Gripe time…..

[Keithr41]

So I’m a drummer who also plays guitar. Have played for 30+ years, had a scholarship to play at the UofO so I’m fairly decent. Quit my last drumming gig so I could start a new band and play guitar..

1st drummer, two rehearsals in and hadn’t learned any of the material (all easy covers by the way,) but worst of all he could t even fake it, big talker though. Found another kid who said he was super super interested then flaked. Just ghosted us. Took about a month to find the third guy. By admission he was a “basic drummer.” However this dude has zero swing or groove and will only play 1st year, 6th grade fills.

Anyway called this dude tonight, very politely and professionally told him the band was going in a different direction and thanked him for coming out. MF hung up on me. He didn’t take constructive criticism well at all during rehearsal so I guess that was to be expected. What an ass!!

Anyway, drummer #4 tries out Sunday.

When I was a gigging drummer, I always showed up early with the material well rehearsed but also had enough chops to fake it if I didn’t know exact licks. Here’s the gripe…. Why the **** are these drummers such flakes and trally bad players who think we aren’t going to notice they dont have the chops? Drives me nuts, rant over!

Oh and don’t be a dick, guaranteed I get asked about this dude the next time someone is looking for drums. Guess who won’t be getting a call!!

K

 

[srblue5]

TL;DR -- Drummers, eh?

I'm mainly a guitarist but also a part-time drummer. Quite honestly, I didn't understand "drummer jokes" -- my favourite drummers are Steve Gadd, Stewart Copeland, Stan Lynch and Charlie Watts, none of whom I consider joke-worthy -- until I started focusing on guitar and working with other drummers after my first serious band.

I'm very blessed to play with a great drummer currently but I've written tomes on this forum about my last band's second drummer, particularly his inability to play for the song (instead wanting to show off his chops, even if it threw everybody else off), his poor attitude and work ethic at practices (if he showed up at all), and his substance use issues. Despite his playing and behaviours torpedoing many of our gigs, the bandleader was (and apparently still is) just absolutely in love with him. We eventually got our first drummer back (who was solid but fairly basic) but the BL and I still argued about the experience with the second drummer, as recently as 6 months ago. It's part of why I left earlier this year after nearly a decade together (and am only doing a few one-off reunion gigs currently because they haven't found a replacement for me).

Last summer, my tenant invited his drummer buddy over to practice at my place. He walked into my house with an attitude ("Hi, welcome!" "Whatever."), reconfigured my kit without putting anything back after he was done, and apparently went at it like he was wielding a hammer. He was most certainly not welcome back after that.

When a drummer is good, they're very good. But it's a tough process finding a good one and there are a lot of duds on the way. As I used to say about my old band's second drummer, there are drummers and there are musicians who play drums... there's a difference.

Also, ghosting and having a poor attitude sucks.

 

[brookdalebill]

Drummers are the make or break members of the band, IMO.
A great one will lift a crappy band, a lame one can sabotage a supergroup.
If possible, I hire schooled, music degree holding professionals.
Luckily, I know several.

 

[BigPapa-53]

Welcome to the real world of dealing with drummers. Bass players are fun, too.

 

[Gene O.]

Drummers are the make or break members of the band.
I great one will lift a crappy band, a lame one can sabotage a supergroup.
If possible, I hire schooled, music degree holding professionals.
Luckily, I know several.

Our drummer is schooled, but he has a lot of practical experience outside of school or academic-type gigs to make our little band sound tight and authentic to the song and genre. I did, however, work a few side gigs with a keyboardist and his wife (bass/vocals) who valued schooling and the ability to read a chart over practical experience. They hired a drummer for those reasons and it wasn't fun. We were playing a lot of pop material and he didn't have a clue, even if the song only called for a basic rock beat.

 

[fretknot]

The best drummers I've played with were one or more of the following types:

1) Crazy, live hard, play hard types who could knock it out of the park, but knew better than to lose the rhythm of a tune. When they took a solo it was borderline mayhem, but really good. Hit or miss with being sober for practice. Bueno, but loco.

2) Drummers that had some formal education and jazz band experience and never missed a beat, cool, laid back, always well-timed, brief solos. Good at learning and remembering tunes, and reliable. Muy Bueno.

3) Serious, reserved, but always seemed to fit in, never took a solo, but as dependable as a click track. Bueno.

Then there were Goofballs that were full of themselves and more confident than talented. No bueno.

 

[Buell]

It's not just drummers. One of my bands wanted a 2nd guitar player, so we auditioned a guy who gave a rave verbal resume. We gave him a list of songs a full month in advance. First, he showed up with a small 15W amp. Ok, no biggie, we'll plug you into the PA. When we started playing, all we could hear is what was best described as "irritating choppiness". Thinking maybe he was playing the wrong song, we stopped and let him show us. The poor kid just couldn't play. He seemed like a nice enough guy but he didn't make the cut in that band.

 

[getbent]

when you audition guys for anything, realize, they usually don't have a gig currently OR they are looking to get out of another gig. There are reasons for both. If we look at the total number of reasons... the ones that include: 'suck, lazy, crazy, anti social, no attention to detail, selfish, dumb' are vastly greater than 'moving up, looking for new challenge, just moved etc.'

so, no surprise. You'll find a good one, don't settle.

 

[Sparky2]

Drummers are the make or break members of the band, IMO.
A great one will lift a crappy band, a lame one can sabotage a supergroup.

THIS.

 

[Keithr41]

It’s very frustrating. I was steaming about that douche hanging up on me all night!

 

[srblue5]

Then there were Goofballs that were full of themselves and more confident than talented. No bueno.

Yep. Lots of experience with those. (On many instruments, but particularly drums, vocals, and lead guitar.)

The goofball in my old band once started mocking me and making fart noises mid-practice when I gave his some feedback (something he never hesitated to give anyone else in the band). That I didn't walk out at that point and/or smash my guitar when he did that (and the bandleader joined in with him) is one of the "What the &(*%#" moments of my life.

It's not just drummers. One of my bands wanted a 2nd guitar player, so we auditioned a guy who gave a rave verbal resume. We gave him a list of songs a full month in advance. First, he showed up with a small 15W amp. Ok, no biggie, we'll plug you into the PA. When we started playing, all we could hear is what was best described as "irritating choppiness". Thinking maybe he was playing the wrong song, we stopped and let him show us. The poor kid just couldn't play. He seemed like a nice enough guy but he didn't make the cut in that band.

Sometimes the audition goes the other way around when you audition for a group that doesn't really know how to play (either individually or as a collective unit) themselves. I once auditioned for a band like that in high school -- and they were angry at me that I didn't bring a second electric guitar and amp along for their so-called lead guitarist to play (he only owned an acoustic) and they could barely get through a song before goofing off or wanting to go smoke. Pass.

 

[getbent]

It’s very frustrating. I was steaming about that douche hanging up on me all night!

gotta let stuff like that go. you can only do what you do... other people... they gonna do stuff.

 

[schmee]

So I’m a drummer who also plays guitar. Have played for 30+ years, had a scholarship to play at the UofO so I’m fairly decent. Quit my last drumming gig so I could start a new band and play guitar..

1st drummer, two rehearsals in and hadn’t learned any of the material (all easy covers by the way,) but worst of all he could t even fake it, big talker though. Found another kid who said he was super super interested then flaked. Just ghosted us. Took about a month to find the third guy. By admission he was a “basic drummer.” However this dude has zero swing or groove and will only play 1st year, 6th grade fills.

Anyway called this dude tonight, very politely and professionally told him the band was going in a different direction and thanked him for coming out. MF hung up on me. He didn’t take constructive criticism well at all during rehearsal so I guess that was to be expected. What an ass!!

Anyway, drummer #4 tries out Sunday.

When I was a gigging drummer, I always showed up early with the material well rehearsed but also had enough chops to fake it if I didn’t know exact licks. Here’s the gripe…. Why the **** are these drummers such flakes and trally bad players who think we aren’t going to notice they dont have the chops? Drives me nuts, rant over!

Oh and don’t be a dick, guaranteed I get asked about this dude the next time someone is looking for drums. Guess who won’t be getting a call!!

K

Not just drummers suffer from not knowing the material.
Sometimes the opposite is true.
I have a fill in drummer scheduled this month.
1) He came to a gig a few weeks ago to listen.
2) He's called a couple of times to discuss certain songs.
3) He's making charts!

Luckily I know a few and a couple recommended by a top notch friend organist.

 

[Peegoo]

It’s very frustrating. I was steaming about that douche hanging up on me all night!

Try not to be steamed. That guy's behavior says everything about him and nothing about you.

Now we know why there are so many drummer jokes.

And bass player jokes. And guitar player and keyboardist jokes, et cetera.

Musicians in general are no different from doctors, lawyers, friends, neighbors, and relatives: most are okay. Some are undependable, unreliable, and will take advantage of you if you let them. And the ones that are really good--you treat them like gold because they are gold and tey'll do the same for you.