General Music Chat

Everything has already been said, but I will add that drummers are usually the flakiest member of the band - most likely to have drinking problems, legal problems, wife or ex-gf problems, etc. Just learn the tunes, show up sober and contribute when needed and all the rest is extra.

I'm in with everyone else.

Be on time. Be in time. Be sober. Learn the material. Work the dynamics.

I played with a drum machine for a total of about 8 years. Most drummers have no idea how bad their timing/meter is. I do. Your number one job is to keep time. I don't care if you don't play a fancy lick all night, if you keep good time, you'll be my favorite drummer.

I also try to work the dynamics of a song. Drummers are not the only ones who have a problem with this, I've seen very few musicians who can go from full blast to a whisper and back and remember to do it every time. Drummers have more trouble with it, there is no volume knob and drums are not easy to play quietly. But it can be done, I've done it and seen it done by several other really good drummers.

The worst thing you can do is show up for an audition with a six pack in your hand. As far as I'm concerned, the audition is over right there. Don't even unpack, I don't want to hear you if you can't make it through a 2 hour or so audition without getting sloshed. Ditto for onstage, 2 or 3 beers and you start to play sloppy. I don't drink at all and I've heard it for the past 30 years. Strange that most people actually believe they play better after a few beers. BULL!! 3 beers and you WILL play sloppy. I've heard it too many times. 4 and you can barely write your name...you think you can still play???

I don't remember who said it but a very good point was made, try to fit in.

Know as many styles as you can. Even if it's a rock band, rock songs cover quite a few styles. Rock, jazz, blues, classical...ask JW123. He's in a hard rock band and I'd be willing to bet they play something based on all of those styles and more.

I don't care if you don't know any of the material at an audition, I can talk to you for 10 minutes and find out several songs you know or are familiar with and go from there. If you're brought into the band believe me I'll know in no time if you practice and learn the songs at home.

Good equipment, transportation, no ego problems or girlfriend nagging because you spend more time with the band than with her...last time one tried that on me I told her she met me onstage with a guitar in my hands.

There are plenty things, most have already been covered. In a nutshell, I want -

Timing.
Sober.
Loyalty and commitment.
Practice.
Dependability.

My standard rule is this: Don't waste my time. Know your limits. I don't smoke but I do drink. If I showed up sloshed you would be (or should be) very pissed off. I think it shows a deep disrespect to your bandmates to be in less than peak condition.
In one band, I had a guitarist tha would show up late every practice, and as soon as he arrived, he would want everyone to hold up until he had hit the bowl a few times.
Recently, I had a drummer that was so out of control on pain pills that he would take two hours to set up...I'm not exaggerating.
Both of those guys got booted-fast.

Some people will tell you they play better messed up. My experience is that 99% of the time, that is categorically not true.

If you are going to be a part of something, then you have an obligation to carry your share-and if you have gone beyond your personal limits, it ain't gonna happen. I'm not going to get into the legal issues, but there are other things to consider: If you get busted, are you screwing your bandmates over? Are you going to smoke around your bandmates? If they are like me, and have a job with random drug tests, you could actually cause THEM to lose their job.

In my current band, we all have a few beers, and I'll admit that I've gone over my limit a time or two. That being said, we manage to get in some pretty productive time long before it gets out of hand.
It's important to remember why you are there in the first place.

The very worst thing I can think of is my standard bitch.

"If you hit those cymbals so hard that I think I hear your cell phone ringing, you are out with the trash, you bum".

Be dynamic but play with the music, not against it.

speed, organization, flow, steady tempo


I don't expect a drummer to play like a machine, if I wanted that I'd use a machine. Timing is relative to the type of music you play, size of the group.

I like to use the phrase we're making music not parts for the space shuttle. I know that's a bit dated but lighten up. lol

The current bunch I'm with has 5 pieces chances are 2 of them are together most of the time.

Knowing how drugs and alcohol effect various members when performing is something that should be figured out before you lay an egg.
People are different some don't f*ckup when they're half in the bag.
Not alot of Mormon rock bands out there.

You have all mentioned sobriety, but to what extent? For example, I love to smoke a bit of grass from time to time (maybe a bit more lol), but that does not mean i will show up to practice or a show zonked out of my mind, i have a bit more discipline than that. Surely there's no harm in celebrating a great gig with a beer or a doobie... Any comments?

When I was a lot younger, for me playing was all about the party, if you are joining something dont do anything before you play, you can party after the gig. Sure when your home you can take a few hits and maybe hit a few beers, but if you are getting into a gig that plays 4 hour shows, if you keep hitting the bong an drinking more than likely your performance will suffer.

Of course you may show up and they hand you a bong and beer, I dont know, but I think if you are planning on going out and asking for money for you to play at some point you should act professional about it. And being fughed up aint professional in any line of work except reality tv!

Good Luck

And this gentlemen, is just why you end up in a recording studio with a beaty box. oops I meant bleat box. (Some).
We, just , HIT things with bits of wood. Tree trunks in fact. Just somber morose beings, with no life and entity.

Seriously, don't you think it's the desperation to have a GOOD drummer and know WHAT a GOOD drummer really is?
It's not a fancy handbag after all.

I wait outside places to be on time. Others are late with their heads, though they appear and I see them.
Make your choice. I suppose......