We've heard the phrase that someone dances to the beat of a different drummer. Well now, it seems, we have a case to make for these percussionists of the world.
Science has stepped up and the studies have been made and indeed, drummers are a different breed in our little animal kingdom ... about 15 milliseconds different.
The tests I refer to were taken of world-class drummers and then samples were taken of the rest of us sodden beasts and the results are in.
Those of us with no particular percussion talent, were asked to maintain a steady beat. When we did so, the scientists measured us as being .35 to .50 milliseconds behind the required pace.
When they got around to those rock-star drum pounders though, it was determined that these guys and girls were less than .10 milliseconds behind the required pace established by the experiment.
So what does that mean?
Well, it means that when a good drummer sees, or more correctly hears an offbeat rhythm, it is definitely not music to their ears. It makes them wince. Every rhythmic sound of life they encounter, they can detect the missed beats or the off beats. It's a curse, not a gift, they said.
Just as the refined vocal coaches and musical savants can detect another voice that is off "just a tiny bit," not even discernible to our untrained ears, they can grimace in pain. The owner of a pitch perfect musical voice is haunted by those who aren't.
I have long maintained that the drummer and bass player in rock bands are the forgotten and often dismissed addendum to the band's success. Unless they are a prized vocalist or an unfettered talent, they usually go about their business, largely ignored by the masses who are focused on the wailing cry for attention being emitted by the lead vocalist who is usually a rhythm guitar player. The vocal chords make him (or her) the star ... not necessarily the musicianship.
Oh sure, there is always the obligatory drum solo slot in every typical rock show, when the percussionist is allowed to show off his or her talents, but then they are resigned to the background once again. Unless they are the lead singer ... and there are only a few of them who do that kind of gig ... they are again relegated to the background. Same with the bass.
Now, with science on my side, I again make my case. The drummer is, in effect, the true leader of the band. The drummer sets the pace, the drummer makes it work, the drummer has to be responsible. The drummer does not "miss a beat" or forget what comes next. The bass player sets the tone and moves the other instruments into their respective roles. If they don't, the band becomes mere weekend warriors playing in the 200 seat lounges forever, always left wondering why they didn't make it big.
Now they can do a scientific test.
If their drummer is more than .10 milliseconds behind a prescribed independent steady beat ... they can dump him for one who can.
Many eons ago I had the opportunity to sit behind a full fledged drum set to see if I had the makings of a Ginger Baker, Gene Krupa or Ringo Starr. Nope, I wasn't even able to tinkle that territory. My foot pace on that pedal thing that makes that big round drum go "boom" was way behind my incredible hand speed. Problem was, quite literally, my right hand didn't know what my left hand was doing and forget any hand over hand or drum roll junk. I was a messy mass of uncontrollable non-musical DNA, but it is sure was fun and I didn't break anything other than my ego.
There was a new appreciation for the art of drumming formulated right about then, and now I have scientific evidence to back up my claim.
The lead singer may get the girls, but the drummer makes the band work. Hey, a great saxophone player sure helps the cause too. And then there's that boisterous trumpet ... and well, you know.
