Alright "drummers" what's the connection??

I myself am a classically trained player. I've played with a few AAAA Orchestras in New York (AAAA as like a step before major leagues). The "drummers" that you see in orchestras consider themselves "percussionists" even though they are still the black sheep of the music family.

I can tell you that I am drawn here because of the experiences that I have had in my life, which have nothing to do with music at all. I personally play tuba, trombone (both of which I was trained for), guitar, a bit of drumset, ocarina, flute, and basically anything that requires me to read "real" music. Not like you drummers.

Anyway, interesting thread OP! It's always nice to have something different to think about given all the doom and gloom threads lately.

(And BTW, I am a sort of rocker too. I played with a few funk bands in my day on lead 'bone...I'm not as uppity as I appear. )


Peace be with you.

-truthseeker

reply to post by Wookiep



[edit on 1/6/2010 by Sauron]

reply to post by Sauron

Originally posted by Sauron
Real Drummers are leaders of the band. Much like in real life, leaders of men. They set the tempo they are solid, reliable and consistent. They can be counted on to be there at the end. Amateur drummers, like many people just follow along.

To be serious for a minute, one of the best drummers I ever played with - this was in a rock band - told me that the drummer's timekeeping function was a myth, and that it was the business of every musician in the band to play in time. I was forced to acknowledge the truth of this, although it must be said that it's a lot harder to play in time when the drummer isn't. In fact, it's impossible.

Still, some drummers are, in many ways, the lynchpin of their bands on stage (where you can see them; don't know about in the studio). In rock, Charlie Watts's solid foundation is legendary, but to really see a drummer controlling the music on stage you had to watch John Bonham. Jimmy Page conducted, but Bonham was the disciplinarian. Strange that he was such a mess away from the drum kit. Stranger still to contemplate what a self-indulgent mess Led Zeppelin would have been without him. Another on-stage commander was Roger Taylor of Queen. Everybody turned to him for their cues - even Freddie.

Those are pretty obvious examples from legendary bands. I'm sure there are many more.

To be serious for a minute, one of the best drummers I ever played with - this was in a rock band - told me that the drummer's timekeeping function was a myth, and that it was the business of every musician in the band to play in time. I was forced to acknowledge the truth of this, although it must be said that it's a lot harder to play in time when the drummer isn't. In fact, it's impossible.

Yes I agree with the timing part.
One of the guys I play with always messes up his timing at one spot in a song but you never hear us lose our sync.I have learned to count myself thru the mistake so we all land in the right spot.
Even when one goes out of time...you have to catch them.
If I played like a perfect metronome then I would have lost him.
If everyone is tight then who is the wiser?

The best bands can make 100 mistakes and you will never know it because they can play thru it and make it look like it was all supposed to happen on purpose.

reply to post by Astyanax


All I've got to say is, Danny Carey.

Do even a quarter of what he does on a kit.. He's an artist in every sense of the word, along with every other member of Tool really.

Most People Who drum that I know got into it for the coolness factor, but sometimes the less hip the person is, the better drummer they are. Maybe its because they arent worried about their outward appearance, and they just focus on the drums. I like to think I walk the fine line between both, haha.

but on the coolness factor, alot of us here at ATS like to think we are in on the real scoop, that we know what alot of other people just dont know, again, this is kind of like a coolness factor of going again the grain or what have you.

Personally, I love funk drumming. just bottom basement rawness with insanely placed hi-hat washes and cut time going from a nice quarter note basic beat to 16th's and 32'nd then back to quarter notes like its nothing. My guitarist and i have been working together for about a year, but our bassist shows up maybe 1/3rd of the time so he has a hell of a hard time keeping up with our "out of the middle of nowhere" transitions.

One of my heroes---------





[edit on 1-6-2010 by drsmooth23]

reply to post by Wookiep


wierd you would post this. I'm a drummer as well, self-taught and have been playing since I was young. It's funny that most of the other musicians that love to openly discuss this type of stuff outside of ATS seem to be drummers or percussionists.

Must be some sort of hard-wiring in the brain that makes us all crazy!

But in all seriousness I am thrilled at your post, I never realized so many of us were indeed drummers. I'm going to have to do some research.

Put me on the list ! I am a drummer, been playing drums for 26 years.
I have always compare drummers to bus drivers. Drummers drive the songs while the others band members and the crowd follow along.

Nice post OP !

Edited to add: My favorite drummer is the Canadian Neil Peart one of the best percussion technician.

[edit on 1-6-2010 by St-Patrick]

Drummer here too, I think its always just been about the music for me. Anytime I listen to my ipod I will be tapping or air drumming along with the songs. Maybe I'm here because I never listened to anything in school, other than my ipod.

heres one of my favorite drummers...

After the drums and bass lock in, the rest is just wanking.

Nice Thread. never knew that alot of drummer where here. I'm a Drummer, but also play Percussions and Piano.

Nice to see alot of musicians on ATS!


regards,

I'm not sure if it is some sort of conspiracy that there are lots of drummers here or not. Maybe just people that are into music are also into opening their minds?.....
I know there are lots of people here from Texas, but i don't think that means anything either though.

But I think it would be awesome if Danny Carey was here on ATS. It seems right up his alley.

reply to post by whaaa

After the drums and bass lock in, the rest is just wanking.

When you get to heaven, try that one on Chopin.

Well, my screen name should answer your question. And, NO, I'm not a fisherman-- I played drums as a teenager, but there were to many drummers around, and no one played bass, so I started playing bass around age 17 or 18. I think all musicians tend to look at things somewhat differently. We are a slightly different breed, so to speak. Btw, I'll spare you all the bad drummer jokes I know....

Rock on !!

reply to post by bassman013


Nice name. bassists are sooo under-rated! They follow my lead and visa versa to form the backbone of a song.

I play bongo and Native American drums - does that count? Cool - love drums!

reply to post by crazydaisy


Bongos are "drums" so I'd say that counts! (maybe I shoulda said "percussionists")

[edit on 2-6-2010 by Wookiep]

reply to post by kyle43

A music magazine I like described Mr. Helders's style as 'propulsive'. It's the perfect adjective. Actually, I don't think that video does him justice, partly because you can't hear much of the rest of the band.

I suspect the drum intro to 'Brianstorm' is an artificial studio creation but I hope I'm wrong.


[edit on 2/6/10 by Astyanax]

I play the guitar, as I am sure many do on ATS. I guess guitarists being a dime a dozen make it to where there is no point in advertising the ability. Drummers on the other hand are musicians of circumstance....if you have the space and are able to be loud, you can then learn the intricacies of the acoustic set. Some are bound to an electric kit and, unless its a $3000 Roland, it probably won't show up in an avatar.


Oh and here is a challenge for you drummers, if you can play it, U2U me, we should talk.

boomp3.com...

[edit on 2-6-2010 by SmokeandShadow]

I am a guitarist who used to play drums. There are a lot of folks like that. Frank Zappa, Al DiMeola, Eddie Van Halen all played drums before becoming guitarists. I read an interview years ago where DiMeola said that his favorite part of his concerts was when he got to play his timbales.

As for the topic, I do believe that musicians in general tend to be more analytical than people who don't play any kind of instrument. Yes, I know there is plenty of evidence contrary to this. However, my personal experience has shown me that musicians tend to think about what is happening around them.

How do you shut a drummer up?

Put a piece of sheet music in front of him.