How do YOU deal with a loud drummer?

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 12 Dec 2008 11:43 am

The best way to deal with a loud drummer is with a sharp knife.

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 12 Dec 2008 12:29 pm

A good old fashion 12 gauge shotgun blast usually rearranges the drum set in such a manner that it quiets them down considerably.

Austin Tripp · Post by **Austin Tripp** » 12 Dec 2008 7:21 pm

A good old fashion 12 gauge shotgun blast usually rearranges the drum set in such a manner that it quiets them down considerably.

I agree with Les. A Remington 1100 12 gauge shooting 00-buckshots will deffently quite a drummer. Or they will be jealous and try to play louder and match the decibals of the 12 gauge.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 12 Dec 2008 7:56 pm

Knives? Guns? Say what?! Sounds more like a way to get your butt kicked in, and I've seen that happen when somebody dumps on a good drummer.

Showing lack of respect is hardly the way to get on with a drummer. A good drummer makes a band, not the other way around.

I agree with WC - on hardcore honkytonk music, I don't care whether it's country, blues, rockabilly, swing, or something else, I also like an assertive drummer with a great backbeat. Of course, that doesn't mean overplaying - but the great drummers I've known drive the band without cluttering it up. It ain't just how hard they hit. To me, a good drummer will clearly establish the beat and the feel without adding a lot of extraneous noise. But that doesn't necessarily mean being Caspar Milquetoast.

I'll bet some of you are just dealing with bad or unmotivated drummers.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 12 Dec 2008 11:47 pm

I good drummer for me is one I don't even notice.

Ric Epperle · Post by **Ric Epperle** » 13 Dec 2008 12:32 am

In our band there were three musicians and a drummer.

Thank you very much... I was a drummer in my distant past.............

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 13 Dec 2008 12:26 pm

Dave Mudgett wrote:...Showing lack of respect is hardly the way to get on with a drummer. A good drummer makes a band, not the other way around....

Yes, of course. I was only joking. I don't own a gun and I don't carry sharp knives around.

Having attempted to play drums from time to time I'm very appreciative of those who can do it properly.

(Just like those who can play the steel guitar properly...)

Austin Tripp · Post by **Austin Tripp** » 13 Dec 2008 8:41 pm

Knives? Guns? Say what?! Sounds more like a way to get your butt kicked in, and I've seen that happen when somebody dumps on a good drummer.

I dont believe anyone would kick someones butt who was holding a 12 gauge shotgun (I know I wouldn't). But I was just kidding also. You have to have fun some times!!

Also, I used to play the drums in 9th grade. I played snare and the quads. Also the drummer in my old band played and sang at the same time. And he was 53 so YES I do have respect for drummers, they give the band some umph.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 13 Dec 2008 11:17 pm

I sort of know those gun and knife comments were in jest, although the normal way to communicate that would be through liberal use of smileys, which were conspicuously absent on many of these.

But the other thing is that certain kinds of things are much better left unsaid, and I think that kind of "joke" is one of them. It's sort of like pointing a weapon at someone - never do it if you don't mean it. IMHO.

I dont believe anyone would kick someones butt who was holding a 12 gauge shotgun (I know I wouldn't).

There are people out there who can take a gun out of most peoples' hands and thrash them with it. Braggadocio about weapons is not very impressive, and can be bloody dangerous.

But my real point is that I'm baffled by the level of disrespect of drummers I hear on this thread. Trashing of other instruments and other approaches to music is pretty endemic on this forum. Drummers come good and bad, motivated and unmotivated, with widely varying stylistic approaches, and lots more. I think this kind of trash-talk serves no useful purpose. If drummers I worked with came across me making comments like this on a public forum, I think it would hurt my ability to work with them. If you communicate that type of attitude in your working relationship with other musicians, I think you should expect poor results.

The original poster asked a serious question about how to deal with a loud drummer. It's a real question about a real issue for many musicians. At the very least, this trash talk is way off-topic.

My opinions, of course.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 13 Dec 2008 11:33 pm

I have a drummer friend.

He can sing 6-7 songs by YES,in full range,
while playing the drums.

And can play either Bill Brufford's
or Alan White's drum style on call.
While singing the parts from ANY of
the lead singers voice style periods.

I think he is touring with RHOF members Herb Reed and The Platters
right now. He can play Yes and Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
with proper taste and feel.
I have played in country, jazz/latin , western swing,
speed-metal, hardrock and wedding bands with him.

He also sings, writes and performs on guitar.
but HE IS an exception.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 14 Dec 2008 11:04 am

Dave Mudgett wrote:...liberal use of smileys, which were conspicuously absent on many of these.....

I went back and added a few more in case anyone should take my comment the wrong way.

Brian McGaughey · Post by **Brian McGaughey** » 14 Dec 2008 7:48 pm

David L. Donald wrote:I good drummer for me is one I don't even notice.

Bingo. In popular music, the drummers first and foremost job is to make the other players sound good and the song FEEL good, and that is done by first and foremost not attracting attention to ones self. I know this about drumming because I IS one, and it's taken me nearly 35 years to figure that out.

It would seem to me that if a heart-to-heart talk with your drumming bandmate doesn't do the trick, look for another. I know first hand some people are more open to criticism than others.

We all have our issues with those whom we make music with. Mine: tinned eared, non-consonant, out of tune 6 stringers... $:\$
(It ain't my steel, really).