Anyone here accompany a drumset drummer?

[Whopbamboom]

Just wondering if anyone here accompanies, or has accompanied a drumset drummer? If so, what style music? And what kind of things did you observe about the experience?

[yoni]

Hi Whopbamboom!

I often accompany drumset drummers. A good sound technician will be sure to have the hand percussion well-miked, so the conguero will not need to smash too hard in order to be heard along with the drumset. If there are no microphones the drumset player should be able to play soft enough so that the congas are also heard, otherwise it is not worth it, in my opinion.

[CongaTick]

Hey Whopbamboom!

Yep. Me too. Gotta have mics. I'm in a garage band now for over 6 years-- mostly rock classics and a bit of free-style jams, a bit of funky blues, etc (Unfortunately, they have no knowledge nor desire to learn the complexities of latin/afro-cuban rhyhtms or patterns, but still enjoyable) Drummer style and personality to accomodate perc is key factor. I'm lucky because our drummer loves perc accompaniment, so always tuned in to what I'm doing, and many times allows me to take lead and accompies me. Its a question of who's on the drumset and whether they welcome you as an essential part of te groove.

[Sakuntu]

Alex Acuna said that its good for drummers to learn some percussion as well as percussionists to learn some drum kit. That advise is so true. the best drummers I've played with were also able to play some percussion. They understand the percussionists role. most drummers without percusiion knowledge don't know how to play with experienced percussionists. They don't know how to change their patterns to allow you some space to fill in. They get stuck in the rut that its their responsibility to to cover all things rhythmic without realizing that they should be cooperating with you to fullfill that role. I've played with to many drummers (good drummers at that) who end up playing the same thing i'm playing... (example- I'm playing a son montuno on congas and then the kit player comes in playing a latin beat with the same tumbao on the toms! ??? ) A good drummer is a drummer who realizes that you are a team and listens to what your doing so you both can fit together and make good music. A good kit player will be sensitive to you as a percussionist as well as the stlye of music that your playing. I think in the same way, a good percussionist needs to be sensitive to the style of music and realize when there's no call for percussion and just let the kit play have it all-But thats a whole other post

[Tonio]

Many times !! Genre in just about any , ok not all , but POP, rock, R&B soul, latin. Salsa.

My observations are:

Get to know the trap drummer's style in the genre and/or tune. Like Sakuntu mentioned some will play on top of you in latin genre's, because they don't know better. Man up and protect your role. or just talk to the guy whether its off to side or while rehearsing. But in a live gig its up to you and your rapore w/ him/her.

In latin /salsa genre, I dig when the trap drummer know the boundaries-you know playing the cascara, and bells w/ smart synchopted fills. I have played with a few that can handle it. Its the best as far as a conguero.

With pop, rock R&B etc etc, it depends on the tunes and what role each are performing. A few years ago I was in a band that was " Smooth Jazz". One tune just asked for the drummer's rolls and fills up the wazzoo. OK I can handle that, I'll played a bell to help keep time for him in support. The 1st time we played it live, I sat out, the 2nd time I just played downbeats. After the gig he thanked me for helping him keep time while he solo/fills galore time.
So IMO, its best t know when to lay out, or go for it. Sometimes just talk it through, to see where the rhythm section needs to go.

If you're sitting in, or new to the band, start out slow, and scope out whats needed or what the rest of the band digs or is willing for you to do. And move on from there.

Just me $.02

T



Edited By Tonio on 1185155123

[Garvin]

I've played in a couple different genres as the drummer with a percussionist on congas or on congas with a drummer. When I play congas with a kit player I usually already know them and am at least somewhat familiar with their style. At the beginning of a gig if I know there are going to be solo sections I usually just let them know that if I'm soloing I'll give a little clave call to bring the band back in. I'll hit clave once and them the drummer will repeat it with me and that will cue the band back in. A cheap little trick I know, but it works and to the inexperienced ear, it sounds very tight. When I'm playing kit with a percussionist I'm usually a little more conscious of how much I'm playing. Its pretty easy to completely play over a percussionist so I'll ask for a few suggestions at the beginning of the night as to where they want be to be musically, and try to stay out of their way. If they don't care I'll just play my usualy gig, if they say "play something like songo, or timba or comparsa" or whatever then at least I have some idea of where they need me to be. Either way, it's important to have big ears and a good repore with your partner.



Edited By Garvin on 1185205761

[zaragenca]

Well I play both percussion and Drum/Set, (which I carry on together),in the jazz setting I have played congas with a lot of drummers which always recognize me,(I never have any problem with that),…In the bands were I have been a drummer,or timbalero,usully the congero have been one of my students,…In one of the show/band where I played, they never brought the congero which was promised,so I have to play the congas,timbales and drumset…so I never have that problem of miscommunication with the other percussionists.Dr. Zaragemca

[Diceman]

Dr Z,

If you play the congas, timbales and drumset in the same band, you shouldnt have any communication problems, well not too many

Diceman

[CongaTick]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Good one, dice.

[Diceman]

Y'all

I usually have bad experiences playing with drummers, who want to play their latin chops as soon as you start playing tumbao rather than something complimentary.
But, I could be changing my view

I played at the Bulls Head in London on Sunday with a great drummer from New Zealand and man we worked well together-he was constantly looking for complimentary sounds as well as rhythms. So good to have someone who wants to work for the good of the overall groove and sound. Maybe because he COULD. Whereas others 1. dont have big ears
2 arent confident in sharing responsibility and
3 they arent good enough to change/halve their groove to accomodate.
I agree with whoever said that drummers should learn percussion and vice versa.

My two shakers
Diceman