Playing with a band

gunslinger555 · Sea Monkey Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 10 Location: Ohio

`O.K. so ive been jammin out with a guitarist and I can come up with some beats to go with the guitar but it I was hoping for suggestions that could help me get better at writing stuff that will go with the guitar

tylerdrummer · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:34 pm Post subject:

id suggest that the guitarest would record the song your playing and then have him give it to you and spend some time by yourself getting a great beat down

Exzilibus · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:59 pm Post subject:

I don't like playing the same exact rhythm as the guitar unless the song really calls for it. Usually what I'll do is focus on the ACCENTS of the riff. I'll focus on which notes of the riff stand out the most and then try to make sure I have the same accents or at least most of them. Then I make all the other notes around those accents whatever I want....whatever completes the beat.

Its important in songwriting to have most of the accents lined up together between the guitar & drums 'cause it makes the song sound powerful. It also prevents both of you doing something so completely different that it makes the song sound too busy or cluttered.

I also try to match the "mood" of the guitar riff...if the guitarist is doing something mellow then I'll play a slow beat...and if the guitarist gets heavy then I make the drums much more intense.
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random white person · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject:

don't feel like you can't try out some unconventional fills or timings just cause they don't match up exactly with what your guitarist is playing. don't worry about being wrong or messing up. don't always let the guitarist lead your jam sessions... it's fun to take turns going off on a little tangent, then sitting back while the other tries something out. don't be afraid to recommend a cool groove or something you've got in your head, even if you have no clue how to play guitar or write a chord progression or something. basically just make sure you take an active role in playing, and don't just chill and play backup to your guitarist.
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gunslinger555 · Sea Monkey Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 10 Location: Ohio