Re: drummer in a box?
Quote from Forum Archives on January 26, 2017, 3:47 amPosted by: basswulf <basswulf@...>
Doug <1stsamuel1224@gmail.com> asked:> some weekends at the church I attend, we are without a drummer. What
> suggestions do you have to fill that chair digitally when he is away? I was
> playing with the Digitech "trio", that was pretty cool but I am open to
> suggestions.Bass solos? 😉
Joking aside, you can certainly adjust your playing to add more
percussive elements. The classic bass player legend in this regard is
that slap bass was created when Larry Graham was holding down the bass
chair in a drummerless duo: "... Larry compensated for not having a
bass drum by “thumping” the strings and made up for not having a snare
drum by “plucking” them" (larrygraham.com/bio). I'm sure that
could spark some debate but the fact remains that there are numerous
ways for the bass to fill that gap. As part of a group, others can
contribute too - for example, if you have a guitarist, they can add in
strums of muted strings to enhance the beat.I'm cautious about the idea of a digital solution. Unlike a real
drummer, it is never going to speed up or - being fairer to real
drummers - it can't contribute to the 'conversation' about tempo and
feel that happens among live musicians. Unless everyone in your group
has been diligent with their metronome practise, you'll find that it
is harder than you might think to keep in time with an ear-less box
(and that's without figuring in the effect of the congregation).
Definitely try it out as a group before going with it - it is a
different ballgame to practising at home.Wulf
--
Wulf Forrester-Barker
blog.webden.org.uk/
Posted by: basswulf <basswulf@...>
> some weekends at the church I attend, we are without a drummer. What
> suggestions do you have to fill that chair digitally when he is away? I was
> playing with the Digitech "trio", that was pretty cool but I am open to
> suggestions.
Bass solos? 😉
Joking aside, you can certainly adjust your playing to add more
percussive elements. The classic bass player legend in this regard is
that slap bass was created when Larry Graham was holding down the bass
chair in a drummerless duo: "... Larry compensated for not having a
bass drum by “thumping” the strings and made up for not having a snare
drum by “plucking” them" (larrygraham.com/bio). I'm sure that
could spark some debate but the fact remains that there are numerous
ways for the bass to fill that gap. As part of a group, others can
contribute too - for example, if you have a guitarist, they can add in
strums of muted strings to enhance the beat.
I'm cautious about the idea of a digital solution. Unlike a real
drummer, it is never going to speed up or - being fairer to real
drummers - it can't contribute to the 'conversation' about tempo and
feel that happens among live musicians. Unless everyone in your group
has been diligent with their metronome practise, you'll find that it
is harder than you might think to keep in time with an ear-less box
(and that's without figuring in the effect of the congregation).
Definitely try it out as a group before going with it - it is a
different ballgame to practising at home.
Wulf
--
Wulf Forrester-Barker
blog.webden.org.uk/