General Music Chat

Hey I am new to the music scene. I have found nothing but snobes, people who slip seat you behind your back. I am curious if anyone who has experience can tell me how do you get experience if no one will let you into GODVILLE which seem s to be where all the bands in Cincinnati live. If I tell them my experience which is none and try out miss a beat here or there well then its dont call us we'll call you. Any pointers? Or tips? Thanks

Keep working on your craft. If you, the drummer, miss a beat, it annoys the rest of the musicians, & throws everyone off. Sorry if I sound like I live in GODVILLE, but that's music, my friend. It is imperative that you be able to keep a steady tempo without changing from 4/4 to 3/4 for a single measure & then spend the next 4 measures trying to play catch-up.

You don't have to be a fill-meister, either. if you play as simply as Ringo Starr (who wasn't really all that simple), it will fit in with many bands.

Keep it rockin' steady!

Welcome to the forum.

Philby's right. Guitarists and bassists can hit clunker notes and drop time, but for the drummer to miss a beat is not an option. Welcome to the hot seat! The band depends on you to keep the time so that when the others get off a little, they can get back on track because of a steady drummer.
Welcome to Bandmix.

Hi hat/Snare/Bass Drum combinations including these types of Paradiddle.

There's a whole bunch online. Once you've worked out the hand pieces these can then be moved onto your feet too.

I've not done these for years (Shame on me) but I will start again soon.
They make a real difference, increase your speed and more importantly your accuracy when moving around the kit. Others may differ on this, I'm sure they will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX22MUeuJ5A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EXdg8kn_l0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ekg7s82HRE

Cheap way to learn however.
Hope this helps

Oops one thing I forgot. If you get really paranoid like me when I started out. You could count in on your favourite tracks or even nowadays listen to a CLICK track and mute the volume for a while then raise it again to see if you keep time well enough?

This will quell guitarists who muffle any mistake with effects pedals and stop them swinging their heads round at you on stage.

Wait for it! LOL!

Good luck!

I have some mixed in drum tracks that are on the profile.(yeah the cymbals are off and the shits no perfect I know) I have been playing a few years played back in the 70s and took 20 years off. Back then we were kids learning stuff. The issue seems that most bands have a 40 song set list. They invite a new drummer over and expect a perfect take on stuff I have not played more than a few times or even at all. So I get the case of the nerves since I have been out of it since I was in my 20's. I miss a beat or hit a un wanted double. I am human.
The internet makes it easy for band to double date people and then slip seat your ass when someone else pops up and your heading to you second practice with them. So I have had every excuse from your to old to someone got sick and um we have to cancel. Tried the Craigs list and found more people who just are up tight dont really want to take to time with someone getting back into things.

Practice ... practice ... practice and more practice.

The 2 people that drive any band is the drummer and bass ... the rest is fluff.

The drummer and bass can't be missing beats or notes and have to drive the groove, weak groove and you have a sh*tty sounding band. So if you're dropping a beat or you meter is like a roller coaster ... you need more practice.

Once you're on top of your game ... start hitting jam sessions and get out in front of ppl the are players.

Ron

I have some mixed in drum tracks that are on the profile.(yeah the cymbals are off and the shits no perfect I know) I have been playing a few years played back in the 70s and took 20 years off. Back then we were kids learning stuff. The issue seems that most bands have a 40 song set list. They invite a new drummer over and expect a perfect take on stuff I have not played more than a few times or even at all. So I get the case of the nerves since I have been out of it since I was in my 20's. I miss a beat or hit a un wanted double. I am human.
The internet makes it easy for band to double date people and then slip seat your ass when someone else pops up and your heading to you second practice with them. So I have had every excuse from your to old to someone got sick and um we have to cancel. Tried the Craigs list and found more people who just are up tight dont really want to take to time with someone getting back into things.

You're trying to get into a band before you're ready, from the sounds of it.


There's simply no excuse for not knowing the material and not having it down. If a band has 40 songs and wants to audition you, don't try and learn all 40 at once. Learn a few, and get those DOWN. Knowing a couple songs and being able to play those to perfection is important for a good first impression. If a band won't give you ample time to learn a handful of songs to perfection then you probably shouldn't be working with them anyway.


Most gigging bands aren't going to be patient with someone trying to get back on the horse after 20 years. They're going to expect you to be READY because the other drummers are already prepared and practiced. So you have to get yourself ready before you even audition. Period.

You can't sit there and complain about the environment and wish for it to change; it is what it is. Your job is to get yourself prepared to play as perfectly as possible so you can succeed in the music environment.


Heed the advice of others here: practice your craft and get better. Get prepared.

Nervous? That becomes manageable with repetition. You'll never get rid of nerves - but that's part of why we play - for the rush. But there's a difference between butterflies and being too nervous to the point that it affects your performance. Repetition and practice will make everything old hat after at time, so that you can succeed even when you have butterflies.

I agree with Colors LudWig.
There are lots of bands however who think they are IT so look at the wording and make sure the people you are trying to hook with are REAL people and not egotistical maniacs.

Like you I've been turned down in the past too. No biggy but its like trying to date someone perhaps who isn't right for you in the first place. What I've found is that going for something smaller and getting some flying time in can be a very rewarding experience indeed so don't give up pal.

In short. If they are going for a rocket launch? Stand back and watch.
Good luck to you, I know you'll find your niche.

Chippy.

I have some mixed in drum tracks that are on the profile.(yeah the cymbals are off and the shits no perfect I know) I have been playing a few years played back in the 70s and took 20 years off. Back then we were kids learning stuff. The issue seems that most bands have a 40 song set list. They invite a new drummer over and expect a perfect take on stuff I have not played more than a few times or even at all. So I get the case of the nerves since I have been out of it since I was in my 20's. I miss a beat or hit a un wanted double. I am human.
The internet makes it easy for band to double date people and then slip seat your ass when someone else pops up and your heading to you second practice with them. So I have had every excuse from your to old to someone got sick and um we have to cancel. Tried the Craigs list and found more people who just are up tight dont really want to take to time with someone getting back into things.

Maybe I am jumping the gun. I am getting tired playing to mp3s and doing parriddles for the past 3 years. So I have been trying to put myself out there. I know I cant change the world and it is what it is. So maybe I will keep up the work over the winter and see if I have better luck in the spring. Been recording to see what the stuff actually sound s like and to me its not bad. But then the cook always likes his food. Maybe the Turkey is a little burnt but its still edible. So thats how I look at the tracks they are not perfect but they are not trash. Thanks for the info. Gona try some new mic stands get the condensers away from the Cymbals. Like Wiley Coyote its back to the drawing board........................

Maybe I am jumping the gun. I am getting tired playing to mp3s and doing parriddles for the past 3 years. So I have been trying to put myself out there. I know I cant change the world and it is what it is. So maybe I will keep up the work over the winter and see if I have better luck in the spring. Been recording to see what the stuff actually sound s like and to me its not bad. But then the cook always likes his food. Maybe the Turkey is a little burnt but its still edible. So thats how I look at the tracks they are not perfect but they are not trash. Thanks for the info. Gona try some new mic stands get the condensers away from the Cymbals. Like Wiley Coyote its back to the drawing board........................

Find some people to Jam with. This is big - you must be playing with other musicians to get better as a band drummer. Playing to MP3's is not going to get you there; you have to play in a band-type dynamic.

But if you're not ready to be in a working band, then start with the obvious first step: just find some people to jam with. Learn a few tunes, a couple covers, have an easy relaxed time with it. Craig's List is great for this sort of thing. Make it very apparent when you put up an ad that you're not looking to be in a band just yet, you want to just jam with some loose cats who take music seriously and aren't spending their time getting stoned or wasted.

Find some people to jam with. This will start getting you prepared to play with a real band, and it will expand your circle of friends and musicians; it will hook you into the local scene a bit better.

The worst thing you can do is try out for a bunch of bands unprepared and get a reputation as a guy who can't cut it. Those bands will remember you jumping the gun and trying to get into a band before you're ready. So take some time and just jam with some musicians in a friendly environment. Build up your chops, get comfortable playing with other musicians, etc. That will go a long way...

Best post in a very long while.

The worst thing you can do is try out for a bunch of bands unprepared and get a reputation as a guy who can't cut it. Those bands will remember you jumping the gun and trying to get into a band before you're ready..

Been trying the craigs list and I am so sick of the half hour long jam sessions that never end. Most guys who have came by to jam cant play much or they want to play Rush, Ozzie Or some Robin Trower so I kinda gave up on the invite guys over to play. Most of the te time is sspent with two guitarists trying to learn chords.Argueing over the arangement Or a song then you have no body to sing so thats why I wanted to get with a upstart band. I am sure you know where I am coming from?

Been trying the craigs list and I am so sick of the half hour long jam sessions that never end. Most guys who have came by to jam cant play much or they want to play Rush, Ozzie Or some Robin Trower so I kinda gave up on the invite guys over to play. Most of the te time is sspent with two guitarists trying to learn chords.Argueing over the arangement Or a song then you have no body to sing so thats why I wanted to get with a upstart band. I am sure you know where I am coming from?

I've been there. But you gotta have the right attitude, have to have patience, and you can't give up looking.

It also helps to be really clear beforehand about what you're trying to accomplish. Let guys know that you're not trying to be Phish; you don't want to just wank out for an hour on the same chord progressions. You want to actually learn a few songs and play those so you can become proficient with them. Disappointment is all you're going to get if you don't set the ground rules and make the expectations clear. Those guys you're inviting over may have no clue what you're really after...

The other thing is - never invite two guitar players at the same time... Just shoot for one. It's easier on everyone.

My band was formed by myself and our original drummer; he contacted me and we decided to "jam". We liked each other right off - personalities fit and we were into similar music. We didn't play much music that first time; we made up stuff, I threw out some riffs, he kept a beat. We may have tried a cover or two. But we liked each other and we liked the same kind of music, so we decided to meet the following week and we agreed upon some songs to learn.

This is where you have to be patient. You're not going to meet the perfect people right off, and even if you do you're not going to know it. These things take time. Give people a chance and make your expectations VERY CLEAR.


My original drummer and I learned probably 20 songs before we ever found a suitable vocalist. Yeah, it's more difficult to learn a song without the vocals to lead you around - but if you're a musician you should be able to do it. We played for months without a vocalist.

If you go into this all Doom & Gloom and without any kind of patience, you'll never get what you want.


Be clear about what YOUR goals are before you even contact anyone. Then when you do contact them, be clear to THEM what YOUR goals are for the jam sessions - what do you want to get out of them specifically? Find people with the same mindset. BE CLEAR.

It will help.

Ahem! Phish were NOT wankers like the Grateful Dead. They played compositions. They also played them the same way every time. I have a lot of respect for Anastasio et al. Some of their songs were a little long, though, I'll admit, but they were NOT a "jam band," like so many ppl like to make them out to be.