Why are most drummers so damn loud?

[PDR1978]

Hey guys,

I was just browsing around I found this thread, which incidently co-relates to a real-life situation I just went through, as I myself am a drummer.

Not to go into the details of how my "removal" took place (seriously, I don't want to embarass my former band members), the basic reason was: I'm a loud drummer.

Now granted, Dave Grohl, Lars Ulrich, Shannon Larkin among others are some of my biggest influences, but I assure you: there's a difference between having an INFLUENCE, and your actual playing. Two very distinct things.

I've been playing for 15 years, I've built a reasonable resume for myself, having as far as played for 5 thousand people in one show. Confidence is a factor, timing as well, but so is technique, and I have that.

But then there's that one little issue that all drummers struggle with, and that's the core of it all: VOLUME.

And this might be, or not, an eye-opener, but it is NOT all about technique, or taste, or what have you: it is also the PHYSICS of the instrument you're playing. My 16" crash cymbal can only be played so low to get the actual "crash" sound. And my snare drum can only be played so low for it to actually sound like it should in a rock band. The same goes for the hi-hat (which in some parts is required to be open), the bass drum, etc etc

So the bottom line is this: if you have a piece of wood and it's going to hit metal, it IS going to produce a sound! A LOUD sound at that.

So there are no two ways about it, guys. It's not just the drummers: it's the DRUMS, and the cymbals, and whatever else you play to get that groove on. And I would argue that 99% of us drummers don't exactly have the money stashed away to buy new drums just to accomodate the singer -- Not gonna happen.

So the next time you argue with a drummer about how loud he/she plays, think of physics and think that maybe what he has is really all he can afford? Is he/she worth sacking over that? Hummm....

Cheers, guys!

[PDR1978]

By the way, I just wanted to add this: since my departure, my former band members are struggling with drummers. After having played with them for near a year, and after me leaving the band, in a three week span, they swapped drummers TWO times!

So there's something to be said about how right a drummer might be for the band, and individuality as well. Some will just learn it the hard way!