Those darn Drummers

[StingEye]

Maybe it's just my drummer, but does anyone else find that a drummer has to have everything explained to him about 30 times before they understand the simplest of riffs. I mean I personally think this guy is very good and technically sound but he just doesn't seem top pick up on things like I would expect anyone else to. Not to mention he goes through these fits where he will seem to get a part down correctly but then like a month later go into stupid mode and forget the part almost as if he had never heard it before. Now I know drummers have a pretty tough role in a band anyways. Especially because we like to play odd time signatures and weird polyrhythms but that doesn't really explain the "forget" factor. I have heard similar stories from other bands as well. Is it that they just have a different train of thought???

 

[Mobay45]

I understand. A few weeks ago I came up with a cool line, but it was in a fast 3/4 time. The drummer, who is usually pretty sound, was stumped. Never did get it. That tune will never be written!

 

[spectorbassguy]

Fortunately the two drummers I play with on a regular basis are very good about learning riffs, etc. They tend to practice a lot at home, and it shows. And a little prayer never hurts either!

 

[spectorbassguy]

However that was not always the case. I recall a drummer I played with over 20 years ago that you couldn't even talk to after about the 2nd set. He'd get so messed up on coke and rum 'n' cokes that he'd nearly pass out by the end of the night. Just imagine the last set starting with Free Bird - the slow part? Use your imagination.
Oh well, we wouldn't be who we are if we hadn't gone through the things we did, right?

 

[Mantaray]

Man, was he that rich in order to do coke that often?

 

[spectorbassguy]

Man, was he that rich in order to do coke that often?

Even funnier was that his supplier was at every gig - he said he had to protect his investment (his drums and probably everything else he owned).

 

[bovinehost]

I went to a local jam a few months back. The house bassist is not the sharpest tool in the shed, but has good contacts so they keep him on as he gets them other gigs.

He arrives, late as usual, and - ta dah! - has forgotten his BASS.

Laid it on the driveway next to the car and drove off without it. Frantic phone call to wife (frequently cheated on), could you go outside and....?

Surprisingly, it was still there. I went ahead and let him use my Stingray, even though I really didn't want to, but he's just dumb, not evil (unless you are the wife).

 

[midopa]

Hehheh... The drummer I play with in my church's praise team is very good at getting beats down and keeping the time. However, he does, as I said in another thread, arrive late to practices and actual praise during Sunday! He's also far too loud, but telling him so never seems to solve the problem! All in all, a great drummer we've got! I think I'm spoiled - I haven't experienced the drummer-bassist experience that so many of you seem have to already!

 

[Mobay45]

He'd get so messed up on coke and rum 'n' cokes that he'd nearly pass out by the end of the night.

Some similarities between him and my lead guitarist/ lead singer. Rehearsals suck because you can only get things done for about and hour and a half because he gets drunk. That's why I'm looking for another gig right now. I'll keep playing with this band until I find another though. (Audition sometimes this month.)

 

[Disquieter]

Surprisingly, it was still there. I went ahead and let him use my Stingray, even though I really didn't want to, but he's just dumb, not evil (unless you are the wife).

who's reading this right now....


similar thing happened to me, there was a band we played with in seattle at the Ballard Firehouse (wooo!), and the bassist sets up his hugely obnoxious metal rig, turns it on "standby" (meaning ON), and goes and has a beer. then it's time for their set, and he opens the case.... tada! no effin strings on the effin pos bass, he took the strings off to change em, and never put new ones on, and didn't have any.

he's scramblin around, i finally get gracious enough and let him use my bass (5 string ibanez fretless haha!). took the bastid 10 minutes to figure out how to tune it up from drop D, then he took a small break and asked me in very low tones we had a convosation!

"hey....how do you play a fretless?"
"sigh.....ok, see those little white lines?"
"yeah" (gettin excited)
"ok ok, calm down...those aren't to be snorted alright?"
"yeah"
"play on the line"
"really?"
"yes"
"ok"

that was fun, i had to clean my bass after that to get the crappy playing off of it...

joel D.

 

[jubjub721]

i agree with u
its the free will
hiting things
and overall memory that drumers have truble with
lets see what betterthan few has to say
hes a drummer
this could get entertaining

 

[Mantaray]

Even funnier was that his supplier was at every gig - he said he had to protect his investment (his drums and probably everything else he owned).

F**k man!! I really can't work with drugs! It gets me real down when I see my band members using them!!! It gives me a sense that somethin's REALLY wrong in the band......

 

[Mantaray]

It gets me real down when I see my band members using them!!!

Correction: If my band members ever used them......

 

[StingEye]

...

Yeah maybe a part of the problem is that my drummer and guitarist spend atleast 30 min getting high before and after every practice. Personally I don't really have a problem with certain drugs as long as things get done. I personally don't need any extra "motivation" or "creative" energy to get through a 3 hour practice. It sucks and it wastes alot of time that could be used cursing the drummer for not getting his parts fast enough. But the guitarist and I seem to get along musically so I kinda stuck with it at the moment. Nobody else seems to like the same music that I do, and if they do they aren't very good musicians.

 

[LeftyLB]

I hate bands that take drugs at rehearsals!

Why?

Because they are so off their face when we arrive on time to take over the studio for our booking that it takes them another 15 minutes to pack all their **** away and vacate the room.

Drummers - Have played with the same guy for the last 10 years and he is the consumate professional. Ok, he might blag his parts some times when he has not done his homework, but once he has nailed it he keeps it there for eternity. Only gripe, over use of the double bass drum pedal.

Now, I don't have a problem with drummers not remembering their parts, but don't start me off on singers! - That is a sore spot.

 

[midopa]

Singers not remembering their songs? Haha

 

[LeftyLB]

Singers not remembering their songs? Haha

Singers not remembering their mike!

 

[Aussie Mark]

Singers not remembering their mike!

I've solved that problem. I look after her mic, and leave it in my mic case with all the other mics (I own the PA). Now all I need to organise for her is a GPS satellite navigation system for her car, so she can find the venue before the start of the first set.

 

[LeftyLB]

I've solved that problem. I look after her mic, and leave it in my mic case with all the other mics (I own the PA). Now all I need to organise for her is a GPS satellite navigation system for her car, so she can find the venue before the start of the first set.

Mate, what is it about singers and their time keeping - both whilst singing and before gigs.

We have often got to the situation, where three of us are re-writing the sets to see how many songs we can manage to do until he turns up, whilst the other person frantically rings him every five minutes to see where he is!

We even used to ring his Mrs up and act worried so that out of guilt she would nag him to leave the house on time - didn't work though!

Urhhhh!

Liam

 

[betterthanfew!]

I play in perfect time and never forget my parts


Hey, I agree with this stuff, except it applies to some of my drummer friends. My friend forgot his music, the one that i had memorized about three weeks before the concert, and he said he had it memorized, Botched the whole damn concert. Oh well