What do YOU think makes a good drummer?

[Oly!]

I often ask myself; 'What makes a good drummer?' ..
You will often hear someone say; 'Damn, he/she is good at drums', after the drummer plays a groove or fill that sounds cool.
This thread is for members to discuss what THEY think makes a good drummer, whether it good technique, creativity or versitilaty.
Thanks!

[Ironcobra]

Not his or her talent, but by the way they can have fun on stage, enjoy themselves playing, and inspire others to do the same.

[Deathmetalconga]

I often ask myself; 'What makes a good drummer?' ..
You will often hear someone say; 'Damn, he/she is good at drums', after the drummer plays a groove or fill that sounds cool.
This thread is for members to discuss what THEY think makes a good drummer, whether it good technique, creativity or versitilaty.
Thanks!

These things apply to every musician, but especally for drummers.

The ability to listen to what everyone else is doing.

The ability to play with restraint.

The ability to keep volume down.

The ability to keep steady time.

The ability to change as needed to suit the music.

The ability to entertain an audience with impressive displays of technique (chops) when called for.

Generally good work habits - punctual, keeps up with music, good gear, etc.

P.S. I have a pet peeve about people who ask us what we think, but won't tell us what they think. Care to tell us what you think makes a good drummer?

[Ian Williams]

A true drummer is a simple being with an extraordinary determination to play. We are multi-functional and multi-purpose to fit in any environment.

Best Regards,

[caddywumpus]

The way that they make one note lead to the next.

[Oly!]

P.S. I have a pet peeve about people who ask us what we think, but won't tell us what they think. Care to tell us what you think makes a good drummer?

Haha.. here what i think makes a good drummer.

Creativity/originality
Good Technique and coordination
Entertaining
Having the abiltity to keep time
Versitilaty

[mrchattr]

The two things I think are most important (other than the obvious...steady tempo, etc):
1. Use the drum set as one instrument.
2. Play to the song. A great drummer can sound great even when playing a song without fills. A simple rock beat can sound amazing.

[rhythmjunkie]

Humility, then every thing else will sort of fall into place.

[Ian Williams]

Humility, then every thing else will sort of fall into place.

Wisely comment, very mature.

[FunkyJazzer]

The best listeners are always the best drummers. Same goes for all musicians.

You can be as solid, creative, inspiring and humorous as you want, but if you listen and respond to what you hear in a musical way, then that takes it to a whole new level.

Lloyd.

[dale w miller]

These things apply to every musician, but especally for drummers.

The ability to listen to what everyone else is doing.

The ability to play with restraint.

The ability to keep volume down.

The ability to keep steady time.

The ability to change as needed to suit the music.

The ability to entertain an audience with impressive displays of technique (chops) when called for.

Generally good work habits - punctual, keeps up with music, good gear, etc.

P.S. I have a pet peeve about people who ask us what we think, but won't tell us what they think. Care to tell us what you think makes a good drummer?

though these are all wonder tools to have it's NOT why i enjoy someones playing. it just gives THEM more options. though i strive for it myself, believe it or not i could care less if a drummer has good time or not.

what i think is good is when they are spirited when they play and they are expressing themselves in a way that is natural & original to them both creatively and with their feel.

[The Colonel]

To be engaging in everything they play.

[Baddstuff]

obviously chops help but I like a drummer with great time, tasty playing and a solid groove.
Visuals are entertaining but for me don't count towards how I feel about a drummer's playing. It's what goes in my ears that counts. Two drummers who fit the bill for me are the late Jeff Porcaro and the never mentioned and sadly underrated Carlos Vega, also deceased.

[Nodiggie]

These things apply to every musician, but especally for drummers.

The ability to listen to what everyone else is doing.

The ability to play with restraint.

The ability to keep volume down.

The ability to keep steady time.

The ability to change as needed to suit the music.

The ability to entertain an audience with impressive displays of technique (chops) when called for.

Generally good work habits - punctual, keeps up with music, good gear, etc.

P.S. I have a pet peeve about people who ask us what we think, but won't tell us what they think. Care to tell us what you think makes a good drummer?

bump. This covers it for me as well. Good form DMC...good form..... :)

[Pedro]

Timing!

blablablabla

[drumhead61]

what makes a good drummer to me is:

the ability to move the song along with feeling and commitment...to me no drummer no great music

a good sense of timing

versatility

knowing when to bring it without upstaging...in my estimation we are already the show

knowing when your 20 month old son needs your attention instead of writing this reply...cheers

[stasz]

This is easy. If a non-drummer asks me, "are the drums in this song good?" I ask them, "are they"? A good drummer is the one that sounds good to the listener's ears. For all other inquiries please refer to this directory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDF1bXhr7xc&feature=related

EDIT: After thinking about it for a little bit, I think my original reply was a little vague, but in other words, a good drummer is one that has the ability to play anything, and I mean literally anything.

[byronand]

A D E E P pocket.

The ability to create a pulse that lets the other musicians and the audience feel comfortable and settled in the groove, whether it's soft or slammin'!

[hauk]

When they play something that makes me think, "Man, I wish I'd thought of that."

Or when something just fits the music so perfectly you know no other drum part could ever do it justice.

[burnthehero]

Is it just me or is there a new "what makes a good drummer" thread every week here?

[Drumsword]

what makes a good drummer to me is:

the ability to move the song along with feeling and commitment...to me no drummer no great music

a good sense of timing

versatility

knowing when to bring it without upstaging...in my estimation we are already the show

knowing when your 20 month old son needs your attention instead of writing this reply...cheers

I'm with ya on this, especially the last line..lol. (Except Daughter)

A balance of vesatility, creativity, and technique. With the ability to support and blend into the music while being entertaining. There are drummers with killer technique but can't play all that well with bands, and there are guys who sound great in bands but don't have the best technical expertise.

[Oly!]

Is it just me or is there a new "what makes a good drummer" thread every week here?

I did a search before I started this thread, and i never found anything.

Thanks for all the input. Must be honost, heard alot of things that i wasnt expecting, but they are all very true.

[Deathmetalconga]

I'm with ya on this, especially the last line..lol. (Except Daughter)

A balance of vesatility, creativity, and technique. With the ability to support and blend into the music while being entertaining. There are drummers with killer technique but can't play all that well with bands, and there are guys who sound great in bands but don't have the best technical expertise.

I don't think versatility is necessarily important. Drummers tend to be more versatile than other musicians because, I think, due to the simpler nature of our instruments, it's easier for us to absorb new styles, as we don't have to concern ourselves with harmony, scales and melodic structure. But I don't think versatility in and of itself is very important.

Many great musicians are only good in one genre (Western Classical, Northern Indian Classical, Afro-Cuban, Baltic, jazz, etc. etc.) and they would be totally lost in another genre. Does that make them any less great? No, it just makes them less versatile.

[TheGroceryman]

I don't think versatility is necessarily important. Drummers tend to be more versatile than other musicians because, I think, due to the simpler nature of our instruments, it's easier for us to absorb new styles, as we don't have to concern ourselves with harmony, scales and melodic structure. But I don't think versatility in and of itself is very important.

also, if you noticed, at least i think so, the piano and the drums are probably the most versatile instruments out there. i mean you dont normally find saxophones in a rock band, nor do you commonly find electric guitars in a jazz quartet. but what you do normally find in both those settings are some sort of percussion.


p.s. how do you quote someone with it actually showing who you quoted? im confused, i always press that [/QUOTE] button then copy what someone said in between.

[aydee]

Here's what I think makes A good drummer, in addition to lots of the things already mentioned.

Humility & a natural urge to absorb, learn and be open to new things.


Of all the great drummers I've ever run into, this seems to have been ( with 1 exception ) the norm. They've all been ridiculously humble guys, who have a great enthusiasm for all new experiences. They seem to be very curious people, who watching & listening to everything. Their egos don't seem to get in the way of imbibing

Listening is worth repeating ..again.

[Drumsword]

I don't think versatility is necessarily important. Drummers tend to be more versatile than other musicians.....

So we don't need to be versatile, because we tend to already be more versatile....See even Martin Agrees with me, he just didn't know it.. lol ;)

I don't neccesarily mean from genre to genre, but versatile and felxible enough to vary tempo's, breaks volumes etc within the same song or piece of music from night to night, or playing similar music with different artists without much transitional trouble.

[tomgrosset]

There are so many factors, but I think what makes a good drummer generally is one that can be entertaining.

[Drumsword]

Here's what I think makes A good drummer, in addition to lots of the things already mentioned.

Humility & a natural urge to absorb, learn and be open to new things.


Of all the great drummers I've ever run into, this seems to have been ( with 1 exception ) the norm. They've all been ridiculously humble guys, who have a great enthusiasm for all new experiences. They seem to be very curious people, who watching & listening to everything. Their egos don't seem to get in the way of imbibing

Listening is worth repeating ..again.

I agree wholeheartedly

[Ian Williams]

Drummer skills, passion, fun, spirit.
Drums and the rest of resources are just tools, like computers and wrenches.

My Best Regards,

[Deathmetalconga]

So we don't need to be versatile, because we tend to already be more versatile....See even Martin Agrees with me, he just didn't know it.. lol ;)

I don't neccesarily mean from genre to genre, but versatile and felxible enough to vary tempo's, breaks volumes etc within the same song or piece of music from night to night, or playing similar music with different artists without much transitional trouble.

OK, I see what you mean now. Even within one genre like jazz or rock or classical, there will be a lot of diverse styles and any good drummer will have some mastery of at least one genre.

[Fur drummer]

A drummer with a natural sense of rhythm and is coordinated. Also how smooth and relaxed they are. If they are not smooth then that can't groove. I've seen drummers who were to stuff and too tight. Yea they could play nice beats and patterns but they just didn't sound right. It just didn't swing or flow. They seemed to be fighting them selfs all night and made it look way too hard.

Obviously they need to keep steady time and tempo but a good drummer should be musical and creative also and not sound robotic or mechanical. He or she should also know their place and not get in the way of the rest of the band. A good drummer is the foundation of the band and the one who holds it together. Well I think I have blabbed enough for one post.

[7DaysToTheWolves]

I think passion comes first and foremost due to its roots from the heart. You've gotta have a sense of timing aswell.

[Drumsword]

OK, I see what you mean now. Even within one genre like jazz or rock or classical, there will be a lot of diverse styles and any good drummer will have some mastery of at least one genre.

Yes, that's more what I meant. I'm gonna hire you to write my posts, you make more sense then I do at times..lol.

[drumhead61]

also, if you noticed, at least i think so, the piano and the drums are probably the most versatile instruments out there. i mean you dont normally find saxophones in a rock band, nor do you commonly find electric guitars in a jazz quartet. but what you do normally find in both those settings are some sort of percussion.


p.s. how do you quote someone with it actually showing who you quoted? im confused, i always press that button then copy what someone said in between.[/QUOTE]

Just hit the quote button and type at the end of the text...or before if you prefer

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

I have a one word answer:

Mojo.

[Jeremy Bender]

Having nice hair...(if you don't agree, look at almost every cover of Modern Drummer)

[stasz]

Here's what I think makes A good drummer, in addition to lots of the things already mentioned.

Humility & a natural urge to absorb, learn and be open to new things.


Of all the great drummers I've ever run into, this seems to have been ( with 1 exception ) the norm. They've all been ridiculously humble guys, who have a great enthusiasm for all new experiences. They seem to be very curious people, who watching & listening to everything. Their egos don't seem to get in the way of imbibing

Listening is worth repeating ..again.

This is why I find this interesting to talk about. When I try and determine what makes the greatest drummer ever, I don't think about the way they think or their values. I think of their ability to play. And I mean that in this sense: I believe that the greatest drummer ever can rise above any other drummer because they can play anything. Anytime I've ever heard a drummer that I really liked but I doubted could be considered the greatest it's because they didn't find it necessary or were not able to play in a certain style for example.

I don't think it's a matter of chops. When I say "play anything" I mean using your brain too of course. Being more creative than any other drummer and play able to execute anything on the drum set with absolute precision. Being able to understand playing music, playing for the song, not overplaying, playing with dynamics and many other admirable qualities in a drummer are all assumed if a drummer can play anything.

I don't mention humility simply because that doesn't make any difference as long as a drummer sounds good and fulfills the qualities to be considered the "greatest" but I believe it is worth noting because of the fact that many great drummers express that trait. I still see it as a means to an end and not necessarily a defining characteristic of the "greatest", however.

[Class A Drummer]

Not his or her talent, but by the way they can have fun on stage, enjoy themselves playing, and inspire others to do the same.

well put. Also, they ability to score the hottest chicks.

[rhythmjunkie]

A natural athletic ability. A sensitive intuitive temperament. A natural artistic appreciation. A selfless, servant attitude. An understanding of the various musical styles and a love for the drums = Great drummer.

[jay norem]

A natural athletic ability.

Now hold on a minute. I have absolutely zero athletic abillity, yet I've managed to do just fine.
I mean, I can't even shoot pool, man. I was always the last to be picked in gym class. I'm still a scrawny runt.

[rhydianjlewis]

When they play something that makes me think, "Man, I wish I'd thought of that."

Or when something just fits the music so perfectly you know no other drum part could ever do it justice.

This is still my favourite answer, i almost said 'exactly' out loud when i read it.

Also, i really appreciate drumming that locks into the natural rhythms of the other instruments.

[kristen]

Tight and smooth... not sloppy

[michael drums]

Is it just me or is there a new "what makes a good drummer" thread every week here?

YES!

And what "helps" make a good drummer is...


getting off of the computer, and playing the drums as often as possible.


Simple really.(hmm...sounds familiar, ay?)

[Geoff Tipps]

attitude and gratitude.

[Vintagedrummer]

How hot his wife/girlfriend is.

Also it helps to keep the ego in check, develop the ability to find & keep the pocket, & listen first....

Peace