Hi,

To me the drummer is the most important member in a band. Then comes the bass player . And yes, I can hear the guitar players screaming and cursing me all the way from LA for that statement...lol

If you don't have a bottom you don't have a band.

Style aside I often go listen to artist I like and ask myself if I could listen to just the drummer and the bass player. Almost all the acts I like have great drummers and bass players who I can listen to by them self.

Today things are a little better on stage due to better sound systems so I have less trouble hearing what I need to hear. Most good bands I like require that the drummer drives the band and that it not to say it has to be like that every second of every performance. Everyone has to listen to what is going on in the moment.

I really like drum fills that remind me the change is coming NOW because it is easy to get lost in a guitar solo or piano solo and blow right through the changes.

Fills that follow lead parts are way cool. Fills that are there for no good reason makes the music worse not better. Lead players who can follow drum fills are way cool.

Just because a drummer or a guitar player or anyone in the band can do something does not make it musical.

Playing ten thousand notes a nano second on drums or guitar just because you can may seem cool but the music suffers greatly.

Speed and knowing a million licks is not needed to be great. Knowing a million licks is also a cool thing. Knowing when and when not to use them is the difference between the great artist and the good artist.

Think about BB King for a second. He could play one note and you know who was playing and he got your attention with that one note.

Don't get so stressed that you are fearful of doing something wrong and don't get so cocky you think you can't screw up.

Music is a team sport.

No one else can really tell you how you should be playing and least of all musicians.

You can only play for three types of listeners.

1. Yourself

2. Other musicians

3. The public

So decide who you are trying to impress and go for it.

If it is the public you want to impress then it is not very important what you think or what other musicians think. It is only important what the public thinks because they are the ones who the have the check book.

This is pretty to the point of what I think and I have no doubt there will be some disagreement...lol


Best of luck,

Billy

“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”