Do you need to be an allround drummer?

In a follow up to threads about keep on working on / always learning new technique or songs: do you feel the need to be an allround, versatile 'can-play-(almost)-everything' drummer?

The thought occurred to me after joining a band a couple of months ago and I'm still working on nailing their 60+ list of songs - pop / (classic) rock / some oldies / some Dutch/local songs / so rather varied.
I've played a big part of them before so they are going fine but others require more work and some a lot.

When I learn or play songs for my own entertainment (also tricky ones), I seem to nail those better or want to put more effort into them to get there.
More than the songs on oursetlist I don't like so much or struggle with playing.

So, should I play those 'stubborn' songs or just accept there are songs which just don't fit me and suggest the band to skip or replace those?
It seems a lot of drummers are eager to satisfy the playing wishes of others and want to keep on proving we can play any song...but should we?

I guess what also matters is I'm getting older (turning 53 tomorrow) and rather spend my not unlimited playing time on songs I like / like playing than on songs I don't like or take up a lot of my time.
For me drums are a hobby and we just gig occasionally, there is no need to play specific songs.

Any thoughts?

How long is a piece of string? No one 'needs' to be anything.
I guess I would reframe the question as 'can you improve your core playing by getting out of your comfort zone?' And to that I would say yes, absolutely. Just playing one way, in one genre is kind of lazy IMO.
Another great discipline is learning how to sound the best you can be when playing music you don't like, or don't enjoy playing.
Instead of focussing on 'I don't like this' focus on sounding authentic, with a great groove and appropriate fills on songs you don't like.
It'll feed back into your normal drumming and improve your playing on the songs you DO like.

I don’t think I’ve ever protested playing a song that I didn’t like, to me it’s about being part of a team, playing songs that audiences enjoy, that the singers voice works with and the rest of us should skill up and be able to perform it to a high standard. Everyone knows the pay/conditions of being a musician are crap, when you sign up to be a working musician that’s something you’ve acknowledged and you can’t use it as an excuse not to make the effort.

I suppose if you don’t have much time to practice as you say you do, you aren’t doing anything long enough to tire of it as well, those of us that practice a few hours each day do genuinely wear out some styles and beats and have to change it up in order to stay inspired or we can go stale and start to dislike playing. I embrace different styles for that reason.

Learning songs that stretch your "comfort zone" (playing or music taste) can only be a good thing.
It will benefit all your other playing.

Like my sign off says, "There's good money to be made playing music musicians hate" so it entirely depends on where you want to go with your journey. It's good to push yourself out of your comfort zone, it's a good way to become a better player and for me being a great player is being able to serve a song and keep time whilst staying out of the way.

As for being an all-round drummer it entirely depends on what you've been exposed to and spent the time to learn. Deep down I'm a rock/pop drummer and I've fought hard to get away from that title but it's what I do best. What really helped me is to get good at the basics of other styles and really nailing the feel and groove so if the time comes that you have to play jazz or latin etc you 've got it nailed.

Just remember 99% of the time in any genre you're playing time and that's what most people want from a drummer. In the worst case scenario if something comes along that's way out of my league there's no shame in saying I can't play this. Honesty goes a long way.

I think it's smart to be able to play almost anything, with the understanding that you may not be required or have the opportunity to play it all in real life. I can do a lot of things not required by the four bands I'm in, and I'm fine not normally playing certain styles/parts. But occasionally I need to draw from that pool of drumming knowledge, and am grateful that I'm up to the task. Sometimes it's a nice surprise for my bandmates!

Right, it would be ideal to be the most versatile drummer but putting theory into practice?
And, sure, there will be a (big) gap between amateurs and drummers playing for a living / pro's.

Regarding the lazy remark: I get that but that is not entirely my point.
Say it takes me a couple of times playing along a simple song to learn it but way more time for a complex one.
I have an hour a day on average to spend playing drums.
I could learn / repeat a couple of simple songs and work my way through all the songs on the setlist.
Or I could spend an hour on 1 complex song and will probably need more days.

It makes more sense to me (as well as more beneficial for my band) to be able to play more simple songs than 1 complex one, which can be skipped.

eric_B said:

Regarding the lazy remark: I get that but that is not entirely my point.

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Obviously it wasn't aimed at you specifically, just at people who refuse to step outside their comfort zone. Regarding your point. 1) it's interesting to work on something harder, and 2) I get immense satisfaction from being able to play something I couldn't play straight off, after a couple of days of practice.
I've had a couple of band leaders say "no one has been able to play that before now", and I'm talking about fairly easy stuff, it's just that some drummers, if they can't play a pattern immediately, ask if they can skip it, or modify it to make it more easy.

I think it helps being at least somewhat versatile. If you're in a covers band you never know when an unexpected song might pop up, and I know I'd never want to be the reason the band couldn't play it. But if you're in an originals band having more stylistic influences in your toolbox leads to (hopefully) creating more interesting drum parts.

Like everything else, versatility doesn't have to be all or nothing. Some days I'm up for any challenge, some days I love my comfort zone. I think the key to staying in love with the instrument is finding the amount of balance that works for you.

In 2011, Jim Riley (UNT grad, Rascal Flatts drummer) was the guest drummer for the Big Beat charity event . There was a kid in the crowd who absolutely shredded metal/double bass riffs, rhythms and fills. Jim was impressed by his skill and exhorted him to learn and play many other rhythms. He talked about after graduating he went to Nashville and was able to get work 'cuz he could read music and play many various patterns/rhythms. He has also drummed for The Voice and American Idol, which requires a working knowledge of many various rhythms.

I spent the 80's playing rock and pop, trying to emulate Jeff Porcaro and Andy Newmark. That's what I did.
Get a call to (effectively) audition for Paul McCartney. The whole afternoon was jamming 50's rock & roll. Lucille, Twenty Flight Rock, Blueberry Hill, Ain't That A Shame etc...

Chris Whitten said:

I spent the 80's playing rock and pop, trying to emulate Jeff Porcaro and Andy Newmark.

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That's what I did in the 00s with a healthy dose of Hal Blaine and Bernard Purdie thrown in. Answers the OP's question right off the bat.

Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it . I may think in one language but is it helpful to have a foundational grasp and articulation in several ? It is for me , might be different for you , who knows ?

I'm an older drummer (age 66) and realize that I have some physical limitations that will get in the way of playing certain types of music (e.g. speed metal). However, I recently joined an acoustic band that has forced me to explore options other than traditional drum sticks. I've had a blast experimenting with different types of brushes and rods, so much so that I now devote entire practice sessions to songs that emphasize a lighter touch and different playing techniques. It's been a blast exploring new options that have made me more of a versatile drummer.

Chris Whitten said:

How long is a piece of string? No one 'needs' to be anything.
I guess I would reframe the question as 'can you improve your core playing by getting out of your comfort zone?' And to that I would say yes, absolutely. Just playing one way, in one genre is kind of lazy IMO.
Another great discipline is learning how to sound the best you can be when playing music you don't like, or don't enjoy playing.
Instead of focussing on 'I don't like this' focus on sounding authentic, with a great groove and appropriate fills on songs you don't like.
It'll feed back into your normal drumming and improve your playing on the songs you DO like.

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This is a great response, to which I would add that you joined the group, I think it is your responsibility to learn their material to the best of your ability or let them know asap that they may want to find someone else.

Probably being an "all-around drummer" is somewhat dependent on when you started playing drums; and the styles active of the times; not only popular music styles , but all situations drum set was/is active in (like TV shows, movie music etc

I've witnessed younger than me drummers play hip hop style and I would gladly hand my sticks to them conversely there may be other circumstance they would watch me.
So being "all-around" is sorta- time dependent; opening up to the world of drumming beginning in 1970 is probably yea different than an introduction to the world of drumming in 1990.

If you want to "know-everything" just go back to drum set in 1920 and come forward to 2025 altho few if nobody does that.
I'm ok up to about year 2004

I certainly wouldn’t join a band and tell them they need to drop a fifth of their list. I think you could get away with postponing a few, but bands don’t usually enjoy being told what to play by the new guy.

You don’t have to play everything, especially if it doesn’t feel good. It’s totally okay to focus on the songs you enjoy. Drumming should be fun, not a chore. Play what makes you smile, that’s more than enough.

Width gives your playing depth.

What you do with it is your business.

eric_B said:

So, should I play those 'stubborn' songs or just accept there are songs which just don't fit me and suggest the band to skip or replace those?
It seems a lot of drummers are eager to satisfy the playing wishes of others and want to keep on proving we can play any song...but should we?

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I gig every week, so the songs we perform are a priority for me, even though I may not like/enjoy all of them. My goal is to play them well and I spend time to practice the ones I don't know, as well as tricky parts, ultimately practicing what I don't know.

Beyond that, everything else is gravy... I practice new styles and music to challenge/expand the paradigm, which ultimately helps with gig material. I also include various exercises and workout routines, mechanics or whatever seems to be necessary at any given time.

In all, I strive to improve myself and try to remain open-minded to learn new things, whether it be songs, technique, etc.