fet Posted March 27, 2001 Share Posted March 27, 2001 Is it agonizingly difficult for a good drummer to play a punchy, grooving funk or rock beat at an extremely low volume? Is it too much to ask for the drummer to play at a low volume, for a whole night? I, a guitarist, can no longer tolerate high onstage volumes, after 30 years of loud electric combos. But many of the drummers in my musical peer group (serious part-timers) seem to have great difficulty with playing softly for a full night. Every snare hit has to be a rimshot with some of these guys. It's hard to tell a drummer who is grooving well that he's killing my ears. I use earplugs, but maybe the answer is for me to quit working with drummers? Thanks for your thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djarrett Posted March 27, 2001 Share Posted March 27, 2001 OK, fet: You pose a great question and bring up a good issue. Be Prepared! You know you are going to catch flack for the comment, "maybe the answer is for me to quit working with drummers? " While I will not even pretend to have all the answers, here are a few thoughts. I think the answer here is compromise. Which means several things that need to be considered on your behalf. First: Make sure you hire the right drummer for the gig. The drummer should be hired based on his ability to adapt to the playing situation. If you are hiring a heavy hitter for a 3-piece lounge act ... you are asking for trouble! Second: (and I mean this with all due respect) Perhaps you need to hire a drummer that is closer to your age or older. Most "more mature" players that I know have the ability to understand the musical setting and play accordingly. Third: Perhaps you need to adjust your position on stage. Most of us as musicians have an ear that is more sensitive (or in my case ... less deaf) than the other. Make sure you set yourself up on stage so that the drummer is not offending your "good" ear. I have to urge caution with how you approach the answer to your problem. You do not want to come across as a guitar player that should be playing Girl From Ipanema with a drum machine!! In other words, a musician that needs to be set out to pasture in the eyes of your musical peers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajcamletearthlink.net Posted March 27, 2001 Share Posted March 27, 2001 Originally posted by fet: Is it agonizingly difficult for a good drummer to play a punchy, grooving funk or rock beat at an extremely low volume?. There are times you could whisper over Bernard Pretty Purdie, and hes got one of the strongest, most recorded grooves in the history of the instrument!... However - that said - the drums *are* just basically a loud instrument that you can only *turn down* so much. It sounds to me like your just working with the wrong drummers. Depending on the sytle of the gig, you could ask them to play with Brushes or BLasticks or some other non-wood implement. If its rock tho, you really oughta just bite the bullet, put in some Hearos (ear plugs) and let em' smack em. ajc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felix stein Posted March 27, 2001 Share Posted March 27, 2001 Well, if you aren't getting any complaints from the audience or bar owners I'd rather see a player bashing the daylights out of his skins (or at least look like it...big diff.) than an old fart not even busting a sweat. A really good cat should adjust with the band/venue. But I know what you mean...I hate listening to a cat that is painful. Felix The token jew. felix's band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenton Trott Posted March 28, 2001 Share Posted March 28, 2001 Howdy fet Maybe we should get together, I am a quiet funky player. My biggest problems with volume have always been with the guitar player. Brenton Cheers Brenton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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