I've got a problem with a loud drummer, need some advice.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Macpb
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Dude!

Hey, whats up with all the pop ups?
Sorry, I didn't hear the song but did get offers of money and fame!
 
The drummer in my band is VERY heavy-handed. The floor around his kit has so much sawdust and woodchips that you'd think a beaver lives in his kick drum. This isn't a problem for practice or gigs, but for recording-- it's a royal pain in the ass. I'd get all the preamp levels and compressors set where I wanted them, but there would always be several snare or kick hits that clipped. I talked and talked to him about dynamics and how they are great for live playing but for recording we need more consistancy. He didn't seem to get it at first. But now he does and he's getting much better at controlling his dynamics. One of the things that helped was showing him the waveforms after recording a song: "see, these snare hits are great but then here, here, and here you slammed it _way_ too hard."

I realize this doesn't help your practice situation, I'm just saying if you make it a continuing dialog with the guy, you might make some headway. Don't make it into a criticism or insult-- that won't get you anywhere. But say things like "Dude, the drums sound great but they would sound even better if you could keep it quiet in this part and then go ballistic in this part."
 
Scottgman said:
The drummer in my band is VERY heavy-handed. The floor around his kit has so much sawdust and woodchips that you'd think a beaver lives in his kick drum. This isn't a problem for practice or gigs, but for recording-- it's a royal pain in the ass. I'd get all the preamp levels and compressors set where I wanted them, but there would always be several snare or kick hits that clipped. I talked and talked to him about dynamics and how they are great for live playing but for recording we need more consistancy. He didn't seem to get it at first. But now he does and he's getting much better at controlling his dynamics. One of the things that helped was showing him the waveforms after recording a song: "see, these snare hits are great but then here, here, and here you slammed it _way_ too hard."

I realize this doesn't help your practice situation, I'm just saying if you make it a continuing dialog with the guy, you might make some headway. Don't make it into a criticism or insult-- that won't get you anywhere. But say things like "Dude, the drums sound great but they would sound even better if you could keep it quiet in this part and then go ballistic in this part."
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Awww damn... you spelled everything correctly... :(
 
Scottgman said:
Erm... I'm not a drummer. :D
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Drumming??? I thought this was the grammar forum.

And, even though I hate myself for noticing, it's 'consistency' with an 'e'. Sorry.
 
Be a conductor

The non-dynamic drummer problem is pretty simple to fix:

During play, when you want him to lighten up, turn toward him and motion him to ease up, as a conductor would. If neither of you understand dynamic signals, sign up for a choir or invent your own.

When you want him to lay off the cymbals, tell him, "On this part, less cymbals please. . . OK, let's play that part again. . .", etc. Or "Don't bash 1/8th notes on those crash cymbals, it sounds like shit."

If in general, you want him to not play so heavily, tell him to not play so heavily.

If he flips you off or tells you to not tell him how to play, it's time to send him home because he's hopeless. If he says OK but still plays too heavily, send him home because he isn't taking you seriously or he's just dumb.

This game is all about communication.
 
Loud?

Give that man a role of duct tape for Christmas for crikees sake.
Doesn't seem like he's listening for tone anyway.( or at all maybe) Or say - well I just don't think its working out for the band. What? YOU'RE FIRED! :D
I did'nt realize there was an academic protocol for placing posts here. Go take some classes again I'f it makes you itch. Pontificus Maximus :p
 
apl said:
Drum machines don't have issues.
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Drum machines sound amazing.


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT.

*Coughs*
 
Of course they don't sound amazing. But they can be better that a bad drummer (the subject of this thread) and they can certainly have less attitude.:D
 
It's all about consistency and dedication. Fire him.
I've delt with drummers that want to re-write the song. For example: They get pissed of when you say, "The ride cymble is played in this part, not the hi hat." If they reply with, "Why don't you let me play what I want?" Then they need to be replaced with someone who'll play the song right.
In your case, you need a drummer that will fit your music. A drummer that uses 2B drumsticks with no tips because he'll break them off, or someone who breaks his cymbles is someone that needs to play in a punk band.
 
cobradenim said:
It's all about consistency and dedication. Fire him.
I've delt with drummers that want to re-write the song. For example: They get pissed of when you say, "The ride cymble is played in this part, not the hi hat." If they reply with, "Why don't you let me play what I want?" Then they need to be replaced with someone who'll play the song right.
In your case, you need a drummer that will fit your music. A drummer that uses 2B drumsticks with no tips because he'll break them off, or someone who breaks his cymbles is someone that needs to play in a punk band.
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This attitude pisses me off. I guess it's ok for a "session drummer", but a member of the band is just that - another musician writing and playing the songs. Fire him if he can't do it well - but get a drum machine or learn to play yourself if you want to be the damn drummer.
 
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