When it comes to music genres, I am *all* over the place.

...I've noticed a lot of guitar and bass players are more or less married to the genre they're working in, so they can't stray too far outside of that lest they become something other than what they were going for. But I don't see drums as being so bound by such constraints...

That is so very true, and exactly matches my experience, both as a guitarist and as a drummer.

As a guitarist, especially when I was setting out, I was very specific about the styles of music I was interested in.

But as a drummer I find that I will often hear something that I like tucked away in genres that I don't usually listen to.
 
I'm kind of in the same situation. As, my goal is to play in an original band. But, I can't decide if I want to play in an alternative rock, grunge rock, or old fashion punk rock band.

And, as a 42 year old, I'm not even sure, there are people in my age range, still playing original (alternative rock, grunge or punk) music.
 
I am in the same boat. I want to play everything. In fact, my guitarist friend is very much the same. A sampling of the bands we are working on learning to play together: Sister Hazel, Van Halen, Jonny Lang, Power Station, Journey, Walter Trout and Dire Straits. We also play a song from each or CCR, Blues Traveler, Aerosmith, Deep Purple. Jazz and swing are about the only thing we have not tried yet but I certainly would like to. We even tried a Kid Rock song this weekend. Haha.

I say play your mood, and find a group to play with that does the same. We have been looking for a bass player and vocalist that fits in with our eclectic music choices. Maybe instead of looking for a band to play there music with, you look for people that want to join up and play the music you play. That way rather than fitting in with them they are fitting in with you.
 
I'd like to do heavy metal versions of Liza Minelli songs, only acoustically with 12-string guitars, so it sounds like contemporary Christian stuff ;)
 
I'd like to do heavy metal versions of Liza Minelli songs, only acoustically with 12-string guitars, so it sounds like contemporary Christian stuff ;)

Every now and then a post comes along that makes me think we really need a "like" button.

James likes this post.
 
My advice would be don't pigeon hole songs into genres, play for the song.

Once you play for a song you'll hear someone explaining a genre or style and think hey I've played that for years without even knowing about it.

I was really lucky growing up because my parents listened to everything other than jazz. So you pick up feel subconsciously.

I don't understand people who pigeon hole themselves as players either. My mate was going on about only playing Sabian AAX because he's a metal player. I thought I'm a drummer who has to play anything and everything from 1950s to present, pretty confident I'll get the most gigs.

The Wrecking Crew weren't fussy about genres they just played. Same with the Funk Brothers
 
Another one for it was easy to follow a specific Genre (playing wise with bands) in the early days, was Rock bands or nothing else in my hometown with people the same age as me.

I did listen/practice to (and still do) to a large range of Genres, just this morning it's been Jazz, Grunge, Hip Hop and Punk as music to listen to.

Play along to as much as you can is my advice as there's a lot of music out there and access to it all is easier than ever. The outcome of doing so is that it will only grow your drumming vocabulary, which is a great thing. Plus you can try new things as your taste changes over time.

Fill your boots!
 
I love genre hopping. It's what's gotten me what I think is a decent reputation on my campus. While other guys are way more adapt than I am at punk or rock, nobody else on campus plays jazz, swing, funk, latin, bossa, or have any knowledge of how to mimic the sounds of different decades. I've spent a lot of time studying and practicing music I don't usually listen to in order to get the gigs that nobody else wants/can play. Embrace it. There's a quote I've heard and have carried with me for quite a few years now. "As a musician, your favorite song should be the one you are playing right now." There's no "best" genre of music, and something can be learned by listening intently to every song that comes your way.
 
I'm all over the shop, genre-wise. Spread yourself too thin and you won't suit too many bands unless you're good enough to master the various styles. Kind of like Bruce Lee fearing the man who does one punch 10,000 times more than the man who knows 10,000 punches.

Personally, I really dislike Taylorist specialisation in both work and play, and cannot play in same-y bands. I'm just not that subtle - it all just blends in for me. I always go for musical diversity. I cook the same way - improvise with whatever's in the fridge and throw a lot of stuff together, and never do it quite the same way twice.
 
Hey, so many great replies, thank you. Sorry I created a thread and disappeared for a month, but I still really need the advice, now more than ever. :)


I'm all over the shop, genre-wise. Spread yourself too thin and you won't suit too many bands unless you're good enough to master the various styles. Kind of like Bruce Lee fearing the man who does one punch 10,000 times more than the man who knows 10,000 punches.
Good point. I tend the be the (wo)man with 10,000 punches, but lands maybe 5 of them. :|

Play along to as much as you can is my advice as there's a lot of music out there and access to it all is easier than ever. The outcome of doing so is that it will only grow your drumming vocabulary, which is a great thing. Plus you can try new things as your taste changes over time.

Fill your boots!
Boot weather is over, mister! It's been over 80 degrees here for several days in a row, so, quick... I need a new metaphor.

I think the only drawback to such approach is that one needs to be careful about appropriating other cultures, in a way that doesn't give credit to the maintainers of the tradition or causes the originals to be lost or diminished in some way. For example, I love researching various Native American cultures, but it would be somewhat insulting for me to enjoy traditions that many were(and in some cases are to this day) severely persecuted for performing. Better just to buy their CD.
I totally get what you are saying, but on the other hand, I've found that some cultures feel proud that others are so interested in their music, dress, language, that they are happy when others adopt their customs. I have an acquaintance in Nigeria (not a prince), and I remarked once how the women's traditional dresses are gorgeous, and he suggested that I should wear one someday, and I asked him very directly, "But wouldn't the women be a bit offended?" and he answered, "No! They would love it. They would be delighted to see that you have such an interest." I was pretty surprised, because that is an even bigger deal to me than music appropriation. Of course, many might disagree, but I was happy to hear it. So I think that if your admiration is genuine and you have a healthy respect for the real deal, you might be surprised about their reaction.
 
I started out doing acoustic-based rock and roll with one band. Then I went and did unplugged-type stuff with another band (I learned how to play bongos, congas, djembe, etc.).
I was in a music store a couple weeks ago and I very nearly came home with a gorgeous pair of red burst congas, but I didn't buy them because I remembered how much my hands hurt when I tried learning the djembe last year. So.. instead, I bought a modest timbale set-up by LP, so I could play Cuban Son. :D

So now I am not just genre hopping but kit hopping. ;)

And if I haven't said so lately, it's really great having you here Elle. Your humor makes me lol. Like when you had to pack clothes for all 4 seasons, stuff like that :)
Thank you, Larry. Bad timing for me to not be around, right after someone says it's good to have me around.

You might even find yourself in a cathedral conducting a 100 piece choir + orchestra + pipe organ for a performance of Vivaldi's "Gloria".

If I find myself bossing around a 100 piece orchestra, there is going to be one pissed off conductor nearby. But for this to happen, it means that I had more than my two allotted cocktails, so I really wouldn't care at that point.
 
I know what you mean Elle...hence I've tended to gravitate to a sorta- progrssive style...and oftenmaligned for not blending into the background.

Its an awful lot of fun making kids heads thrash to a modified samba or see a room full of two-stepers grind their hiips a little to a lightened thrash texture.
 
I totally get what you are saying, but on the other hand, I've found that some cultures feel proud that others are so interested in their music, dress, language, that they are happy when others adopt their customs. I have an acquaintance in Nigeria (not a prince), and I remarked once how the women's traditional dresses are gorgeous, and he suggested that I should wear one someday, and I asked him very directly, "But wouldn't the women be a bit offended?" and he answered, "No! They would love it. They would be delighted to see that you have such an interest." I was pretty surprised, because that is an even bigger deal to me than music appropriation. Of course, many might disagree, but I was happy to hear it. So I think that if your admiration is genuine and you have a healthy respect for the real deal, you might be surprised about their reaction.

Wearing a garment that they produced is one thing. Though, if you made shoddy rendition and wore it on inappropriate occasions and claimed to have made improvements to the method, there is a line...
 
A solid backbeat works with a lot of styles.

Most times, if you want to make $$ you need to put aside the wish for freshness and variety and stick to an identifiable style - or "brand" - that audiences want. Personally, I've always tended to play in eclectic bands that make no money.
 
It never ceases to amaze me how many musicians fail to grasp the economics of mainstream music. It's popular there are a lot of people that play it, there are a lot of people that people that play mainstream music and make no money.

It's kind of like the Spanish Empire stealing all that gold and silver but going bankrupt because of inflation.
 
I've never had to relate to it commercially. I'm a teacher mainly and what I do on my own time is my business.

I think however that it's important to understand that any drummer we admire in any style has his/her own signature and you don't have to know and be able to do everything in a tradition to do a good job in that style.

You should understand the essence and understand what needs to be there, but then bring yourself and a lot of who you are as an artist will transcend any style.

It would now be time to talk Vinnie again. lol
 
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