Taking The Next Step-Drumming

[daveco]

Right folks, have been drumming for nearly two years and would like to be in a band by the end of this year. I still have a class I go to every Tuesday but this will stop in June; what advice would folk give if I were to step it up a notch i.e. be more serious about maybe making a career out of it?

[adam85]

Practice practice practice, Never forget to cover the most basic of exercises with your metronome. Keep at your lessons if possible? Most importantly - enjoy it! Try to find a balance of having a fun blast along with your favourite bands, and allocating time on snare drum technique, reading, listening etc.

Get with fellow musicians, ideally of a similar age and ability - learn some covers, get used to grooving with them, especially a Bass Player!

I guess I am rambling now!
Enjoy !

[GetCarter]

/\ wot he said

Plus of course - if you want to session, make sure you read,

...a great excercise to keep your timing accurate:

Record/programme a click track for about 10 minutes... firstly 4 to the bar for 16 bars

Play along with a simple groove

then 2 clicks to the bar for 16 bars

then 1 to the bar for 16 bars

then 1 every 2 bars for 16 bars

then 1 every 4 bars for 16 bars

then 1 every 8 bars for 16 bars

then 1 every 16 bars

See if you can stay in time with one click every 16 bars!

Good luck.

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 31st March 13:27

[daveco]

All advice taken on board, cheers!

[gbbird]

Admittedly i am a guitarist, but i would say don't wait until you 'think' you are ready for a band - as long as you are a basic, competent drummer or above, then just get yourself in one with similiar skilled/experienced musicians. My guitar playing improved significantly once i started to play in bands.

Being in a band is the best practice anyone can have on any instrument IMHO.

good luck

g

[daveco]

gbbird said:

Admittedly i am a guitarist, but i would say don't wait until you 'think' you are ready for a band - as long as you are a basic, competent drummer or above, then just get yourself in one with similiar skilled/experienced musicians. My guitar playing improved significantly once i started to play in bands.

Being in a band is the best practice anyone can have on any instrument IMHO.

good luck

g

Cheers for the advice. I think I'd like to feel slightly more confident in drumming on my own first before I start to look for a band; plus I'm 25 and most of the bands looking for drummers are 17/18; as the eldest I have to out play them!

[GetCarter]

blimey, I saw 17/18 and thought it was a time sig!

[timbob]

GetCarter said:

blimey, I saw 17/18 and thought it was a time sig!

Now there's a discussion.... Can you even have a time signature of 17/18?!

[adam85]

timbob said:

GetCarter said:

blimey, I saw 17/18 and thought it was a time sig!

Now there's a discussion.... Can you even have a time signature of 17/18?!

Youtube: Virgil Donati... I'm sure there's one somewhere

[Nubbin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMN_FB1P6Nc

My favourite drummer - mainly 'cos he's a friend and a patient of mine. Pete's been drumming since he was 2, formerly British Young drummer of the Year at age 16.

[adam85]

Nubbin said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMN_FB1P6Nc

My favourite drummer - mainly 'cos he's a friend and a patient of mine. Pete's been drumming since he was 2, formerly British Young drummer of the Year at age 16.

Fantastic, reminds me of Benny Greb's style!

[Funk]

Listen to and watch other drummers, you'll learn loads and pick up things to try. I've currently been enjoying these vids on YouTube tonight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSvUQ8Bz7x8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3sLNnHkkEY&fea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0cRi-f7KRE&fea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9bFPsVtXgY&fea...

[Funk]

Nubbin said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMN_FB1P6Nc

My favourite drummer - mainly 'cos he's a friend and a patient of mine. Pete's been drumming since he was 2, formerly British Young drummer of the Year at age 16.

That's fantastic.

[celticpilgrim]

Just out of curiosity, is there a website where you can enter a time signature, and it will give you an example, you know, put a wierd one in just to see what it sounds like?

[daveco]

Funk said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9bFPsVtXgY&fea...

Was that guy born with drum sticks in his hands??

[Dickster]

I'd just say keep your mind open, get your timing sorted and listen to the song. Far too many drummers just starting out just want to have a 3 minute drum fill and don't even hear the song.

Keep your ear on that bass too, you're a team!

[AL...Ease]

I'm wondering about the next step too, I've been playing on and off for about 5 years, only really started getting good a couple of years ago and have only just started playing with like-minded musicians... I've thought about getting tuition because I've never actually had any, but not sure whose advice/tuition I should take.

[andy-xr]

The only advice I can give you in addition to whats been posted is to learn to gurn

Here's a helping hand, has all of the key faces in it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFaRNjamCHA

[adam85]

andy-xr said:

The only advice I can give you in addition to whats been posted is to learn to gurn

Here's a helping hand, has all of the key faces in it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFaRNjamCHA

yeah! Stick that up your Guitar Hero!

Edit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHft4OR7Rus this is cool!

Edited by adam85 on Sunday 5th April 12:23