Less is more?? Or more is less?

Tinter69 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 05:34 PM

Alright...I asked this question on another Drum forum and got some great answers so...whats your take on it?? Less is more? More is less? More of less is more....more or less.. sorry... anyways. My 2cents, all depends on what the music calls for, would I play a huge fill during the guitar solo? not if I indend to keep playing with these guys, So less is more there, buut would I do a big ending on the last song of the set? sure, so More is more.
Carter Beauford, busy YES, does it fit the music? sometimes. Could Carter play for a jazz trio probably not.

**Tainojim** · #2 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 07:19 PM

For me it's all about how many genres of music does a drummer play?

So the more genres the more drums to be able orchestrate the bands needs.

Less of course if the drummer plays fewer genres.

That's my wooden nickle.

da-bing2007 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 10:10 PM

Sometimes, some musicians overplay their parts for songs, especially live. Just like most people say, it depends on the song, genre, band and the drummer him/herself.

Tinter69 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 11:32 PM

Ive noticed that age has alot to do with it, I dont like to assume but here goes, the older music of the 50's and early 60's has the drummer keeping time, nothing more, so.....the older drummers out there have grown up with the Less is more idea. Younger guys dont really use this rule...look at setup choices, how many grey beards do you see with a 6 or 7 piece kit, and more than 2 crashes? I dont mean to make anybody mad but generally speaking, I feel it lies with what your raised on.

BrassMonkey · #5 (**permalink**) 07-01-2011, 05:14 AM

This is a good question. I certainly think that more can be too much. Perfect example of that is a local punk band I saw last night. The drummer was concentrating very hard on executing extremely fast fills or should I say fill and totally missing changes and feel of the song.

His playing felt busy for the sake of being busy and it didn't help the songs progress. Having said that it was a punk band and it is supposed to be a bit all over the shop, but my point is the key is sympathy to the song.

In my band we play a lot of blues and hard rock and to be honest I get a lot of opportunity for, shall we say, extended fills

but I think as a drummer part of the skill is picking up the moments in a song where we can accent and drive it.

slingerland59 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-01-2011, 12:56 PM

Drums are instruments. We play beats, we play melodies, we can be intricate and subtle or we can throw bombs to shake everyone up. We are not metromones. We don't go tick, tick, boom so the other players don't have to worry about the speed they're playing. We play more or less depending on what our musical sense tells us to play because we are musicians.

More drums is always better in my mind, but that doesn't necessarily mean more beats. More drums means using the instrument to full effect. I'd be happy staying completely silent through a song and then playing an amazing fill to accentuate a change in the tune that drives it to a whole new level.

I used to play tympani in an orchestra and you could have a million bars of rests, but then do a powerful swell as the melody builds and you bring the house down. That's the beauty of drums. I f*ckin love them!

Infero Exicution · #7 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011, 09:41 AM

hmm...... I believe that if you want to play various genres, more is more. It gives you more things to play with so you can play whatever the music calls for. But if you're a settled down jazz drummer than less is more. Even with a hi-hat, bass and snare, there are many possibilities.

seess · #8 (**permalink**) 07-06-2011, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinter69

Alright...I asked this question on another Drum forum and got some great ansr4rs so...whats your take on it?? Less is more? More is less? More of less is more....more or less.. .

when it needs more, you play more. When you feel it need less, you play less. It depends on your feeling of music.

**Tainojim** · #9 (**permalink**) 07-06-2011, 10:08 AM

Well, I think you got your answer. More or Less...

Tinter69 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-06-2011, 11:41 PM

Sure did, funny thing though, Check out DrumForum.com Much different responses, for the most part 80% of the answers were less is more. pretty much keep time, so, this brings me to the next thought......why? Why is it some drummers take this approach? IMO, drummers for the most part have a gift. yeah, it takes talent to play music, but we as drummers have ALOT of colors to choose from....so why take this less is more approach? I know that if the music calls for less then play less...but there comes a time to just flat out let loose. Thats why we practice and shed for hours and hours. Just to keep time?? right....