Drummers and Bass Players - Can't Live With Them, Can't Play Without Them

It always happens. You are practicing with your band in the garage and something just does not jive. You have not one clue why things are not following the groove you feel in your bones. You decide to get out the old cassette recorder to see if you can identify the problem. And when you listen to a playback of a song you hear nothing but a drummer gone crazy and a bass player trying to keep up.

Nothing detracts from live music more than a drummer that has something to prove. Drummers are without a doubt the strangest musicians on the planet. They are always in their own little world. You would be too if all you heard in your head all day is splash, boom, pop, pop, crash. It is simple to point out to a guitar or keyboard player that a certain lick does not fit, or they are using the wrong progression on a song. But you have no basis as far as keys or scales when talking to drummer. Everything comes from his heart. And as much as that is a good thing, it is hard to get the drummer to play with his ears and heart rather than his ego and his head. A drummer is always to the rear of the band and feels somewhat slighted. I had a drummer once who threw fits about stage lighting and his spotlight. In order to get their fair share of attention they sometimes overplay. Well, most always they overplay. And they are not alone.

Right up there on stage is another frustrated musician. The bass player is sometimes a frustrated guitar player. He often feels no one is paying attention to his talents. And as drummers and bass players play off one another on stage, they seem to drive themselves to a point where the dynamics of the song has been lost or at least put aside while they show the crowd that they deserve some love also. But there is hope.

First, when learning a song always start with the basic tempo. Do no add or flourish, just play the song as simply as possible. Make sure the drummer and bass player know that they are the backbone of the group and that everything hinges around the rhythm section. Keep it very simple. Over and over and over, till everyone has it down. Then and only then add some spice. But always hold your ace card which is you saying, "I like it better here with just simple rhythm." And there is always a way to keep these guys happy.

When it comes time to audition a Drummer Player and or bass player, make sure they can sing. And I do not just mean backup. If a drummer can sing lead and you are having problems with him overplaying a tune, pull out the recorder and play the song in the manner he has been playing. Then have him sing lead and play at the same time. You and he will both notice that while he is singing lead he has taken his drums down to a simple level. After listening you will both agree that as always in music, less is more. Plus if a drummer and bass player can sing, they will always come up with songs so they can share the spotlight as well.

Remember in music that the best musicians do not play every chop they know in every song. It is what they are not playing that makes the music count, just as much as what they are playing.

Roy Gene Horne is a songwriter, musician, performer with over 30 years professional experience. He has written hundreds of songs, recorded, performed, booked, managed, and fronted his own band for all of those years. He is the founder of Rock-a-Billy Academy, a one of a kind resource teaching the music business to musicians and bands.

http://apnabeat.co.uk/

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