Serious drum practice...

rcaz

I've been playing drums casually for about 4 years, mostly rock and hip-hop style stuff, and the last year or so I've been really interested in odd-numbered time signatures and changes. Drums are my second instrument so I never payed them as much attention as other stuff.

But lately I've been listening to a lot of stuff with great drumming in it. Mark Guiliana, Elvin Jones, Venetian Snares, Aphex Twin, Iannis Xenakis's percussion stuff, and some of the guys doing live DnB are so cool too. Now I'm starting to get the electronic side of that covered with my programming practice, but I don't have any of the musicianship to play that kind of jazz stuff.

So er, drummers weigh in, what's the best way to move on? I'm hoping to spend all summer working on music projects, I'd really like to grow as a drummer. Kind of see it as a way different way of playing, too, drumming always used to be a way to blow of steam or figure out simple ideas for songs or just enjoy a really simple groove, but I really want to work hard at getting really good (well I guess I don't know how good I expect to get, exponentially better than if you measure how quickly I've learned so far :pac: ). I've never had drum lessons, and I can't really afford them at the moment but it's something I might think about in a while. I've had a lot of music lessons, I know lots of theory and I've done a good bit of composition and analysis studies, I'm just missing out on the bit with me hands and feet

I know around ten rudiments well enough to use around the kit, I suppose I should start of learning the other 30? :pac:

flyswatter

I can teach you no bother. Drums are my best instrument and I know a lot of styles, I'm not going to do study rock anymore, its latin and jazz from now on. I can play bossa nova, samba, and that well. Have you ever had a teacher? You are doing well so far. I'll be keeping up the drums but just practicing for my band. It's going to be guitar and piano, then bass and so on this summer. Any songs in particular you would like to learn?

rcaz

flyswatter wrote: »

I can teach you no bother. Drums are my best instrument and I know a lot of styles, I'm not going to do study rock anymore, its latin and jazz from now on. I can play bossa nova, samba, and that well. Have you ever had a teacher? You are doing well so far. I'll be keeping up the drums but just practicing for my band. It's going to be guitar and piano, then bass and so on this summer. Any songs in particular you would like to learn?

I hadn't really thought of any songs I'd like to learn. I'd like to be able to play well enough to comfortably play in those kind of drumming styles to original music. I don't really care about being able to play anyone else's songs, I want to make my own drumming better. I know learning other people's music is the best way to put all that in context, but I hadn't thought about it.

flyswatter

El Pr0n wrote: »

I hadn't really thought of any songs I'd like to learn. I'd like to be able to play well enough to comfortably play in those kind of drumming styles to original music. I don't really care about being able to play anyone else's songs, I want to make my own drumming better. I know learning other people's music is the best way to put all that in context, but I hadn't thought about it.

Yeah, that is correct. Theory is important and practice too.

PM me if you want any advice.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

try sitting down with just a ride snare and hi hat

and start jazzing along

just get the standard jazz ride pattern going first with 2 and 4 on the hats
start adding snare ( feather like ghosting - its called 'comping' )
alot of it is just barely rubbing the stick off the snare.

and make it swing / groove - its not as easy as you'd think - to get a true swing feel
but when you get it youll be smiling.

even up to 180+ bpm .

( you will be bouncing the stick on the ride at this speed - its all finger work )

but start slow - to begin with and get it feeling good

when its clicking along , and you feel like you are dancing , then youve got it down.

---

Jim Chapin - Advanced Techniques For The Modern Drummer

is a great place to start , its full of these exercises to get your jazz / bop groove up
its a real co-ordination messer , but well worth it


if you really want to twist your mind and co-odination
get
'the new breed ' by gary chester

it is savagely hard , but savagely good to improve your technique and also your reading

---

dont worry about rudiments TOO MUCH
you only REALLY need for most drumming scenarios :

single roll
double roll
paradiddle
flam


and for better finger control :

4 and 5 stroke ruff
flam a - diddle or flam para-diddle ,
flam double paradiddle
and

para diddle diddle is also handy for jazz

---

jo jo mayers hand technique dvd is a great resource if you want to advance your hands.

and tommy igoes groove essentials << great for new grooves

plenty of good afro carribean drum books out there as well

---

and dont forget to play along
either with downloaded midi tracks ( loads of jazz out there )
or a good bass player .

rcaz

Thanks for that DaDumTish! I was wondering when you'd be along

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't comping depend on what the soloist is playing? Backing up the main phrases of the solos with your spare limb as you keep the main part of the beat going... At least that's what I'd heard.

I can do the basic swing patter stuff on the ride and hats slowly... I just can't do anything else

I'll get to practicing so. Cheers!

i57dwun4yb1pt8

yeah , im always stickin my nose in on drum stuff,
cos I hate seeing people get stuck or frustrated with them.

yeah comping is as you say- but there are standard snare patterns ( in the chapin book ) - that should be practiced to loosen up your comp ability .

if you really want to do serious drum practice - try the new breed book
but its not for the fainthearted.

it will mindfcuk you .

note - i only managed about 4 months of studying it
did me a load of good , but there was loads of patterns i never got too.
its one of the hardest but best drum books out there.

but in terms of the jazz / swing
play it slow and really listen and feel it - it has to sound flowing like a stream .

flyswatter

+1 for the Tommy Igoe DVD. It's great, I've seen a bit of it. Superb teacher.

reniwren

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNJMI7UMv44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTra8IOtsfQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nC6-__vlUM

# to check out if you didn't already know em not odd time signatures but off beat great rolls