eddiehimself
Platinum Member
Yes that's right i've decided to add drumming to a long list of things i can't do. I'm going to keep them though.
I've quit the drums.
- Thread starter eddiehimself
- Start date
jim_gregory
Senior Member
You can't quit. Sorry. Platinum members have rules. Us new guys can quit though!
con struct
Platinum Member
DO NOT QUIT THE DRUMS!!!!! No, no, no.
What happened, exactly, to cause you to reach this decision? Whatever it was, you just may be at the point where everything starts falling into place.
Look, as musicians we all have our dark nights of the soul, the feeling that it's useless or whatever. Often those are the times when we're right at the brink of breaking through into a deeper understanding of and relationship with our instrument.
So look. What happened?
dairyairman
Platinum Member
i quit the drums. for 15 years! but i'm back. you can never really quit, so you might as well just stay with it.
bobdadruma
Platinum Member
OH NO! Not another, I QUIT THREAD! I can't take any more of these!
This is the part where I say things like WHY? YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO QUIT!
I'm not going to bite this time! Get back on that kit, and stop fooling around!
I don't want to hear it!
This is the part where I say things like WHY? YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO QUIT!
I'm not going to bite this time! Get back on that kit, and stop fooling around!
I don't want to hear it!
Pollyanna
Platinum Member
Hey Eddie, enjoy the break. I'm sure you'll find some interesting things to do.
You'll be back. There's no choice. For me, in '98 that was it. Gone. Drumming was the past. Nice girls don't play the drums. Nice middle-aged women even less so.
I hung onto my drums for sentimental reasons until in mid-2006 when I figured I needed the extra space and that sentimentality was stupid. I sold them.
Novemeber 2006 a web-designer friend (I'd been getting into web design) who also liked to sing called and said a friend's band desperately needed a drummer for the night and would I be able to fill in. At first my reaction was of a "you gotta be kidding" kind but he was insistent and has always been highly skilled at the Charm Offensive.
Bizarrely, they liked me but I was sick of being a backbeat slave and fortunately another drummer expressed interest so I thought I'd try something different - percussion and backing vocs. Gradually I shifted to keyboards. But the drummer kept on having to drive the kids to whatever stupid function kids go to so I had some fill ins.
The bug bit ... I remembered how when I was a drummer I'd say it was the most fun you could have sitting down.
Come early 2007 some of us split off (the rhythm section sucked) and auditioned for drummers. If the quality of the cattle turning up was even close to the talent on show everywhere on this site I'd still be on keys. But they were all either too loud, too busy, didn't listen or tried to impose their own incompatible musicial vision onto the band.
No choice. I had to go back to drums and talked a friend who dabbles in everything to join on keys. For a year I hedged, hiring the crap studio kit held together with gaffa tape.
Then another breakaway and the singer friend, the erstwhile keys guy and I found new guitar and bass.
Then I discovered DrummerWorld and learned more in six months than I did in 20 years. I stopped hiring kits and bought a new one.
Now there is no escape. Maybe someone should set up Drumaholics Anonymous? ."One beat is too many and a hundred's not enough". This forum is littered with "ex players" who couldn't kick the habit.
Two mottos to the story:
1. There is no escape. Don't even pretend.
2. Don't even consider selling your drums during this break. It will cost you - 100% guarantee
You'll be back. There's no choice. For me, in '98 that was it. Gone. Drumming was the past. Nice girls don't play the drums. Nice middle-aged women even less so.
I hung onto my drums for sentimental reasons until in mid-2006 when I figured I needed the extra space and that sentimentality was stupid. I sold them.
Novemeber 2006 a web-designer friend (I'd been getting into web design) who also liked to sing called and said a friend's band desperately needed a drummer for the night and would I be able to fill in. At first my reaction was of a "you gotta be kidding" kind but he was insistent and has always been highly skilled at the Charm Offensive.
Bizarrely, they liked me but I was sick of being a backbeat slave and fortunately another drummer expressed interest so I thought I'd try something different - percussion and backing vocs. Gradually I shifted to keyboards. But the drummer kept on having to drive the kids to whatever stupid function kids go to so I had some fill ins.
The bug bit ... I remembered how when I was a drummer I'd say it was the most fun you could have sitting down.
Come early 2007 some of us split off (the rhythm section sucked) and auditioned for drummers. If the quality of the cattle turning up was even close to the talent on show everywhere on this site I'd still be on keys. But they were all either too loud, too busy, didn't listen or tried to impose their own incompatible musicial vision onto the band.
No choice. I had to go back to drums and talked a friend who dabbles in everything to join on keys. For a year I hedged, hiring the crap studio kit held together with gaffa tape.
Then another breakaway and the singer friend, the erstwhile keys guy and I found new guitar and bass.
Then I discovered DrummerWorld and learned more in six months than I did in 20 years. I stopped hiring kits and bought a new one.
Now there is no escape. Maybe someone should set up Drumaholics Anonymous? ."One beat is too many and a hundred's not enough". This forum is littered with "ex players" who couldn't kick the habit.
Two mottos to the story:
1. There is no escape. Don't even pretend.
2. Don't even consider selling your drums during this break. It will cost you - 100% guarantee
bobdadruma
Platinum Member
Here, This will bring you back. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eteIo7ohkok
Pollyanna
Platinum Member
LOL Give Eddie a break, Bob. The poor guy wants to pretend he has a life before he realises that, as a drummer, it's ultimately not possible.
That video would actually turn me off - the plethora of highly skilled professionals performing the unattainable just makes the humble hobbyist with modest technique feel like s/he would just clutter up a scene that's already saturated with nimble brilliance to bursting point.
This is the more the kind of thing that would tempt me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-spAA9aLN0
Simple stuff with a great vibe. That's the lure for me ...
bobdadruma
Platinum Member
Hey, It always worked for me!
Pocket-full-of-gold
Platinum Member
Of which I'm also one. I agree with all posts so far Ed. Whilst I never 'quit' as such, I did walk away from it 'cos I wanted a break....unfotunately that break lasted about 5 years. Man, do I regret that now. Life circumstances have changed and I doubt I'll ever go back to working as regularly as I was, but my kit has called me back.....even if only as a hobbyist!
Take a break if you wish, consider your frustrations and take time to reflect.....but remember, it's a skill that would be a shame not to nurture....even if it's only for the woodshed.
Good motto's too btw...especially #2!
bobdadruma
Platinum Member
OK, Fine, This one! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnamP4-M9ko
W
wy yung
Guest
May I ask why you have come to this decision?
bobdadruma
Platinum Member
They are going to take the sticks from my cold dead hands!
Pollyanna
Platinum Member
LOL Bob, you're like the freakin Energiser Bunny! I suggest having a living will so they don't prise the sticks from your cold, dead hands so you can be buried with them. If you know what's good for you in the afterlife I suggest adding a photo of your wife as well.
Keep playing Michael Shrieve vids and I'll be starting an "I'm quitting" thread
Wy, I think Eddie's comment, "a long list of things i can't do" says it all. I know that feeling intimately. I feel we need to give ourselves permission to not be very good. As we talked about, in the US there's a strong focus on excellence. The Yanks practice their brains out to be great. Given the US's massive influence here, it's an attitude I try to filter out for my own wellbeing.
There are already a gazillion fantastic players out there. However, there are niches that lesser drummers can fill more effectively than good ones, namely playing with other lesser players or even with better players who you get along with who just want to have fun without the pressure of trying to MAKE IT or BE SPECIAL
Sometimes an unapologetic, dinky unprofessional approach has it's own charm. That only became clear to me after I stopped playing for a while.
Keep playing Michael Shrieve vids and I'll be starting an "I'm quitting" thread
Wy, I think Eddie's comment, "a long list of things i can't do" says it all. I know that feeling intimately. I feel we need to give ourselves permission to not be very good. As we talked about, in the US there's a strong focus on excellence. The Yanks practice their brains out to be great. Given the US's massive influence here, it's an attitude I try to filter out for my own wellbeing.
There are already a gazillion fantastic players out there. However, there are niches that lesser drummers can fill more effectively than good ones, namely playing with other lesser players or even with better players who you get along with who just want to have fun without the pressure of trying to MAKE IT or BE SPECIAL
Sometimes an unapologetic, dinky unprofessional approach has it's own charm. That only became clear to me after I stopped playing for a while.
genericdrummingusername
Senior Member
That was mighty abrupt. Maybe I'll catch you on a bass guitar forum somewhere.
bobdadruma
Platinum Member
Deltadrummer
Platinum Member
Did you really think any of us can actually play this instrument?