Guidance - With or Without Music

[ShaggyRS6]

I want to let you pro's here where I am at in my drumming career. So I am gonna record me playing using all the elements I have learnt so far, and a few that have been self taught.

My question is, do you want to hear it with backing music or without?

[Michael Render]

Definitely with the backing music. It will show us how well you stay in time, your dynamics and if you serve the song.

[eric_B]

Do we have to pay to listen to it ?
Or do you point your gun at us ?

[ShaggyRS6]

Either, Or

[ShaggyRS6]

Well i rather rushed it this evening. But i wanted to get something uploaded. So excuse the bits i messed up, and err, dunno how to edit yet, so excuse that as well.

But you get the general idea. Comments are welcome of course. Should have done some practice first

Anyhoos, 5 lessons. So far.

Have a look in this DIR. Test 1, 2 and 3.mp3

https://www.shaggysworld.com/drums

[Makomachine]

Well i rather rushed it this evening. But i wanted to get something uploaded. So excuse the bits i messed up, and err, dunno how to edit yet, so excuse that as well.

But you get the general idea. Comments are welcome of course. Should have done some practice first

Anyhoos, 5 lessons. So far.

Have a look in this DIR. Test 1, 2 and 3.mp3


www.shaggysworld.com/drums

5 lessons and how much practice? Just trying to get an idea how many hours behind the kit you have... I listened to them and see some nice progress for a beginner but keep in mind - I'm new too! Your path to drumming is just that - there's no destination so progress is all relative. Have fun and thanks for sharing!

[ShaggyRS6]

Ok. To answer your questions.

Never played the drums until 5 weeks ago.

I have had 1 lesson a week for the past 5 weeks (I missed yesterdays) I have only had the kit for 3 weeks so the first 3 lessons i had no practice in between.

I have been busy at work, so I have probably have had an an hour 80% of the evenings for the last 3 weeks.

I think ( and im not trying to be big headed) that I could do well. I just need pointing in the right direction. All though this could be an X Factor moment and only I think I do alright

[Michael Render]

First, let me make this clear, that was incredible for your level of experience. You have a bright future ahead of you!

Now I am going to rip you to shreds!

Actually only two things come to mind and they will come with experience. You need to get your timing on the fills more solid. Working with a metronome will help. You also need to work on dynamics. All your strokes are at the same level. You need to let some go low to emphasize the accents. If your are maxing out the trigger, you may want to reduce the sensitivity. You will eventually be playing ghost notes and those need to be more like a whisper than a scream.

And, one last thing that will also come in time. Your playing is a little stiff. Sometimes playing in the pocket means letting the beat stretch a little.

Summthin' tells me we will be hearing some great stuff from you soon.

[Greenbutmean]

You're doing FANTASTIC. Your drumming is tighter than mine and I have a couple years in!

Nice job!

[eric_B]

It sounds great for the short experience you have. I agree with the comments made before, but it will all come in time. Just to mention a minor point: I didn't hear an actual finish, you just stopped drumming. But all in all: great, keep on playing! And to answer your question: yes, use background music.

[ShaggyRS6]

Wow, thanks for the comments guys. They will only inspire me to get better and work harder on the elements that i need to concentrate on.

I have a few questions based on the advice you have given. Hope you dont mind.

Michael - I agree mate, my timing on fills do need improvement. As I have mentioned before, I cave to learn different fills. The fill i done on the first track across the snare and the 3 Toms was done using RRLL RRLL RRLL RRLL , not sue if this is the way to do it, but it feels more comfortable than doing RLRL on each drum.

Dynamics is something I have only just heard about, and I assume that you mean how hard I hit the drums? This is something i am keen to learn and i dont always want to be smacking the [email protected] out of the drums.

Can you explain Ghost notes in a bit more detail? I think I might have been doing this on the high hat without realizing what they are, just because they sound good, i.e. (forgive my explanation) between the real hard hit just touching the high hat, it helps me keep the rhythm.

I dont understand the quote "your playing is stiff, and plying in the pocket. Could you explain a little more please

Finishing. Hmmm, dont know how too. Would I finish with a fill? Or some cymbals? Can you explain a bit more.

I'll have a listen to some Duran Duran, and Guns and Roses

[TheCoda]

Hey Shaggy, that's really great considering you've only been at it a few weeks.

Hey guy's I think we've found a natural!

[Michael Render]

Using RR LL for fills is perfectly acceptable. It sounds really good when you develop fast double strokes. Playing paradiddles across the toms will also lead you to some interesting fills.

Yep, dynamics is how hard you hit the drums. Ghost notes are slight taps that are barely heard. Watch this clip of Bernard Purdie, the master of Ghost Notes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pclpe...eature=related

As for playing stiffly, the object of drumming is to groove. If you are spot on like a metronome you will sound like a drum machine. The great drummers push and pull the beat slightly, adding a human tension. "In the pocket" has two general meanings. Traditionally it means the kick playing solidly on the downbeat with the snare coming in a little relaxed. Nowadays it refers to the rhythm section solidly locked in an effortless groove.

[ShaggyRS6]

Thanks Michael, great advice. You can bet I will be asking more questions when they pop into my head.

Lee

[eric_B]

Finishing. Hmmm, dont know how too. Would I finish with a fill? Or some cymbals? Can you explain a bit more.

When you just stop playing, to me it sound the song isn't 'finished'. You can try some toms and end with a cymbal, but, as with a lot things, I guess there is no standard. Just listen to songs you like how others do it.