What makes a drummer great?

[J Wilson]

For me, a drummer who plays the tune just like any other musician would.

To me, drums are the hardest as you're playing music on something that's essentially not musical in terms of pitch or tone or anything else a piano, a guitar, a horn, etc., no notes, no chords, so forth.

And while I've played with some great 'time' drummers who were wonderful in their time and what they played, but they were playing along with us as a timekeeper, a wonderful, living metronome, but they weren't playing the tune. Great players, but it just lacked a certain awareness, a presence in the music.

The best I've played with of course had great time, groove, and chops, but they played the tune. I could hear him playing along with a line here, a riff there, a chord back there, they played the song above all.

Often rare, but I've played with a handful of guys like that, and I remember each one.

 

[rodl2005]

Not overplaying.
Volume control.
Bringing something to the song, listening.

 

[REV]

Experience makes a drummer great. The same is true for most musicians. We all go through different phases in our musical journey. We all probably have a phase where we over play or have poor timing etc. etc. but after awhile if we stick with it long enough we start to settle down, listen to each other and serve the song.

 

[Patrice B]

Experience makes a drummer great. The same is true for most musicians. We all go through different phases in our musical journey. We all probably have a phase where we over play or have poor timing etc. etc. but after awhile if we stick with it long enough we start to settle down, listen to each other and serve the song.

I sometimes try to put too many rhythms or complicated figures… and I’m not Bill Bruford or Phil Collins Less is more, I shouldn’t forget…

 

[Jeff Scott]

To me, drums are the hardest as you're playing music on something that's essentially not musical in terms of pitch or tone...

About 20 years ago I went to a Danny Gottlieb clinic. The basis of that clinic was about pitch, tone, and melody. He showed just how musical a well set up drum set can really be.

 

[devnulljp]

Whatever this guy is doing. This whole band is great, but that drummer is just a whole other level.

 

[KenD]

The list of attributes would need to be long to encompass all of them. One of them would be mastery of dynamics. You mentioned Manu Katche. IMO he has impeccable, expressive dynamics, even within a short fill.

Drummers! We have quite a symbiotic relationship with them, don't we? A really good one can lift us (and the whole band) up a couple of notches; a not so great one can make us neurotic and want to chew on tin foil

And then there are these words from Chet Baker in the jazz realm: "It takes a pretty good drummer to be better than no drummer at all". I would say that Carmen Intorre Jr. gets well past that.

 

[Michedelic]

More Al Jackson, Jr, and less Neil Peart

 

[Killens84]

The drummer is the bus driver and everyone else in the band are passengers. I like drummers who drive the bus safely and smoothly.

 

[DTRN]

When they hold the groove.

 

[cymbop]

The great drummers?

Feel, touch. They manipulate the 2 and 4, sometimes dancing around the backbeat, sometimes just implying it with florishes.

And they're musicians first -- who happen to be playing on drums.

 

[ToddB1963]

They better not count off a waltz, or a 6/8 with a "One Two Three Four"

No, No, No!

Depends how it's counted off I suppose.

For example, counting:

"One (and a) Two (and a) Three (and a) Four (and a...)"

...or

"One (two three) Two (two three) Three (two three) Four (two three)

would both get a Yes Yes Yes from me

 

[Hummergeist]

Loose/flexible playing. Having fun. Dynamics. Listening. Being able to play another instrument makes a big difference also.

 

[StatesideRambler]

What makes a drummer great?
Same thing as what makes any musician great: coming to the gig prepared, a good ear, attention to the music being played, good feel, a sense of space, a sense of time, respect for the audience and for his bandmates, understanding and application of dynamics.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

A name above all?

Bernard “pretty” Purdie ..

Why? Impeccable timing and sense of groove ..

Example:

 

[Pontiac Thrasher]

For me, a drummer who plays the tune just like any other musician would.

To me, drums are the hardest as you're playing music on something that's essentially not musical in terms of pitch or tone or anything else a piano, a guitar, a horn, etc., no notes, no chords, so forth.

And while I've played with some great 'time' drummers who were wonderful in their time and what they played, but they were playing along with us as a timekeeper, a wonderful, living metronome, but they weren't playing the tune. Great players, but it just lacked a certain awareness, a presence in the music.

The best I've played with of course had great time, groove, and chops, but they played the tune. I could hear him playing along with a line here, a riff there, a chord back there, they played the song above all.

Often rare, but I've played with a handful of guys like that, and I remember each one.

I agree, my old drummer could play Rock Candy by Montrose without the band, he was really entertaining... When he finally showed up... If he showed up... When he was mostly sober... When he sat at the kit instead of running around with my bass instead...

 

[JimmyM]

When they rewrap their drums to look like an old Ampeg B15:

 

[HMZ]

One who learns the songs and can keep a beat. I don't think I ask for much BUT seems like a tall order.

 

[brocco]

Just like good bass players, time, correct tempo & FEEL. I have played with many good ones and TWO incredible ones.

 

[George Dennis]

When they can captivate you with the simplest of beats. Steve Jordan can do that, as well as JD Blair. It takes a level of skill and confidence to own a simple one/three beat.

And much like acoustic guitar, there is so much nuance in drums, just being able to hit the right component at the right time doesn't necessarily provide that feel and nuance that the greats produce.

Like this?

(Thanks for the thread @Dr. Cheese - I've also been wondering about this lately - and am really appreciating these excellent contributions!)