uk_lefty Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 We play crowd pleasers, we aren't as polished as a wedding or function band but we don't consider ourselves a pub band either. We get steady gigs doing outdoor festivals, private parties and soon weddings too. Problem is our drummer is getting bored with four to the floor. We can't venture in to obscure led zep tracks, but any suggestions for "drummers favourite" covers? We need to keep him happy, he's a great guy and a good drummer, as well as doing loads of behind the scenes stuff too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Have you asked him for any of his favourites? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazhowe Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Has your drummer put forward any song suggestions? If not I suggest asking him first and at the same time having a conversation about the type of song you think will and won't work. Introducing new songs that he has suggested should help keep his interest but they also need to work for the whole band and your audience. Sorry I don't have any specific song suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 All of the above. And maybe he should join (or form) another band so that he can play predominantly material that he likes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 You didn't describe your genre. There's all sorts of songs with interesting little challenges for the drummer but if they don't fit in with your set then you won't find the suggestions helpful. In the end though most of the great British public can't dance to anything in an unusual time signature so most of your set is always going to be 4/4 with the emphasis on 1 and 3 or 2 and 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I play drums in a few bands. I only ever get bored when the song is rubbish, otherwise, playing a simple beat and listening to the rest of the band play a good song well is entertaining enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Get the fellow working on Zappa's 'Black Page'. He'll adore 'four on the floor' as respite from then on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dropzone Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 HOT FOR TEACHER!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 [quote name='Muppet' timestamp='1490254676' post='3263560'] Have you asked him for any of his favourites? [/quote] Just what I was going to say.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 http://youtu.be/7b3ilv2y2JE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 [quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1490263175' post='3263662'] Just what I was going to say.... [/quote]and me, our drummer (and the previous one) loves doing the Clash's White Man at Hammersmith Palais Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinyd Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 If I was a drummer I'd rather play funk - have a go at Cold Sweat and see if that cheers him up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassjim Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Have a look at other bands that play the same sort of thing as you. Check their websites and FB pages ect and see if there are any gems that could work for you. Occasionally in my band we entertain each others more obscure ideas. We just learn em and gig em. Sometimes they just fizzle out naturally within a month or two from lack of interest both on and off the pitch and sometimes we all prove ourselves wrong because something you think is a dead duck ends up a full on winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 We have asked for his ideas, some are ok some not so good but we are a democratic bunch who give most things a go. Maybe more funky songs gives him more licence to thrill. Our genre is rock/ soul. We go from sharp dressed man (yes, I have sent him the drummer at the wrong gig video to demonstrate you can add some flash to it) and Johnny B Goode through to soul man, Duran Duran, Bryan Adams and now some Paolo nutini. We have so many songs on our roster now it's hard for the rest of us to keep up, but we need to keep it fresh otherwise everyone will get bored of us when we come back year on year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 This will keep both you and your drummer busy if it's not already in the set http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x61QWSdZUsE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Try funk or latin, especially the various Brazilian styles which include 2/4, 12/8, 6/8. then there's 5/4 (e.g. Take Five). I play drums too and stopped playing 4 to the floor when I discovered funk and samba. Top funk players to check out; Mike Clark (Headhunters), Idris Muhammed, Ziggy Modeliste (Meters), Dave Garibaldi (Tower of Power), Jabo Starkes and Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown) Bernard Purdie, Adam Deitch (John Scofield) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 [quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1490262755' post='3263649'] I play drums in a few bands. I only ever get bored when the song is rubbish, otherwise, playing a simple beat and listening to the rest of the band play a good song well is entertaining enough [/quote] You sound like everyone's dream drummer. No wonder you play in several bands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 How about Roasanna by Toto?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) Try this approach http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0AWgq-PywY&feature=youtu.be Edited March 24, 2017 by fretmeister Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) IMO, it's our responsibility as individual musician to resolve boredom not the bands. We play songs that I dreaded playing that are now songs I look forward to playing. If your bored with a song, figure out a way to make your part fun and one that you can commit to. Blue Edited March 31, 2017 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 (edited) Overkill by Motorhead. After playing that ask him if he prefers four on the floor. Edited March 24, 2017 by jezzaboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1490312491' post='3264300'] IMO, it's our responsibility as individual musician to resolve boredom not the vands. We play songs that a I dreaded playing that are now songs I look forward to playing. If your bored with a song, figure out a way to make your part fun and one that you can commit to. Blue [/quote] Blue, you beat me to it. Exactly the point I was going to make. If the drummer's bored tell him it's his job to work on it. Different drum patterns can improve the songs without killing them, changing the feel or turning them into a drum solo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 . . . . as the bass player are you playing exactly the same notes every time? Help your drummer by changing what you play a little and give him some inspiration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1490312491' post='3264300'] IMO, it's our responsibility as individual musician to resolve boredom not the vands. We play songs that a I dreaded playing that are now songs I look forward to playing. If your bored with a song, figure out a way to make your part fun and one that you can commit to. Blue [/quote] Yes indeed As I said before; ask the drummer if there are any tracks he'd like to play. But also ask if there's anything you, or the other band members could do to make the songs more fun and/or more challenging for all of you.... Something that amuses me, as Blue says, there were songs I either didn't like or dreaded playing - but these have (mostly) become songs I now enjoy playing.... Is your drummer still with the band? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japhet Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Every drummer I've played with has enjoyed The Riverboat Song (Ocean Colour Scene). Think it's in 6/4 so the punters can dance to it as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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