What is a drummer for?

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question444

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I got pretty frustrated with my band today and I would like you guys' opinion on the subject. I sing/play acoustic for a 4 guy group. We are doing some sort of technical stuff with "trading" back and forth of guitar chords...oddly placed timing. I feel that in order to get it tight, we need a solid beat to follow right? My drummer would make a mistake like get off a beat or accidently add/subtract some time. Everytime that happened I got off, and stopped us. Everyone in the band told me I shouldn't listen to his drumming and just keep doing what I'm doing, and that he would catch back up. I think that is ritarded. I think everyone should follow the drums, that is how everyone lines up time together, right? In other words, if he screws up the beat, then the song gets screwed up. They even suggested that we get a "strobe light" for everyone to follow in case he gets off, because "noone will even know we're using it to stay in time". Does anyone else think that is stupid? It's like, why don't we just use a drum machine then...
 
You guys are making this too hard. Just get the drummer not to screw up. Obviously, it will happen from time to time but you all need to be rehearsed enough to make it through a set without any song stopping screw-ups.
If the drummer is adding or subtracting time, a strobe light will just make it worse. Everyone will be trying to groove with the strobe light instead of each other.
 
ive practiced with a strobe light on before and all it did was give me a headache...not to mention i was screaming my balls off with the thing a foot from my eyes, but still...it wont help you play music. The drummer i used to paly with just got cocked all the time and broke shit, then passed out in the shit he broke...all that on top of constantly dropping beats. Drummers suck...thats all there is too it.
 
Well, i would say, follow the drummer, and when he screws up, DONT STOP!

Just keep going, stopping mid-song only makes the error happen more and more because you never get through it. Just play through the mess. this is where the "Band" really shows, if you are all in tune and are in the same groove then if one of you screws up, you will somehow get back on time with eachother. Tell the drummer not to stop or have him count out loud. what time is your stuff in? How long as he been playing?

Following a strobe light is stupid, not to mention annoying, if anything, you should follow a doodad(metronome).
 
It's called a click track and any Pro drummer plays with it all the time in ears!
Also, the Bass Guitar and Drums should be a unit!
If someone throws you off you need to fix it or it will become part of the practice session, and become a flaw in the music.
PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!!!!!!! :D
 
Obviously something has to be done, I can't just stop in the song. I rely a lot on his beat, I listen close so that we are tight together. Therefore when he gets sloppy I fall off. I think if he played tight, and everyone listened close to him and they were tight, we would all be perfect in time. I don't agree to "just keep going". I think you should work out the rough spot before advancing further in the song. Skipping it won't fix it. I don't want to learn how to just "get through it". Lately I've been pushing more unique timing on them but this one is simply 4/4 at about 140. It's just that the guitars are written as such that they rely on a solid beat to be accurate. The notes are placed on &'s, a's, e's, downbeat's, detailed. He's been into drums for about 4 years or something. He keeps the tempo but when he starts filling and adding other pieces, his tempo falls off and has gaps. Thanks for everyone's opinions so far...
 
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I've dealt with this before. The ONLY way to correct it is to stop the song, gently set your guitar down and beat the drummer with a 2"x4". Eventually, he'll start showing up to practice sober and everything will fall into place, but be patient!
 
Bdrum said:
It's called a click track and any Pro drummer plays with it all the time in ears!
Also, the Bass Guitar and Drums should be a unit!
If someone throws you off you need to fix it or it will become part of the practice session, and become a flaw in the music.
PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!!!!!!! :D
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Aaaaaaaaaaa-men!!

I used to play to a metronome that had a flashing light in one of my old bands. We set it on a music stand across the room so everyone could see it. It was hard instead of an audible click, but it forced me to get my feel right. If the drummer can't get the tempo right, doesn't know where 1 is, and refuses to improve, its time to audition someone who can.
 
Yup. I'd say you're looking for someone... with a little more experience.
 
If your drummer can't manage to play a 4/4/ at 140 he certainly won't be able to effectively play to a clcik, a strobe or anything.

A drummer's main job is to keep the beat and certainly most musicians tend to follow the groove set by the drums. If the drummer screws up, he should be able to correct himself within a beat or two - if not then possibly the band has to quickly adjust mid song.

However, that obviously is not the long term solution. If your drummer is not competent or dedicated to his craft enough, then you need to get a different drummer. A good drummer can play 4/4 in his sleep and should be able to play any time signature (most good drummers love playing complex time).

If you plan to play on any professional/semi-professional level, you must learn how to adapt to errors other players make on the fly - while at practice there may be times when a song must be stopped to make corrections, a good player should never stop simply becuase they get lost (stopping a song due to error live is about the worst possibly thing a band can do).

Scrubucket7 - drummers do not suck. Any given musician may suck because they are not committed to thier craft - and I must admit that I've known drummers who did not pursue thier instrument with the same level of focus that a guitarist or pianist may - but all drummers do not suck. However, all lead vocalists do suck :D
 
Sounds like you and the drummer need to show up to practice about 30 minutes before everyone else and work through the troublesome spots...

If he's doing fine until he throws in a fill, then he needs to abstain from doing fills (or perhaps just tone down the fills he's attempting) until he has it down.

CAN he play to a click?

If not, then he needs to show up about 30 minutes before you and work on his own...

If he can't (or won't) tighten up, perhaps your next drummer will...

:rolleyes:
 
mikeh said:
Scrubucket7 - drummers do not suck. Any given musician may suck because they are not committed to thier craft - and I must admit that I've known drummers who did not pursue thier instrument with the same level of focus that a guitarist or pianist may - but all drummers do not suck. However, all lead vocalists do suck :D
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ROFLMAO!!!!!!

:D :D :D :D :D
 
Let me give you a bit of advice. I've been in 3 bands or so - actually doing stuff with the current one. As a drummer, I know how frustrated you guys get when we lose time. I can't compensate for your drummer's lack in skill, but I can offer some advice. It's better if you see the problem - deal with it - then move on. By this, I mean if he screws up, don't throw a fit and walk out. Take it easy and just keep on practicing - it's the only way to move ahead, and communication is always key. I love improvising certain things in our some of our songs when we practice, and sometimes I do mess up - but it's for the better.
The only way to get better is to learn from your mistakes.

Just keep pushing on!
 
ez_willis said:
I've dealt with this before. The ONLY way to correct it is to stop the song, gently set your guitar down and beat the drummer with a 2"x4". Eventually, he'll start showing up to practice sober and everything will fall into place, but be patient!
Click to expand...

Do you know if this trick works for bassists? I've found bass to be the hardest instrument to record because it's easy to fake live but the hardest to actually master.
 
corban said:
Do you know if this trick works for bassists? I've found bass to be the hardest instrument to record because it's easy to fake live but the hardest to actually master.
Click to expand...


NOoo!!! Definitely won't work for bass players!





p.s., I'm a bass player. :)
 
find a new drummer......clearly he is not on par with the rest of the group ;)
 
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