How can you tell a good drummer and a bad drummer apart?

[Phil Starr]

[url="https://youtu.be/9oQsKRyihEA"]https://youtu.be/9oQsKRyihEA[/url]

You've probably all seen this but .....

[Dad3353]

He's not wrong, y'know, and the same applies to bassists, too (as, indeed, to all musicians...). Technique for technique's sake is very rarely what's required. Who was it said 'Less is more.'..? Wise words, usually.

[MacDaddy]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1473336405' post='3129224']
He's not wrong, y'know, and the same applies to bassists, too (as, indeed, to all musicians...). Technique for technique's sake is very rarely what's required. Who was it said 'Less is more.'..? Wise words, usually.
[/quote]

but then you get Keith Moon.

[RockfordStone]

i couldn't tell you all the differences, but i do know this drummer is at the wrong gig...

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItZyaOlrb7E[/media]

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1473336489' post='3129226']
but then you get Keith Moon.
[/quote]

[discreet]

[quote name='RockfordStone' timestamp='1473338994' post='3129271']
i couldn't tell you all the differences, but i do know this drummer is at the wrong gig...
[/quote]

Wahey! Is that the first time this year??

[RockfordStone]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1473341514' post='3129310']
Wahey! Is that the first time this year??
[/quote]
it has been a while... just had to be done

[paul_5]

Exactly; you can tell a good drummer, a bad one won't listen!

[timhiggins]

A good drummer is one who

1. turns up to audition
2. has drums
3. isnt out of it
4. doesnt attack anyone

but they are few and far between

[Marillionred]

You only have to punch the rhythm into a good drummer once.


(I'll get my coat.....)

[Luulox]

Play a click track

[PaulWarning]

seriously, if it's a serious question, he or she has to able to keep time if they can't they're a waste of time,

[JTUK]

I was thinking about this recently.
I had a gig with a guy who is known nationally so I'm always keen to get perspective on how good is 'good'..
Well, I can say we had a good time but I've also had the opportunity to play with someone who was top drawer in his day..
All I can say is that the difference was huge...

I'd say the standard of the 1st guy was good but that would be achievable by a Good semi pro... but the guy who was top drawer had something else entirely.
He definitely had that X factor and you could see why he got those top gigs.

[paul_5]

Playing with [i]exceptional[/i] drummers is a really rare treat - every moment is to be savoured.

[Dad3353]

All the more so as I've all but retired. Sorry, folks.

[NancyJohnson]

When I was driving back from rehearsals last night, BBC Radio London were doing a good drummer/bad drummer phone in, which considering my current dilemma (see 'Drummer Woes' thread), was a decent listen.

There was a new (to me) drummer joke, which lead to a spontaneous laugh;
How do you know there's a drummer at your door?
Because he doesn't know when to come in.

Or something. It was late.

[Phil Starr]

how do you know your drummer is at the door?

he knocks twice and comes in late

[Phil Starr]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1473336405' post='3129224']
He's not wrong, y'know, and the same applies to bassists, too (as, indeed, to all musicians...). Technique for technique's sake is very rarely what's required. Who was it said 'Less is more.'..? Wise words, usually.
[/quote]

The first 40 seconds of All Right Now have often been said to be the most effective bass line ever.

[Ashweb]

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1473366561' post='3129582']

There was a new (to me) drummer joke, which lead to a spontaneous laugh;
How do you know there's a drummer at your door?

[/quote]

A: Because the knocking gets faster

[guildb30179]

Ahem, I have to mention the same joke for bassists, "How do you know when there's a bassist at the door? He's late and he's got the wrong key"

[jacko]

....or guitarists - they knock really loud then when you tell them to knock a bit quieter they knock even louder

[EliasMooseblaster]

[quote name='guildb30179' timestamp='1473370556' post='3129641']
Ahem, I have to mention the same joke for bassists, "How do you know when there's a bassist at the door? He's late and he's got the wrong key"
[/quote]

In a slightly crueller vein:

Q What does a bass player use for contraception?

A His personality!

(boom boom)

[discreet]

Apologies to any drummers reading, but...

What do you call someone who hangs out with musicians?
A drummer.

Sorry.

[quote name='timhiggins' timestamp='1473354644' post='3129452']
A good drummer is one who

1. turns up to audition
2. has drums
3. isnt out of it
4. doesnt attack anyone

but they are few and far between
[/quote]

To that I would also add 5. [i]Has own transport.[/i]

So many drummers I've known can't bloody drive. What's that about..?
Maybe they can't co-ordinate the clutch and the gearstick... I'll get me coat.

[MacDaddy]

Time to dust off my favorite drummer joke:

What did the drummer get on his IQ test?

Saliva.

[Graham]

Did you hear about the bassist who was so depressed about his poor timing he threw himself behind a train? He'd have been fine, but for the drummer falling ontop of him.