KVR Audio

Amberience · Post by **Amberience** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:51 am

Playing with other musicians for me tends to come down to whether we're comfortable with each other. One guy I've jammed with before, fits the typical metalhead stereotype to a T. Don't feel that comfortable jamming with him (so we actually don't anymore, but still).

Then I know people who I just "click" with (bad pun intended) and we can work on stuff.

Where the f**k are all the drummers in London though? grrrr...

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:51 am

John Vulich wrote:Both are fun. Why limit yourself to one approach.

Because the other one is a complete waste of time, perhaps? I don't even work with the other guy in my band. We've done it a few times it and it is so unproductive. jamming with "musicians" is an even bigger waste of time.

WoJ wrote:If a drummers job isnt to keep time, what is his job?

To play the drums.

WoJ · Post by **WoJ** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:51 am

(to Lord.S)
Fine. Forget my beatles statement. But u dont need to be a chord structure genius to be able to make good music. Take something like take Jeff Buckleys rendition of Hallelujah for example. Its not a master piece in terms of harmony/melody/chord variation - its a simple but brilliant piece imo.

(to bones)
A drummer hits things in a rhythmical fashion - to keep time. Does the singer provide a timed beat? No, the drummer does.

WoJ

John Vulich · Post by **John Vulich** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:55 am

BONES wrote:
John Vulich wrote:Both are fun. Why limit yourself to one approach.
Because the other one is a complete waste of time, perhaps? I don't even work with the other guy in my band. We've done it a few times it and it is so unproductive. jamming with "musicians" is an even bigger waste of time.

Well, I certainly don't jam with others to be productive and compose finished tunes. I guess, for me, that it's more akin to exercising. Just flexing the musical muscles I suppose.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:55 am

No, that's what the click-track is for.

Amberience · Post by **Amberience** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:57 am

The drummer is far more important than just keeping time.

WoJ · Post by **WoJ** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:58 am

But keeping time is one of his jobs. The rest of the band (imo) works around the drummers groove/beat, the drummer is a backbone to the band.

WoJ

Lord Snarebottom · Post by **Lord Snarebottom** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:03 am

WoJ wrote:(to Lord.S)
Fine. Forget my beatles statement. But u dont need to be a chord structure genius to be able to make good music.

I'm glad you agree with me.

krushing · Post by **krushing** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:07 am

I just like to play with other people. If everyone's even remotely on the same page, there shouldn't really be any problems to what it leads to - after all, if it's a JAM, there shouldn't be restrictions to who plays right or wrong or where it all evolves.

tetraplan · Post by **tetraplan** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:09 am

WoJ wrote:(to bones)
A drummer hits things in a rhythmical fashion - to keep time. Does the singer provide a timed beat? No, the drummer does.

The drummer is always in time.
Besides, why couldn't a singer provide a timed beat?

Groet, Erik

WoJ · Post by **WoJ** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:12 am

The singer could but thats not his/her function is it?? I dont get wat ur saying about a drummer, are you saying he dosnt keep time or he does??

WoJ

G&L_player · Post by **G&L_player** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:19 am

WoJ wrote:The singer could but thats not his/her function is it?? I dont get wat ur saying about a drummer, are you saying he dosnt keep time or he does??

WoJ

Music is number in time. Ergo, everyone (playing together) must be in time, else there can be a widening disonance, which may/not be desireable.

There are so many permutations, it's almost incorrect to make a generalization (e.g. the drummer keeps time), without having a situation put out to negate it. SO, let's be practical. The drums and bass typically keep time in one particular arrangement, however, in other arrangements, the band leader (i.e. baton) keeps time, effectively. We can go on and on about this. The obstinate poster will always find a loophole in this equation.

Personally, I believe that some people are projecting only their own arrangements (e.g. 3 piece; bass/drums/guitar) on this generalization and not seeing the big picture. More precisely, music is number in time and we're all responsible, simply put.

What does the drummer do when two other members change speeds independently? Which one does he follow? In some instances, he may choose to hang with the bass, in which case, the bass is actually holding the time, while the drums are maintaining it. Of course, if everyone involved has a great natural sense of timing, these potential "runaway" situations are limited, which goes back to my original point (i.e. entry response on this thread).

P.T. · Post by **P.T.** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:43 am

I let the dog keep time. That's what his tail is for.

tetraplan · Post by **tetraplan** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:48 am

WoJ wrote:The singer could but thats not his/her function is it??

Why not?

I dont get wat ur saying about a drummer, are you saying he dosnt keep time or he does??

A drummer is always in time.
If s/he plays faster, the rest of the band has to speed up. If s/he slows down, the the rest of the band follows.
The drummer is always in time.
You may not like the timing, though. But that's a different discussion.

Groet, Erik

WoJ · Post by **WoJ** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:06 pm

That still isnt a yes or a no. Everyone must keep time with eachother, but the drummer is the main 'timing point/source', It isnt a singers job to be the one that the other band members look to for time -in a regular band set up that is. It COULD be his/her job, of course it could, but how often do u look to the singer to get into time? Perhaps some people do, i'd just find it strange that they would.

"What does the drummer do when two other members change speeds independently? Which one does he follow?"

Well IMO the objective of a band is to keep some level of coherance, and to me, and in the band experiances I have been in, it has always been the drummer that i look to (and the other members do too). Also, with the music I play, the idea is not to speed up or slow down (noticably) - i believe part of being a rock/pop drummer is to keep a fairly constant tempo.

WoJ

playing with real musicians is hard