View Full Version : As a musician, what do you look for in a drummer?
Dale Cleary
09-28-2002, 01:57 PM
What would give one guy the edge over another at an audition?
This might be useful for younger players.
groovecake
09-28-2002, 02:24 PM
You can usually tell a drummer by his warm up. When my funk band was auditioning drummers...anyone who's warm up lick was "YYZ" by Rush was shown the door.
If a guy shows up with a kick, hi-hat and snare....now we're talking.
It's all about groove and time.
Rabin105
10-02-2002, 12:23 PM
Karn evil #9
Rabin105
10-02-2002, 12:23 PM
or Subdivisions by rush actually thats for keyboards
Neverthirst
10-02-2002, 12:28 PM
Originally posted by groovecake
... It's all about groove and time.
Ditto.
groovecake
10-02-2002, 12:45 PM
Originally posted by Rabin105
Karn evil #9
If a drummer played Karn Evil #9 at an audition, he'd be shown the door. If he worships Carl Palmer, I don't want him in my band...because Carl Palmer didn't groove and his time was horrible (points I have made in threads long past).
Neverthirst
10-02-2002, 01:00 PM
GC, do you recall those threads, what they were titled? I remember a great discussion of John Bonham there ....
Bonham ... groove and time ... he got under your skin and made your soul dance ...
Great drummers never get enough credit ...
haroldthebarrel
10-02-2002, 02:40 PM
Finesse'!
Oh.... and sound minds. Sorry, but there's something 'weird' about alot of drummers. Anyone echo that?
ANTIOCH
10-02-2002, 04:30 PM
Solid meter, strong kick and the desire to drive the music. Layed back worked for Ringo, but as we know; a powerful attack, neatly frameworked within the composition can be quite dramatic. And the drummer MUST understand dynamics !!
Squireaholic
10-02-2002, 04:40 PM
I like a drummer/percussionist who:
Shows up and is ready to start on time
Is pleasant on and off the stage
Knows the setlist
Stays within the genre being played
Plays at a volume appropriate to the venue as well as the music
Is not a 'russiandraggin'
Is considerate of other 'bandies and the audience
This seems like not a lot to expect, but it's very very hard to find someone with all of these attributes and all they entail by extension!
Rabin105
10-02-2002, 07:03 PM
Originally posted by groovecake
If a drummer played Karn Evil #9 at an audition, he'd be shown the door. If he worships Carl Palmer, I don't want him in my band...because Carl Palmer didn't groove and his time was horrible (points I have made in threads long past).
Wel you can't excpect most teenaged drummer to walk in and play ritual Owner and Perpetual change if I did i still would be looking for a drummer (though the other member of my band left i have no clue what is going on with my actual drummer so i think i'm the last member of my band)
Rabin105
10-02-2002, 07:06 PM
Originally posted by haroldthebarrel
Finesse'!
Oh.... and sound minds. Sorry, but there's something 'weird' about alot of drummers. Anyone echo that?
The lead singer of my last group was more spacy than Jon aderson so i know more weird singers and keyboadests than drummers (every keyboardest i met was either a bithc or eccentric and spurattic not good for somthing like subdivisions or I've seen all good people) I always got along with my drummers
PaulH
10-03-2002, 04:32 PM
When I play(ed) with drummers....beyond the musts like time and groove....something I always apprciated was patience.
There was one guy inparticular that got the job because he
didn't start grooving along to a song that we were teaching him
(an original mind you).
He didn't know the tune so instead of just half assed jamming along, like some drummers do....he sat back and listened to the whole tune and the noted the different sections....then on the second run he played along...but stopped as the new sections came up and got some imput about what we were looking for on a particular part.
Needless to say I was very impressed by this, as were the others and it made for a great writing and playing relationship.
There are also certain drummers I like to hear as influences for guys. I don't care about the Pearts, Palmers or Bohnhams....we all have to start somewhere....as long as they don't try to specifically emulate their styles. Those guys are like Peavey amps....we all use em when we are starting out y'know?
I love to hear.....Ritchie Hayward, as an influence....as far as rock goes he is at the top of my list for groove and feel.
JohnPaul
10-03-2002, 05:17 PM
- organized and timely setup...
- participates socially and not nervous
- good warm up, a little showie.. not too much..
- good equipment, even the funky gear
- looks for who's the lead of the process (which is often not the leader of the band)
- good timing a must ..and knowing how to skew time. Some songs lag the beat, others anticipate it... when to be unpredictable..
- something that stands out as a hook that this drummer hangs his hat on..
- Is he/she having a good time?
- When they make their move to offer something contributory, an idea about process or content, how do they gel? If they are quarky, can that be an positive attribute.
- Finally, I always look for what bothers them. I like an edge in a musician - particularly because that's what motivates me - and that edge has to be identifiable to work with it. Else, I fear a random rager.. and undependability sucks..
If it weren't for that last requirement, I'd've long ago bailed for drum machines! Mostly cause drummers almost always steal the chicks! (grin)..
What J.P. said!!!
Spot on...
But, it's also nice to have a good stick-twirler in addition to all of those wonderful attributes!
Joke:
What do you call a drummer without a girlfriend???
-Homeless!!! :D
therifferoo
10-06-2002, 05:06 PM
What do I look for in a drummer?
FEEL.
Two consecutive months of service before quitting and joining another band ...
... although I don't think I've ever actually seen that in the real world ...
Jackaranda
10-07-2002, 10:28 AM
John Lennon chose Alan White.
George Harrison chose Alan Whire.
Joe Cocker chose Alan White.
Ginger Baker (pretty great himself) chose Alan White.
Yes, a rapidly rising band on the world music scene, on the verge of mega-stardom, chose Alan White.
If I ever take up playing guitar again, I'm choosing Alan White!!!
Dale Cleary
10-07-2002, 10:36 AM
Riff would you mind elaborating on what you mean by "Feel"?
first off....flexibility in style - being able to switch fluidly from one to the other.
Second - consistant Hitting power. Being able to consistantly hit the skins with the same amount of force will save an enourmous amount of time in the studio...and allow you to record without squashing the kit with comp/lims. it also is very nice for the soundman at a live gig.
Third - respect for his gear ( i think that applys for all musicians)
forth - ya gotts like the guy ( or girl ). if ya can't stand being in the same room with someone you've got no biz tryin to make music with 'em.
all the above are taken in consideration after you find out if they can at least keep time....
As for the negative remarks over YYZ , well, It's ALL good. just different.
I happen to think Neil is a fine percussionist.
Nuff said
first of all: no ego! i hate egos... people have to realize that they are human!
second: FILLS, the fills have to be there...
third: TIMING, because i have great timing, theirs has to be on too, i am a bassist i follow the drums! also, i have always used keyboard sequences...
mess
The things I look for:
-Use the wrists, too. It is not always in the entire arm
-As many musicians unfortunately do; fast=loud, soft=slow. This is my biggest peeve of all musicians
-Dynamics. There are an infinite amount of volume choices between nothing and ear-splitting. Music has dynamics; use them.
-Don't play. Much like bass guitar, there is an art to subtlety. Some of the best players know when to hit and when NOT to hit.
-Be a girl! Pardon the reference, but it is a compliment. Percussion is not the exclusive domain of testosterone. I've learned a lot from female drummers. Best of all, be male and female in your physical approach to the most physically demanding of all modern Rock instruments.
Paul
Earl Grey
12-23-2002, 02:57 AM
I look for melody in a drummer. Ringo couldn't play his way out of a sack, but the fills he did: it elevated him to the level of a Beatle.
My favorite drummer to work with (and unfortunately, the most expensive drummer I know!) brings out all kinds of cool different percussion items... a digeredoo, or rainsticks... or a tabla...
He's always mixing things up in a good way. There are many many tones available to the decerning rhythemetist: there's only so many sounds that you can get from a trap-kit and a ride cymbal!
E.G.:yesbird:
Plastic Man
06-06-2003, 11:44 AM
anyone who plays like Phil Collins did!
Rabin105
06-07-2003, 02:52 PM
Originally posted by Plastic Man
anyone who plays like Phil Collins did!
or alan white
leqin
06-07-2003, 04:51 PM
Now thats a tough question if ever there was one.
Lungs, Heart, Kidneys, Liver, Intestines wouldn't go amiss and a few brain cells might help, plus blood and muscles and sinews and dem bones dem bones dem....
If your talking actually sitting behind the old ludwigs then speed and precision and ability to string more than a few hits of the skins together to make a pleasent sound and it might be a good idea if they had hand muscles strong enough to hold the sticks tight eneough that they don't drop one... I meant drop one of the sticks and what were you thinking I meant
:ele:
Sshhhh - pass it along - I heard that some bloke called Alan White is pretty good so far as drummers go and - just a sec - ah yes - some chappy called Billy 'Boy' Bruford, mind you I hear he uses those electronic thingy majigs a lot nowadays and actually I think they sound naff by comparison witha real mans drum set like that Alan bloke plays - mind you I'm biased and I like myself that way
Sheerah
06-16-2003, 02:36 AM
As a non-musician, Dale, a very important thing about any male drummer are his sexy arms and facial expressions. Sorry, that's what I look for, during a live performance.
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