Thread: Do different band members have distinct personalities?

By the way, it's a generalization. Don't vote just because you know a couple of members that aren't like that.

Originally Posted by oniman7

Drummers seem very introverted and seem to care only about themselves.

If they were introverted how would you know what they care about? ;P

Iim not sure, maybe you're onto something.

Well, obvious human nature. If you cared about the other players, you wouldn't use headphones to drown them out.

It's because they're playing the drums, which are loud. They don't always wear them, and it's to drown out the drums, not the other players.

That makes sense. I guess you don't exactly need to play drums by ear. The only drummer I really know has very few friends and the personality I described, so... I based it off of that.

you can still hear things with the head phones on, you know

Shut up. It's 11:30 at night. I'll make more sense tomorrow when I'm rested.

Hehe, okay

Mmmmmno. My experience sometimes contradicts all of those.

I'm a lead guitarist and am introverted and shy. I've always been known as the chilled out guy in all the bands I've been in. Of my fellow lead guitarists in the bands I've been in only one of them was somewhat show-off-ish.

The bass player in my last band was the loudest, most extroverted musician I've ever met. I've known chilled out bass players too, but it's not universal.

My experience with drummers isn't the same as you describe either. I've never met an arrogant drummer, or a particularly introverted drummer either. I believe the headphones are worn so that they can keep track of the tempo of the song. It is important, after all, that the drummer keeps time. Doesn't mean they can't hear the rest of the band, and a lot of drummers don't even use headphones anyhow.

I think singers are generally confident people, but again, I don't think it's accurate to say all singers are flamboyant. The singers I've known are a mix of chilled out, hyper-active, and in-between. The singer for my last band and the band before that (same guy) was pretty lethargic, or passive. The last singer I met was the zenith of easy-come easy-go.

I really don't think it's possible to categorise people by instruments. Some people may have an impression of what an instrument feels like based off of the music they listen to and where they think that particular instrument fits in the arrangement of a band, but it's rarely true that that aura is reflected in the musicians themselves. In my experience anyway.

well, a guitar player (a) is more likely to have more to talk about with another guitar player (b) than a drum player (c) ~ assuming that b and c have no prior relationship with a.

hmm, but that doesn't answer you question, does it? lol

...in my opinion, I don't think that the instruments people play have any correlation with one's personality.

now are you asking for statistics? the only way to find this out is to personally survey the majority of bands in the world, and you'll have your answer

I think there is some correlation. Simply for the fact that when you choose an instrument, you usually choose whatever you think is going to be like the most glorious or cool. So, a person aspiring to be a guitarist sees the lead guitarists of other bands up front stage rocking out and showing off, and they decide that they want to be like that, they want that attention, they want the crowd to adore them. A potentional drummer however, may see how the drummer rocks out at the back, pounding away at the drums, often underappreciated or unnoticed but a complete necessity to the band still, and they decide that they don't mind taking that position in the band. See what I mean? It all kind of comes down to the individuals perception of what that instrument is seen as though really, and there's always exceptions, like Green Day for example. Their drummer is the craziest personality in the band, and definitely loves attention.

So yeah, I can see where there could definitely be a correlation, but there's always exceptions, and every case and individual is different.

There might be a correlation, but it'd be several. You wouldn't be able to pin one personalitiy down on every instrument. Like emotional on the piano and calm, controlled on the bass.
What the hell would that make me? I play both.

Same as you can have drummers singing and whatnot.

Originally Posted by AirRick101

well, a guitar player (a) is more likely to have more to talk about with another guitar player

equipment talk is so boring. D:

also every popular guitarist needs mystique, or an ego.

I take it you've never seen bands play at all, else you'd be aware that there exists a wide range of personalities and stage characteristics on all manner of instrument players.

Compare: The drummers of death metal groups and the lead singers of country and jazz bands.

I've had contact with starter bands and decade-lasting bands, and I agree with your classification. Of course, there are exceptions, but I think your classification not only works, but is also the model of a perfect band.