Do you ever feel like you're not good enough for your band?

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Discipula

Discipula

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So I have had the good luck of drums with my band for the last three years. We're a four piece and originally it was just the three of them who played together (informal jams) before they approached me to play as their drummer after meeting at an open mic.

They are all exceptional players - the singer has the loveliest voice, the guitarist always has ingenious riff ideas and the bassist is on point.

We're starting to gig more frequently and have recorded seven songs - which we all love. But I'm a little worried that I am not up to scratch compared to the rest of the band. Now let me be clear, they have never implied anything of the sort, they are over the moon with how everything is going and compliment my playing / ideas. It's my own self-awareness making me realise that I am not as good as the rest of them and I am worried that I might drag them down if we decide to take our music to the next level.

What are your thoughts? Have you ever had that nagging self-doubt in a band you've been in? Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!
 
Not usually. Once in a while I feel like I’m in over my head but those are usually one offs.

Should note that I’m a bass player who started out on drums and I’ve been working on getting better at them but I don’t think I’m quite ready to play out for money.
 
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I would adjust my mental approach a bit: Instead of worrying that my playing might "drag them down" I would instead look for ways that their playing might help me bring my playing up to the next level. If we're always looking for ways to improve, the ideal situation is to be in a band where the other players are just a bit better than we are, and can show us how to become better players ourselves. And of course, also be open to contributing your own ideas to the music.
 
I am always my worst critic of my own playing and that is probably healthy but, at the end of the day, I have learned to put that behind when I am actually on a gig. We do what we do and try to be good at it and confidence on stage is important. Self doubt when on a gig can be crippling.
 
In a way I always like to be the worst in the band. In other words, join bands with fantastic players that challenge me to be at my best.
Yes, I often question that I'm good enough in any band, but I also have my own standards and I constantly strive to be better based on my own values as a musician.
Last thing - never think you are good enough, better than those around you.
 
Oh yes I too have faced the Smaug of Self Doubt.

Perhaps you come more from the gene pool of a a Ringo or Charlie Watts than a Neil Peart or Mitch Mitchell.

Never discount the intangibles you bring to the stage, such as feel and style, the emotive content, the way you approach and execute your parts, as individual as a fingerprint.
 
Like others have mentioned, those thoughts often come with playing with better musicians. For me, I manage those thoughts in two categories:

1. Technical: Make sure I know my parts and the arrangements cold, melody and solos, and pay attention to the habits / nuisances of the other players. You know, the fundamentals. I have control over these so it’s pretty much a matter of practice and study time. And my playing is always more relaxed and confident when I feel comfortable with these aspects.

2. Creative: Not as much direct control over this part (I can’t just flip a switch and “be creative”), but one of the many benefits of playing with better musicians is that I can choose to leave space and let them take the creative reins. Hearing their ideas can inspire me to play a (hopefully) equally creative part.

I think you’re in a great place. The alternative is playing with “weaker” or unseasoned musicians and that has a whole different set of challenges.
 
There is a saying (that I will likely butcher here),
‘If you aren’t the strongest player in the band, you are in the right band.’

I do believe this, and what others have mentioned about playing with stronger musicians.
It makes you better. It really does.
Consider yourself lucky.
Your small amount of healthy, self-doubt will keep you on your toes, drive you to improve and lift everyone around you up with your attention to detail and work ethic.
 
Sometimes it's not about if you are good enough. Do you listen to the others and play what is exactly needed? Is the singer able to do what he/she needs to do with out having a tough time because the drums are unbearably loud? Are the tempos on point and do you get along well with everyone in the band? A lot of those things far outweigh someone that can play all kinds of technique. It's been beaten to death here but that is exactly why (IMO) Ringo was the perfect guy in the Beatles. I just watched the entire Get Back film again as I love it so much. Ringo certainly isn't playing a lot of chops or doing anything crazy. If you notice though, he quietly sits at his drums most of the time while the other three flesh out songs and ideas. When songs get closer to a finished product, he plays the perfect parts that those songs need and you never see him complain or just whack away at his drums out of boredom. They really couldn't ask for a better guy to be back there.

If you really are worried that certain passages of songs or certain feels could be better, maybe have a talk with some of the guys, express your concerns and ask them how you think you could improve as the end goal is to make the music sound the best it can. You might be surprised that that don't want you to change a thing.
 
I think this idea that you should always be the least knowledgeable person in the band is just goofy. everyone has strengths and weaknesses, even the very best of the best. And if you’re always looking to be the least knowledgeable, should the most knowledgeable person in the band quit and never pass that knowledge along to others? There goes the band if they do.

Doing that is fine for newbs. And everyone should seek knowledge and wisdom from others. But you are not necessarily in the wrong band if you’re the strongest person in the band. You’re in a unique position that allows you to pass on your knowledge to others and make them stronger.
 
JimmyM said:
I think this idea that you should always be the least knowledgeable person in the band is just goofy. everyone has strengths and weaknesses, even the very best of the best. And if you’re always looking to be the least knowledgeable, should the most knowledgeable person in the band quit and never pass that knowledge along to others? There goes the band if they do.

Doing that is fine for newbs. And everyone should seek knowledge and wisdom from others. But you are not necessarily in the wrong band if you’re the strongest person in the band. You’re in a unique position that allows you to pass on your knowledge to others and make them stronger.
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I wholeheartedly agree with this! I just didn't know how to say it.
Thanks dude.
 
Absolutely. In my band, The Real Thang, our bass player has played with some incredible, next level drummers. When I think about that, I head down that rabbit hole, jeesh…
 
This has happened two or three times when the band decides to do a highly technical or difficult piece.
It forces me to the woodshed to practice the parts until I get some comfort and make them work.
After that, I work some more on certain sections to see where else I can help the others.
It takes work but....
The intimidation will go away, and
I have taken another step up in drummer knowledge/ability.
 
We bring more to the table than chops.
music is intimate and they trust you with that.

I'd tell them what you're feeling...it'll do you good to express it and make them aware...I'd also take some lessons...invest in yourself...
 
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