How can a drummer be expected to know....

New Tricks

Platinum Member
How can a drummer be expected to know how hard/loud to play his drums, ESPECIALLY the snare, when he is sitting behind all the speakers?

This is such a common occurrence and I heard it again last night at a casino. It was a nice 6 piece pop/R&B band. No mics on the drums (not necessary).

The thing that stuck out to me was the snare was too loud. Snares cut through the other sound/ frequencies like a sharp knife and it is a common problem, but how do you know unless someone with a better audio perspective tells you?
 
Not sure about anyone else but in that type of situation...

I usually start out on the quiet side and after one or two tunes someone will let me know "hey, we can't hear you snare man"...
 
I actually go in and start the night in Don Hendley Eagles tuning - sorta medium low and phat sounding. Sometimes it’s not how hard you play, but it’s the frequency of the drum. A lot of people go for the higher poppier tunings because they hear that on the records when in reality it’s a total hot knife in butter. The snare tuned high sits in that range where nothing else is so it automatically cuts through the mix. Experience has taught me to tune down a bit and start there. Often throughout the gig I’ll be re-tuning to be appropriate for the song.
 
. Sometimes it’s not how hard you play, but it’s the frequency of the drum.

That make sense and is probably the issue. So, if you tune tight, ease up a bit and/or play closer to the rim. I suppose that if you went extremely loose, you could hit the snare about the same as the toms.

Thanks!
 
I generally play quiet till the conductor or band mates look at me-with "turn it up" -I've found people generally like to see a player with volume range and asking to turn it up rather than turn it down.
 
You sure snare wasn't mic'd? You're hearing the much snare through 6 piece pop R&B group?

Absolutely. The set up, room and mix are always the first things I listen to/look at.

The mix was kind of typical. I only hear a good mix 1 in 20 times. Not enough definition. Vocals needed to be more upfront but they were already at the feedback point. Heard no guitar and almost no keys. It's just kind of a blur that made some of the songs actually unrecognizable at first.

And, I'm not criticizing, just pointing out what I hear. The players were good but could have been really great. Without a good sound guy, bands are doing a lot of guessing.

Also, from a marketing standpoint, there was no band name to be found :)
 
Around here snares are usually mic'd. Mic's on cymbals. Mic's on toms. Mic on kick. Volume way up and snare is loudest instrument in entire band. But vocals are also way too hot, as is guitar. Volume all around too much except for bass which is way under driven. Not sure what frickin' sound dude is ever doing. We always get compliments on our sound from audience and patrons because we don't mic drums at all, and guitar way down. Bass up. Keys and sax just above. Vocals just above those instruments. If there is a sound guy we have to seize control. We're a trio, but still you can have a conversation with your sweetie at a table 4 feet away from us. We're after a musical sound not blowing your hair off. Sound guys are on a different planet most of the time.

Absolutely. The set up, room and mix are always the first things I listen to/look at.

The mix was kind of typical. I only hear a good mix 1 in 20 times. Not enough definition. Vocals needed to be more upfront but they were already at the feedback point. Heard no guitar and almost no keys. It's just kind of a blur that made some of the songs actually unrecognizable at first.

And, I'm not criticizing, just pointing out what I hear. The players were good but could have been really great. Without a good sound guy, bands are doing a lot of guessing.

Also, from a marketing standpoint, there was no band name to be found :)
 
The easy answer is to record yourself, and compare notes as to how you thought it sounded onstage...as opposed to hearing it how it actually happened. If you do this enough, you will teach yourself to know when you are too loud, or too whatever.

Record yourself.

Another thing I do is this: I play so I can hear the other instruments. Everyone I play with...doesn't use monitors, so I listen harder. In my world, drums should never be the loudest instrument on stage, generally speaking.
 
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I have had this problem.
Guitarists/bassists have a habit of standing near/sitting on their amps when jamming or practising. They can obviously hear everything they are doing fine, but no way the drummer can.
They are just oblivious to our struggles!!!
 
As the drummer, if I can't here the vocals WITHOUT monitor, I'm too loud.

I've pretty much retired my 13" snares because it gets in the way of everything (same frequencies as guitars and vocals), and I try to tune lower now.
 
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