two drummers

[karmapavementplan]

Starting up a band and I'm quite intregued by the idea of having two drummers in a band as I've had two reply to my ad.

How tallented would you need to be as a drummer to drum with another drummers either to create counter-rythms or to just drum in sync occassionally to just get a huge sound?

Oh make the answer simple... really simple so a child can understand. I play bass so better make it more simple than that even.

[sLarkin20]

There was a local band around here that had two drummers. I saw them live once, just to see what it was like, and it honestly lost its appeal after one song or so. They would do some cool synchronized stuff like creating double bass rhythms between the two of them with their single pedals, and I don't remember what else, but it just didn't seem like something you'd want to hear in every song.

But, they definitely practiced a lot together, or worked well together, because everything sounded pretty tight. I'd think both drummers would have to really know what they are doing to not make it sound like ****.

[ace76543]

tldr it would be really hard

[Mr Pink]

Not a great idea. Logistical nightmare for gigging.

[lewisniven]

yeah, probably novel for like a solo or something, but for a whole set it would be pointless imo.

[Det_Nosnip]

Tell that to James Brown.

[sLarkin20]

He's dead.

[Harrow]

I play with another drummer every Friday when I go to my lesson.

[Moon Flavor]

George Harrison had two drummers for his solo stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM5Lc3VjJ74

It doesn't really sound any different though but maybe that's because they both played the same thing

[Seafroggys]

A lot of benefits gigs that The Beatles participated in (which that YouTube link points to) had multiple drummers. In fact, George's memorial gig had 3 drummers.

[Cheungman]

the allman brothers

[Zebba]

Just because it may be hard doesnt mean ya shouldnt give it a go, practice with two before you gig or do anthing... if it doesnt work out, let the better drummer stay and tell the other to leave!

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

^this

You should just go for it, whats the worst that could happen I mean as long as you don't start gigging without extensive practice and you have two competent drummers

[Det_Nosnip]

He's dead.

Good point. Still...Clyde + Jaboo = sick.

[Hunted By a Freak]

i played a few gigs in an old band with double drums it was alright and not very hard to coordinate

most bands dont know how to utilize it well though so it is overrated

[Seafroggys]

A drumset player and a percussion player make a great combo.

[Legacy]

Also depends on what kinda style you want your band to be. If you just want your traditional rock/punk/metal/whatever band then i say feel out both drummers and see who you harmonize best with. But if you wanna be one of those far out bands like The Mars Volta or be a pioneer and go out and try something new i say take both, and start playing together day and night and see what you guys can produce. Who knows, might be something really amazing! (I'm new to the forums btw. Hello everyone:wave: )

[billdrum]

38 Special used to have two drummers if I remember correctly. Doobie brothers also? Genesis had both Phil Collins and Chester Thompson on drums for some songs in a live setting (phil was up front for most).

It would take the ability to come up wth synchronized, interlocking parts as it would be a waste to have both playing the same thing. If your drummers can be creative and musical and work together, why not? (Other than the logistics of fitting two drumsets on stage and lugging them around).

[DeathMagnetik]

ministry & metallica have done it

[Hunted By a Freak]

38 Special used to have two drummers if I remember correctly. Doobie brothers also? Genesis had both Phil Collins and Chester Thompson on drums for some songs in a live setting (phil was up front for most).

It would take the ability to come up wth synchronized, interlocking parts as it would be a waste to have both playing the same thing. If your drummers can be creative and musical and work together, why not? (Other than the logistics of fitting two drumsets on stage and lugging them around).

seems like the southern rock guys that did it didnt do anything remarkable with it

but they're southern guys so...

genesis was kind of cool when it used two drummers

king crimson is a band that did it well with bill bruford and pat mastalleto together

[horseypie]

try maybe going for the drummer and percussionist thing...like on pink floyd's 'pulse' dvd they had the drummer and a guy next to him playing percussion around him and it sounded sick

[The Feeding]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX5ttYkFt84

August Burns Red's Composure done with two drummers
I like how they alternate the fill @ 44 seconds

[DxRocker]

To be honest, I wouldn't bother with it...

As being said allready, this would be a nightmare to do gigs with.
That's 1. 2 is you need really good drummers who are able to play extremely tight together AND create interesting patterns. A metronome will be required (wich imo, is not that fun to use in a band setting... but that's just me).

My 2 cents...

[Phototropic]

I remember the Jools Holland hootenanny one year had a massive drum off, 3 drummers at it at one point, I can't remember who they were but Charlie Watts was one of them

It was pretty boomin, I dug it, but then again it had a brass section and all that so it was pretty orchestrated

[Riding The Short Bus]

The funk brothers had three drummers. The main thing I think you need to look at is make sure they don't get in the way of each other.

I think your best bet is to have them play together. To get it to work, is something they are gonna have to work out. They are each going to have to work out how to play with each other and still be individual drummers.

If you go for it, I would suggest to them that they get together on their own like once a week or so and practice drumming together with a few songs.

Like everyone says. What the hell is the worst that could happen?

[Riding The Short Bus]

try maybe going for the drummer and percussionist thing...like on pink floyd's 'pulse' dvd they had the drummer and a guy next to him playing percussion around him and it sounded sick

one of them has to know how to play percussion for that to work...

[AfroMan]

Dananananakroyd use two drummers.

It seems like more hassle than its worth. How many venues are going to have enough mics for 2 drum kits? So you'd have to buy your own mics as well as bring an extra kit to gigs... and then when you play a small venue how are you gonna hear a 150W bass amp, or anything, over 2 kits playing at once?

[The Chemist]

doesn't bloc party have 2 drummers>