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Thread: Should the drums lead or follow?

  1. #1

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    Default Should the drums lead or follow?

    That's basically my question. Who should lead in a song? Drums? Guitar? Bass? Should the drums stay in the pocket for the most part or should the guitar keep it steady, allowing the drums to explore a little more?

    I personally like it when the drums are an integral part of the song and are kind of like soloing throughout the song, but still keeping the beat. For this to work, the guitar and bass usually have to be pretty tight unless it is some kind of free form thing.

  2. #2

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    Default Re: Should the drums lead or follow?

    Drums are the time keeper. They lead. Period.

  3. #3

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    Default Re: Should the drums lead or follow?

    It depends on the band and/or the song.

  4. #4

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    Default Re: Should the drums lead or follow?

    Quote Originally Posted by markadiddle View Post
    drums are the time keeper. They lead. Period.
    +2

  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by drummer View Post
    It depends on the band and/or the song.
    Yep. Ticks & Leeches by Tool, for example, has Danny Carey front and centre. Of course, that kind of playing would be utterly wrong in a song like Back in Black.
    - Zack

  6. #6

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    He who holds the sticks is the master .. Want I question my logic ?prepare for flying stick attack

  7. #7

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    Default Re: Should the drums lead or follow?

    Quote Originally Posted by xweasel View Post
    Yep. Ticks & Leeches by Tool, for example, has Danny Carey front and centre. Of course, that kind of playing would be utterly wrong in a song like Back in Black.
    Perfect example!
    Another thing worth mentioning about this guy (when he's not playing totally out front) is that he often uses his feet to play WITH the bass and his hands to play AGAINST the guitar. Kind of goes along with the original question...
    He kind of creates his own pocket out of what everything else is doing and sometimes it feels like he is sticking out and sometimes it feels like he's laying back. But always so smooooth. Top notch drumming right there.

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by drummer View Post
    It depends on the band and/or the song.
    I agree. In the band I'm in, I'm not sure our guitarist could follow me if I counted out the tempo. Instead, I allow him to lead in, and then I come in after a measure or two. I can follow him wherever he goes, and provide the foundation for the rest of the band. It may not be optimum, but it works. I read an article that Neil Young and his drummer do the same thing - Neil leads in, and the drummer follows him. If it works for them, then I don't feel bad about doing it at all.
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  9. #9

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    Default Re: Should the drums lead or follow?

    You have 3 options:

    Lead

    Follow

    Get the hell out of the way

  10. #10

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    ^^ That's a big +1 right there.
    When I sit at the kit, look out cause the song is starting and I'm off.
    GET OUTA THE WAY!!!!!!
    Tama Rockstar & Paiste User and Abuser......

  11. #11

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    Default Re: Should the drums lead or follow?

    Quote Originally Posted by drummer View Post
    It depends on the band and/or the song.
    +1 have to agree with that.
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  12. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by gentleman_disaster View Post
    Perfect example!
    Another thing worth mentioning about this guy (when he's not playing totally out front) is that he often uses his feet to play WITH the bass and his hands to play AGAINST the guitar. Kind of goes along with the original question...
    He kind of creates his own pocket out of what everything else is doing and sometimes it feels like he is sticking out and sometimes it feels like he's laying back. But always so smooooth. Top notch drumming right there.
    I have nothing to add... other than you are rockin some EPIC handlebars in your profile pic! P-I-M-P!!!

  13. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by KCJones View Post
    I have nothing to add... other than you are rockin some EPIC handlebars in your profile pic! P-I-M-P!!!
    Why; thank you, sir!

  14. #14

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    Is that a pic of you G disaster?

  15. #15

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    Quote Originally Posted by Pearl MCX Man View Post
    Is that a pic of you G disaster?
    It is!

  16. #16

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    Quote Originally Posted by itchie View Post
    He who holds the sticks is the master .. Want I question my logic ?prepare for flying stick attack
    tell this to the dudes I play with please.
    RDM/Damage Poets
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    AQUARIAN

  17. #17

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    Quote Originally Posted by drummer View Post
    It depends on the band and/or the song.
    Yep gonna agree with this too...

  18. #18

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    Default Re: Should the drums lead or follow?

    It depends on the band I guess. Rolling stones Mick Jagger leads with his gestures. The Beatles it was Lennon nodding his head. I have seen a lot of band where the drummer tap 4 times with his stick then the band follows. To me hitting the stick looks so unprofessional. So whoever leads the band starts with his own way of signaling and that could be the drummer, singer or lead player.

  19. #19

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    Default Re: Should the drums lead or follow?

    lead..think about it..we start the count, we keep the beat, and we in most cased finish the song with the old..."ssslamb bam" well you get the picture
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  20. #20

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    Default Re: Should the drums lead or follow?

    Drums are in control. There is no other way around it. Drums are like the conductor in a symphony.
    Most definitely. As a matter of fact, there will be "NO LIMIT"... just an unending quagmire of musical genius.

  21. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by MR. G View Post
    Drums are in control. There is no other way around it. Drums are like the conductor in a symphony.
    +1 There have been some really great answers. Thanks everybody!

  22. #22

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    Default Re: Should the drums lead or follow?

    Depends on the band and/or the song. Sometimes you need to play a little ahead and sometimes you need to play a little behind. It's an art.

  23. #23

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    To me the drums are the back bone of a song, they lead, I play lead drums not just drums.
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  24. #24

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    Default Re: Should the drums lead or follow?

    in my band, we all aim to follow each other, making sure we're all completely "together" and in sync with one another, maybe thats due to us being a three piece though. everything has to be perfect or it sounds empty and disjointed, and when mistakes are made its more obvious. especially since our genre is hard rock/ metal where most will have a 2nd guitarist to get that fuller sound and so on.

    me and the bassist obviously work extra hard to provide the groove and keep it tight so we have to be very aware of each other when playing. I wouldn't say I watch my singer/guitarist any less though, he provides the songs main vocal lines and some of the guitar riffs act as cues for me as well. in that sense, I am not a leader.

    Yet in terms of general time keeping, creating shifts in the songs dynamic, showcasing the songs groove, the time signature changes, I'd say I lead.

    The drummer should be able to do both following and leading, depending on the situation.

    woah that was a long rambly answer my apologies....

  25. #25

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    Default Re: Should the drums lead or follow?

    Although in Blur's 'Song 2' the drummer really has no option.

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