Female drummers?

[T.Y]

I'm a male to start of with, but just wondering how many female drummers are there around?any at all here in this forum?

[Stormi]

Why? Do you want to hit on us? :P

[Just Drums]

Why? Do you want to hit on us? :P


**Sits back. Grabs popcorn. **

Let the flirting begin.

:)

[toeKNEE]

yes, i imagine he does

i know i do

chick drummers are hott (even the ugly ones)

[YamahaDrummerAus]

I know quite a few actually. I love harmlessly sweet talking :P

[T.Y]

yes, i imagine he does

i know i do

chick drummers are hott (even the ugly ones)


well like he said, i do like chick drummers
but when i started this thread i didnt really think about that, i was just wondering how many female drummers are there out there, considering there arent many i know, and if you do look at the drummers page of this site, theres very few female drummers compared to male drummers

[altered_beast]

I kinda like the idea of female drummers, but the only one I've ever met is my cousin. A girl is a girl, the talent she comes with can only be a bonus right?

[Lightbulb Sun]

I'm a female drummer.

I've only been here a couple days so far, but I've already seen a few girls here. It's nice to see, since I don't know many female drummers in real life. It's also nice to see that people are mature here unlike some other places I've been too, and you don't freak out and demand pics as soon as you discover someone is female.

[roll_model]

Im a female drummer and prouddddd of it!!!

[drumminjohn]

girl drummers are the hottest female musicians, if she can tear up the drums, i can dig her

[Bonham15]

I think its pretty cool when i see a female drummer. I've heard people say, "oh, girls can't drum." but i dont know why someone would think that. I've seen girl drummerss that are better than a lot of the guys i know.

[AllTheCoolNamesAreTaken]

There are girls who can drum, and girls who can't. Just like guys. Only two things potentially bug me about girl drummers, and they're the same two things that bug me about girls in any other traditionally male-dominated field:

- Anger against the men and assuming that she isn't welcome because she's a girl (which, to be fair, is usually because she takes crap all the time and usually goes away as long as you don't goggle and say "But ... you're ... a ... GIRL!!!")
- Looking up to some really crap drummers just because they're women. Okay, I should say 'woman', because the only one I can think of offhand is Meg White. It's like a chef-in-training idolizing Chef Boyardee.

There are even some history-making female drummers, like the woman who invented the 'humpback shuffle'. I'd have to look her name up. And aren't all 'chick bands' pretty much all chicks? Like Shonen Knife or Cibo Matto or Luscious Jackson ...

It's funny, I think I was less surprised to find out some drummers were female than to find out that Jimi Hendrix's drummer was white!

[Lightbulb Sun]

I've thankfully never had anyone tell me I can't play or exclude me from anything because I'm a girl. I've always been treated pretty much the same as any other drummer, except sometimes I'll get people coming up to me saying "wow a girl drummer, that's so cool". I've never had any experiences with sexism or anything though when it comes to drumming.

[LinearDrummer]

I I've heard people say, "oh, girls can't drum." but i dont know why someone would think that.

Let them see a clip of Terry Lynn Carrington or Hilary Jones - I'm sure they will change their tune....

[cervitalle_decay]

Well I'm a girl and I've been playing for now 5 years.
It looks like we're like 5 or 6 on this forum!!! It's kind of funny cuz female drummers are so underrated. I don't know if some of you think like that but...I really don't know why!...
**There are girls who can play some Portnoy!!! (well I can!! And I know some!)** :)

[Stormi]

I think a lot of "non-drumming" people (or anybody with no knowledge of drums) think females can't play, solely because they think you need to be strong to play drums. They don't realise it's more endurance than muscle size.

[kzdruma]

Ive seen some monster female players. Dont underestimate!

[Drum Monkey]

I'm a female drummer.

I've only been here a couple days so far, but I've already seen a few girls here. It's nice to see, since I don't know many female drummers in real life. It's also nice to see that people are mature here unlike some other places I've been too, and you don't freak out and demand pics as soon as you discover someone is female.
Hey! Would you look who it is! Haha.

-DM

[Lightbulb Sun]

Well hello there, I didn't know you were on this forum! haha

Well I'm a girl and I've been playing for now 5 years.
It looks like we're like 5 or 6 on this forum!!! It's kind of funny cuz female drummers are so underrated. I don't know if some of you think like that but...I really don't know why!...
**There are girls who can play some Portnoy!!! (well I can!! And I know some!)** :)
I can play some Portnoy too :)
I have a keyboardist friend who is insanely awesome who can play like Jordan Rudess too! Once we find a bassist, and convince our guitarist to stop hating dream theater, we're going to play The Dance of Eternity and Stream of Conciousness.

[Drum Monkey]

I think a lot of "non-drumming" people (or anybody with no knowledge of drums) think females can't play, solely because they think you need to be strong to play drums. They don't realise it's more endurance than muscle size.
Most "non-drumming" people have no idea what drumming is in the first place. "All you do is hit things!"

-DM

[T.Y]

Theres quite a few girl bands around here where i am and also quite a few female drummers in the scene, but many of them don't seem like they're full-on to drumming, they're more like only drumming because the band they're in couldnt find someone else kinda thing, if you get what i mean

So its good to see there are actually some female drummers around that are passionate about drumming!

Long Live Drummers!!!Kill the drum machines!!!

[cervitalle_decay]

Theres quite a few girl bands around here where i am and also quite a few female drummers in the scene, but many of them don't seem like they're full-on to drumming, they're more like only drumming because the band they're in couldnt find someone else kinda thing, if you get what i mean

So its good to see there are actually some female drummers around that are passionate about drumming!

Long Live Drummers!!!Kill the drum machines!!!

I have to agree with you..there's not many girls that look passionate about drumming. Some of my friends (well girls!) who play drums don't seem to be really in to it...there's only a few and those ones are usually really good drummers.

[RudimentalDrummer]

I have a feeling that "Female Drummers" do have a certain advantage over Male Drummers.

(1) If you are a Fantastic Female Drummer, couple with beauty - You are a Killer.

(2) If you are an OK Female Drummer - you are still been sought after by Bands


The reason is just that there are not too many Female Drummers in proportion to Male Drummers......When someone said "That Band has a Female Drummer"...the response is "Wow...must go and see".....maybe it's just fancinating, very entertaining to see a Female Drum.......

If I see a (1)...I will que up and approach her, beg her to teach me drummings (just twice a month will be ok), call her and bring her out for dinner cum supper - and whisper to her ears "I love that - You're just so good with those sticks" ....kekekek....nah...just being naughty here.

[Stormi]

I don't know why there aren't more female drummers. Maybe there are, maybe a lot just don't try to make a living from it, I dunno. Maybe too many are under the misconception you need a lot of strength to play, maybe a lot are too superficial and don't like the idea of getting all hot and sweaty and making unattractive drummer faces. Maybe a lot think they'll be considered "butch" for playing drums. Maybe they'll worry what the "guys" think, that they won't be accepted by them, or taken seriously as a musician. Who knows. I should ask my drum teacher how many females he teaches.

I definitely think there are more female drummers than 20 years ago though. Back when I first had the desire to learn drums, it wasn't "normal" for females to play. My parents gave me strange looks and a definite "NO" to playing (which was also a money/space/noise issue as well), and my friends thought I was weird. Now, 20 years on, people keep saying how proud they are of me, how cool it is, and my sister-in-law even told me to join a band when I'm good enough! So I've had a lot more support now than I probably would have had if I started playing 20 years ago. I guess now it's a more "acceptable" thing to do, just like tattoos, piercings, weird coloured hair is more acceptable. Maybe in another 20 years there will be an equal ratio of male:female drummers.

Feel free to hit on me, too, except I'm old and married LOL

[boombox]

aye.. well most of the time when im talking drums to people i forget that im a girl because it never really seems like that big of an issue..to me at least :) and people will bring it up.. but usually they just bring it up to say that the fact i play drums just makes me that more hott.. haha and who is going to complain about comments like that?...

i mean, i like to be taking seriosuly of course... but a few lines like that never hurt anybody.... hehe

[cervitalle_decay]

Well hello there, I didn't know you were on this forum! haha


I can play some Portnoy too :)
I have a keyboardist friend who is insanely awesome who can play like Jordan Rudess too! Once we find a bassist, and convince our guitarist to stop hating dream theater, we're going to play The Dance of Eternity and Stream of Conciousness.

AAA!!! That's so nice! The Dance of Eternity is an awesome song!!! :)
I went to their show last year (gigantour) and those musicians are just incredible!

[Fur drummer]

I think female drummers are really cool and glad that more women and girls are playing the drums.

[audiophile]

I had a female teacher also. Her name is Dana jo Cox. She played here in OKC with a band called Maya. She is now the regional sales rep for Zildjian. I still run into her everyonce in awhile around the area. I remember she used to play with finger nails that were about a inch or so long, and never break them. Man could she play.
Her kit was a mixture of Yamaha acoustic and electric drums.

[-emily-]

I'm a drummer, I've been playing for thirteen years and I have to say that although someone said that female drummers are always assuming that they aren't taken seriously because they're a girl, it does happen! The number of times I've walked into a drum shop and been blanked and a boy has walked in after me and been asked 'can I help you?' Although for every time that has happened, there has been about a hundred times that I've been taken very seriously and treated as an equal so I guess I can't complain! :)

[Slipknotfan485]

I think drummings all about passion and love for music, if you have a passion for it, you'll bust your ass learning to play it and you'll try your hardest and you'll train yourself for the job. Thats why drumming is not a gender-based thing... A girl can hold drumsticks, bust her ass and have rhythm so she can learn how to play the drums in my mind. Problem solved. Drumming is all about practice.. Of course, some are born with natural talent, like it just comes natural. Like anything else in this world, practice makes nearly perfect. :)

[jazzin']

girl drummers are the hottest female musicians, if she can tear up the drums, i can dig her

Yeah, Cindy Blackman is hot, and she can seriously tear up the drums...whooh man!

Although she is also freakishly muscular...

[Stormi]

Yeah, Cindy Blackman is hot, and she can seriously tear up the drums...whooh man!

Although she is also freakishly muscular...

Freakishly muscular? I saw her just over a week ago at a drum workshop - she looked well toned but she didn't look freakishly muscular. She was awesome though, her playing gave me goosebumps.

[punk_princess]

haha of corse there are female drummers! i mean, im one of the few...very few...bt yea there are some, most girls grow out of it by the time they hit their teens, bt i been playing since i was 10 n im not nearly 16 n stil going strong! when it was 'cool' alot of my friends played bt none of them play anymore. anyway now u know there are some of us female drummers out there! lol
lotsa luv steff xx

[Mookster]

Cindy Blackman is a great drummer! As are Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney and Beth Gordon from Scarling. There's loads out there (although obviously there's a low female-male ratio), just that the bands they drum in sometimes seem to be less well known...

[newbie]

I am a female drummer. I am 15 years old and play drums in a community based Big Band Jazz Assemble, Drum for my High School Jazz Band, Percussion ( xylophone, Timpani, Marimba, drum set, you name it) for my high school bandSSS. I am also in a Dixie band but I play the Sax in that and I am just starting up a Broadway Band that will play nothing but showtunes from the big broadway shows. I will soon be posting new pictures of my set as it has changed a fair bit since I posted them in Your Place --Your Gear.

[rogers_68]

my wife has learned a couple grooves that i've taught her. you think chick drummers in general are hot, try teaching your wife to play... :)

[Stormi]

my wife has learned a couple grooves that i've taught her. you think chick drummers in general are hot, try teaching your wife to play... :)

My husband is not teaching me, but he was really excited when I got my drumkit coz he thinks it's really sexy for a woman to play drums. I always stuff up whatever I'm playing when he watches me though LOL.

[DrummerMom]

I'm a female drummer/Percussionist.

[TomasHakkesBrain]

my wife has learned a couple grooves that i've taught her. you think chick drummers in general are hot, try teaching your wife to play... :)

Yeah i tried to teach my girlfriend a double stroke roll-she broke a nail and went off in a strop!

[cervitalle_decay]

AAAA...Funny!!!!
....
Goshh..there's more girls on that forum then I thought...that's nice!!!!

[T.Y]

AAAA...Funny!!!!
....
Goshh..there's more girls on that forum then I thought...that's nice!!!!


YEA! same, i wonder how many signed up because of this thread...hehe


Anyway, ALL drummers rock!!male or female we're still drummers

[roll_model]

On est trois a parler francais ici. J'viens d'Ottawa. I'be done many gigs and people have taken me seriously after I play. My biggest problem was always finding a band to play with. Guys would take me seriously enough and would'nt bother letting me try playing. But mannnn when I play, there's no guy that can do it like I can and it fells good. We need more confident young ladies to come out and play, take a chance cause im telling you there's alot out there.

[dwjosh]

i don't have a problem w/ female drummers at all. i let a girl play my kit a few months ago (we had a praise band open for us) and she was really good, and had an awesome gretch snare that made me lust. hey, drummermom, your from simpsonville, cool i'm in sumter

[krys_m]

In the last show I went to one of the groups had a female drummer. What caught my eye, other then the fact that she was cute, was that she looked like she was having fun. Not only was she really good but looked like she was having a blast, unlike the two after them. So there are some good ones out there.....not enough though. imo

[rendezvous_drummer]

Alright, now I'm a fan of the females, a huge fan at that. Think of how much of a fan I'll be to females who play the drums!
http://www.aqsu08.dsl.pipex.com/DIBB/homer-drool.gif

[sumwatt]

Funny this topic should come up. I'm 28 and a guy but I was just at my first lesson and the student ahead of me is a young girl and the woman who has a session after me is a lawyer I've had drinks with at my neighborhood pub. I walked out of the room and saw this woman and was like "wait, I know you - I've had drinks with you before"... I was just surprised because I had never imagined her to be a drummer....

[Helen]

Im a female drummer and most of the time drummers dont think any differently of me.

Its usualy the non-drummers that tend to judge before they hear me.

[Kat]

Just looking at that list of drummers on this site and theres SO many men, hardly any women. Whats up since there's so few women listed? Don't tell me theres not great female drummes ou there..

[Big_Philly]

I consider drums to be one of the most - if not, THE most, masculine instruments around. They are big, loud-mouthed instruments hogging up all the space on stage and prefer to be eye-catchers... Well that's an exaggerated stereotype but you know what I mean... right?
But to me there's nothing wrong with female drummers. There's some really good female drummers out there, such as Caroline Corr (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Corr), who is also one of the most gorgeous female drummers around in my humble opinion.
I'm probably gonna be teaching a 10-yr old girl soon, she had one lesson so far and a second lesson has been arranged, after which her parents will decide whether or not they will continue them (they have to see if the girl really likes it and they also want to see some progress being made, some quality teaching.

[AlexM]

Dude... I love girl dummers. I am dying to meet one my age... :-D

[drummerchick435]

Well I can't believe I haven't replied to THIS thread yet!!! So now no more of this nonsense: I'm a chick drummer. so there I've replied. my fav chick drummer is Shelia E.

[6and21]

<<<drummer...and female.....female since birth even LOL..only drummin' the last 11 years though. Got a late start;)

[TitanSound]

There are probably lots of great female drummers out there. Are they getting the recognition they deserve? Probably not...thats why you don't see them here.

[sohitya]

hey there, im a girl drummer=]
ive only bn playing for four years but i love it!!it helps with dancing aswel apparently
a few of friends of mine got into it after i did but none of them do it anymore
i guess its a passion only some can share?maybe only certain people have a flare for it?
a few guys put me down about being a girl drummer but none of them ever heard me play..
you get called dyke and all tht, there was even gonna be a battle between the lads and me to see who was better- but we never did it, im glad coz why should i have to prove myself for something i love doing?whether you're a guy or a girl makes no difference, i just cant do fills that well but im working on them, i prefer the reggae, jazz and funk beats
im new, talk to me?=]

[Big_Philly]

hey there, im a girl drummer=]
a few guys put me down about being a girl drummer but none of them ever heard me play..
you get called dyke and all tht, there was even gonna be a battle between the lads and me to see who was better- but we never did it, im glad coz why should i have to prove myself for something i love doing?

Welcome to the forums :) I agree with what you stated there, there's no need to prove yourself. Even if you're not as good as some of the guys: so what? But you have to agree that a drumkit is the most masculine instrument out there ;) So getting comments from other people is quite natural. But don't let that put you down.

[sohitya]

yeah a few guys said that they'd never even Heard a good girl drummer, meg white is a bad impression but my pastor said that all drummers are different which i think is true coz i play really quite differently to alot of people ive heard, the only thing is-sometimes what I think they say is true because I dont know ANY good female drummers, ive seen one or two on tv and they look soo unhappy with themselves or they'll keep a rubbish beat-
i do get put down alot but it makes me more passionate about wanting to play so maybe people can see that there are girl drummers out there!!i was inspired to play drums by a girl but i dont know her anymore, most days when im getting taught(both my teachers are male)..they'll be more girls getting lessons then there are guys-even my mom is wanting to get lessons, coz everytime she hears me practice she feels the rhythm!!
i get upset a little coz ive bn playing for four years now and ive never once played with other instruments, i just practice to cd's all the time coz not many peoople have heard me play and i would Love to be in a band or something but i dont know many people up for having a girl drummer...
the only thing i do is play congas with some acoustic guitarists..

[sohitya]

Welcome to the forums :) I agree with what you stated there, there's no need to prove yourself. Even if you're not as good as some of the guys: so what? But you have to agree that a drumkit is the most masculine instrument out there ;) So getting comments from other people is quite natural. But don't let that put you down.

is drumming to do with the musical ear?because I know for a fact that I find fills harder than guys because some how they're just able to get the speed and power right, however, my teacher said to me the other weeek when he was teaching me snare and bass drum independance in a jazz beat the other week, i was able to pick it up easier than what he remembered he did. I also had the same thing said to me by my third teacher, Dil Davies. Would that be a gender thing or just depending on the person? ...

[Big_Philly]

Person dependent, probably. If you can play 16th notes with your hands you've got all the speed you need for a simple fill-in, it's just a matter of trying different patterns and seeing what sounds good. Ask your teacher to teach you a few simple fill-ins and re-arrange and expand those in ways that you like. I had problems playing fills too for a while but it's not so much a special technique as it is just improvisation... And it takes time to work up the guts to just improvise and do seemingly random things.

About good female drummers: Caroline Corr from the Corrs. She's very good!

[michael drums]

The first female drummer that I remember going, "OMG! She's really, really good for a girl", was Karen Carpenter, back in the seventies! Even Buddy Rich thought she was amazing.

She's me ALL-TIME favorite female drummer, and there's a bunch of her drum-clips on YouTube, that'll knock your socks off...


Play On! ;-)

[GlennO]

Hillary Jones!

Shes i even a bit of alright!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LI-a9xkfW0&mode=related&search=

[Phildas]

Hi all

I guess one can say I am a "female" drummer lol!

Check out my myspace page if you wanna see what I do. There are some songs and a couple vids.

www.myspace.com/phildas

See ya!

Phildas

[drumbent]

On est trois a parler francais ici. J'viens d'Ottawa. I'be done many gigs and people have taken me seriously after I play. My biggest problem was always finding a band to play with. Guys would take me seriously enough and would'nt bother letting me try playing. But mannnn when I play, there's no guy that can do it like I can and it fells good. We need more confident young ladies to come out and play, take a chance cause im telling you there's alot out there.

Hi roll_model,

I'm an Ottawa drummer as well (male). Are you playing with any groups right now? The only local female drummer I've heard of that's playing regularly is Mary Gellner with the "Big Band Caravane" (though I've not yet actually heard her play). She also recently took over the drum chair from me with the "Bill Jupp Big Band" (a weekly rehearsal group).

After all my years of pro playing I'm still a bit amazed at the dearth of female drummers, but am always happy to find out about one. I'm currently working with a female singer / songwriter who not only plays guitar and piano but also knows rhythms like crazy due to studying flamenco dance. It's not every day I meet someone I can jam with in 7/9 or 9/8 time, male OR female! She's comfortable on hand drums but not the kit, though she has my rehearsal kit at her place and is having fun with it.

And in case you're curious, the local groups I play with are "The Jivewires" (since '94), the "Impressions in Jazz Orchestra", "The Custums", and the "Steve Berndt Quartet", among others. And from 1996 to 2005 I was the drummer for the Trevor Finlay Band, which had some success and played BluesFest ever year. If you ever see me playing please say Hi!

Cheers,
Mark

[XAydMary]

I'm a drummer, I've been playing for thirteen years and I have to say that although someone said that female drummers are always assuming that they aren't taken seriously because they're a girl, it does happen! The number of times I've walked into a drum shop and been blanked and a boy has walked in after me and been asked 'can I help you?' Although for every time that has happened, there has been about a hundred times that I've been taken very seriously and treated as an equal so I guess I can't complain! :)

I'm a woman and I can't get waited on in a Best Buy either. I think that happens in just about every store that isn't specifically geared towards women, like say a nail shop.

[GimmeABeat!!]

Another woman drummer checking in!

Sometimes I get really tired of people's reactions when I tell them I'm a drummer. "You're a drummer?? No... Really?" Sigh... Yes, really. I guess part of that is because I'm a pretty quiet and reserved person. I guess people think you have to be some crazy, wild person to be a drummer.

I'm aware of the "butch" attitude, too, and that kind of bothers me. I work in IT, a fairly conservative line of work. I take my "Drum" and "Modern Drummer" magazines to work to read at lunch, but I'll hide them because I don't want my co-workers to think I'm weird. (It doesn't help that often the cover photo is of some tattooed, wild-eyed dude. LOL!) Most of my co-workers have no idea I'm a drummer.

[yan]

the only people tell me that girls shoudnt drum, are my parents..

[aydee]

I had no idea there were so many ladies in our midst! DW suddenly smells a lot nicer.

Though I'm very in touch with my feminine side, and nobody could ever call me a chauvinist by any stretch, I somehow always felt women and a hard time throwing a ball, and playing the drums.

Sheila E, Hillary Jones, and Terri Lynn Carrington totally blew the 2nd myth out of the water for me.

I'm now waiting for someone the dispel the first! ............................................: ) : ) : )

[weldflash]

I too am a female drummer. Everybody that knows I play seems to think it is cool. I think it's cool too.

[rhythmjunkie]

Terry Lynn Carrington and Kim Thompson are probably my two favorite jazz drummers, because of their feel. I think it's incredible. I think females have incredible feel and sensitivity. I think it's great to hear them play.

[jamndrummer]

I am a musician/drummer who happens to be female.

[Tomtom123]

I've always thought female drummers rock. Given a choice of watching a male drummer and a female drummer of equal ability, I'll take the female drummer every time; much more sensual. Now having sounded like a typical male, let me say that my respect for female drummers has grown quite a bit as I've gotten to hear more and more female drummers lately.

Good drummers are good drummers, some happen to be male and some happen to be female.

[Amy_Lee]

Hi, I'm new.

I'm also a female drummer, have been playing since I was 10.

I was reading the posts before mine and I am glad that Karen Carpenter and Janet Weiss were given a mention, I love both. I also love Torry Castellano from The Donnas. Her energy behind the kit is explosive!

Meg White is horrible.

[lasergirl]

I think it's great to be a female drummer. Some even say that it's good to be one, you might not have to carry all the hardcases yourself..:)

[gfred611]

Female drummer here...checking in.

Ditto on the Karen Carpenter appreciation. Before she came from behind the kit....her playing was very inspiring to many little girls...of which I was one!

http://www.myspace.com/wickedjezabel

[KarlCrafton]

A drummer is a drummer I always thought.

As long as someone has it in them to drum, they should do it, and that's all that matters.

I had two female drum teachers when I took lessons in HS (they were really good snare drummers too), and about 50% of the drum line when I was a freshman (1979) in HS were female....unfortunately, the band director wasn't a female, and "had" to leave...I leave the gory details out....

My grandmother was a touring drummer in the 20's...got a few cool pics...Radio Kings....(NO, I don't have them dang it!).

My Grandfather (both on Mom's side) was also a drummer.

Sad to say that in all the years I've played out, I've only come across 2 female drummers playing in a band on the same bill.

One was good, the other was passable for what the band was doing, but recently a nice girl came up to me after a show that was a drummer and we talked drums for a while, and she asked a couple questions that I was able to help her with.

Didn't matter that she was a female, she was a drummer, but I do admit it was nicer talking to her than some drummer "dude" of the same experience level asking the same questions.

gfred611, nice job on Barracuda!...I'm jealous too, because I have yet to be able to play Barracuda with a band!

I love that song.

You did a better version than Sean Kinney/Alice In Chains on the Rock Honors show...you did the fills!

SK TOTALLY missed the one big fill!....Gretchen Wilson sang her a$$ off on it though.

....And (even though it is for a good cause) any site that has "Rock Your Boobs" on it is OK by me haha!

Why is everyone so down on Meg White?

The White Stripes have a certain weird style, and she plays within that framework.
I don't know if she can play outside of the WS's, but she does the job for the band she's in...and is making records, touring, and making money at it (hopefully).

Their songs sound good to me, and I like listening to it because she's doing stuff I wouldn't necessarily think to do that way, and I think that's cool.

Is she a drum "virtuoso"? No, but so what.

Cindy Blackman...now she ROCKS on everything, and she's very nice.

Nice to look at too...for a girl :-)

[Ian Williams]

Hello, fellow drummers.

My lovely wife and two daughters, they play my drum-set suddenly and I enjoy watching them.

All the Best.

[m1ck]

I have always liked Cindy Blackman's drumming style. (Lenny Kravitz' band.)

http://blog.nj.com/entertainment_impact_music/2007/08/large_cindy.jpg

http://jonathanmayhew.blogspot.com/cindyblackmankosl2.jpg

[k3ng]

I remember watching Hillary Jones for the first time and my first reaction was 'holy shit she'd kick my ass any day'. I admit I am guilty of being one of the 'girls can't play drums' people a long while back (don't crucify me for that). But after getting on this site, I have been baptised otherwise.

Now, girl drummers aren't as scarce as I thought. Half my students are girls. And half of them play better than the guys. I find it easier to teach girls though, cos they listen more. The guys just wanna make noise and bang away.

T.Y I think you've started something here. We're suddenly seeing so many new female members here. Cheers.

Hillary Jones FTW!

[XAydMary]

Old female drummer here. I remember back when it was just me and Karen Carpenter.

[KarlCrafton]

Here's a pic of my Grandmother back in the 20's--she's on the far left.

Man......I wish I had that drum!!!

Nelly J and her Jay-Birds

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h257/KarlCrafton/JayBirds.jpg

[kwolf68]

I play hockey with females and they can kick serious azz, so playing drums is a walk in the park for them.

[Ian Williams]

Dear fellows,

One female drummer is Denise Dufort from British rock band, Girlschool. I like the Pearl double bass drum-set.

All the Best,

[DansNutz]

yes, i imagine he does

i know i do

chick drummers are hott (even the ugly ones)

That is so true, at least in my opinion. Take Meg White for example. I wouldn't look twice at her normally. But the fact that shes a drummer makes me kinda dig her a little bit.

[genericdrummingusername]

That is so true, at least in my opinion. Take Meg White for example. I wouldn't look twice at her normally. But the fact that shes a drummer makes me kinda dig her a little bit.

He he he. I'd like to make you all aware of the "pic of yourself" (http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=557917#post557917) thread. He he he.

[nicolelikedrum]

yay for female drummers!

[Gyrefalcon]

No mentions of Maureen Tucker? To this day she is one of the most progressive drummers to have ever graced a rock band.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moe_Tucker

[DrummerDavid]

Have you ever wondered about their drum stool after a gig?

[LeeLovesSabian]

Women drummers are sooooo sexy!!!

Can we say sexy on here? lol

[Pollyanna]

Sometimes I get really tired of people's reactions when I tell them I'm a drummer. "You're a drummer?? No... Really?"
Yes, I get that a LOT. It was less complicated when I was on keyboards :)

When I was playing regular gigs in the 80s women would often say to me afterwards, "I wish I could play drums!". I'd always encourage them to take it up but they'd almost always say, "Ohh, I caaan't". I found it frustrating but I guess taking up an instrument is a big commitment and flying in the face of convention makes it even harder.

Karen Carpenter, Hillary Jones, Cindy Blackman and Caroline Corr show us that women really can play so maybe it's mainly those of us who can't sing who take up the sticks? :)

[Meat the beat]

Have you ever wondered about their drum stool after a gig?

Love it.. you have Balls of Steel DD!!! :-D

I knew female players who could kick my ass many years ago, so have never had a problem... always wondered about the gloves thing though - till some soft blokes started wearing them aswell!! ;-D

Did a gig with Cora Coleman a couple years back - she's my fave, and whooooaa!! She's Hot!!!!!! :-P

[drummer girl09]

Hi, I'm new.

I'm also a female drummer, have been playing since I was 10.

I was reading the posts before mine and I am glad that Karen Carpenter and Janet Weiss were given a mention, I love both. I also love Torry Castellano from The Donnas. Her energy behind the kit is explosive!

Meg White is horrible.

Karen Carpenter kicked some butt! Meg White....not my favorite drummer either (censored version).


Another woman drummer checking in!

Sometimes I get really tired of people's reactions when I tell them I'm a drummer. "You're a drummer?? No... Really?" Sigh... Yes, really. I guess part of that is because I'm a pretty quiet and reserved person. I guess people think you have to be some crazy, wild person to be a drummer.

I'm aware of the "butch" attitude, too, and that kind of bothers me. I work in IT, a fairly conservative line of work. I take my "Drum" and "Modern Drummer" magazines to work to read at lunch, but I'll hide them because I don't want my co-workers to think I'm weird. (It doesn't help that often the cover photo is of some tattooed, wild-eyed dude. LOL!) Most of my co-workers have no idea I'm a drummer.


Every one (especially the guys) also flip out when I mention that I'm a drummer. Then they get the doubt of mind of me actually being a serious drummer, and think that I am just one of those people who can't do squat on the drums and mess around on it. That is what bothers me.
I agree with the butch attitude too, it comes with certain female drummers unfortunatly. Especially when I'm a tomboy already. But let them think what they like. I know what the real truth is.


I love Shelia E. but why does she have to sing more than she plays?? She is an AWESOME drummer...I love her style! But their aren't many videos of her that I can find. I actually found one with her singing and Ring Star playing the drums...I love Ringo, but let the girl play! *venting*

[trysthedrummer]

Well hello there, I didn't know you were on this forum! haha.

Drum Monkey and Lightbulb Sun rings a bell to me. Are you a member on another forum?

[drumguyfromWI]

one of my favorite drummers is Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney. she's an amazing drummer... and she just so happens to be female. but gender doesn't have anything to do with it... good drummers are good drummers! same thing with vocalists, guitarists, bassists, or whatever. everyone, no matter their gender, can be good at playing an instrument.

[superstupid]

check Katherina Bornefeld from Dutch band the Ex

http://www.theex.nl/home.html

[jdrummys]

yes, i imagine he does

i know i do

chick drummers are hott (even the ugly ones)


um....no. I would never describe Kid Rock's drummer as hot!

[jdrummys]

Karen Carpenter, Hillary Jones, Cindy Blackman and Caroline Corr show us that women really can play so maybe it's mainly those of us who can't sing who take up the sticks? :)

CAROLINE CORR???!! You should NEVER, EVER put her in the same group as Cindy Blackman and Hilary Jones!

[cfrew]

CAROLINE CORR???!! You should NEVER, EVER put her in the same group as Cindy Blackman and Hilary Jones!


Cindy Blackman does not impress me. Whenever she does clinics all shes playing is just a bunch of crazy jazz fills with no groove. maybe its a style that im not aware of, but its not very appealing.

[Tryx_With_Some_Styx]

In the last show I went to one of the groups had a female drummer. What caught my eye, other then the fact that she was cute, was that she looked like she was having fun. Not only was she really good but looked like she was having a blast, unlike the two after them. So there are some good ones out there.....not enough though. imo

did you remember the name of the band?

[Pollyanna]

CAROLINE CORR???!! You should NEVER, EVER put her in the same group as Cindy Blackman and Hilary Jones!

I take it you're referring to virtuosity but, to me, that's just one aspect of playing and many musos play a role in really satisfying music without being virtuosic. Caroline is a pro and I respect all pro drummers because I'm not one. She plays clean time with good taste, she's accomplished in traditional and contemporary styles, and can also play bodhran and piano.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpEctXsTDQg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV_dbCF1jOA

AND she's a female drummer who's made good in one of the most male-dominated areas around :)

It's weird. In the broader work market there's awareness of gender equity but in an area like music which is so as fundamental to the human condition, and one that often requires sensitivity without much muscle (discounting metal), there are very few women. It's traditional, I guess - guys drum and women sing and dance, but there's no logical reason for it other than a shortage of role models.

I've known plenty of women who LOVE rhythms on the drums, and not just because of the bicep-laden sweaty beasts who so often sit behind the kit (though it doesn't hurt). Most of us respond physically to drumming - look in any club. Too many of us worry it won't be seen as feminine, but there's nothing to stop us from expressing our personalities on percussion.

As they say, it's not so much what you do but the way that you do it. It's also said that, when it comes to mentality, there's more difference within the genders than between them.

[Fur drummer]

the only people tell me that girls shoudnt drum, are my parents..

When I was a kid my parents told me I shouldn't play the drums and I'm a guy. They said I should play a real instrument. I may speak to them again someday. LOL.

I noticed there are more female drummers now than when I was a kid many years ago.

[drummergirlgina]

Hi,
I'm Gina and new to the forum. I saw the first post about "guys should be drummers" or something like that. Someone even wrote that on my YouTube Video. I don't think that was very nice. Well, I don't like to brag but, I've been told I'm pretty good for a girl and someone that has only been playing about 2 1/2 years. I'd love to hear from some of you and get your thoughts. And, what about Hillary Jones or Cindy Blackman? Are they not good drummers? Come on! I like Mike Portnoy and Neil Peart but there are lots of us girls that are up and coming!

Come visit me on Facebook! Or my YouTube video.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vD2G3v9aTY

Hope to hear from you!

Gina "G" Bongiovanni-Osmar

[Curly]

Hi,
I'm Gina and new to the forum. I saw the first post about "guys should be drummers" or something like that. Someone even wrote that on my YouTube Video. I don't think that was very nice. Well, I don't like to brag but, I've been told I'm pretty good for a girl and someone that has only been playing about 2 1/2 years. I'd love to hear from some of you and get your thoughts. And, what about Hillary Jones or Cindy Blackman? Are they not good drummers? Come on! I like Mike Portnoy and Neil Peart but there are lots of us girls that are up and coming!

Come visit me on Facebook! Or my YouTube video.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vD2G3v9aTY

Hope to hear from you!

Gina "G" Bongiovanni-Osmar

Hey Gina....... The first Gal drummer I ever saw was "Peaches" and she played for Wynn Stewart in the Nashville Nevada Club in Las Vegas. I have not seen better yet but I do know that drumming has nothing to do with SEX. Keep at it girl. - Curly

Now back to the practice pad..

[larryace]

I gotta say my favorite female drummer is our own Pollyanna. I'm not just saying that to kiss up, she really does play with fine style. C'mon Grea, make that link public...

[Pollyanna]

Thanks Larry. You're far too kind. While in this benevolent mood, you couldn't lend me a quick $400 for a new splash cymbal, by any chance? :)

Ok, I'll risk the brickbats: http://www.sangrea.net/rijidij/music.htm *ducks for cover*

Of course I'm not even in the neighbourhood of Cindy, Hillary, Sheila, Karen, Peaches, the other fine players mentioned on this thread, or the many excellent female percussionists graduating from conservatoriums everywhere, etc etc. Oestrogen drumming has plenty to offer :)

The hard part is convincing girls who want to play drums that it isn't necessarily unfeminine. Playing a drum kit is too often seen as the female equivalent of a guy doing ballet or making tapestries.

[larryace]

Of course I'm not even in the neighbourhood of Cindy, Hillary, Sheila, Karen, Peaches, the other fine players mentioned on this thread, or the many excellent female percussionists graduating from conservatoriums everywhere, etc etc. Oestrogen drumming has plenty to offer :)

.

You're so modest. I think you have as much to offer than all these wonderul drummers. And I like your style more than some mentioned.
Tell ya what Polly, you tell me exactly what splash you want, and I'll send it to you. They aren't nearly that expensive here.

[PQleyR]

I actually inherited my first drum kit from my sister, who for some reason decided she was no good at the drums. This was absolutely not true, but she has never changed her mind (she makes up for it by playing harp, piano, tuned percussion, ocarina, and all sorts of other things).

[Pollyanna]

I actually inherited my first drum kit from my sister, who for some reason decided she was no good at the drums. This was absolutely not true, but she has never changed her mind (she makes up for it by playing harp, piano, tuned percussion, ocarina, and all sorts of other things).

... and she can sing Thijs van Leer's vocal line in Hocus Pocus :)

There's a list of top female drummers on Wanderlist: http://www.wanderlist.com/girldrummer. There's a woman there named Elie from an all-female metal band called Scarlet Sins. She can really play.

There's also Allison Miller who's played some serious gigs, including with Ani DiFranco, Natalie Merchant and the Marty Ehrlich Quartet.

[keep it simple]

[QUOTE=Pollyanna;605560]... and she can sing Thijs van Leer's vocal line in Hocus Pocus :)

My very first record and the first track I ever played on kit. Oh memories!! (sorry about the hijack)

[justjim]

The wife is the primary drummer in the house

funny thing is, while we are both low-to-moderate volume (7a) players -- she's more competitive and when it is time to open up she'll lay into em (our next door neighbors are in their 20s have a rock band and sometimes she'll open our doors and goose their drummer to mess with em...all in good fun though)

she's an avid sea kayaker...it's her WINTER sport...so she's got physical/mental reserve tanks and can get surprisingly undainty and inexhaustible when you flip that switch

[keep it simple]

The wife is the primary drummer in the house

funny thing is, while we are both low-to-moderate volume (7a) players -- she's more competitive and when it is time to open up she'll lay into em (our next door neighbors are in their 20s have a rock band and sometimes she'll open our doors and goose their drummer to mess with em...all in good fun though)

she's an avid sea kayaker...it's her WINTER sport...so she's got physical/mental reserve tanks and can get surprisingly undainty and inexhaustible when you flip that switch

And they say lead singers get all the luck!!!!

[zephead19]

Thanks Larry. You're far too kind. While in this benevolent mood, you couldn't lend me a quick $400 for a new splash cymbal, by any chance? :)

Ok, I'll risk the brickbats: http://www.sangrea.net/rijidij/music.htm *ducks for cover*

Of course I'm not even in the neighbourhood of Cindy, Hillary, Sheila, Karen, Peaches, the other fine players mentioned on this thread, or the many excellent female percussionists graduating from conservatoriums everywhere, etc etc. Oestrogen drumming has plenty to offer :)

The hard part is convincing girls who want to play drums that it isn't necessarily unfeminine. Playing a drum kit is too often seen as the female equivalent of a guy doing ballet or making tapestries.

What kind of splash costs $400?????

[Pollyanna]

What kind of splash costs $400?????

Sorry Zep, I should have clarified. That's $A400 not $US400. I saw a 12" Zildjian for $A360 that had a good, clear sound (the other $40 was headroom - lol). That would be a bit under $US300. If you guys went into a shop and found the best-sounding 12" splash in there, how much would you be paying?

I squibbed and instead spent $67 on a Stagg 12" (ie. the least bad garbage can lid in the shop), figuring that I can usually coax something pleasant out of a cymbal once I get to know it. If I hit the garbage tin lid ... er, Stagg, with the shaft of the stick close to the bell - not too hard - it can almost sound ok in some musical situations but there's not much margin for error. I should have known better but since I'm not "serious" any more I couldn't justify buying a good one since I've spent plenty on other gear in recent months. Still, it does help keep my playing clean because I'm avoiding crashing as much as possible :)

Pardon the hijack. To make up for it, there's an intreresting thread on this forum: Why are there so few female drummers? http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/88e6b370-a258-40a1-beb9-eac09856eec1

A couple of people on that forum listed some high quality women drummers as though suggesting that we're not a TINY minority in the drumming world. But we are. Even today, when people find out I'm in a band and ask me what instrument I play I feel a bit weird about saying "drums", even though I've never had a bad reaction. I just know it's not normal and people see it as a bit of a novelty.

Putting aside a couple of dozen outstanding individuals, the fact is that the gulf between the best female drummers and the best male drummers is huge. I mean, Cindy and Sheila are maybe the most technically advanced women players around, but on the other side you have guys who are percussion legends like Billy Cobham, Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, Vinnie, Steve Smith etc ... the list is almost endless.

I think a feminine sensibility might bring something a bit different to the table, at least at the "drumming working class" levels where I'm at. A lot of guys who pay around my technical level who I've met seem less sensitive to dynamics (ie. they play loud almost all the time) and also to the singer/drummer relationship, focusing more on the drum/bass relationship without really considering the vocals all that much.

That's just my perception based on what I've seen. At the higher level drummers there's probably not much difference in musical sensibilities because high level musicality seems to be pretty universal.

[steph0maddox]

Add one more girl to the list :) Im obsessed with drumming

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avUTaohfc3U J
Jen Ledger of Skillet and way way too many more to mention

[Anna]

Hi, I'm a female drummer, and a newbie to this site! (Hint hint:Would anyone like to show me around?)
I've been playing for 3 years after a girl jokingly remarked on my constant tapping and fidgeting, "you should become a drummer!". Said girl was shocked when I picked up the sticks, joined a rock band and don't tap anymore! (much)

People are always asking me "Which female drummers do you look up to?" And I always get annoyed, because I look up to John Bonham, Keith Moon and Dave Grohl. For me drumming ability transcends gender; a great drummer is a great drummer is a great drummer. If there was an insane female player on parr with Bonham who had shaped rock drumming like he had, well, she would be on my list. I appreciate there are great female players out there, (Mo Tucker is amazing) but I think gender is irrelevant to who your role models are.

I do quite like Meg White, not because of her technical ability, but because she just ignores all the criticism and keeps on going regardless, I admire her guts! Plus her minimalistic style complements Jack's so well; if you had a mental male drummer laying down heavy fills and rolls all the time then... well it just wouldn't be the White Stripes. :)

[MaryO]

Me! Me! Me! I'm a girl drummer! Or at least working at it. Started taking lessons about 6 months ago (decided at 44 I better get started on that old bucket list if I wanted to cross anything off of it). Having the time of my life and it's one of the best decisions I ever made. Not sure why more women aren't getting behind the kit but it does seem to be becoming more and more common. I also ride motorcycles which even 5 years ago when I first started wasn't very common among women, although nowadays you see a bunch of us out there getting off the b#tch seat and riding our own. I think the numbers of women drummers will just keep growing in time. After all it's not who's sitting behind the kit, it's the music they're getting out of it that counts.

[Johnka]

It's great to see so many girl drummers on here. My Mom (and Dad) played the drums. I remember her teaching me the rudiments when I was knee-high. In fact, she played the drums in my Dad's band till she was 8 months prego. I was rocking out in the womb :)

[larryace]

Welcome welcome female drummers. This place is too heavily weighted with males. I have to say, they are probably the nicest males in cyberspace, but still...we need more of you for balance. Please know that we want you lol.

[Caz]

I consider drums to be one of the most - if not, THE most, masculine instruments around. They are big, loud-mouthed instruments hogging up all the space on stage and prefer to be eye-catchers...

But you have to agree that a drumkit is the most masculine instrument out there ;) So getting comments from other people is quite natural. But don't let that put you down.

I disagree :) I have recently returned to the UK after taking two months of taiko classes at a taiko school in Japan. One thing which stood out was that our class, which was held by a young professional female drummer, was mostly attended by females. Then I realised there is pretty much an even balance, if anything with a slight female majority, for the other classes, teachers and professional groups at that school. I have played drum kit for over half my lifetime and taiko is hands-down much more physically demanding than any band I've ever played with. The drumming is also seriously loud... which is another factor described above as 'masculine'. There is nothing seen as out of the ordinary in Japan about women combining a love for rhythm with physical exercise. That's the way I have always seen it.

[keep it simple]

I disagree :) I have recently returned to the UK after taking two months of taiko classes at a taiko school in Japan. One thing which stood out was that our class, which was held by a young professional female drummer, was mostly attended by females. Then I realised there is pretty much an even balance, if anything with a slight female majority, for the other classes, teachers and professional groups at that school. I have played drum kit for over half my lifetime and taiko is hands-down much more physically demanding than any band I've ever played with. The drumming is also seriously loud... which is another factor described above as 'masculine'. There is nothing seen as out of the ordinary in Japan about women combining a love for rhythm with physical exercise. That's the way I have always seen it.Fascinating! Do you have any video clips of your time in Japan? Would love to hear the passion oozing out of those sessions!

joined a rock band and don't tap anymore! (much)
Bristol, I'm not so far away, between Hereford & Hay on Wye. I think we're due to play Tunnels in Bristol, I'll check that out. Welcome to the forum!

[dmacc]

One of my best teachers was a woman. She's the principal percussionist at a local University.

I studied with her for 3 years and she completely changed the way I'd hold my sticks ever since. Amazing teacher and great person.

I also was at a local club this weekend where Kaleen Reading of Judas Priestess was playing. Doing some searching on her, at the ripe old age of 19, she's an absolute killer! Watch out metal world cause here she comes... Awesome stuff available online of her playing.

Wish I had a chance to talk with her but she was busy getting set up and I had to leave.

Go Kaleen Reading!!

[Mark_S]

I disagree :) I have recently returned to the UK after taking two months of taiko classes at a taiko school in Japan. One thing which stood out was that our class, which was held by a young professional female drummer, was mostly attended by females. Then I realised there is pretty much an even balance, if anything with a slight female majority, for the other classes, teachers and professional groups at that school. I have played drum kit for over half my lifetime and taiko is hands-down much more physically demanding than any band I've ever played with. The drumming is also seriously loud... which is another factor described above as 'masculine'. There is nothing seen as out of the ordinary in Japan about women combining a love for rhythm with physical exercise. That's the way I have always seen it.

Wow I bet that was a great experience. Do you think it has affected your kit playing in any way? Do you speak any Japanese? It's always been one of those places on my "to visit" list and you've just given me an idea of something to do while I'm there.

[Caz]

Hey, yeah the Japan trip was amazing.. I spent 3 months there overall and did a fair bit of travelling around. No videos I'm afraid Keep It Simple. Mark I don't think it's affected my kit playing really.. I was just intrigued to learn about a different style of drumming. The technique is quite different - the sticks are much thicker and most of the power comes from the arm. It's kind of like a work out really, playing the drums with your full arm is quite hard after a while... for the first few sessions the skin was actually getting ripped from various parts of my hands. Ok - I agree that's not the most feminine thing in the world :)

But it got easier and was great fun. There are loads of other types of music there too so I got straight onto the jazz and blues scenes and did a lot of playing with new people. If you have any questions about going over feel free to PM and I'll answer what I can.

Caroline

[Mark_S]

Hey, yeah the Japan trip was amazing.. I spent 3 months there overall and did a fair bit of travelling around. No videos I'm afraid Keep It Simple. Mark I don't think it's affected my kit playing really.. I was just intrigued to learn about a different style of drumming. The technique is quite different - the sticks are much thicker and most of the power comes from the arm. It's kind of like a work out really, playing the drums with your full arm is quite hard after a while... for the first few sessions the skin was actually getting ripped from various parts of my hands. Ok - I agree that's not the most feminine thing in the world :)

But it got easier and was great fun. There are loads of other types of music there too so I got straight onto the jazz and blues scenes and did a lot of playing with new people. If you have any questions about going over feel free to PM and I'll answer what I can.

Caroline

Thanks Caz will do. It'll be at least another year or so, but after that I'm hoping to travel about quiet a bit. Just getting out of Leicester would be a good start! The music scene here is not all that great.

[Chloe28]

Hey everyone,

The name is Chloe and I'm, well....34. I've just picked up drumming recently. Pretty late to drumming but it's something I've always wanted to do. *I am putting a tick to one of my 2012 resolutions.*

Drumming is relatively not that popular for ladies for where I come from. Misconception that ladies should stick to instruments like piano, violin etc. you get my hint. But hey I'm proud of choosing it.

Hope I'll be able to pick up some handy tips from the drummers here. :)