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What’s the best way to deal with a drummer who plays too slow?

#64
Eddie LeBlanc said:
We had a Bolshevik drummer for a few years. (You know Russian) Finally bought a drummer Speedometer and made him use it. And every set list for him had BPM on each song.

I think we used Tempo Ref.
Tempo REF

Another is Backbeater
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There are likely others.
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Yep, these are the kinds of things serious pros use, like the TAMA unit I posted above. There's many other options like these. Nobody can just magically land on an exact tempo every time, gig to gig, song to song, night to night, I don't care how good your time is. Now, if your drummer somehow thinks this is a crutch, maybe then you should "fire the drummer":)
 
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#69
Simple. He's being bullheaded. The only thing he'll understand is bullheaded. Next time he starts it that slow, stop the song. And say....

"Sorry guys. We're just gonna have to pick another song. I can't play this one that slow. What's next on the list?"

It'll get solved one way or the other. Be prepared. One way could lead to your looking for a gig. For me it would be totally worth the risk. Tempo issues I cam take IF YOU'RE WILLING TO WORK IN IT AND TAKE STEPS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. Tempo issues followed by "Screw you. I play drums." and one of us has gotta go. And I frankly don't care if it's the drummer or me.
 
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#73
i've been very fortunate over the years having played with some great drummers. the worst was a drummer that was usually slow (and occasionally his tempo could be visually represented with a sine wave). nice guy, just not a very good drummer. i've played with drummers who's tempo was naturally fast - gimme that every time. i can deal with too fast. but too slow drives my bass-playin' ass insane.
 
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#74
Kael said:
Tell them what needs to change. When it doesn't change, replace them. This is business. They are not doing their job.
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Ha! Fire the drumner. :thumbsup:

I suggest getting the BPM for each song, get the other people to agree, hook up a metronome to the PA and play it like a click track during rehearsal.

Yeah, really blow things up. :lock:
 
#75
I didn't read all the replies, so maybe it's been said...

1. Write the tempos of each song down on the charts, set list, notepad, etc.
2. Use a metronome only to set the tempo at the start of a tune, but not while playing.
3. Someone else count in.

I find most often the drummers (really any musician) who are adamant about not playing to a metronome are the ones who need it the most. There are plenty of pro drummers, totally solid, phenomenal chops who gig with a click track for each song.
 
#76
Lagado said:
They would sing a couple of bars to themselves on the sticks before they counted in.
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In the absence of a metronome or beat counter, singing part of the song before counting off can help a lot in setting a correct tempo. I do it if I'm counting off. I ask our worship pianist to do it. She generally starts song intros too fast. I think it is because when she practices, she is not singing along and is used to just whipping through songs quickly to get familiar with them.
 
#79
Get a cellphone metronome app, research the bpm on the cover songs, and incorporate the whole band playing songs at tempo in a collective manner at rehearsals (not to call out the drummer). The drummer will get it right if he can keep time solidly.
 

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