I did not get a response from this post on another thread so I thought I would give it a shot with a new thread.
I finally got our drummer to start using brushes with his set. With an acoustic/electric guitar bass and drums setup. Wow, what a differences it makes to the overall balance of the sound. Much more dynamic. What a difference on the ears as well. The added bonus of being able to hear myself sing is awesome. I personally have found it almost impossible to find a drummer who can play quiet as well as pound. Why is that?
Strangerbytheminute: You mentioned playing with just a drummer and no bass player. I have been that myself. Drummer using brushes, my acoustic eq'ed for fat bottom end and trying to play emphazing the bass line. I would be interested in hearing how you handle the "bottom end" while playing with guitar/drum duo. Do you have any recordings on you site with that combo?
We've been playing this way for almost 6 months, and we've gotten better responses from the audiences than before. It could be because my ex bass player was so overbearing, but I've had many people tell me that they don't miss the bass at all. I Feel like the audience can finally hear what I'm doing. And the drummer for that matter.
We don't do much different but I have noticed that I tended to play bass notes alot in my music anyway. The drummer doens't do that much differently because some of our gigs he just plays a snare with brushes. (Which works well BTW) My drummer plays alot of rim shots, and he plays with hotshot sticks and brushes alot, It depends so much on the room you're playing. The biggest change is the freedom you have. You can just take off because it's easy for the drummer to just keep on where informing a bass player that you're "taking off" and where you're going was always hard. I suppose the right bass player would make a big difference. I will eventually get a bass player, but it will definatly have to be the right one. Right now for the rooms we're playing it doesn't make sense to add another person, artistically, or financially, Things are good now, as long as my drummer doesn't jet for some reason....
For the ultimate in what can be done without a bass, check out Tuck Andress. He developed his style of playing because of the lack of a dependable bass player, I believe.
Livemusic. If I am in the right setting people responsd very well. I was surpriased at first. The right setting seems to be where a lower volume is required.
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Quote:
Originally posted by mikeRocks: I personally have found it almost impossible to find a drummer who can play quiet as well as pound. Why is that?
I think it is difficult to find quality musicians of all sorts, not just drummers. There are a lot of folks who wanna get up in front of a crowd and showboat their licks, or their expensive drumkit/amplifier/effects unit etc. that just doesn't sound good till you get it up past 96 db, or whatever other lameness they are into at that moment (all of which most of us have been guilty of at once or twice). But finding musicians with the common goal of presenting music in the best light possible, and the skill & accomplishment to carry it off is not and never has been easy.
_________________________ ROCK GUITARIST ABDUCTED BY ALIENS AND RETURNED TO EARTH!
