General Music Chat

Solid meter.
Someone who knows how to tune their drums.

For starters...

I'm one and I hit them too
I also play other stuff. So looking from the outside in and the inside out as it were.

Most I've found, want you to be part of the team, be part of it. #1
To be a person they can get on with #2
The rest is ability.

I was with one band in which the bassist gave me a hard time, but we got over differences, and practiced together for hours. I think that is where my opinion comes from. But there was no room in that relationship for augmented free flow, so it kinda died.

In essence make sure what you are looking for is right for you I suppose.
Hope this helps, probably not, but I hope so. Go hit em.

PS. I can tune my drums, but even when I have, often times other players haven't even noticed except sound engineers.

You wanna win me over?

Be on time

Keep time

Learn the material

Understand your instrument

And for pete's sake, understand dynamics! The next drummer that tells me "there's no volume knob on these things" is gonna get one of his own sticks put through his eye! (Just kidding). Volume control is a huge drummer issue, and I know from experience that it is completely manageable...

Hope it helps.

You wanna win me over?

Be on time

Keep time

Learn the material

Understand your instrument

And for pete's sake, understand dynamics! The next drummer that tells me "there's no volume knob on these things" is gonna get one of his own sticks put through his eye! (Just kidding). Volume control is a huge drummer issue, and I know from experience that it is completely manageable...

Hope it helps.

Ditto
Everyone gets to shine at some point but no one should try to outshine the piece. Stay within the song. Talk to the writer to know what's the expectation. Communications is key.
I was fortunate to play in a band with my brother as the drummer... we wrote together and understood what we were trying to create. Oh and love a good meter. Got to love Watts.

Half of it to me is showing up, when your supposed to be there.

When you show up be prepared, if you are doing an audition, get a list of 5-10 songs and know them when you show up.

Meter is important, if you cant keep a solid meter dont bother wasting my time.

Dont overplay, unless it is called for, or you are given a break to show off.

A good sense of humor, dont laugh but I think this is very important.

And last of all, a drum set and extra sticks.

I agree with the others here.
It depends of course on whether you're given a list to learn. Peeps often forget that us folks, Just HIT things and therefore are Neanderthal, meaning that if you can hit something just in time, you'll eventually get a kill.

Of course it's not about that. Most drummers just fill in, this question was about how to FIT IN.
Sorry if some folks missed that.

Questions and sorries (of course) to Chifpryer
You can be who you want, just choose a way.

I always had respect for a drummer who could level a riser so that the drool flows evenly from both sides of his mouth. (Our drummer can do that )

I enjoy drummers who listen to what the band is doing. I do not care for drummers who are always building houses in the background, or are too loud, or can't keep time, or try to add a little flash and come back in off meter.

I'll take a minimalist over a show off any day, even if he's good. I hate when a drummer thinks the song is only about him.

Ditto Slacker songs are just about us guitarist right?

The Song's the thing.. Not the messenger... (As in....everyone behind it should step up to with the song in mind...not themselves)

What I look for?

Time signatures out side of 4/4.
Joy of playing/willingness to play
Being an extrovert
some music knowledge
and lastly, a meter that is more rock solid than my own

anything after that is bugger all.
Play covers and I wont care
Play your own stuff and I wont care

Play anything very well or great, and then I care

Ditto Slacker songs are just about us guitarist right?

Right on, JW

always being able to make time for the band...
We had a drummer who wasn't able to balance school work and a band and it happens but you have to make sure you know how much time it takes to be in a band before you commit to it. ( because of that we are in need of another drummer)
of course know your stuff and
also be open to new ideas when making a song and try to find ways to improve it instead of shutting down the idea from the beginning.

Hope that helps! [/b]

I agree with most of what has been said already. The drummer is the foundation. If we don't have solid tempo and meter, we don't have a rock band.

If setup is involved, the drummer probably needs to get there first (sorry) so the band can build the stage around him. Otherwise everybody else has to set up twice and setting up twice is annoying.

Know when to keep it reeled in, and when to let the big dogs out. This is true for every musician and is really about experience and playing well with others. Gene Krupa was the master.

Careful drum tuning so nothing sticks out of place. I can't tell you how many recordings I have done where an inexperienced drummer has the snare tuned too high and it sticks out like a 150db cannon shot every time he hits it, momentarily bleeding all over the rest of the drum mics. When the drums are well tuned, nobody really notices. They just sound great!

Above all, listen carefully to the other players and try to have a musical conversation with them.