What are some charactaristics of drummers?

[jwildman]

Hypothetical situation. A guy walks into a guitar center or any other music shop. Before he goes to whatever section of the store he came for (like the guitar section or keyboard section) how would you guys figure out one guy is a drummer? Like what would his general charactaristics be? For example, I think drummers are generally taller than other people. What do you guys think?

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Ringo, Keith Moon, me, all short people, would blow that theory to hell.
No callouses on their fingers.

[Signals]

My Modern Drummer Festival DVD has an interview section, and almost every drummer in it is either shaking his leg up and down (like when your sitting in a chair) or fidgeting around somehow.

I guess the guy with the 'nervous energy' would be the drummer to me.

[starkeydrums]

there is no real set "characteristics" of drummers.
for example, apperantly its known that drummers are the show-offy people in the band. this i am not. for arguement's sake, i think the lead guitarist is always that spot.

what i have seen in a few drummers is the callouses on the sides of their pointer finger (where you rest your sticks when you play match grip) and on the inside of the ring/middle finger.

then again, if hes really looking for the drum guy, its probably the guy playing rudiments on the counter top xD

[starkeydrums]

Originally Posted by Signals

My Modern Drummer Festival DVD has an interview section, and almost every drummer in it is either shaking his leg up and down (like when your sitting in a chair) or fidgeting around somehow.

I guess the guy with the 'nervous energy' would be the drummer to me.

oh wow. +1. i never thought of that, but i am constantly doing one of those 2 things

[bobdadruma]

Legs are slightly bow from wrapping them around a snare drum and feet are always outward at a 45 degree angle from playing the pedals. LOL

[mcbike]

I don't know what it is but I definatley look like a drummer. I have shorter fingers and huge callouses all over my hands, powerful forearms, and my left shoulder muscle is 4 times bigger than my right shoulder from playing backbeats!

[freebirdgdw]

I always tapping my hands or feet. It drives my family and friends mad. I go go into a trance like state as I think of rudiments or beats whilst tapping and my mates know they cant reach me or get my attention lol

[jwildman]

Originally Posted by Signals

My Modern Drummer Festival DVD has an interview section, and almost every drummer in it is either shaking his leg up and down (like when your sitting in a chair) or fidgeting around somehow.

I guess the guy with the 'nervous energy' would be the drummer to me.

See I was thinking this when I was writing this but really what guy goes into a music store just taping on everything.

[Pollyanna]

I'm a regular at Billy Hyde which is a giant toyland for drummers. I've never noticed a pattern as far as appearance goes. No one I speak with picks me as a drummer because I'm a woman who wears glasses. They usually expect me to be a keyboard player because glasses = brainy - keyboards :)

Within a band, the drummer is usually the one who's most "into it". Perhaps for younger drummers that means the one who looks as though s/he has the worst hangover :) Singers, guitarists and keyboardists can all make self-contained music at home but drummers reply on the band in order to play music.

[Signals]

Originally Posted by jwildman

See I was thinking this when I was writing this but really what guy goes into a music store just taping on everything.

Well, every time I go into my local store I may:

1) Tap my leg with my hand while browsing the store, or both legs with both hands.
2) Tap my foot while standing still and talking with a salesman or reviewing an item.
3) Move my right leg up and down if I sit somewhere in the store, on a stool, at a kit, wherever.
4) Sometimes I even make music (to myself) with my teeth or mouth -- hopefully quiet and inconspicuously!
5) These habits are even more pronounced the longer I go without playing.

So, like I said earlier, chances are that the 'nervous energy' guy is a drummer IMO.

[donv]

Silly question! The drummer is always the one speaking in complete sentences and with the best looking girls. May not be politically correct, but it suits me just fine.

[Pollyanna]

Originally Posted by donv

Silly question! The drummer is always the one speaking in complete sentences and with the best looking girls.

Not always :)

XOOXOOXOO

[donv]

Originally Posted by Pollyanna

Not always :)

XOOXOOXOO

lol! I was going to add, doesn't matter if the drummer is a man or woman, we still attract the best looking women. Of course I shouldn't assume anything, you may be referring to the complete sentence thing! lol

[Fur drummer]

Yea I would say the person with the nervous energy and tapping on things is usually a drummer.

[elpol]

meet a touring band? the drummer is usually the driving the van.

see someone loading a van who really seems to know how to arrange things most effectively after a gig? most likely the drummer.

see someone at a music store with a hip-pouch, minus credential badges? probably a drummer. (if there are credential badges, then it's probably a tech...)

not a generalization, but I can't help but to have noticed over the years that quite a few male drummers tend towards the shorter side of the average... (me included)

been backstage prior to a show and saw someone beyond super excited about getting out on stage to perform? it's the drummer (guitarists think they're too cool to get excited about being on stage)

[Pollyanna]

Originally Posted by donv

lol! I was going to add, doesn't matter if the drummer is a man or woman, we still attract the best looking women. Of course I shouldn't assume anything, you may be referring to the complete sentence thing! lol

Yes Don, I always speak in complete

Also, drummers tend to dress more sporty than

:)

[brownie1969]

Its the guy squinting....trying to figure out how to navigate through all the GD stacks of amps, racks of cheap guitars, and annoying salespeople packed in the front of the house.

[ChipJohns]

Originally Posted by Pollyanna

Not always :)
XOOXOOXOO

Not sure I agree... @:-)

Even though I'm sure you attract the guys... I bet you attract other girls too..!
(We are talking about them. Not you!)

@:-))
----

Interesting.

[bobdadruma]

Polly; Are you getting picked on again? You're a good sport! You take a lot of crap around here.

[Pollyanna]

Originally Posted by ChipJohns

Not sure I agree... @:-)

Even though I'm sure you attract the guys... I bet you attract other girls too..!
(We are talking about them. Not you!)

LOL! And I'm sure a talented, good-lookin' guy like yourself has attracted the occasional gayboy ... I reckon my band's singer would be impressed with this site since you can just about throw a stone here and hit a spunk ... it's great having an interest that guys enjoy *grin*

I've never had a woman try to pick me up post-gig but about 10 years ago at work a gay girl I was supervising complimented me on my defined arms and asked if I worked out. Nope, I said, I play drums! How to identify drummers? Rock drummers tend to have good limb definition - at least when they're young *sigh*.

PS. Bob, no drama. It's always a laugh when hanging out with da boyz :) Things have been great here since the misunderstandings in Feel vs Technique (surely we're due to revive it!) and the infamous ratatouille thread were sorted out.

[Stoney]

I notice both of my index fingers are twisted slightly. I assume this is from drumming ?? Anyone else have this or is this a personal deformity of mine?

[bamdrummer]

the tapping and fidgeting definitely. Im always making a rhythm with some part of my body at all times. If Im sitting, i pretty much have to move my leg (as i am right now). If i have something stick shaped in my hand like a pencil or an eating utensil, ill always tap that on my leg. And if I cant do any of those things, ill usually just make a rhythm moving my jaw back and forth using my teeth (quietly enough that noone but me can hear it). Usualy i even walk and change direction in rhythm but thats far less noticeable.

[joeysnare]

this always makes me look like a weirdo, but when im thinking ill always play rudiments on my stomach (slap my belly in public) lol

[keep it simple]

Originally Posted by Stoney

I notice both of my index fingers are twisted slightly. I assume this is from drumming ?? Anyone else have this or is this a personal deformity of mine?

It's a personal thing mate!

Drummer's car's are interesting places;

Worn patches around the steering wheel.
Excessive wear on the driver's airbag cover.
Spare towels, pillows and other items used to keep things in place.
Broken sticks on the floor you can't bring yourself to replace.
Dents in the trunk lid from closing it onto hardwear.

[Skulmoski]

Originally Posted by Fur drummer

Yea I would say the person with the nervous energy and tapping on things is usually a drummer.

I spoke to Arthur Hull about this and we though that it might be that drummers have a constant rhythm moving between their conscious and subconscious minds. When that rhythm comes into my consciousness, I tap my foot, finger, whatever. No nervous energy, just my soul expressing itself.

GJS

[ChipJohns]

Originally Posted by Pollyanna

LOL! And I'm sure a talented, good-lookin' guy like yourself has attracted the occasional gayboy ... I reckon my band's singer would be impressed with this site since you can just about throw a stone here and hit a spunk ... it's great having an interest that guys enjoy *grin*

I've never had a woman try to pick me up post-gig but about 10 years ago at work a gay girl I was supervising complimented me on my defined arms and asked if I worked out. Nope, I said, I play drums! How to identify drummers? Rock drummers tend to have good limb definition - at least when they're young *sigh*.

PS. Bob, no drama. It's always a laugh when hanging out with da boyz :) Things have been great here since the misunderstandings in Feel vs Technique (surely we're due to revive it!) and the infamous ratatouille thread were sorted out.

When I was younger I use to do quite a bit of pit work for musicals.. I've had my share of attempts. @:-O

How did you know!

[larryace]

I can't believe that nobody has mentioned the most obvious thing....the guy with the biggest bulge in his pants is the drummer, what's wrong with you people?

[nickg]

What are some charactaristics of drummers?

long grey scraggly hair in a ponytail, wearing a black zildjian t-shirt with cut-off sleeves, going over to the neil peart paragon cymbal rack at guitar center. OY!!
:) :)

[Pollyanna]

Originally Posted by ChipJohns

When I was younger I use to do quite a bit of pit work for musicals.. I've had my share of attempts. @:-O

How did you know!

One look at your pic, Chip :)

[alparrott]

Characteristics of drummers? How about the hunched over posture from having to carry all their gear in by themselves... or the bored,expression worn while the guitarists tune?

[Pollyanna]

Originally Posted by larryace

I can't believe that nobody has mentioned the most obvious thing....the guy with the biggest bulge in his pants is the drummer, what's wrong with you people?

Sorry, nice try but no cigar (so to speak). In an old band it was the bassist. He'd wear these tight leather pants on stage and ... it could be distracting ...

Yeah Al, the older ones amongst us have probably wasted months of our lives waiting for guitarists tune up.

Nick, are you sure you're not thinking of the roadies? I live near a venue that hosts big name acts and often see them standing around outside smoking, and they fit your description to a T :)

[bobdadruma]

Can you spot the drummer in this pic?
Very Good! He is the one wearing the drumming gloves and holding the sticks!
Those are the clues that I always look for. A drummer never goes anywhere without sticks.
I always bring a pair with me to a music store so that I don't have to ask the associate for the crappy pair of mismatched ones that they hand out for you to try things in the store. Also I can bang on things and disrupt the whole store! If I bang on things long enough, They give me a good price on something so that I will leave!
By the way, We call the guy on the right "Freakshow" Can you guess why?

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Originally Posted by bobdadruma

Can you spot the drummer in this pic?
Very Good! He is the one wearing the drumming gloves and holding the sticks!
Those are the clues that I always look for. A drummer never goes anywhere without sticks.
I always bring a pair with me to a music store so that I don't have to ask the associate for the crappy pair of mismatched ones that they hand out for you to try things in the store. Also I can bang on things and disrupt the whole store! It I bang on things long enough, They give me a good price on something so that I will leave!
By the way, We call the guy on the right "Freakshow" Can you guess why?

The one on the right needs his Mom to stop buying his shirts.

[Muckster]

The drummer is easy to spot. He/She is:

1. The one delivering the pizza.
2. The one that has credit.
3. The one constantly tapping on everything.
4. The only one in the room that has a decent car.

[aydee]

Likes to break things:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix_11UeGwYY

[justjim]

what abt multi-instrumentalists :(

[thelimpingtoad]

Originally Posted by Pollyanna

Rock drummers tend to have good limb definition - at least when they're young *sigh*.
.

Yeah... this is probably the only thing i can think of... yes we have nervous energy or whatever and like to tap on stuff... but i know that we get really odd muscles developed... like forearms and calves and weird bulging muscles that no one else really develops.
But really i don't think there's any way to tell who the drummer is unless they're wearing a shirt with a drum co on it... or carrying sticks or somethiing... but all different people play drums... all different ages, races, body-size, and genders so i really don't think there's any way to know.

[Nick G.]

Originally Posted by freebirdgdw

I always tapping my hands or feet. It drives my family and friends mad. I go go into a trance like state as I think of rudiments or beats whilst tapping and my mates know they cant reach me or get my attention lol

lol same here :D

my parents are like SHUT UP!!

my sister even hits me sumtimes lol

I guess a few of these apply to me as well.

I too tap my foot and play beats with my fingers. I too have the hunched over posture. I have a job, and credit. I drive a huge pickup truck (can fit a ton of gear back there). I am also taller than average.