In the last blog, I began our problem solving by dealing with drums playing in time, and singers beginning a song on time.
In this blog, I want to tackle some volume issues that come from the stage. One of the biggest problems with bands is the volume – mostly, too loud!
Here’s three key issues I bet won’t surprise you.
“The drums are deafening and drown out everything in the room” This is not just a problem in the room but also on stage – how do you keep the volume down? There’s no easy answer, and every situation is different, but here’s some thoughts…
Firstly, we need to remember…
- Drums need to be struck at a decent level in order to get reasonable sound. And they need to be struck with an even velocity.
- Drum screens are used to cut down the spill into onstage mikes (especially vocal mikes), and not used so much volume control.
- Drums are most often miked to bring them into the same mix as the rest of the band, otherwise they sound like they are in a different room – or postcode! They are rarely miked for volume.
- Culture plays a lot into this. Some people think that the drums should be seen and not heard – others think they’re way too soft – and all in the same service!
So… what can you do?
- I once facetiously told a drummer who said he had to play loud to keep in time, to take some drum lessons (to improve technique). This didn’t go down well, but there is some truth to this. Technique can help the over zealous drummer conquer a lot of control issues.
- Pad the wall behind the drummer to cut down reflective noise.
- Get an electronic kit so you can “control” the volume. (Note: most drummers don’t like them, and they need to be carefully mixed to sound any good).
“The bass is too loud for the congregation and often others on stage, but the bass player can’t hear herself play.” Sounds strange but it’s common? Here’s what I’ve done as recent as last weekend.
- Get distance from the speaker. Most bassists are standing way too close. Experiment with distance (start at 5M) – but be prepared to get a longer guitar lead.
- Tilt the speaker to aim at the bass players head (or elevate it).
- Point them at something that will absorb the sound – eg curtains, or even in a spare room if you have it, and mike it. Place near (but not against) a back wall at an angle. Avoid facing the speaker lengthways down the room as the bass wave will bounce off the back wall and cause terrible problems.
“The lead guitarist is way too loud. How do I get them to turn the volume down?” The old joke says to “put some music in front of him!” Ha! Try this …
- Make sure he “offends” himself before he “offends” the congregation. Tilt the speaker up to the head, and back at the player themselves.
- Mike up the guitar speaker and control it from the desk.
- Training helps people understand how to play in a band and how to listen. If you train them to listen, they might become more sensitive (emphasis on “might”)
Of course, these issues are way bigger than I’ve just covered, and need greater expertise than I have. But please consider…
- The size of the room your’e in, and what it’s surfaces are made of. Hard surfaces will always be a problem, so think of ways to soften them.
- Each situation is unique. Think through what you might be able to do in regards to your culture and who you are wanting to connect with.
- At the end of the day, a lot has to do with attitude, and a serving musician will play as an offering to God, and a service to his church family.
Of course, I’ve only scratched the surface here, so please ask questions, and feed into these issues. Make a comment below.
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