T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
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218.1 | The few the proude...THE DRUMMER! | WILVAX::BOURQUE | BLACK MIRAGE | Tue Aug 30 1988 06:46 | 17 |
| MY topic, lets begin...
Im not gonna be just some spencer way out in the back of the
stage SO Call "hittin my skins" and every drummer feels the way
our job is the back bone of the band..WE! set the timming,Tempo
A band should each a equal share in personal time w/the audience.
every gig I do & Did It was that way..
but then again it may depend on what type of band it is...
I mean I see no use in My double Bass if I was in a Polish
Polka band...Or Slim Whittman look out.Double Bass is gonna improve
your so called music........Just_my_opinion___Lets_hear_more_from_
Drummers.
Tama_man_say_If_You_cant_play_the_right_way_Then_pack_your_drums
_and_fade_away_____O'Tey!
Jim
|
218.2 | Drummers, no one like em! | MARKER::BUCKLEY | Mickey D. > a Quayle in the Bush! | Tue Aug 30 1988 10:40 | 51 |
|
My opinion:
1) Drummer is responsible for keeping perfect time. Tempo should
not speed up or slow down.
2) Drummer is to WORK with the bassist in setting up a solid groove.
3) Drummer should listen to what is being played on top of his groove
(guitars, keys, vocals), so that if and when he decides to add
a fill, it will complement the music, not degrade it.
Reasons:
1) If the tempo isn't solid, the groove is nowhere. See my note
on producers who can't stand drummers without perfect timing. Drummers
should mimic the precision of a metronome, or a drum machine (take
yer pick). There is nothing worse then a band with a drummer who
draggs the tempo down at the chorus then speeds up at the bridge.
If I was producing a band and the drummer couldn't keep time, I'd ask
him to quietly pack his drums while I program the drum machine.
No use the the WHOLE band sounding band on the count of one lame
musician.
2) The reason I hate Neil Peart is the same reason I hate Yngwie.
Neil, while being a great player, sparked drummers everywhere to
overplay. They put rolls and fills in where they're not needed,
and more so, they think of themselves as an individual, rather than
working with the bassist to be a team. A drummer's job is to be
solid (bassist too), not to show off flashly licks. If you have
a problem playing simple parts due to a lack of ego, then become a
lead vocalist or guitarist, then you'll be in the spotlight. Less
is more!
3) relates to reason #2. Too many drummers I know are in their
own world. Wake up and listen to the ensemble! I heard a drummer
last night who was horrendous! He had a 9 toms, and two bass drums.
This guy couldn't handle a Bonham set, he was in over his head with
this thing! What a mess. he was throwing all his cool licks in,
and it threw the bassist off, which threw the guitarist off, which
threw the vocalist off. They sounded like sh*t and it was mostly
the drummers fault (although I blame them too not for having him
in the band in the first place).
Anyone see Jonathan Mover with Joe Satriani???? His solo wasn'ty
fast licks, double bass madness, rolls faster and faster. His solo
was a series of highly syncopated grooves, which had real soul to
them. A few people I know comments `he wasn't that awesome, he
didn't even play play' Please, give me a break!!!!
|
218.3 | you took the words right out of my mouth... | HAZEL::STARR | You ain't nothin' but fine, fine, fine! | Tue Aug 30 1988 11:11 | 9 |
| Buck - you hit it perfectly!
Actually, you almost repeated word for word what I argued for on Sunday.
The drummer's job is to keep time and to play within the context of
the band. It is not to show off his technical ability at every turn.
I'll take a drummer who can give me a solid 4/4 count over a flash/speed
player anyday!
cat
|
218.4 | Bang those drums! | SYSENG::MCLAUGHLIN | | Tue Aug 30 1988 12:57 | 26 |
|
I agree that a good drummer is the building block of a good band.
Without a real good drummer, you'll never be able to hit that certain
groove that makes the audience and the band themselves say "wow
we are cooking now". What impresses me about a drummer is not
necessarily how fast he is or how many drums he can hit, but whether
the things he does are in good context with the song. Like when
you're watching the drummer and he throws in this great roll, that's
right in time with the rest of the band, and you think to yourself,
"that's exactly what I would have done there (if I were a drummer)."
Another thing that impresses me about a drummer is when he can keep
the same beat throughout the song, but do it in a variety of ways.
Like he may start out on the high hat, then switch to the ride,
then throw in a couple of tom beats here and there, and still keep
that same groove going. Seeing someone like that is awesome because
it keeps the music interesting.
I saw Joe Satriani at Berklee a couple of weeks ago and I thought
the drummer was killer. In fact, that was probably the three best
musicians I have ever seen on the same stage together. The whole
show was mind blowing from beginning to end.
Well I've rambled enough. Keep on groovin'. Long live Bonzo!!
Sean
|
218.5 | What did he say? | SYSENG::MCLAUGHLIN | | Tue Aug 30 1988 13:24 | 9 |
|
Re: .1 Sorry to be a whiner, but the total disregard for
punctuation, sentence structure, and the English language in
general make your reply very hard to read and understand.
I'm sure that you had some good points to make, but I'll be
damned if I know what the hell they were.
Sean
|
218.6 | Don't forget the show... | NINJA::COOPER | I got the tone, He's got the bone ! | Tue Aug 30 1988 17:14 | 8 |
| I think (I know) what impresses me in a drummer is what was covered
in the previous replies. Solid beat and all that jazz makes a good
drummer, for sure. What makes a good drummer, IMO, is one who can
do all that and be a great showman (and overcome sitting way in
back), ya know, lots of stick trix and jumping around. I like a
stage show as well as great music.
jc
|
218.7 | Oh yeah, one more thing... | NINJA::COOPER | I got the tone, He's got the bone ! | Tue Aug 30 1988 17:15 | 4 |
| I love Neil Peart a lot, but he has no show, except in the way he
plays...
jc
|
218.8 | A recognisable sound of drums | LAVA::LALLI | Who's come to slay the Dragon ? | Wed Aug 31 1988 03:16 | 9 |
|
You might think Neil Peart is doing too much BUT, he's one of the
few drumers you can recognize just by listening.
Not that bad :-)
The way he plays in Rush is the rigth way. IMO
Didier "Mystic Rhythms"
|
218.10 | What A Drummer Means To Me | RAVEN1::JERRYWHITE | Big Brother's watching you | Thu Sep 01 1988 12:55 | 12 |
| Like I said in an earlier note, to me, a drummer's job is to lay
down the canvas for the string shakers to paint on. When a drummer
tries to put too many fills and rolls in, it makes the tune an audio
mess. Besides, a simple beat is easier to twirl sticks too, which
is a must. A goos drummer must show patience when it comes to adding
the flashy stuff ... you certainly don't want to step on a guitar
player's lead (this is a felony in some states ....)
Mr Scary II
|
218.11 | drum roll please | SALEM::BUTKUS | | Thu Sep 01 1988 14:09 | 13 |
|
From what I have gatherd so so far about what a drummers job is
in this file is that he should sit down and play a solid rythem
so the guitarist can look awsome,but I haven't heard anyone say
the drums should be used as a lead instriment I get tired of hearing
the drums of todays music becuase they don't stand out,listen to
the Paraniod album By Black Sabbath,that's how drums should be used
not just as a rythem. IMO
M
B
|
218.13 | It's a Drummers World out there! | RAVEN1::WHITBY | She'sgotthebestseatinthehouse! | Thu Sep 08 1988 02:04 | 27 |
|
IMO,
To me drummers are something that most string players could
probably do with out if need be, BUT seein's how most string
can't stand the sound of a lonely guitar in steps the MAIN
MAN, as we all know Africans do quite well without any strings
or electricity, so in affect drummers are there to make the
band what it is, personality wise. But what a drummers job
consist of in todays kinda world is to be right on time, a
little tricky, and most of all to me creative! And the part
about have a bass player and drummer together is the essentials
of a strong band. That's why I'm hopin' that the bass player
we have now stick together in band(s) as long as time permits.
But the part about drummers havin' to keep the time without
makin' a couple of mistakes is utterly impossible, at least
that's what I got out of previous comments. Sure everybody
strives to be perfect in what they do but then everybody has
their moments of flubbin it. Personally I despise the technical
side of music just for that reason, Perfection, there is no
such thing. Perfection is only in the eyes of the beholder!
It's the FEEL one has for the love of music that makes a song
or band what it is. But like I said........IMO ;')
Hollywood........If we were all perfect, we would'nt be here!
|
218.14 | ;-) | SUBURB::DALLISON | welcome to the jungle..... | Thu Sep 08 1988 04:44 | 7 |
|
How many peeps out ther enjoy listening to drum solos ??
I find them boring and repetitive - even by the likes of the great
Tommy Aldridge, they are just not meant to be !!!
flames on a postcard to........
|
218.15 | my opinion on drum solos | HAZEL::STARR | You ain't nothin' but fine, fine, fine! | Thu Sep 08 1988 10:24 | 10 |
| > How many peeps out ther enjoy listening to drum solos ??
I enjoy drum solos....
It let's me have time to go the bathroom!
8^)
cat
|
218.17 | | SUBURB::DALLISON | welcome to the jungle..... | Thu Sep 08 1988 11:52 | 5 |
|
I can appreciate the technical aspect of them, they are just boring.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...............
|
218.18 | That solo was SO Low | RAVEN1::WHITBY | She'sgotthebestseatinthehouse! | Thu Sep 08 1988 22:51 | 10 |
|
I agree.....solo's are only good when put in a song that goes
with the song. This style of doing 1/2 hr. solo's is pretty
stupid unless you have the stage theatrics to go with and an
example would be Tommy Lee's cage....now there's somethin'
you would'nt want to go take a leak and miss.
Hollywood.............Drums, it's a way of communicating! ;')
|
218.19 | Tommy Lee | ZUMA::MINARDI | | Fri Sep 09 1988 08:21 | 6 |
|
Tommy Lee: whether you think he's great, or think he's not
you had to love that drum cage show...
/Motorbreath...Tommy Lee always puts on a great show
|
218.20 | A RUSH Fan | SALEM::DACUNHA | | Fri Oct 21 1988 10:10 | 31 |
|
I think .11 is on the right track! Sure... a
drummer has to keep time, but then again, I would hope that EVERYBODY
in the band is keeping time.
Drums should be played like any other instrument,with
a part all it's own. Drums are tunable so why not write parts for
them? Neal Peart is probably #1 on my list!!! Of course you gotta
have the kicks that complement the melody.
Someone mentioned Rush songs and 4/4 timing........
HA!!!
I don't know many drummers who would even try to put
a 4/4 beat to that stuff. It just wouldn't work on most songs!!!
One guy in the band can,t be playing lead and
another playing bass and another playing drums.....everybody plays
the song.
Good drummers are the BALLS !!!!!!!
|
218.22 | | PFLOYD::ROTHBERG | Awaiting the hour of reprisal . . . | Sat Oct 22 1988 02:42 | 16 |
|
Re: .21
BULL*HIT!!!!
4/4??? Are you nuts??? Try listening to Cygnus
X-1 or half of their earlier stuff! Peart rules,
and he plays plenty of other stuff besides 4/4.
I even remember seeing a 17/8 signature somewhere
in one of their songs.
- Rob (who *loves* NeilP)
|
218.23 | What's in a beat ... | RAVEN1::JERRYWHITE | Don't worry, be >>HEAVY<< | Sat Oct 22 1988 07:51 | 10 |
| re: Pete
4/4 ? Get real Lucille, Pert's beats aren't something you can tap
out on the steering wheel at red lights. Mystic Rhythms isn't a
song, it sums up his style. I don't consider steady playing being
a show-off. Besides, it can't be 4/4, there's only 3 people in
the band, that would make it 3/4 or 4/3 wouldn't it ?? ;^).
Scary
|
218.24 | | PFLOYD::ROTHBERG | Awaiting the hour of reprisal . . . | Sun Oct 23 1988 02:00 | 7 |
|
4/3, huh???
B')
Neat trick, that.
|
218.25 | Yipe ! | ASAHI::COOPER | For The Devil Sends The Beast With Wrath | Mon Oct 24 1988 08:23 | 12 |
| Agagagagagagag...
Peart roolz... Seriously !
What blows me away, is live, the guy just sits there, and all these
wilds licks are coming out...Makes y a wonder if he's the one
playing ! I mean Ricki Rocket can't sit still, and he can't play
in Neil Pearts Sandbox...
Just an interjection from a southern gentlemen.
;^0
|
218.28 | one more about Peart | RAVEN1::WHITBY | I'm here,you're here...Let's Party! | Tue Oct 25 1988 03:34 | 15 |
|
Peart is definetly the man to beat, when it comes to
originality, style, tempo, off beats or whatever on an
acoustic set of drums. Sure there's probably the session
or studio or what have you kinda drummer that can do all
his stuff but I think he's the one that opened a few thousand
eye's as to what the possibilities are and can be out of an
average drummer. Does everybody agree? ;')
And didn't Palmer win the Senior Open Classic down in Florida
this past year? :') x 1000
Hollywood..........think of it "Heavy Metal Golf"
|
218.29 | HM putt putt. | RAVEN1::JERRYWHITE | Don't worry, be >>HEAVY<< | Tue Oct 25 1988 06:41 | 7 |
| Speaking of Palmer, maybe the Cookster was refering to Carl Palmer,
not Arnold. Nevertheless, Carl probably isn't much of a golfer
either .... 8^)
Scary
|
218.30 | Relocated ... | ANT::SLABOUNTY | Hello 'mother' ... want another? | Tue Oct 03 1989 11:12 | 22 |
| <<< HELPME::DISK$LCUSER:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HEAVY_METAL.NOTE;1 >>>
-< Heavy Metal >-
================================================================================
Note 444.45 Mr. Big 45 of 57
FSTVAX::GALLO "Racing in the street." 14 lines 2-OCT-1989 09:49
-< Just my humble opinion! >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This notes been a long time coming...
Don't get me wrong, I like Mr. Big, but when is Billy Sheehan
going to turn off all those effects boxes and start playing solid
"supporting" bass? I realize that effects can be useful for a
bass player, but all the time? IMO, He's a great bassist, but he needs
to learn something about being a supporting player.
MrB. (Donning his flame-proof asbestos suit) :-).
|
218.31 | ... | ANT::SLABOUNTY | Hello 'mother' ... want another? | Tue Oct 03 1989 11:13 | 14 |
| <<< HELPME::DISK$LCUSER:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HEAVY_METAL.NOTE;1 >>>
-< Heavy Metal >-
================================================================================
Note 444.51 Mr. Big 51 of 57
ASAHI::SCARY "Pretty neat username, huh ?" 7 lines 2-OCT-1989 23:45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If ya want "supporting bass" listen to Crue, and Niki Six will give
ya all the 1 note thumps you can stand. Shehan is a very creative
player, and I think this band is the perfect frame to display his
talent .... yep, I like 'em ...
Scary
|
218.32 | ... | ANT::SLABOUNTY | Hello 'mother' ... want another? | Tue Oct 03 1989 11:14 | 25 |
| <<< HELPME::DISK$LCUSER:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HEAVY_METAL.NOTE;1 >>>
-< Heavy Metal >-
================================================================================
Note 444.53 Mr. Big 53 of 57
FSTTOO::GALLO "Racing in the street." 17 lines 3-OCT-1989 08:31
-< B.S. How True :-) >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Re: .51 (Coop)
Sorry, Coop, I said I *like* 'em. The tunes are good, Gilbert
plays well. I just don't like the role that B.S. (great initials
:-)) has created for himself. There is a really nice slow tune on
the album that *starts* with a bass solo. Gimmee a break. I read
in an article where B.S. says that this particular solo was really
needed for this song. Right! My personal opinion (as a bass player)
is that bass players in R n' R bands should be supporting players,
not soloists. I don't know if this is a particularly popular opinion,
but it's mine..
MrB. (AKA Mr. Bassman)
|
218.33 | ... | ANT::SLABOUNTY | Hello 'mother' ... want another? | Tue Oct 03 1989 11:14 | 15 |
| <<< HELPME::DISK$LCUSER:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HEAVY_METAL.NOTE;1 >>>
-< Heavy Metal >-
================================================================================
Note 444.54 Mr. Big 54 of 57
VCSESU::COOK "Grimace musically" 7 lines 3-OCT-1989 09:08
-< Like, everyone should be mediocre, man. >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
re .53
With that attitude, you'll never get anywhere. Every player should
be a lead player to an extent.
/prc
|
218.34 | ... | ANT::SLABOUNTY | Hello 'mother' ... want another? | Tue Oct 03 1989 11:15 | 30 |
| <<< HELPME::DISK$LCUSER:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HEAVY_METAL.NOTE;1 >>>
-< Heavy Metal >-
================================================================================
Note 444.56 Mr. Big 56 of 57
HAZEL::STARR "Always took candy from strangers..." 22 lines 3-OCT-1989 09:55
-< a band of soloists? yech! >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Every player should be a lead player to an extent.
No way!!!!!
A band should preform as a BAND, not as a bunch of individuals! in most band
situations, it calls for most of the musicians to play minimalistic. A good
drummer is there to keep the beat for the band, not to show off his own
talent. Same with a good bassist and guitarist!
If you have all lead players, there's no cohesiveness, and the music quickly
gets boring.
> Like, everyone should be mediocre, man.
That's hardly what was said! But mediocrity (and good and bad) is all in the
eyes of the beholder. Technique is not at the top of the list in things I look
for in band members. Its the ability to work within the context of the band.
Even if that means the drummer does nothing but sit there and play rhythm box,
or the bassist sits on one note - if thats what his job calls for, and he does
it good, then he's a good drummer/bassist!
cat
|
218.35 | | FSTVAX::GALLO | Racing in the street. | Tue Oct 03 1989 11:45 | 19 |
|
re: .-1
Thanks, I couldn't quite express what I meant and Cat expresses
the way I feel perfectly.
This is a good topic. How about some opinions about the Bass
players role. We've heard lots of great comments about drummers,
it's the bassman's turn :-).
Re: Coop vs Scary
Oops, sorry 'bout that. For some reason I associate the node
ASHAI:: with Coop.
MrB.
|
218.36 | | MARKER::BUCKLEY | Snake status - 22 inches and growing | Tue Oct 03 1989 11:56 | 8 |
| Try and tell me that 1/2 the playing on Eat Em & Smile WASN'T
supportive!! When Vai was off in never-never-solo-land, Sheehan was
right there keeping the groove there! Billy sights bass playing like
that done in bands like AC/DC to be very important in terms of playing
the groove. I think Billy does a good job of supporting the groove,
and then stepping out here and there for a solo spot. You gotta
remember though where he's coming from...in Talas, HE was the soloist
and the guitarist kept the rhythm going.
|
218.38 | | ANT::SLABOUNTY | You're a train ride to no mportance | Tue Oct 03 1989 12:25 | 14 |
|
>> If you have all lead players, there's no cohesiveness, and the music quickly
>> gets boring.
>
> They don't do leads all the time, but they have the ability to. Get
> my point?
I was just gonna say that. Keeping the beat for most
of the song is fine, but u need "lead breaks" from all
the band members at one time or another. If not, then
THAT'S when the music gets boring.
GTI
|
218.39 | | ANT::SLABOUNTY | You're a train ride to no mportance | Tue Oct 03 1989 12:28 | 13 |
|
Cat:
Wouldn't it be monotonous for a drummer not to put
in fills, etc., and just keep the beat? I think so.
And are u also suggesting that guitarists shouldn't
do solos? Or is that the exception to the rule? And
if so, then I guess the band is basically playing 2nd
fiddle to the guitarist?
GTI
|
218.40 | the band is everything - individuals are secondary | HAZEL::STARR | Always took candy from strangers... | Tue Oct 03 1989 12:47 | 22 |
| > Wouldn't it be monotonous for a drummer not to put
> in fills, etc., and just keep the beat? I think so.
I wouldn't know, not being a drummer. As a rhythm guitarist, I am constantly
doing the same three chords over and over throughout a song. I doesn't bother
me at all - in fact, I enjoy it! But that's me - I'm sure it depends upon the
individual.
> And are u also suggesting that guitarists shouldn't do solos? Or is that
> the exception to the rule?
Yes, guitars (and sometimes keyboards) do tend to be the exception to the
rule. Isn't that fairly obvious when listening to most rock albums? And I
happen to like that format.
Don't get me wrong - I think there are places for all the musicians to shine
(and it doesn't have to be in a solo!). But IMO, no one should think that any
individual is more important than the band. Solos and stuff like that have
their place - but it has to be within the context of the music (which is
pretty much what Pete said a couple replies ago).
cat
|
218.41 | | ANT::SLABOUNTY | You're a train ride to no mportance | Tue Oct 03 1989 13:15 | 60 |
|
>> Wouldn't it be monotonous for a drummer not to put
>> in fills, etc., and just keep the beat? I think so.
>I wouldn't know, not being a drummer.
I'm talking about a listener's standpoint ... not the drummer's.
It's boring hearing a drummer keep a beat and not do ANY fills,
and it's probably the same way to the drummer himself.
>> And are u also suggesting that guitarists shouldn't do solos? Or is that
>> the exception to the rule?
>Yes, guitars (and sometimes keyboards) do tend to be the exception to the
>rule. Isn't that fairly obvious when listening to most rock albums? And I
>happen to like that format.
Yes, of course it's obvious ... but my question is "Why does
"showcasing" hafta be limited to guitarists/keyboardists"?
I also love guitar work ... solos, etc., but I can also app-
reciate a good bassist (Steve Harris and Billy Sheehan have
been mentioned, and I agree). They have just as much right
to "showcase" as the guitarist. Heck, Billy plays the intro
to "Addicted ..." right along with Paul Gilbert ... if Billy
turned his bass controls down and the tone up the bass would
probably sound just like a 6-string!!
>As a rhythm guitarist, I am constantly
>doing the same three chords over and over throughout a song.
Don't take this the wrong way, but isn't that the rhythm guitar-
ist's job? Maybe not "the same 3 chords", but whatever chords
were decided to be used in the song?
And as I write the last paragraph, I realize I'm re-asking the
question that this note is trying to answer ... but bear with
me:
Lead guitarist - some rhythm, "fills", solos
Rhythm guitarist - rhythm
Am I making my point? The rhythm guitarist's "job title" is
more clear-cut than the other members', in that the title seems
to dictate exactly what the person should be playing ... rhythm.
The bassist and drummer and more difficult, because nothing
in their "job title" says that they hafta stick to a concise
beat through the entire song. Enough to keep everyone else
on track, but when they're confident that the other band mem-
bers won't screw up ... they can throw in a "walk up the neck"
or a "trip around the roto-toms".
See my point? I hope so, 'coz I can't think of anything else
to say.
GTI
|
218.42 | | FSTVAX::GALLO | Racing in the street. | Tue Oct 03 1989 13:33 | 29 |
|
Re: Last Few
Nobodys saying that all bass players and drummers should do
is straight 4/4 beats. My point is that a bass player can be
creative in a supportive way. Examples for me would be Bruce
Thomas from E. Costello's Attractions and Garry Tallent from
the E-Street band. Both these guys play solid supporting bass
while at the same time being quite creative in the context of
their respective bands. You don't have to play a-mile-a-minute
riffs to be "creative".
I'll agree that a lot of a bass player or drummer's role
depends on the band. But, there are a lot of bands out there
with a style like Mr. Big (why can't I remember any right
now :-)) and the bass players from these (unnamed) bands
don't feel compelled to show off their chops on virtually
every tune. On the Mr. Big debut, B.S. seems to "show off"
an awful lot.
Re: Buck - Eat 'em and smile
I'll take your word on it. The only song I heard from EEAS was
"tobacco road" and I only head a verse or chorus or something. Did
B.S. use all of those effects when he was with DLR also?
MrB.
|
218.43 | | ANT::SLABOUNTY | You're a train ride to no mportance | Tue Oct 03 1989 13:49 | 7 |
|
Listen to "Shy Boy" off of "Eat 'Em and Smile".
Unbelievable.
GTI
|
218.44 | | ASAHI::COOPER | Scouting...The great adventure | Tue Oct 03 1989 16:24 | 8 |
| Alan,
Just a nit, but I don't consider you a rhythm guit player...
You play some lead right ? That makes you a co-lead player.
Right
?
|
218.45 | me? lead guitarist? hmmm....interesting.... | HAZEL::STARR | Always took candy from strangers... | Tue Oct 03 1989 16:51 | 14 |
| > Alan,
> Just a nit, but I don't consider you a rhythm guit player...
> You play some lead right ? That makes you a co-lead player.
Well, yeah - I play lead on a half-dozen songs or so.......
BTW - good example of role reversal is in The Who. For the most part, it seems
that Townsend's guitar playing keeps the rhythm, while Moon is all over the
place. So now you have guitar giving the rhythm and the drums doing the
'soloing'. Certainly not true in all cases, but moreso than in most bands.....
Of course, what that proves, I have NO idea! But I thought I'd mention it! 8^)
cat
|
218.46 | | CHEFS::DALLISON | Cocked and Loaded | Wed Oct 04 1989 04:45 | 9 |
|
I hate the phrase "lead guitar" and "rhythm" guitar.
It sounds so sort of egotistic. If the band has two guitarists why
not just have both billed is "Guitars".
Just some thoughts.
-Tony
|
218.47 | Bass = Base? | JANUS::FAGG | TOO LOUD?? Your problem... | Wed Oct 04 1989 06:02 | 32 |
| To me the primary role of the bassist (together with the drummer) is to
provide the firm foundation that the rest of the band can work from.
This is essential, and we've all heard cases of a band falling apart
because the bass player and drummer have lost synchronization.
That does not mean that the bass player should be playing single note
copies of bass drum patterns. Far from it (but if that is what a band
wants, I'd suggest they go by a synthesizer with a sequencer).
It's a question of striking the balance between the single note plod
and the "another lead guitar, but one octave lower" sort of thing.
For instance, you could hardly call Lemmy a one note plodder. Then
again, it is incredibly solid (like a Sherman tank).
The sort of Bass playing I like can be found on Black Sabbath's early
albums. During the main part of a song, Geezer really hits the riff
keeping everyone together. During the guitar solos he goes off on a
solo of his own, but it remains solid and helps to fill out the
emptiness left because there is no rhythm guitar (NIB of the first
album demonstrates this).
Even during the main part of a sing, Geezer would add little frills
around the edges when the guitar wasn't doing a lot (listen to Wheels
of Confusion from Vol 4 and you'll see what I mean).
Mark King is another interesting player to listen to (particularly in
his early work with Level 42). I know he's not a metal bass player, but
demonstrates the mixture of rhythm and melody well.
IMO.
Keef.
|
218.48 | | ASAHI::SCARY | Pretty neat username, huh ? | Wed Oct 04 1989 07:27 | 10 |
| Being your typical egotistical LEAD guitarist, it's easy to say
that the bass and drums are the canvas on which guitar player paints
(kinda profound ain't it ...), but there are also plenty of places
where a bass player can ramble around while the guitar players are
steadily chunking away on the chords. Whatever fits, sometimes
it will, sometimes it won't.
Scary
|
218.49 | | MARKER::BUCKLEY | Snake status - 22 inches and growing | Wed Oct 04 1989 10:30 | 2 |
| I thought it was cool on the old Ozzy albums where Rhoads was credited
with: All Guitars
|
218.50 | my 2cents | SALEM::PARKER | | Thu Oct 05 1989 14:14 | 9 |
| I think the key factor here is the groove. If you can whip in some
riffs/fills than go for it, i think it sounds great as long as you
don't lose the groove (basic foundation). The perfect example of
flat vs. flash is listen to a ted nugent album ( bass and drums
real exciting alright yawn) then listen to racer x live. That is
the definition of flash all over the place that never loses the
groove.
dave
|
218.51 | My thoughts | LUNER::BIRD | | Sat Aug 24 1996 13:33 | 22 |
| OK, this particular note hasn't had a reply in seven years, but I'm
gonna put in my own two cents.
Speaking as a bassist myself (who used to play guitar), I'd have to
say that the role of a bassist and a drummer is to create a rythm or
even mood of which the guitar or keyboards can accent to create almost
a magical tie between band members. It is possible for a song to have
too much "spice" ,and that is the problem I have found with alot of
bassists, they really want to be a lead guitarist. In some cases I
believe that the bass can sound as a lead instument, but not when the
their is another instrument playing a seperate lead. Rush is a good
example of this factor. Getty Lee may seem to be playing a lead during
Alex's solo, but if you really listen he is actually hitting the root
and adding a little "spice". This is exeptable only because their is
only three band members. Geeza Butler was also a good example of this,
then again Geddy Lee was influenced by him. I don't know that is only
my interpretation of what a bassist and a drummer are supposed to do in
a band.
Jim
|
218.52 | some minor views | SUBSYS::MSOUCY | | Mon Aug 26 1996 06:32 | 15 |
|
Not playing an instrument but listening to a lot of different bands I
would have to say that they are the backbone/rhythm end which should be
tightly knitted together to create a tight groove no matter what they
are playing. Geddy Lee is one of my favorite bassists, and Les Claypool
can do some really wierd/funky stuff with his axe also.
I think it is essential that a drummer/bassist work closely together
and know what's going on at all times, not that most don't, actually
the opposite. My buddy plays drums (has for years) and when he is in a
different band he works a lot with the bass player to get into how the
band plays overall and to work together to get their licks down pat
when they are out playing.
|
218.53 | Oh well... so much for conventional bass ideas... ;-) | DREGS::BLICKSTEIN | The moment is a masterpiece | Mon Aug 26 1996 09:10 | 5 |
| My ideas of the role of the bass player totally changed when I became
familiar with Victor Lemonte Wooten of the Flecktones (Bela Fleck & the
Flecktones).
;-)
|
218.54 | | EDWIN::HOOKER | | Mon Aug 26 1996 14:12 | 4 |
| The drummer's job is to rule the universe...
that is all..
|
218.55 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | I'm brave but my chicken's sick | Mon Aug 26 1996 14:36 | 1 |
| amen.
|
218.56 | | CADSYS::FENNELL | Nothing is planned by the sea and the sand | Mon Aug 26 1996 14:51 | 4 |
| >>> The drummer's job is to rule the universe...
Using Paiste cymbals and Tama drums as weapons
|
218.57 | Attack of The Russian Dragons! | TMAWKO::BELLAMY | What fresh hell is this? | Mon Aug 26 1996 15:14 | 2 |
| Well, as long as they do it without rushing, dragging, or playing too
loud when they should be playing quietly ... more power to 'em!
|
218.58 | Big...Real B I G !!!! | STRATA::LAMOTHE | Don't Fear the Reaper's Wife | Sun Sep 01 1996 09:31 | 22 |
|
The drummers job is basically the following :
A. GET BIGGER cymbols than the other guy
B Keep extra sticks next to you so you can throw the
broken ones at the bass_man
C. Make the bass_man laugh and screw up by taking drumstick with
your left hand and place it in your nose, while twirling other
drum stick in Right hand....this always Works...!!!
D. Use the biggest kick drims available...Modify kick (bass) drums
to get best and loudest Crank IT UP DB bass sound prior to
mic amplification !!!
E. Need a Beer tap with mouth feed next to drum kit ....This is good
at Ralph's diner !!! may want OPTIONAL bladder controlled
Close PIN for maximium beer input and minimuim OutPut !!!
/Sax_who_loves_his_Pearl_WorldClass_pro_series
|