how to work with a drummer?

all of the music that i,ve seen has a time signature,but when i listin 2 music 4 example LAMB OF GOD,i,ve seen there tabs and most of there tabs r n 4\4 time but the drums have more then 4 beats per bar,so why is that and how can songs be in a 4\4 meter then,,,lemme know,,,

Well, badass, first thing I wanna say; when you joined this forum you said that you were pretty good at theory, yet you've asked nothing but basic questions since you got here. Which is fine, but you don't need to lie about how good you are to seem cool or something. Everyone starts somewhere and it doesn't matter how long it takes.

To answer your question, anyone can add more beats in a 4/4 time signature, the same way you can add a fast solo in a 4/4 time signature. You're just using semi quavers and such to fit it in the bar.

To understand this fully, you might want to look at the Music Theory lessons I've been writing so it's easier to understand, grade 2 will be up shortly.

Whole notes
Half notes
quarter notes
Eighth notes
16th notes
32nd notes
64th notes
and my favorite 128th notes.

You can fit all these into 4/4 time. One note is not a beat.

with all due respect, Ms Jazzzz ;~)
I disagree with ya on this one...

my advice =
Learn to **play the play most basic chords and run the rudimentary scales(beginner level).. then, once you find your way around the fretboard: learn the 'theory' behind what you are playing.
**(takes 2-3 years, usually, in my experience)

RAWK!
Cs

1ST OF ALL JAZZMAV,I AM GOOD AT THEORY I KNOW ALOT OF IT,I DID,NT KNOW BOUT THE DRUMMER QUESTION CUZ I,VE NEVER BEEN IN A BAND,AIN,T WANTED 2 CUZ MOST OF THE GUYS IN BANDS THAT R MY AGE R NOT AS SERIOUS AS I AM,SO EXCUSE ME,,,,,

Woah, no need to get so tense, gentlemen. Forget working with a drummer - it's the SOUNDMAN you should worry about. TURN ME DOWN, WILL YA!?!?!?!?

@badass

hey man, its ok, just a small miscommunication between a couple of people.
You can know loads of theory, that is true, but naturally everyone has some questions about more simple things. For example, in my math class the first month was all review about the last year of math, almost everyone in the room was asking questions on things that they didn't understand, got wrong, or just plain had no idea because they either missed the week the year before or something like that.
So if you've never worked with another person in a musical environment you will have some questions about how to use their instrument in collaboration with yours(playing together).

So let's everyone take a deep breath and relax for a moment, because I know for a fact that everyone has some very basic simple questions about things at some point in their life.

and BTW Carl was saying the same things with about 7 words...

Turn off lam off god and turn up some simple stuff....um louie louie or something more classic rock ish.

listen to the basic drum beat

Boom, snap, Boom, Snap. the boom of the kick and the snap of the snair drum.

Get that down before before trying to play with double bass or anything really complicated.

if you dont get why they can fit 8 8th notes into a 4/4 bar i wouldnt say you know theory. and jazz and carl are just trying to help you. but i guess you dont want that since you are a "master of theory", and get testy when people want to help your stuborn ass

WHY DON,T U MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS HOW BOUT THAT,,,,,,,never said i was a master of theory,and i never said anything bout how to fit 8 8th notes in a 4\4 meter,i,m well aware of how that works,there ain,t anything that u can tell me bout time signatures i,ve studied lots of hours on them, and that part of theory i do have DOWN,

and nobody write me back unless u know what yer talkin bout,like case211,every time he writes me bout somethin he knows what hes talkin bout,he don,t tell what he thinks is the right answer he only tells me what he knows,,,so do the same,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

WHY DON,T U MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS HOW BOUT THAT,,,,,,,never said i was a master of theory,and i never said anything bout how to fit 8 8th notes in a 4\4 meter,i,m well aware of how that works,there ain,t anything that u can tell me bout time signatures i,ve studied lots of hours on them, and that part of theory i do have DOWN,

Bro, chill, man. No need for a fight.

my advice =
Learn to **play the play most basic chords and run the rudimentary scales(beginner level).. then, once you find your way around the fretboard: learn the 'theory' behind what you are playing.
**(takes 2-3 years, usually, in my experience)

i also agree sir! thats wut im doing

lol good point jazzy

on a side note it is possible to no loads of theory and wait nvm...

Haha man relax,tell me wich soong it is and i will tell you if its in 4/4 and i will answer all your questions

walk with me in hell by lamb of god,i understand time signatures but what i was wondering how a song can be in 4\4 time when the drummer plays more than 4 beats per measure,any of lamb of gods music the drums a fast as hell ad there r more than 4 beats per measure,what can he play as many beats as he wants as long as he hits a least 4 beats if the song is in 4\4 time????,,,,,,,,lemme know alexb,,,,,thanx in advance,

Hey man, I've just listened to the song you're talking about. Firstly, that's probably the first Lamb of God song I've listened to all the way through, having never heard much of their music before and I've gotta say I love it! Definitely a band I think I'll dedicate some more time to in the future.

OK, in response to your question, the drummer plays in a solid 4/4 beat the WHOLE way through. There are no time signature changes, increases in tempo or even half-bars (which often confuses people when counting in a song.) For that reason I'm struggling to work out exactly what it is that's confusing you!!

The only thing I picked up on that you might have got stuck with is that the drummer occasionally changes between a standard time and half-time feel. Maybe that's what you're referring to?

Let me know!

Afro

btw more than 4 over 4, while in 4/4 = syncopation.

Domigan_lefty gave you the info you need. If you are playing in 4/4 a whole note would be one drum hit per measure. Half notes would be 2 drum hits per measure. Quarter notes would be 4 drum hits per measure or a drum hit every 'count'. 8th notes would be 8 drum hits per measure. 16th notes would be 16 drum hits per measure. 32nd notes are 32 drum hits per measure and so on...

So lets set up a basic drum pattern in 4/4.
The high hats are playing quarter notes. The kick and snare are playing whole notes, but not on top of each other. IDK much theory there is probably a name for this. I'll use symbols. H is for hats, b is for bass drum, s for snare.

So the count goes...
1___2___3___4___1___2___3___4
H___H___H___H___H___H___H___H
B_______________B____________
________S_______________S____

But this works too. Now the bass and snare are playing half notes.
1___2___3___4___1___2___3___4
H___H___H___H___H___H___H___H
B_______B_______B_______B____
____S_______S_______S_______S

Both are 4/4. I just doubled up the bass and snare on the second one.


Does this make sense?
Most fast double kick playing in a song is going 16th or 32nd notes, depending on tempo,. It just isn't humanly possible to put 128 kick drums beats (128th notes) in a 4/4 meter going 250 BPM.

Drums are devilish creatures. One minute they are just sitting there, and the next they start going off into their own little world.

Dont trust them drums, bro. They'll turn on you.

Sev. You having fun yet? I haven't seen a post from you that actually means anything. Although, if your drums are being devilish, I suggest you beat them into submission and really exercise those demons. Thats what I did with mine and they act so much better. Beat 'em a couple times a week and they'll know who is boss.

@fender_bender. lol

Fender, I already do. Do I look like an idiot?

..................

You already have fun? Or you already beat your drums? I don't know if you look like an idiot. I've never seen you before.

yes, yes you do, with your blue face and toga

@bbt

lol lol lol

lol. I nearly fell off my chair with that one!

but in all seriousness I agree with Afro I think he mistook the half time feel drums (which i love immensly) its often used in speed metal and thrash (ex. ace of spades by Motorhead)

@ guitarbadass

Do you understand now or are we going in the wrong direction? I'm willing to help, but i'm not that great at theory.

Togas are in right now. They are IN.

@ Fender_bender
Dont know why i went to 128th notes. Forgot we're talking about drums.
I get carried away sometimes. I like speed.

I don't like speed. Then again I've never done it. Anyway, ummmmmmm yeh. lol.

pretty good movie tho =p

lol.

@domigan
Its ok. I don't think I ever heard anything doing 128th notes though! That would be blistering and I'm sure smoke would be pouring out of whatever you were playing. lol. You'd probably have to be on speed to play that fast!

Double-LOL @BBT
Now to the subject. I think I understand eggsactly what Badass' (LOL) problem is. I was listening to "Benzin" by Rammstein today and I was thinking about the same "double-bass issue". To understand this you should consider an analogy between guitar strumming patterns and drumming. When you're playing guitar over a strumming pattern you don't just strum down all the strings every once in a beat, but still everyone that's listening gets the rythm even if you start strumming really fast and double the strumming speed. I think it's kinda the same with drums. And if this still doesn't help then try listening to the snares until you get it all.
If anyone thinks this isn't gonna help the guy, please comment before it's too late. LOL! I don't want to mess him up. :P