What kind of drummer are you?

[stevedrum]

I tend to see different kinds of drummers as in mentality, all with different profiles and habits, here are some which I identified (in my opinion):

Rhythm/Chop Drummer:

The aim is to be able to play really good chops and have a brilliant technique. Also he doesn't really pay attention to small details as long as the groove in the song sounds good.

Musician Drummer:

This kind of drummer is the one that wants to know exactly what he's doing, usually he is able to read music and understands what the other instruments are doing. He might not be obsessed with technique as the rhythm drummer but is more focussed on playing the right thing at the exact right time.

Gear Drummer:

This is the drummer that most of all cares about how much or what gear he has. The first thing that comes to his mind is the setup, and how many cymbals, toms etc. he has. He mayh still be a very good drummer though.

One Style Drummer:

This is the kind of drummer that is only focussed on one style for example rock, and does not consider to play anything else besides his style. He listen only to his style and usually looks at other styles of music as a totally different world from his.

Jack of All Trades:

The name I gave it might be misleading. This is a very versatile drummer that focusses on achieving an authentic sound for each style without the necessity of mastering any. He is able to play numerous styles without sticking to one.


These are just a few........Which one of these are you and can you identify any other kinds of drummers?

[Ian Williams]

Hello, All.

A heavy and powerful drummer with passion, always open to learn and teach something new everyday.

Cheers,

[caddywumpus]

As I read your original post, I thought to myself, "Wow, that's me!" for the first three (Rhythm/Chop Drummer, Musician Drummer, Gear Drummer). I'm kind of like the Jack of All Trades as well, but I feel as though I've attained a reasonable level of "mastery" of several styles. Well, enough of a mastery to get recommended for gigs again and again, at least.

I prefer the term "drummer incarnate" or "absolute drummer" or "drummer extraordinaire". Yeah, that's the ticket! :P

[bobdadruma]

I've been trying to figure this out for about thirty years. I constantly play with different people to try new styles. I would have to say that the Jack Of All Trades fits best. I used to play in Rock cover bands that tried for note for note. I liked the feeling of getting it right so to speak but I did tire of it. I like playing in jam bands but I also like some consistency I can't have things to loose. I also like R&B, Country, Blues and Jazz. I do like to mix all these styles together when I play. I don't buy every piece of equipment that I see but I am proud when I get something for the kit thats pricy. Cymbals are my weakness. I also like to perfect my chops. It must work for me because people keep asking me back to play with them.

[ceckha]

gotta say i think i'm mostly rhythm/chop.

[Jsk36]

I just play haha I have no clue what to classify myself as.

[blade123]

Musician and jack of all trades.

I try to be as well rounded as possible, that includes learning (about) other instruments. I can only play drums and a bit of piano, but I learn how other instruments work.

[Ironcobra]

Gear drummer, nothing like taking pride in your setup.

[PQleyR]

I think I'd be a musician drummer. I hope so.

[jay norem]

For the entirety of my career I've been the musician drummer, whatever was called for I could play it, but now I'm pretty much the one style drummer, jazz being the style. I have my own band that plays my songs. I'm okay. Lately I've been more focused on writing music than drumming.
I'm certainly not the chops or gear or jack-of-all-trades drummer.
I'm a one-style-basically-okay jazz drummer. But I'm a good cook! You should try my fried chicken and sausage gumbo...MAN!

[805Drummer]

Impulse drummer. Anyone, anyone?

[LM201]

I think I'm both rhythm/chops, and a musician drummer.



Don't bash the Ringo Starr my friends of Drummerworld

[aruration]

Aahh I think I am a combination of a Musician Drummer and a Jack of All Trades.

I always care what the other instruments are playing and sometimes I'm trying to give them some tips too ^^

Also I try to play every style. Lately I've been to some Jazz but unfortunately my dynamic feel as far as Jazz is concerned sucks(but I keep trying).

But above everything I like to feel the GROOVE.

Ofcourse I have a little of a Gear Drummer in me. Is there any drummer that's not concerned about his/her gear?

[bojangleman]

im going to have to say Jack of All Trades..

Alex

[k3ng]

Self Indulgent Drummer - A drummer who thinks he's really awesome when in reality he's a pile of sith.

I come across a lot of those in jam studios.

Well, going by your classifications, I'm a Jack of all trades, leaning towards one style (jazz) while being also a rhythm/chop musician drummer.

[7DaysToTheWolves]

I'd say I'm a rhythm/chops drummer.

[mallendion]

Impulse drummer. Anyone, anyone?

OK - I've got to agree with 805 here, Totally Impulse. I like to try my hand at anything and everything which kind of sounds like "Jack of All" except for I'm not good enough to classify myself as being adept at any kind of Trade.

I love music and the hand-eye-coordination-timing challenges of drumming puts me at ease. And the COOL TOYS. How can you tap on a jam block and not think about where it would fit in your kit.

I've also met alot of musicians - Drummers are by far the least messed up of all.
Guitarist - "Look at me. Look at me. I'm nothing without attention."
Bass - "Man, I'm cool and you can't out-cool me."
Singer - "I don't mean to brag, but I'm even more needy than the guitarists."
Drummer - "Heh, look at this neat riff! Try this, it's FUN! Oh-oh, looks like the rest of the band needs a break. Think I'll go play with these others until they decide to go back to work."

[Vipercussionist]

I tend to see different kinds of drummers as in mentality, all with different profiles and habits, here are some which I identified (in my opinion):

Rhythm/Chop Drummer:

The aim is to be able to play really good chops and have a brilliant technique. Also he doesn't really pay attention to small details as long as the groove in the song sounds good.

Musician Drummer:

This kind of drummer is the one that wants to know exactly what he's doing, usually he is able to read music and understands what the other instruments are doing. He might not be obsessed with technique as the rhythm drummer but is more focussed on playing the right thing at the exact right time.

Gear Drummer:

This is the drummer that most of all cares about how much or what gear he has. The first thing that comes to his mind is the setup, and how many cymbals, toms etc. he has. He may still be a very good drummer though.

One Style Drummer:

This is the kind of drummer that is only focused on one style for example rock, and does not consider to play anything else besides his style. He listen only to his style and usually looks at other styles of music as a totally different world from his.

Jack of All Trades:

The name I gave it might be misleading. This is a very versatile drummer that focuses on achieving an authentic sound for each style without the necessity of mastering any. He is able to play numerous styles without sticking to one.


These are just a few........Which one of these are you and can you identify any other kinds of drummers?Hmm, I don't fit exactly into any of the choices given.

But . . . I'd say I'm a "song" drummer first, but I give it as much raw power and big drum tone as I can. I'm hoping that if you heard me play you would think "powerful time keeper" and not miss any "chops" that a more technical drummer might be able to fit in.

I try to stay solid and if that means less notes, so be it. But with less notes comes more tone and authority. I'll kick the bejezzus out of 2 or 4 notes rather than sound wispy on 8 or 16 notes. The power is more important to me.

So wherever that fits me in . . .
.
.

[Drumsword]

Hmm, I don't fit exactly into any of the choices given.

But . . . I'd say I'm a "song" drummer first, but I give it as much raw power and big drum tone as I can. I'm hoping that if you heard me play you would think "powerful time keeper" and not miss any "chops" that a more technical drummer might be able to fit in.

I try to stay solid and if that means less notes, so be it. But with less notes comes more tone and authority. I'll kick the bejezzus out of 2 or 4 notes rather than sound wispy on 8 or 16 notes. The power is more important to me.

So wherever that fits me in . . .
.
.

I'd say I'm close to this. I try to blend into the music and support the song as best I can. I also like to lay into the 2 and 4 and drive the music when it's needed. But in your category's I'd probably fall into a one style/rhythm & chops drummer. (And of course a bit of a gear hound).

[Toby_Jackson]

I'd have to say I'm a mix of Rhythm/Chops, Musician and Jack-of-all-trades.

To clarify, when I was in high school, I was definitely an all-chops-all-the-time kind of dude, my rudiments just had to be faster, cleaner, more powerful. My study block was an hour and a half chops fest Monday to Friday. Lunch, breaks, after school, all spent trying to shred rubber on my pad.

Being in the middle of a classical percussion degree currently, the Musician has definitely taken over. I can now play piano, marimba, vibes, timps, guitar, bass, violin... with enough proficiency that I'm comfortable jamming with anyone I know. And when I'm behind the drums, I just totally lose myself in the full-band sound, whether I'm rocking the funk jams, swinging a jazz group or doing the orchestral gig. I'm too the point where a lot of the time, I'm barely conscious of what I'm about to play - I'm just reacting to and supporting the music of the people I'm playing with.

And I have to say I'm a Jack-of-all-trades as well, because hey, I have to be - I teach four nights a week from absolute beginner up to way-out-there jazz!

[Philippe]

musician drummer... I hope.

[burnthehero]

Musician Drummer

I say that because I always seem to be at my peak when playing in a group and feeding off of the ideas of others. It's also when I feel the most comfortable behind the kit.

[Deathmetalconga]

I tend to see different kinds of drummers as in mentality, all with different profiles and habits, here are some which I identified (in my opinion):

Rhythm/Chop Drummer:

The aim is to be able to play really good chops and have a brilliant technique. Also he doesn't really pay attention to small details as long as the groove in the song sounds good.

Musician Drummer:

This kind of drummer is the one that wants to know exactly what he's doing, usually he is able to read music and understands what the other instruments are doing. He might not be obsessed with technique as the rhythm drummer but is more focussed on playing the right thing at the exact right time.

Gear Drummer:

This is the drummer that most of all cares about how much or what gear he has. The first thing that comes to his mind is the setup, and how many cymbals, toms etc. he has. He mayh still be a very good drummer though.

One Style Drummer:

This is the kind of drummer that is only focussed on one style for example rock, and does not consider to play anything else besides his style. He listen only to his style and usually looks at other styles of music as a totally different world from his.

Jack of All Trades:

The name I gave it might be misleading. This is a very versatile drummer that focusses on achieving an authentic sound for each style without the necessity of mastering any. He is able to play numerous styles without sticking to one.


These are just a few........Which one of these are you and can you identify any other kinds of drummers?

I would be more of a jack of all trades.

How about you? Since you're asking us, why don't you tell us what kind of drummer you think you are?

[volume_3]

Impuse drummer

I play along to pretty much anything i'll listen, Opeth to Alphabeat, Battles to Kayo Dot.
I know very little of the technical side to drums, i cant read music, nor have i ever had a lesson.
Most of my drumming is improvised, either along to music or with my band, and my drum parts to them are created as we practise the song for the 1st time in practise.
I do what i like on the drums, because if i was ever taught anything i'd lose interest in playing within a few months.
Not Jack of all trades as like mallendion said, i dont consider myself good enough.
I wouldn't even consider myself a drummer, just someone who f**ks about on the drums.

[stevedrum]

So by special request (you are right I must have been the first to answer this), here is what kind of drummer I think I am...

I see myself as a blend between the musician drummer and the jack of all trades. I tend to play lots of styles and also try to understand whats happening exactly.

[Jon Cable]

Fat, clumsy and sweaty...with an alarming lack of musicianship and dubious timekeeping abilities...probably an unemployable jack of few trades....

[Aumni]

Rhythm/Chops with a focus on dynamics. Always moving the accents around.

[drumhead61]

Fat, clumsy and sweaty...with an alarming lack of musicianship and dubious timekeeping abilities...probably an unemployable jack of few trades....

ROFL, I am with the fat guy....especially since I am FAT as well! I am anal when it comes to things like this, I am a noob and I MUST, MUST know it all when it comes to music, I have to read it, know it, understand it, feel its nuances and then master it...so I am the kind of drummer who has a LONG WAY TO GO in a relatively short amount of time!

[zzdrummer]

Jack of all trades striving to be a musician...

[Wavelength]

Rhythm/Chop Drummer:

The aim is to be able to play really good chops and have a brilliant technique. Also he doesn't really pay attention to small details as long as the groove in the song sounds good.

...and I thought that the groove is in the details...

[gitei]

I have been considering the terms of "conceptual drummer" or "meta-drummer". I want some of aspects of drumming that I am contemplating and performing to enter a dialog with other behaviors like creating sculpture or sex.

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

...and I thought that the groove is in the details...

Precisely. It's all in the details. Why have chops if you can't make anyone dance?

[Mr. Pasquini]

Bad drummer.

Probably a musician drummer, I'm really into song writing in my band... also a gear drummer... I love me some gear.

[TheGroceryman]

Fat, clumsy and sweaty...with an alarming lack of musicianship and dubious timekeeping abilities...probably an unemployable jack of few trades....

ha... I've probably never seen a fat dude who played drums and was bad. they always seem to have insane groove......

oh and i consider myself mainly a musician drummer with a little bit of rhythm/chops in him. I think i have pretty good chops, a decent fill vocabulary, but i know when to hold back and i try to make the song sound as good as possible.

[stasz]

What kind? The good kind.

I tend to favor musicality over chops most of time. So, musical drummer. But I love my gear too.... tough to pick. I wish I could blur the lines like my favorite drummers do.

[Class A Drummer]

Im the type that drives people nuts with tapping my hands, sticks, pencils on any hard surface around me whenever i hear a song with a groove i even remotely like.

[TheGroceryman]

Im the type that drives people nuts with tapping my hands, sticks, pencils on any hard surface around me whenever i hear a song with a groove i even remotely like.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[foursticks]

I want to be a musician, full stop.

[Geoff Tipps]

Well dressed and game.

[Memorisk]

Half rhythm/chop drummer and musician drummer i guess. Im not sure which one I'm more to. xD

[yjb63]

rythm / chop drummer... CHOPS!!!!!!!! hahaha

[Fur drummer]

What kind of drummer am I? Smooth, cool and funky and a two style drummer, Rock and Jazz/blues.

[VedranS]

I'm the kind of drummer that likes to play long strings of random paradiddle inversions and combinations on a pad because it feels good. Does this make me unmusical?? ;-p

[joeysnare]

not sure where i fit in,i love all styles of drumming,i never focus on tech. i could care less about my setup as long as im reasonably comfortable, but when i play i slip into a trance/animal insticnt like state my body takes over and what comes out is what comes out.

[baz]

...I alternate between being a crappy drummer to being a really crappy drummer.

barry

[BrutalKid]

Dammit
I'm in between the rhythm/chop and the one style drummer.

I suck. I guess I'm more crappy than the person above me.

[ddood]

Well, I'm still learning a lot about playing drums and I'm not really sure which type of drummer I am. I guess I'd be a combination of rhythm/chop, musician, and gear (although I'm extremely broke right now, so I can only drool over gear that I want but don't have), and maybe a little bit too much of a jack of all trades.

[Drifter in the Dark]

As long as I have a 4-piece kit a with a ride, hi-hats, and crash cymbal, I'm good to go. I'm the type of drummer who likes to make the band and audience feel good, and that (to me) means providing the most consistent and GROOVY rhythm that I can!

[Hercraft]

Im the type that drives people nuts with tapping my hands, sticks, pencils on any hard surface around me whenever i hear a song with a groove i even remotely like.

Sometimes they wanna kill me in the elevator!

[Big_Philly]

Can't decide between these three: Rhythm / chops, Musician and Jack-of-all-trades. I try to be proficient in different styles, have good technique but also make sure they go well with the music that I play.

[columbus]

Hello, All.

A heavy and powerful drummer with passion, always open to learn and teach something new everyday.

Cheers,

I will agree with you

[The Colonel]

"What kind of drummer are you?"


Male.

Fast hands. Tight technique. Don't care though. Play free. Play what I want. Don't care about dancing. (unless it pays)

[TheMarkV]

for a while i was the chops drummer and then i was both the chops and musician drummer and now that im in college and dont have anytime to play anymore im leaning more towards the musician drummer. and i always like to check out some sick nasty gear. but im too poor to get the good stuff haha. i also like to play a lot of different music types too but i dont think i span enough to be the jack of all trades, i just like to be adept in any situation really, so i can do anything. kind of like a specialist in certain areas with experience in all of them. i would consider that to be in the musician catagory though because it comes down to knowing what the music calls for and making it all sound just right.
so i guess its chops and musician for me.

[DrummerDavid]

Lazy Drummer.


I could be excellent if I could just stay focused.

[Flam_Taps]

I'm a frustrated drummer. I just watched a Cindy Blackman video.

[Davo-London]

I'm a jack-of-all-trades and musician drummer aspiring to be a rhythm/chop drummer.

Groove is everything to me. I just wanna groove. Soloing and massive drum kits are for guitarists who have learnt the wrong instrument, ie the drums.

Davo

[Rich]

You forgot "wannabe drummer" ;-)

I think am a musician drummer... Although, i can read music, i just don't anymore. All my stuff is by ear. I annoy everyone by just listening to a song once, and then I can play it... (unless it's too complicated of course...) Having said that, it is not at all unusual for me to get up during a rehersal, grab a guitar and show the guitarists how to play the damn solo properly.... I also play keyboards and bass, but i must make it clear that Drums is my preferred instrument by a loooong way.

Also, still playing a lot of covers, but the original material is starting to seep out now :)

Rich

[chimpy3]

Not to bothered about gear but sound is very important to me...

[LeeLovesSabian]

I can't really choose out of the three.
so,
I'm a young,music-passionate, light metal drummer who eats drinks and sleeps drums.
I can't stop tapping my hands..........ever!

Metallica Rules!

[Guz2]

I dunno...I play rock/metal

[eddiehimself]

Gear without a doubt. Maybe a bit of one style as well.

[drumguyfromWI]

I'm just your standard punk/rock/indie drummer dude that can't read music and can't afford top of the line equipment and practices in a basement somewhere. that about sums it up...

[Mette]

I guess I try to play all sorts of music, but jazz and latin is where my heart belongs. I'm a real equipment-nerd too.

[Aggressivec]

My band is a punk band, and honestly, I love punk rock the most, but at home I groove on funk,metal and sometimes jazz as well as punk rock.

[Ainulindale]

a gear junkie, always tearing something apart just to see what makes it work... a very heavy hitter... and always trying to learn something different!

[fat in the middle]

hopefully musical and emotive

[MSPaintClock]

Composer Drummer:

I like to write songs and then write the drums for them to explore ideas I wouldn't of found otherwise by hearing out what I feel fits the song best. (I often come up with new ideas this way.) I also learn how to play really well with music by writing music and vise-versa.

I hope to be more of a jack-of-all-trades drummer later on.

[jimtyler]

Musician drummer?? I do spend hours sometimes just trying to get a few bars of a song exactly right. But then again, I'm also playing the melody myself... I'll just stick with melodic drummer.

[KalashnikoV]

Fat, clumsy and sweaty...with an alarming lack of musicianship and dubious timekeeping abilities...probably an unemployable jack of few trades....

We sound like we just might be the same person.

[aydee]

Fat, clumsy and sweaty...with an alarming lack of musicianship and dubious timekeeping abilities...probably an unemployable jack of few trades....

This man is lying through his teeth in the highlighted text.

[stabmasterarson]

rhythm/chops drummer crossed with a one style drummer. I'm an older guy, and got into drums seriously under a year ago. I just want to kick ass at the style of music I love, I don't care about being the most well rounded. But if that happens, I ain't complaining. I am band focused, not so much focused on my own progression as a drummer, unless it makes my band better, if that makes any sense.

[PQleyR]

ha... I've probably never seen a fat dude who played drums and was bad.

I have! I've seen a fairly large guy a few times who plays his drums and cymbals as one would play a mortal enemy's head with a baseball bat. Not nice. I mean, I used to be like that once...probably...but surely not that bad...

...having said that, I'm only 9% fat (no, really. It said so on my packet), so perhaps I'm in some kind of alternate ungrooving thin drummer category that maybe exists but I don't know.

[tezzerii]

How about this - The Basher! I'm sure we've all seen a few - it's more about a workout than playing music - having a great time making a big sweaty noise, and just remembering where the song ends.
I met such a guy recently who unashamedly accepted the title of "Basher", when I suggested that there are musical drummers, and there are bashers - "That's me!" he cried.

For myself, I'd like to think I'm the musical drummer, tho recently I've worked at improving the chops, and I'd also like to be versatile, the jack of all trades - but I want to be the Master too!!!

[G123]

I'd like to add/create a new category: "feel" drummer; as in, like myself, someone who, if ya can feel it, ya can play it. Usually this is a self-taught/DIY recreational drummer, but not always. You see quite a few interviews with popular or session names that are "feel" guys.

[Pachikara-Tharakan]

I dont play in any bands like some of you folks. I love to play along the records that I have, mostly Slow Bluesy ones including the stones (Wild Horses, Down in the hole........) Neil You (Helpless....),,,, Bob Seger (Against the wind) etc.. etc.... with some additional chops for my own enjoyment.

so.... "one style drummer" or a "feel drummer (some times the chops just play in my head when I listen to some songs" )may be?

Honestly, when I see others play I think I know absolutely nothing!. I am still learning from watching others play.

[SharkyBait911]

I think im a musician drummer in traning im learning to read music got up to grade 5 and climbing

But at the moment im a chop drummer but saying that my technique is not brilliant so I think im a mix, im quite versitile I play jazz in grade and in school bands and rock in my band and funk in my free time soo im a little of each I think......

Very good question though

Tris

[mattsmith]

There are only 3 drummer classifications/ now or at any time in the history of music.

1. Good.

2. Hope to be good someday.

3. Bad.

And ...again

Almost all musical drummers have insanely good chops. In almost all cases, you cannot separate the two. There are very, very few drummers you could call musicians who aren't chop endowed, including the spacious ones. Most times, players like that have all the chops they need, but merely don't flaunt them at every opportunity. IMO you can count the musical drummers who are/were chop challenged on one hand.

[drummerchick435]

I'd give myself a(n)...
B+ for pop/rock drumming
C+ for funk/hard rock drumming
C- for jazz/blues/dixie drumming
D for metal

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the most obsessive about gear, 5 being the least obsessive about gear), I'd say I'm a level 2.

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the best with technique, 5 being the worst), I'd say I'm a level 3.

[Drummer-Ryan]

I am a musician drummer.
An i love to play rock and Drum & Bass.

[Morbid Koala]

4-piece basher who cringes before any difficult fill.

[That Guy]

One who has spent a weekend in jail for playing.

[mrjoe815]

I'm a bossa nova/latin beat maker!

[Swissadiddle]

The kind that, when it finally comes time to laying it down- cannot accept the fact, that those difficult fills won't be compromised with easier sticking.

It's almost as bad as OCD... No, seriously.

[Funky Crêpe]

good technique does'nt mean that you are a good musician.....remember that.....some of the greats had "bad" technique

[CopperBomb]

I suppose I'll go with the 'Impulse Drummer' thing.

I've always said I'm more of a 'Busking Drummer'. I've never had any form of lessons, can't read music, know very little technical details, I just sit behind my kit and play. It's more instinctive than anything else - I play whatever I feel suits the music and my mood at the time.

I'm really critical about my playing; I don't think I'm very good at all and hate playing by myself as everything I try just sounds bloody awful to me.

Put me in a room with a guitarist or band and most of the time I can pick up on the vibe and lay down something half decent by feel.

The bass player in my current band tells me I'm the best drummer he's played with in the 30-odd years he's been playing (rock, punk & metal, mostly) which is a great compliment, but makes me wonder just how bad these other guys were, lol.

[MattParker]

I was a fed up guitarist that became a drummer. I was sick and tired of lazy drummers and i wanted to become the drummer i always wanted in a band:) And the number one rule a gave myself was to never bitch about moving and setting up my own kit for shows:)

[elpol]

I love to think I'm more along the 'musician' side of things, however, I'm probably more of the 'jack of all trades' type.

it also appears I've joined this conversation way too late, so I'm going to go sit in my rocking chair in the corner and talk to myself...

[Abazuto]

A hard hitting funk/rock groove drummer who's hopelessly addicted to using effects cymbals to spice up simple beats. Maybe it's some form of ADD, but it kills me to sit back and play just bass/snare for too long. I'll always land up wanting to use assorted ice bells, splashes or domes to accent the bass or snare hits. On top of that, I love throwing in stray quick patterns at random on the hats to spice things up.

I also believe I'm awful at drumming, regardless of what anyone says.

[Chollyred]

An old "never was" drummer that used to be a jack of all trades, but after a many year layoff is now a bloody awful recreational drummer. Biggest concern now is laying down a good solid groove. Trying to re-build chops and re-learn how to read music. Don't know that it'll help much, because I never try to copy note-for-note what anyone else plays. I could never play in a tribute band where every nuance has to be like the original.

And I am a gear junkie with no dough to scratch the itch.

I also play a little guitar, but that's worse than my drumming.

Maybe there should be a category for "Jack of NO trades."