A great drummer is essential for a band to thrive. It is said that to be a great drummer is to be a driver, not a passenger. Drummers are the wind in the sails. Drummers make the ship GO. It is well accepted amongst musicians that a mediocre band with a great drummer can sound truly great. The opposite is true as well. A great band with a poor drummer will not sound very good at all.
Provides the Foundation
In human anatomy the backbone is arguably the most important part of the body. It protects the spinal cord that sends messages from the brain to all other parts of the body. Without it communication, walking, and the simple act of picking up a stick and hitting a drum would be impossible. In rock n roll lingo, the drummer is sometimes called the “backbone of the band”.
As the backbone of the band, other musicians rely very heavily on him or her to provide a strong beat that will keep a song together. A drummer who is off beat, or off tempo, will lead the entire band astray. Therefore, if the drummer is weak the whole band will be weak.
Cannot Hide Mistakes as Easily
Additionally, with great power comes great responsibility! If you are a drummer in a band, other musicians are relying heavily on you to provide a strong beat that will keep everything together. While other musicians may be able to cover their flaws when playing their instruments as a group, but not you. Everything you do behind your set will not only be heard, but felt. There is simply no way to hide or cover up poor drumming skills!
Bring a Song To Life
However, drummers do more than merely keep time. Time keeping is certainly the prime directive, but there is so much more to drumming! Drummers punctuate, embellish and set-up changes and rhythmic figures to make songs come alive. A drummer’s job is to highlight and accentuate the rhythms of the horn section or pick up on guitar riffs and vocal lines. Providing the right “feel” for a song is where drummers bring personality to the musical table. The ability to identify what a song needs and deliver it with the right sound and feel is an art that drummers need to develop in order to do their job well.
A band without a secure, reliable, dynamic and expressive drummer is a band without strong foundations. For this reason, it is easy to see a drummer’s importance!
Are you wondering how you can gain these skills? Check out our drum classes!! You can see these at omahaschoolofmusicanddance.com or call 402-515-9639. We look forward to seeing you in class!
