Are there any Drummers that know how to play with a band?

Greg Lambert · Post by **Greg Lambert** » 11 Apr 2018 12:13 pm

I have only played with a few that know how to play with the band instead of above the band. They were all drummers at Steel Conventions. Most were from Nashville.

ALL of the local drummers around here sound like a mortar barrage going off behind the band. This , in turn , drives the volume up from the rest of the band which signals the drummer to get even louder. An endless cycle.

Brooks Montgomery · Post by **Brooks Montgomery** » 11 Apr 2018 12:18 pm

I hear the beeping of a dump-truck backing up, getting ready to raise dump bed

Ronald Heinzel · Post by **Ronald Heinzel** » 11 Apr 2018 1:48 pm

In the mid 70's I played in a country rock band, 3 guitars, bass, PSG and drums, fast forward to today and I've played with many different drummers, the good ones are steady dependable and don't look to be Gene Krupa ! IMHO that original drummer is the best I've ever played with ! Not surprising he has two Emmy's !

Rick Abbott · Post by **Rick Abbott** » 11 Apr 2018 3:07 pm

I am truly fortunate to play in two bands. Both bands have the best bass players I've ever played with. Even more fortunate that that is: Both drummers are great musicians and NEVER over-power a song, sure if it's a rocker...they're on it, but they both play for the song, and nothing else. I rarely use hearing protection with either band. Seriously!

Yes, it's a miracle.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 11 Apr 2018 4:41 pm

We have a wonderful drummer. He is very knowledgeable about several styles of music, plays well, with style and finesse, and is a very good singer. He's a real team player.

Kevin Fix · Post by **Kevin Fix** » 11 Apr 2018 5:00 pm

We have a solid drummer and bass player in our group also. Plays soft when he is supposed to and puts the drive where it needs to be. Our drummer and bass player work 'Hand and Glove" together. Back in the 90's I was playing big clubs. It got loud at times. The drummers back then built a plexiglass wall that they would put in front of the drum set. Helped keep our stage volume down.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 11 Apr 2018 5:24 pm

Yup! The ones that you program like EZDrummer.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 11 Apr 2018 5:49 pm

Lee Baucum wrote:We have a wonderful drummer. He is very knowledgeable about several styles of music, plays well, with style and finesse, and is a very good singer. He's a real team player.

The best drummers I have worked with have all been good singers and understood song structure. One in particular was also an excellent multi-instrumentalist.

Brooks Montgomery · Post by **Brooks Montgomery** » 11 Apr 2018 5:58 pm

Fred Treece wrote:
Lee Baucum wrote:We have a wonderful drummer. He is very knowledgeable about several styles of music, plays well, with style and finesse, and is a very good singer. He's a real team player.
The best drummers I have worked with have all been good singers and understood song structure. One in particular was also an excellent multi-instrumentalist.

In my local-yocal small-time bar-gig world, that very well describes the drummer that I've been playing with. He's the band leader and main vocalist. Small kit with snare, tom, bass, ride, and hi-hats. Tasteful, subtle. He and his dad collect drums: I think they have have about 60 or more kits going back to the 30's . Cool stuff.

john widgren · Post by **john widgren** » 11 Apr 2018 7:26 pm

I mostly try to just keep my own sidewalk swept.

Doug Cassell · Post by **Doug Cassell** » 12 Apr 2018 4:21 am

They do exist, but are few and far between. When you find one, it's like finding gold! Hold on to him/her!

What I found strange is that two of the best drummers I've ever played with didn't believe they were very good, and therefore didn't stay with it. Why!!!!!?

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 12 Apr 2018 4:41 am

Many years ago I played in a 4 piece band with an outstanding drummer who had a light touch and played a very small drum kit. He came from a jazz background.

He refused to set up behind the bass, guitar, and steel; choosing, instead, to set up his kit up front with the three of us.

Because of his playing technique, it worked out just fine.
He was up front where he could interact with the audience/dancers and the amps were behind him, where he could hear them. He also didn't need any extra monitors, since he could hear the floor monitors we had set up at the front of the stage.

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 12 Apr 2018 4:43 am

There are quite a few around the Austin area. Maybe it's because the Central Texas area is so well stocked with good musicians, why put up with a bad one?

Steve Spitz · Post by **Steve Spitz** » 12 Apr 2018 5:37 am

Here in New Orleans, there are so many gigs in small clubs. An army of good sidemen come here for that reason. I couldnâ€™t see not being able to work these rooms and make a living, or even get a second gig.

I guess that quickly weeds out those that donâ€™t understand basic dynamics. Ive never stopped to think how lucky we are. It quickly weeds out anyone who doesnâ€™t â€œget itâ€.

I really think the market dictates it. Generally speaking, anyone who consistently plays too loud stops getting gigs.

I should add that most music here is mostly â€œ traditional â€œ in some sense. People didnâ€™t play super loud back in the day.

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 12 Apr 2018 6:52 am

Like ANY musician, there are a good & not so good drummers. Like ANY musicians, some are too loud, some are not. Find the ones worth playing with. They are out there. It's not a mystery.

Charlie Hansen · Post by **Charlie Hansen** » 12 Apr 2018 7:16 am

I've been a drummer for about 60 years. Played in many good bands but I always said that the best drummer is the one you never hear until he stops.
Some drummers are so tight on the beat that there almost not there.
I play other instruments as well so I've seen it from both sides of the kit.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 12 Apr 2018 8:10 am

In my experience there are two different types of drummers -- those who play drums, and those who play music.

Brooks Montgomery · Post by **Brooks Montgomery** » 12 Apr 2018 8:42 am

Jack Hanson wrote:In my experience there are two different types of drummers -- those who play drums, and those who play music.

....and those that have a bail bondsman on their speed dial

Ronald Heinzel · Post by **Ronald Heinzel** » 12 Apr 2018 9:26 am

In regard to my earlier post, when I wrote it I knew something was amiss !
He has 2 Grammy's. Not emmy's !
I've got CRS

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 12 Apr 2018 10:22 am

My experience is that, overall, there are a lot more good drummers than good steel players out there.

So much of this stuff is context-dependent. The requirements for drummers in a rock band are very different than those for a drummer in a traditional country band. Not everybody is schooled in many multiple styles.

Jim Robbins · Post by **Jim Robbins** » 12 Apr 2018 4:03 pm

I've played with plenty of good drummers.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 13 Apr 2018 1:15 am

Jim Robbins wrote:I've played with plenty of good drummers.

really, me as well. Still do.

I know a few fine drummers who think some Steel players stink !

Kinda goes both way...

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 13 Apr 2018 5:04 am

The best drummers I have worked with have the fewest amount of drums on stage.

Brad Nelson · Post by **Brad Nelson** » 13 Apr 2018 6:15 am

Our drummer Spanky is awesome knows just what each song needs. He is also a guitar and bass player as well as a singer so he knows the deal!!!

Oolong Gurus!!!!!!

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 13 Apr 2018 8:21 am

Dick wrote:The best drummers I have worked with have the fewest amount of drums on stage.

I know... on a lot of sub gigs I don't know the drummer until we meet at the gig. If the guy has a LOT of drums it's usually a bad sign. That said, I've been surprised a few times.

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Are there any Drummers that know how to play with a band?

Are there any Drummers that know how to play with a band?

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