Drummer

So you got a drum set?  Is it the top of the line, or maybe just a dirt cheap set you picked up in a yard sale or inherited.  Will that make a difference if you are the next Neil Peart?  Absolutely not!  For some drummers, less is more, and they don't need to be surrounded by toms & crashes to establish that.  Knowing when to go all out and how to keep a steady rhythm is crucial when it comes to establishing your place in a band.

PROS: Nothing beats having a live drummer in your band and bands will always be looking for drummers despite the abundance of drum machines and software.  As the character Robert "Fish" Fishman points out in the movie The Rocker, he has "the best seat in the house."  Being the drummer of a band is like being the leader, no your not the frontman, but you get to decide how long your gonna jam on that one part of the song until you transition into the next part based on your style.

CONS:  The biggest problem drummers typically have is establishing their skills.  Because there is no tone unlike other instruments,  drummers have a hard time being recognized for their talents.  Most of the time every rhythm and every style has been done before, so timing becomes a crucial element in establishing whether a drummer is good or not.  If he comes in to early, or holds out something too long, or even worse, isn't even playing in the same style as his/her fellow band members, there could be serious issues.

GENRES:  Just about any genre, all forms of music have tempo and a rhythm, no matter how slow or fast, and drums can either be included or excluded depending on the song and/or the part.

RECOMMENDED STARTUP EQUIPMENT FOR DRUMMERS:

Zzounds as a great selection of drum sets & equipment, and you should definently consider (at least browsing their inventory) to give you an idea of what you want.

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