Tips for Hip Drummers

Written by Katie Steinhauer

Playing drums for worship is a hard task…especially when a worship team is “newer” to the congregation. What do people think when they hear the word “drums”? LOUD!!!! Awful!!! HIPPIE MUSIC!!! Well, probably not the last one, but drums seem to have a bad reputation among a lot of congregations because it brings a rock and roll aspect to worship. Heaven forbid there is rock and roll in church!! We can argue back and forth about drums and worship but that would obviously make us drummers frustrated and angry. I’ve been in many situations where I felt like I was not wanted in worship. It’s not fun and takes away from my focus on playing for God. But there are so many drummers out there who play like God is listening from heaven, thrashing as loud as they can so He can hear them. Remember…God is everywhere, therefore He is in the church building with you and can hear you just fine. I’m not saying give into those who complain about the loudness. I’m saying play with some awareness of how loud you are. You also have to remember that you are playing WITH a group and not by yourself. A worship team is helping lead the congregation to the foot of God’s throne, not playing a concert for personal glory.

The only way we can break this vicious cycle of drum hate is by tapping into our sensitive side. Literally. We all hate to get shushed in church when we’re playing, but as a drummer, you have to be sensitive to the congregation and fellow musicians’ needs. It’s not just playing with a light touch…its listening to what’s going on around you. Yes I know it’s hard to play quietly sometimes and in the right setting, go ahead and let loose. A good rule of thumb that I go by is if you can’t hear the rest of the band…you’re too loud! This is where listening to what’s going on around you comes in and being aware of what the other musicians and vocalists are doing.(Many times you can play off of what other people are playing. If the bass is playing a riff that you can play on your bass drum, do it! If there is some sort of accent that everyone is hitting…hit it with them. Every little thing that you catch onto in the music makes a world of difference. Remember…don’t make noise….blend in! The less a musician stands out in a worship band the less distracting it is for the congregation. If the congregation is focused on how loud or busy you’re playing they’re not going to be in the right frame of mind for worship. Keep it simple and tasteful.

We’ve already talked about volume, so let’s talk about what to play. Hardcore rocker fills where you’re thrashing the toms and cymbals are cool, but probably not the best choice for church. Yes they’re fun and you want to show everyone your mad skills, but keep those for your garage band or jam sessions. If you think it will be too distracting, don’t do it. You want to keep it easy on the congregation’s ears and if you throw in crazy fills it could distract your fellow musicians from doing what they’re doing too. Simple is sometimes best and it’s a good skill to have. So try this…next time you’re in worship rehearsal lay off of the busy beats and crazy fills. Keep it smooth and steady. While you’re simplifying, take a listen to how the entire band sounds and see if you can feel a difference in the groove. I say groove meaning; are you and your fellow musicians really locked in to the beat or can you hear a discrepancy between you and everyone else…

With that said, think about what you’re playing and who is listening. Most importantly remember WHO you’re playing for! Be humbled in His presence. May the sticks be with you!