a quick fix.
If he can't come back on time after a fill, he's not that good. Not even average, IMO. Just sayin'.
My last band had a drummer that was too loud, played too hard, and would NOT change. We fired him after his second show with us. Problem solved.
If he can't/won't control his volume, IMO, he moves way down on the list of how good a drummer he is.
+1 to your idea of turning your stack on him and blast him away for a song or two.
For rehearsal, we used to surround the drums with sound board up past the cymbal level. We even hung a 4'x8' piece a few feet above him. That stuff really works.
+1 to still getting some plexiglass for the gigs, especially to save the vocalist's hearing.
I also suggest you keep talking to him about using his electric drums. That's really the answer, IMO.
Now that you made it through the your previous gig, now the time to work on all of the above and to have a band meeting to resolve the "too loud" issue or replace him.
I know you said you all work together but if he can't be an asset to your band business, he needs to understand it's a business decision that he brought on himself.
Maybe you can make some rehearsal/gig recordings so that all the members can hear how the group sounds. That way everyone will be able to comment on the band/individual volume.
Good luck.
Yup. I would last about 1 gig in a band with a drummer of that caliber. Either he'd be gone after that, or I would.
Loud does not equal musicianship. Volume is not a substitute for talent. The drummer may think it's funny, but you will lose gigs and your following (if one ever develops). Sure it's rock and roll but there is a point when its starts to physically hurt and that's not fun.
+1 with the ultimatum.
+1 with the ultimatum.
