Double Bass Why don't drummers get more love here? (mostly a jazz rant - DB Forum Thread)

[eric_B]

I see a lot of negative references to drummers in posts covering some type or another of jazz. I have to admit that I don't understand this. The overwhelming majority of the music I like includes drums. My favorite jazz grouping is drums/bass/piano. Did a lot of guys here have bad experiences with overly loud drummers or something?

I play both drums and bass guitar, although more focused on drums (I'm drummer in my band).

As drums and bass usually are the 2 parts of the rhythm section, they are probably more tied together than other musicians.
So if either one plays bad or they don't sync well, it will probably annoy the other and undermine their 'job' more than - say - false notes by a violin player or a singer with bad timing.

BTW: the lack of love seems vice verse on drum forums

 

[J Wilson]

In my gigging days, if I was working with a great drummer, I could have cared less if the rest of the band could only carry a tune in a bucket.

And of course, bands often get it backwards: They'll kill themselves to get a great front man or hot guitarist, and ignore the rhythm section. Wrong.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Do you think I might be because this is a bass guitar forum?

This thread is actually in the double bass forum, though.

 

[Five or Six]

I saw a "T" shirt with the "banjo music " quote on it a few days ago. Thought it to be rather funny.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Drummers are like any other musicians. There are great ones, good ones, average ones, and less than average ones. Having played with some great ones, they can supercharge a group in amazing ways.

 

[dune]

While the majority of "fire the drummer" stuff I've seen here is just a running gag, as a bassist, what's more important than a great drummer?

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

Drummers aren't THAT bad.

Whats up with country bands, with 3 to 6 guitar players?
"Is each picker assigned a different string ?" -Hopefully a few are in tune.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Did you hear about the drummer that was so depressed about his bad timing that he threw himself behind a train.



I have a Zildjian of them !!

 

[Spectre Gunner]

Drummers and bass players make up the rhythm section of a band so it's natural that they are the butt of our jokes. I don't hang out on drummer forums but I'll bet that drummers make jokes about bass players.

 

[Groove Doctor]

What's the difference between a drummer and a toilet?​

The toilet only has to take crap from one butthole at a time. . .

 

[Sam Evans]

I love my drummer so much I married her ...

I suspect in the real world, we like drummers just fine. The Internet is just a good place to complain about things.

 

[Killing Floor]

Makaya McCraven is the best drummer alive today and IMO a top 10 living musician. He’s the living incarnation of Art Blakey.

How’s that?

 

[bassicmike]

How can you tell a drummer's at the door?

The knock gets faster...

How do you make it stop?

Pay for the pizza.

 

[john_g]

Because. They are...drummers...ick

=)

 

[overit]

I see a lot of negative references to drummers in posts covering some type or another of jazz. I have to admit that I don't understand this.

I didn't get it either until I played with a drummer that was all over the place on a short-lived gig. I've been fortunate to play with some really great drummers with the bands I've been in for the long term.

 

[HolmeBass]

That's exactly the thing I've been reading! Stuff like this. It applies to any instrument, but drummers get singled out. Why?

You would have to ask Chet Baker, and unfortunately he is dead.

 

[LowActionHero]

Do you think I might be because this is a bass guitar forum?

There's probably less drummer jokes in a drum forum, but I bet there's still a few...

 

[HolmeBass]

I love my drummer so much I married her ...

I suspect in the real world, we like drummers just fine. The Internet is just a good place to complain about things.

Carlos?

 

[HolmeBass]

I have a twofer:

Did you hear about the drummer who locked his keys in his car?











It took him two hours to get the bassist out.

 

[Discount Bassy]

My respect for bad drummers increased exponentially when I sat behind a kit a realized that I was even worse.