*Be sure to read post "REGRESSSION TO THE MEAN"-MY SHRINK HELPED ME SEE THE ERROR OF MY WAYS after reading this post, for closure
---------------------------------------
Have you ever built a house? Neither have I. But you understand the basics I'm guessing. Everybody knows a house is only as sturdy as its foundation. A home can have expensive trim, marble floors, a front door made from exotic wood shipped from a far off country, and everything else to catch the eye of a passerby. But like the lyrics of the song I sung in primary as a boy, "The foolish man built his house upon the sand", a band without a talented drummer, will not have a strong foundation.
That song is also a metaphor for the entire rhythm section, so I include the bass player. The rhythm section of a band is comprised of the drummer and the bass player. But I would say the drummer is the foundation, and like the base boards of a home that connect the foundation to the walls, a bass player is the instrument that brings together the rhythm and the melody. I think it's even safe to say the bass player is the glue that holds the band together i.e. the drums, the singer, the guitarist, and whatever else a band showcases.
Going off topic, as far as what your band showcases, for sake of a decent cut after a gig, I would suggest your band is compromised of 4 individuals, thats perfect. You can have full melodies, rhythm and lead guitar, bass and drums, and do all that is needed musically, but everybody still makes a decent money split. Also, 5 is a crowd, and it makes all things scheduling in a band difficult. The 5th bandmate breaks the camels back. If you add that 5th bandmate, I would say it only comes after the band is established, organized, gigging, has a set practice schedule, and that 5th bandmate will add something exceptional to the band. At least thats my opinion.
I digress. So why is a drummer so foundational to a band? Well, being a drummer, and by accounts of a slew of past bandmates, a pretty good drummer, I'll tell you. The drummer is the gas pedal, the drummer is the steering wheel, and the drummer is the break.
How do you speed up the band? Simple, speed up the beat. How you do you slow down a band? Obvious, slow down the beat. How do you stop the band? Stop the beat. How do you cue the band a change is going to occur during a song i.e. metaphorically make a musical turn? You play a fill/variation in contrast to the steady beat you've been playing, and it cues everybody, "Hey, we're coming up to the chorus, or the bridge, or whatever." How do you make it a smooth turn/transition? Play a tasteful fill. How do you drum tastefully? Listen to Ringo Starr and Jeff Porcaro.
If the song isn't tight, it's the drummers fault. If the song doesn't feel right, it's the bass players fault, and also the drummers fault. If the band sounds tight and feels great, but doesn't look great, well, blame the people up front. Style, physical attributes, it all makes a look, and there is no correct look, but the look sends a message, as do the lyrics, and each band decides what that is. But be authentic. Just be the best authentic you.
Also, if your singer sucks, you still can rock, you just have to make suck vocals work, so shrink the range, and pick your musical aesthetic. But again, that musical aesthetic squarely rests on the back of the good ol drummer and bass player. Luckily I've never been in a musical project with a singer that outright sucks, they have all been pretty good, at least decent, and a few have been exceptional. Not to sound pretentious, but I'm too good a drummer to play with a vocalist that sucks.
Back to drumming. The rhythm section is the work horse, and the singer and guitarist I would say are the show horses. YES, THIS ISN'T LAW, AND I KNOW THERE ARE PLENTY OF EXCEPTIONS, from Red Hot Chili Peppers, to Primus, to The Who, to whoever, but I've played tons of gigs, with various bands, and you just start to see a pattern. Also, though Flea, Les Claypool, and Keith Moon are indeed show horses, believe me, musically, they are also work horses, 100%. They are all very talented at their instruments, and know the role their instrument plays, even if it shines more than usual.
Now you know a drummers perspective, and their role. Having a skilled drummer for whatever genre you decide to play, can really help your band take off. Being a drummer, don't sell yourself short. Sometimes your bandmates might, but if they don't understand how integral a talented drummer is, they're stupid, really really stupid, and if they don't ever wise up, leave the band and go rock somewhere else where your bandmates aren't stupid.
So if a drummer has a song idea, a lyrical suggestion, especially if they rock, please hear them out, even if it sucks. If it does suck, tell them why you think it sucks, and if all you can give is a vague emotionally backed answer, or choose to ignore it hoping they will forget (they probably won't), then check your ego, check your narcissism, check your insecurity, because the idea probably doesn't suck.
I believe being musically talented is being musically talented. If a drummer can create catchy and creative drum parts, I firmly believe they can be solid lyricists and songwriters as well if they put time into it, but they have to have at least an avenue to develop. If that threatens you as a band, it shouldn't, because it will only make the band better. So again, check your ego, check your narcissism, check your insecurity.
A comparison, an amazing athlete might go pro in basketball, because that was their focus. But the truth is, they could have probably gone pro in a number of different sports had they put time into those other athletic endeavors.
If you never give a talented artist a chance, you'll never know how their talents might have crossed over into other artistic areas. Also, if bandmates say they value you, agree with you, and support you behind the scenes, but hold their tongue out in the open, when it really matters, because of fear, trepidation, insecurity, they're too passive, or to simply just keep the peace, well, you're on your own, and I have found this out the hard way, multiple times, with multiple bands. But if a band isn't ones bridge to success, or at least an integral part of that bridge, if music is something to do and not what you do, then what's the sense of getting emotional about anything? I do get that.
*Be sure to read post "REGRESSSION TO THE MEAN"-MY SHRINK HELPED ME SEE THE ERROR OF MY WAYS after reading this post, for closure
Comments