563
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« Reply #20 on: April 15, 2003, 10:00 AM » |
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True, the drummer doesn't always start the bus, but it is his/her responsibility to ensure the tempo remains steady, no matter who sets it. again, depends on the band. i dont believe that as a drummer its required to play that roll at all when it comes down to it. my particular approach to drums isnt that of a metronome for the band, does this make me a bad drummer? no. granted, ill be the first to admit im not the drummer for every band  but the point is, drums are just another instrument. period. they have all the possibilities of strings and horns and anything else, and should be able to be approached with the same thought processes. that said, i believe it is the responsibility of ALL musicians involved to maintain the integrity of the piece. be it tempo, harmony, melody, rhythm, etc ... and that includes changes and bends in those areas. |
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Making bad art. Saying stupid things. Implimenting my master plan to be forgotten when I'm gone and forgettable while I'm here. The Luna MothmeTableland |
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Christopher
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That's MR. Colaiuta to you...
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« Reply #21 on: April 15, 2003, 10:29 AM » |
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True, the drummer doesn't always start the bus, but it is his/her responsibility to ensure the tempo remains steady, no matter who sets it. again, depends on the band. i dont believe that as a drummer its required to play that roll at all when it comes down to it. my particular approach to drums isnt that of a metronome for the band, does this make me a bad drummer? no. granted, ill be the first to admit im not the drummer for every band but the point is, drums are just another instrument. period. they have all the possibilities of strings and horns and anything else, and should be able to be approached with the same thought processes. that said, i believe it is the responsibility of ALL musicians involved to maintain the integrity of the piece. be it tempo, harmony, melody, rhythm, etc ... and that includes changes and bends in those areas. Whenever you are playing with other people, someone has to take the lead by setting or maintaining the tempo. As you know, traditionally, that job has been the drummer's. I know what you are saying when you wrote that "it is the responsibility of ALL musicians involved to maintain the integrity of the piece" but sometimes, it's not workable. I've played with tons of musicians with great time. I've also played with allot with terrible time. I much rather be playing with the guys with great time. In those situations, your description works. With the latter, it doesn't. I've even played with some guys who can only follow the drummer. They would follow me into hell if I led them there, metronomically speaking that is.  |
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"What one man can do, another can do."
-Charles Morse (Anthony Hopkin's character from the 1997 movie, The Edge)
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Louis
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« Reply #22 on: April 15, 2003, 04:18 PM » |
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that said, i believe it is the responsibility of ALL musicians involved to maintain the integrity of the piece. be it tempo, harmony, melody, rhythm, etc ... and that includes changes and bends in those areas.
And I totally agree! |
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No one will believe it's the "Blues" if you wear a suit, 'less you happen to be an old person, and you slept in it last night!
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Tony
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Art is the expression of the self.
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« Reply #23 on: April 16, 2003, 07:26 AM » |
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I don't subscribe to the theory of not being the timekeeper. I don't care who calls out the tempo, I lock into that tempo. That's the role I take as a drummer. It is much easier to play with people who have solid time as well, which affords me the opportunity to play a bit more loose and have some ebb and flow across the song. True, it is the responsibility of each player to maintain the integrity of the piece, but traditionally Western music, especially popular music, rely on drums to be the primary source of rhythm. Most musicians are ingrained with this thinking, and will automatically look to the drummer for time reference.
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The techniques, though they play an important role in the early stage, should not be too restrictive, complex or mechanical. If we cling to them, we will become bound by their limitation. Any technique, however worthy and desirable, becomes a disease when the mind is obsessed with it.
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timmin
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« Reply #24 on: April 16, 2003, 08:39 AM » |
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I don't care who calls out the tempo, I lock into that tempo.
I can relate to that. My guitarist is very bad at starting a tune to slow or too fast when doing his intros. I lock in on that tempo and if they try to speed me up or down, I can lose the groove and feel like I am having to concentrate on and force every lick for the duration of the song. The butthead will not wait for a count from me but many times I will come in with straight 4's or 8's quietly on the hi-hat to speed him up before everyone comes in. |
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Timmin
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~Mama~
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563
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« Reply #25 on: April 16, 2003, 10:07 AM » |
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I don't subscribe to the theory of not being the timekeeper. I don't care who calls out the tempo, I lock into that tempo. That's the role I take as a drummer. no issues with that. we all play as we see fit, thats what makes us individuals my issue was with the notion that its wrong to do otherwise. It is much easier to play with people who have solid time as well, which affords me the opportunity to play a bit more loose and have some ebb and flow across the song. agree 100%. True, it is the responsibility of each player to maintain the integrity of the piece, but traditionally Western music, especially popular music, rely on drums to be the primary source of rhythm. Most musicians are ingrained with this thinking, and will automatically look to the drummer for time reference. wont argue there. but theres more out there than western and popular music. im not saying that a drummer cant or shouldnt be the rhythmic force behind a band. thatd be silly. all im saying is that it doesnt HAVE to be that way. there are options. some folks choose that role (like you tony) and some avoid it (like me) and im sure many are somewhere in the middle (which is probably the best way to be ) so its really just a matter of what kind of drummer you want to be. |
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Making bad art. Saying stupid things. Implimenting my master plan to be forgotten when I'm gone and forgettable while I'm here. The Luna MothmeTableland |
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felix
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Y no keno!
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« Reply #26 on: April 16, 2003, 10:10 AM » |
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I have a very diplomatic approach to time keeping. I just keep speeding up and slowing down...that way everyone is happy |
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Yaay!
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Tony
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« Reply #27 on: April 16, 2003, 10:12 AM » |
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I hear ya loud and clear. It's cool that people can still take an opposing point of view and not have it erupt into a pi$$ing contest and delete themsleves.
I agree with your philosophy Mark, but I can't make too much $$ with it. I was in Percussion Ensemble in college for 4 years, and I loved having percussion instruments be the sole source of melody, harmony and rhythm.
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The techniques, though they play an important role in the early stage, should not be too restrictive, complex or mechanical. If we cling to them, we will become bound by their limitation. Any technique, however worthy and desirable, becomes a disease when the mind is obsessed with it.
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563
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« Reply #28 on: April 16, 2003, 11:08 AM » |
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I agree with your philosophy Mark, but I can't make too much $$ with it. no need to tell ME that |
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Making bad art. Saying stupid things. Implimenting my master plan to be forgotten when I'm gone and forgettable while I'm here. The Luna MothmeTableland |
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