The drum set is not a solo instrument. The sound is not melodic, unlike the violin or the piano. So most people think a drummer's job is to keep the beat, set the tempo, and ensure the band keeps up with the tempo. But, as my drum teacher says:
So if everyone's job is to keep time, then what does the drummer do?
Drummers emphasize dynamics. When a drummer plays a crescendo (gradually playing louder), the song sounds explosive. The effect is much more easily created than other instruments, even when trying to play a decrescendo (gradually playing softer). Would heavy metal exist without drums?
Drummers indicate changes in structure. My favorite part of listening to most music is paying attention to the drums fills -- a fill is a phrase that is played between sections of the song. Sometimes a drum fill is simple, and other times very complex, like quick, erupting notes, mainly played on the tom-toms. The fill leads us in the next section of the song. Just listen to the song "Creep" by Radiohead. In 2:24-2:27, the drum fill leads into the climax of the song when Thom Yorke sings for the first time, "She's running out the door..." In the song "Pretty Girl (The Way)" by Sugarcult, the drum fill at 1:50-1:56 leads into the guitar solo.
Drummers complement other instruments. Sometimes the drummer will play the bass along with the rhythm of the bassist -- together, they create a solid beat. Drummers make everyone else in the band sound better. Like the song "Pretty Girl (The Way)" the drummer, Kenny Livingston, adds the perfect punch for the soloist. With the right fills, accents, and crashes, the soloist instantly sounds more alive.
Imagine a world of music with no drums. Honestly, I can't listen to music without the drums for very long -- I need the beat in the background that makes me bob my head and tap my foot. (The only song I can listen to repeatedly with no drums is "Yesterday" by The Beatles). Drummers give a song the extra oomph it needs to sound brighter, groovier, and more exciting.
It's everyone's job to keep time. But the drummer will get blamed if you speed up or slow down to keep up with them. It's a Catch-22.He's right. Every musician should be able to keep a steady tempo, without depending on the drummer. If they can't, they need to go back and start practicing with a metronome. Really, it should only be the drummer's job to keep time when others start slipping.
So if everyone's job is to keep time, then what does the drummer do?
Drummers emphasize dynamics. When a drummer plays a crescendo (gradually playing louder), the song sounds explosive. The effect is much more easily created than other instruments, even when trying to play a decrescendo (gradually playing softer). Would heavy metal exist without drums?
Drummers indicate changes in structure. My favorite part of listening to most music is paying attention to the drums fills -- a fill is a phrase that is played between sections of the song. Sometimes a drum fill is simple, and other times very complex, like quick, erupting notes, mainly played on the tom-toms. The fill leads us in the next section of the song. Just listen to the song "Creep" by Radiohead. In 2:24-2:27, the drum fill leads into the climax of the song when Thom Yorke sings for the first time, "She's running out the door..." In the song "Pretty Girl (The Way)" by Sugarcult, the drum fill at 1:50-1:56 leads into the guitar solo.
Drummers complement other instruments. Sometimes the drummer will play the bass along with the rhythm of the bassist -- together, they create a solid beat. Drummers make everyone else in the band sound better. Like the song "Pretty Girl (The Way)" the drummer, Kenny Livingston, adds the perfect punch for the soloist. With the right fills, accents, and crashes, the soloist instantly sounds more alive.
Imagine a world of music with no drums. Honestly, I can't listen to music without the drums for very long -- I need the beat in the background that makes me bob my head and tap my foot. (The only song I can listen to repeatedly with no drums is "Yesterday" by The Beatles). Drummers give a song the extra oomph it needs to sound brighter, groovier, and more exciting.
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