In the Rock world I liked them better when I was younger. Saw Cream in 1968 in Santa Barbara, Ginger Backers solo on "Toad"was truly epic! Bruford, Rich, Steve Gadd etc , yeah all good stuff
Jim
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Who like drum solos?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
Jim
The problem with percussion solos is that they're much harder to make interesting. You need to be really creative with your rhythms to make an interesting drum solo, since there's much less variety in your sound. While you have 12 notes in each octave on most instruments, you have only a few different sounds. Even Neil Peart, with his huge drum kit, is much more limited, pitch-wise, than any pitch-instrument. Though you can get away with simple and/or uninteresting rhythms when you have a bunch of notes, it's much harder to sound good while noodling on a drum kit.
I don't like drum solos because i'm jealous- what bass player wouldn't be? The guy who does practically the same job as you but without notes gets to solo about 100% more than you ever get to do. And bass players actually can make melodies! IMO they should just be content with doing funky fills like the rest of us.
Not all drum solo, but I always get the shivers listening to Bonzo playing Four Sticks.
I feel that the "art" of the drum solo has been lost, wandering the wilderness. Out there with the bass solos and keyboard solos.
Just as the trend in music is to limit guitar solo time (see nashville), the tendency to cater to ADD has affected the performance parameters of other instruments as well. The truth is, not many can play well enough these days to compose a decent solo.
Excess is the other problem. The epic performances by guys like Ian Paice and John Bonham that took up a whole LP side were terrific, and if they hadn't done it someone would be doing it now. But the fact is, they indeed performed 20 minute solos way back in 1971. It's been done.
So the challenge to the modern drummer is to play
A) a decent solo when you haven't really heard one because nobody's doing it anymore,
B) express yourself creatively in the compressed time allowed by modern attention spans, and
C) do it in a way that isn't derivitive, ie: playing half your solo with your hands à la John Bonham or melodies on the cowbells à la Neil Peart.
It can be done. And people can dig it.
But you have to know what you're doing, and there's really not much of that among modern drummers.
Ok, drummers in general, but you guys know what I mean....
Just as the trend in music is to limit guitar solo time (see nashville), the tendency to cater to ADD has affected the performance parameters of other instruments as well. The truth is, not many can play well enough these days to compose a decent solo.
Excess is the other problem. The epic performances by guys like Ian Paice and John Bonham that took up a whole LP side were terrific, and if they hadn't done it someone would be doing it now. But the fact is, they indeed performed 20 minute solos way back in 1971. It's been done.
So the challenge to the modern drummer is to play
A) a decent solo when you haven't really heard one because nobody's doing it anymore,
B) express yourself creatively in the compressed time allowed by modern attention spans, and
C) do it in a way that isn't derivitive, ie: playing half your solo with your hands à la John Bonham or melodies on the cowbells à la Neil Peart.
It can be done. And people can dig it.
But you have to know what you're doing, and there's really not much of that among modern drummers.
Ok, drummers in general, but you guys know what I mean....
I wonder if on talkdrum they have a thread on who likes bass solos.
I don't like drum solos it's like "look at me" show off stuff. I'd much rather hear good beats in songs than drum wa*k
I feel the same way, generally, about drum solos as I do about bass solos. Throw in a cool lick, or a sweet transition, and lay down a great groove for the guitar or piano to solo over. I like to play melodically and aggressively all the time, so taking a solo seems non-essential. Drums and bass, to me, don't sound great on their own, but man, once you add another instrument, be it a guitar, or a horn, or some keys, that's when the true magic happens. And don't you just love it when a lead player 'gets it' and figures out that when we are doing our job on the bottom end, it makes them sound better? That's the real mojo to me. I had a guitarist turn to me at a gig recently and tell me, "it's an HONOR to play with a great rhythm section."
I stated earlier that I was not a fan of drum or bass solos, but I want to add something: As a student of music, I do enjoy watching solos. I think it's a great way to study a great musician's technique, especially if you're are watching a video. However, as a great listening experience, not so much.
Cheers
Cheers
- Oct 18, 2012
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I don't like solos on any instrument. I find them to be extremely boring and nothing more than self indulgent crap. When I go to a concert and each member of the band does their solo, I take that time to get something to eat and drink or go to the rest room.
I also feel the same way about bass "solos"- more than a minute is way too long, unless it is an ensemble solo. I do like a one or two bar bass break- like entwistle on My Generation.
Honestly, bass on it's own is lacking something. I like the way Marcus Miller does it- he brings the whole band back in or doesn't let them drop out in the first place.
The first minute of Neil's drum solo was fine the 6 times I saw it, but after the 3rd minute I was checking my watch.
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I mostly don't like solos much where the rest of the group drops out completely. There are exceptions, of course.
I generally don't care much for any solos. Especially soloing on what are traditionally 'non-melody' instruments such as drums or the bass. But that's me.
I forgot who said it, but I agree with the rocker who said: Don't throw in a guitar solo just because you're too lazy to come up with another verse of lyrics.
Wise words.
I forgot who said it, but I agree with the rocker who said: Don't throw in a guitar solo just because you're too lazy to come up with another verse of lyrics.
Wise words.
Indeed. I don't even think every song needs a guitar solo. Most don't, in my opinion.I generally don't care much for any solos. Especially soloing on what are traditionally 'non-melody' instruments such as drums or the bass. But that's me.
I forgot who said it, but I agree with the rocker who said: Don't throw in a guitar solo just because you're too lazy to come up with another verse of lyrics.
Wise words.
