The anatomy of a good drummer

Peter wrote: None of these poll options suit the question.   The "anatomy" of a good drummer?   Arms, hands, legs & feet (preferably two or more of each).

Unless you're Rick Allen.

rileydog22 wrote: Just the opposite of all the options: putting it all together.  Just 'cause you syncopate the kick well or can play quick ghost notes on the snare doesn't mean it will sound good.  The best drummers use combinations of these techniques in order to do whatever best fits the piece.

I voted 'snare control,' think jazz trained is by far a too wide 'anatomical feature,' would otherwise vote that.

I give the MINUS 10 vote to electronic percussion, I think I have hated it in every single instance of it that I have heard!!

Man, it;s hard to pick one thing. I love speedy double drums (Nile, Strapping Young Lad, Slayer, Dream Theater), but I also love single kicks that allow for better hi-ht control (Porcupine Tree, modern Rush, Bruford). I guess jazz training would be the one thing, as all of my favorite drummers have at least some jazz skill (Peart, Lomabardo, Bruford).

Nevermind, I retract my post....I don't want to get murdered in my sleep.

Edited by Tapfret - August 13 2007 at 14:57

Meddler wrote: GOSPEL SCENE!!!

Style and feel for me.  Having been a drummer for 11 years now, if find that if a particular drummer is worth having a serious conversation about, their technique wont (and shouldn't) come into question. I generally better respect drummers who push their style a little ferther out.


That being said, its very hard to choose one quality of a drummer.  Its not all about speed, or technique, or style, but a glorious blend of everything.

Feel is the most important thing. If you can't lay down a good groove then you're lost. It's the foundation for just about everything. If you don't have this then many of the other things above on your list will suffer.

BaldFriede wrote: Melomaniac wrote: micky wrote: frequent use of the toms... Keith Moon was the master of that.  Funny as hell... Raff and I went to B&N last night and I picked up a drumming mag that had Peart on the cover.  Seems Moon was a big influence on him... says you can hear it in his drumming.  Funny the way drum purists like to sl*g Moon off.   The only aspect of Moon's drumming Peart wasn't too fond of was his "chaotic" approach ; he was all over the place.  Kind of like Ritchie Blackmore ; he never played the same solo twice, just like Moon might always change his fills.  Peart is more of a compositional drummer than an improvisational one. That's why I personally don't think Peart is a great drummer. He has the technical skills, but he is a music bureaucrat. As interesting to listen to as reading a report on home economy.

Peart  is magic a whole lot of magic 

Melomaniac wrote: micky wrote: frequent use of the toms... Keith Moon was the master of that.  Funny as hell... Raff and I went to B&N last night and I picked up a drumming mag that had Peart on the cover.  Seems Moon was a big influence on him... says you can hear it in his drumming.  Funny the way drum purists like to sl*g Moon off.   The only aspect of Moon's drumming Peart wasn't too fond of was his "chaotic" approach ; he was all over the place.  Kind of like Ritchie Blackmore ; he never played the same solo twice, just like Moon might always change his fills.  Peart is more of a compositional drummer than an improvisational one.

That's why I personally don't think Peart is a great drummer. He has the technical skills, but he is a music bureaucrat. As interesting to listen to as reading a report on home economy.