The Drummers Role in a Band - Let's Have Fun Again!

Anyone who has ever played in a band knows it is an interesting dynamic. Personalities seem to fit into specific roles and ego often overshadows talent. Drummers almost always get a bad rap. We never really get to yell out the chord changes we would like to see, do we? If we are lucky, we get to sing a song or two. We have to be at the gig first to set up and have to leave last, waiting for everyone else to get off the stage. And everybody, and I mean everybody wants to go and sit behind our drum set and play the drums. And let's not forget the lead singer or lead guitarist who wants to tell us how we should play the drums or how we could make it better if we "just did this". When I was young, we were all in the same boat -- we didn't know anything! We were just happy to be playing. Now, as I have gotten older, everyone has their own idea of what sounds good, or, wants you to play it exactly like the record. I remember a lead guitarist told me a few years ago he wanted me to play a Rush song exactly like Neil Peart plays it. I responded by asking him to play a Jimi Hendrix tune exactly the way Jimi played it. I couldn't do it, and neither could he. That ended that. Playing an instrument is suppose to be fun. Playing in a band is suppose to be sharing that fun with others of similar interests. And if you make an effort, you may even get to play in front of an appreciative audience who feels the energy and knows you are having fun, and will have fun right along with you.

I have been in and out of many bands. It's a lot harder these days. The economy has dried up alot of the nightclubs and audiences are getting smaller and smaller as people stay home rather than go out. If you are in a band, and are the drummer, remind your bandmates how lucky you all are, and that you need to "just have fun!" It's not rocket science. It's just common sense, and just common courtesy to remember that the drummer is part of the team. Have any interesting band stories? Please share them.

What is the Best Drum Kit?

Recently someone asked me what was the best drum kit to buy...Pearl? Tama? Yamaha? Ludwig? I paused for a moment realizing of course that the answer is both simple and complex. Short answer: The best drum kit is the one that allows you to achieve your desired sound and performance requirements while staying within your price range. Right now, the best drum kit for me is a Yamaha custom stage advantage. I have been playing in oldies bands in small clubs and bars in recent years and find the kit to produce a good quality sound in that environment. And the kit is a reasonably priced mid-range kit. With a decent set of cymbals I am good to go. Right now, that is the best drum kit for my purposes.

There are alot of factors to consider when buying drums: budget, size of venues, desired sound, style of music, wear & tear, recording, construction, type of wood, etc, and the list goes on and on. And of course there are huge differences from the beginner to the seasoned pro.

What kind of kit are you using? Why did you choose it, and how will you use it? What were you looking for? This is an excellent opportunity to share your thoughts on the process of buying a drum kit. Please share your comments and experiences and also vote on the poll to the right on the type of kit you are using right now.

Let's make this a learning experience for young and old.

Who's Your Favorite Drummer? Why?

What makes a drummer great? Timing? Fills? Solos? Or just being lucky enough to be in a band that makes it big and getting noticed? I personally admire the drummer who knows his place and when to enhance a song and when to back off! I have played in enough bands as a drummer myself to know that too much self indulgence or being overly aggressive equals alot of noise and not a cohesive group performance. And not enough punch or lack of aggressiveness equals a boring result.

So who are the best drummers? Who are your favorite drummers? Why?

Take a moment to complete the poll on the right side of this blog. Then make sure you add your comments here! We would love to hear your 2-cents.

Let the voting begin!!!

Ringo Starr...His Legacy!

So much has been written through the years about the Beatles. They are without question the greatest band of all time! Each member of the group carved out their own unique following. Paul, the cute one, created all those wonderful melodies; John, the thinker, had biting lyrics with often profound social messages; George was the spiritual one, reminding us that there was something beyond the natural here on earth. And then there was Ringo Starr. The fun-loving, quiet one who sat behind the drums. Nothing fancy! Nothing flashy! Just competent and reliable time-keeping. But there was more there than meets the eye.

Imagine being the drummer for three of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century, John, Paul and George! They sit down with their guitar or piano, play a melody and tell you as the drummer to "come up with something!" That was Ringo's challenge. Yes, on the surface you hear Ringo's steady, competent time-keeping. But dig a little deeper, and you hear all the subtle things he does that make him a great drummer, and an inspiration to a generation of drummers. So much so that Modern drummer asked the world's leading drummers what inspired them. Ringo's name always was in the answer. Some of those answers included that Ringo was magical in the placement of his fills. They were appropriate and logical, leading the song in a forward movement, but also varied from verse-to-verse to create interest and unpredictability. The patterns he created were ground-breaking. Songs like Sgt. Pepper, The End, Birthday, In My Life and Get Back are just a few examples of his work containing patterns that were highly creative and charting new ground for drummers. His work on the song "Something" is inspiring. It is warm to energetic and challenging. I have always admired his ability to understand his role with a band, realizing it's drums accentuating the lyrics and the melody, not overpowering it. His work behind the drums enhanced the songs, not detracted from them. I admire restraint.

When all is said and done, Ringo will be remembered for adding the magical touch that turned some of those good Beatle songs into great Beatles songs, helping to inspire a generation of drummers to challenge themselves with new and creative ideas. That's my 2-cents. I welcome your thoughts.

Welcome to Our Site!

On behalf of Drum City USA, welcome to The Drum Beat! Here you will find news and reviews about everything drum related, from drum equipment, accessories, drummers, bands and more! We encourage you to post your comments and thoughts as well. We hope that this will be an opportunity to share ideas and learn more about our mutual passion, the drums! As a drummer and owner of an online drum store, Drum City USA, I love what I do. There is no greater feeling than sitting behind your drum kit and creating music for all to enjoy. I love to learn from my customers and fellow drummers. They are always teaching me new and exciting ideas and techniques to enhance my performance and to make my store more user-friendly and
successful. Welcome fellow drummers. I look forward to hearing from you.

Bob