Playing without a drummer

[frankie]

Actually I'm originally from Belfast, we moved down south 77/ 78 to Co Clare. last time i visited was a couple yrs ago i always love getting and seeing all the big changes.

[crguitarman]

My partner and I ( http://www.PickerPianoMan.com) have gone back and forth on the drummer issue, but in the end, it comes down to money and need. I currently play guitar, do most of the singing, run the lights AND run the Alesis SR-16 programable drum machine. We have two live drummers on stand-by who would love to jump in with us, but we really don't need them for most of the small venues that we play.

Bill and I have been playing live for over 40 years each and we've both been through a LOT of drummers through the years. Today we pretty much amaze most of the crowds we face by covering Spencer Davis, The Animals, Bad Company, Grand Funk, Skynyrd, Clapton and tons more with just two of us. Bill does a great job of playing piano/organ on one keyboard and bass on the other or on his pedal bass setup. We do only five songs right now with any sequenced tracks and those we do because Bill plays FIDDLE on them. He's good.

The trick is to come up with a very close drum part to the original song, run that Alesis through a large Peavey sound system (those 18" bass bins are a must for good kick) and get your starts and your stops down cold. Lots of people who first come into a bar think we have a drummer (and a bass player) until they actually get close enough to do a head count.

Bill and I are making 2-3 times what we made when playing with four or five piece bands in the old days (last year) and we can fit into those clubs with the tiny stages and small budgets. You do what you have to do, you just have to do it well. And HAVE FUN while you're at it!

Best to all,

Dennis

[bigmow]

Hey crguitarman, You're exactly right! If it's entertaining, you just do it.

[rockabilly]

Easy answer - Get yerself a double bass player with the slap-click and the drummer is not an issue - when people ask where is your drummer cos I heard him playing they are amazed when you slap a couple of triplets out on the bass!!
Depends on the type of place that you are playing, but, like my fellow Ozzies's - here in Adelaide 'Karaoke' guitarist/singers have been around for years - tough one for most to accept that it is not a full band................... Rock On all
rockabilly

[sweetk2678]

When I was playing my own songs I went through drummers like crazy, 3 in two years, just as you get it all together and start getting gigs they would bail out. I thought it had a lot to do with the lack of money in the original scene so started learning covers to bring in more cash for my muso's, but it was still hopeless. In my case, the best thing I ever did was buy my midi machine, those built in musicians are always reliable and it has opened more doors for me than I ever imagined. I would LOVE to be part of a big band with real muso's, but money, noise restrictions and availability all play a big part in the scene these days.