MrDuck Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 He told me he literally just jammed along with stuff. That's it... Jamming along with recorded music - or even better, actual musicians - is a fantastic way of learning, especially if you have a good ear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted May 27, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted May 27, 2014 (edited) He told me he literally just jammed along with stuff. That's it... Jamming along with recorded music - or even better, actual musicians - is a fantastic way of learning, especially if you have a good ear. Well, quite. I was quite surprised by Warnock's 'huh?' smiley. None of the drummers I worked with ever had a formal lesson, let alone read any form of sheet music. Admittedly, some of them were awful, but they could always get a gig - guitarists were ten-a-penny, but drummers were (and I assume still are) a rarity. They learned on the job. As Dave Grohl once said: Musicians should go to a yard sale and buy and old **** drum set and get in their garage and just suck. And get their friends to come in and they’ll suck, too. And then they’ll **** start playing and they’ll have the best time they’ve ever had in their lives and then all of a sudden they’ll become Nirvana. Because that’s exactly what happened with Nirvana. Just a bunch of guys that had some shitty old instruments and they got together and started playing some noisy-ass shit, and they became the biggest band in the world. That can happen again! You don’t need a **** computer or the internet or The Voice or American Idol. Drummerworld I'm not saying that learning formally isn't a good thing - it is. But there is no substitute for jamming, first chance you get - preferably with guys who are a little bit better than you. It makes you sweat, but boy do you learn. And it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Edited May 27, 2014 by mjmooney 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MakemineVanilla Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 If classical musicians were competitive like rock musicians, classical concerts would be more like this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted May 27, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted May 27, 2014 Yeah, I saw that yesterday. I like the Hendrix-style 'playing behind your back' approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MakemineVanilla Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Yeah, I saw that yesterday. I like the Hendrix-style 'playing behind your back' approach. My thought exactly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xann Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 For drummers, playing along with electronic music is useful for teaching timing, particularly resolving fills and then resuming patterns in meter. Feel is a different matter, that usually entails more organic listening. Don't choose to play along with Jaki Leibezeit, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cobham, John Bonham, Neil Peart, or similar - you'll just want to throw the sticks down in disgust. There's plenty of material out there with easily mastered drums - Most of the Beatles catalogue for example. Don't think you have to fly, drumming slowly with feel is actually more difficult than moderate to quick tempos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted May 27, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted May 27, 2014 Well said Dave. I like all the drummers you mention (except maybe Peart). But one thing that really boils my piss is when people say that Ringo Starr and Charlie Watts are 'bad' drummers. They are not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xann Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Don't like Peart either. Ginger Baker reckons Charlie Watts is the most musically talented member of the Stones. We've been here before with Ringo. I think he's totally unremarkable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCU Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 He told me he literally just jammed along with stuff. That's it... Jamming along with recorded music - or even better, actual musicians - is a fantastic way of learning, especially if you have a good ear. Didn't mean that smiley to come across as 'no way, that's impossible'. I'm just shocked that this guy plays so well from just 'jamming'. My ear isn't that great. I can listen to a song, try and match it then re-watch a cover on YouTube and notice I've missed out so many little things such as hi-hat splashes etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xann Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 That comes after you're comfortable with the basic pattern. When your muscle memory has the beat down, you can think about what else is happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCU Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 How about rudiments? Certain people seem to think having rudiments in your locker will make you an overall better drummer. I've been watching JoJo Mayer recently and he's just insane at them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRM1MD-jyWU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8pints Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Here's one great drummer talking about another And here's how to do my job when I visit my Mammy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xann Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 How about rudiments? Certain people seem to think having rudiments in your locker will make you an overall better drummer. I've been watching JoJo Mayer recently and he's just insane at them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRM1MD-jyWU Er, leave that for a little bit. His wrist action is very good, years of practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrDuck Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 He told me he literally just jammed along with stuff. That's it... Jamming along with recorded music - or even better, actual musicians - is a fantastic way of learning, especially if you have a good ear. Didn't mean that smiley to come across as 'no way, that's impossible'. I'm just shocked that this guy plays so well from just 'jamming'. My ear isn't that great. I can listen to a song, try and match it then re-watch a cover on YouTube and notice I've missed out so many little things such as hi-hat splashes etc. Ear will get better the more you play. I've played with tons of musicians over the years, and all the best ones have been self-taught. The most infuriating to play with have all been classically trained. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCU Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Some great words in here, cheers fellas. I'm playing on my kit for about 15 minutes or so a night just playing along to 2-3 songs then I'll have a good solid hour practicing my doubles (mainly on my knee). I'm going up Brum on Saturday, are there any decent music stores around the Bullring area. I need a new pair of sticks and also want to look at the more 'expensive' e-kits. (not to buy, just to fantasize) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leemond2008 Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Fair deal music is just down the road from the bullring, I only go there every now and again but its pretty good Also for more folky instruments hobgoblin music has moved from the custard factory to 2 doors down from snow and rock by the square peg, I've been spending quite a few lunch breaks in there p.s. I meant spending my lunch breaks in Hobgoblin and not the peg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted May 29, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted May 29, 2014 The Hobgoblin in Leeds is great, I could live in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veloman Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Just an opinion but ... if you play in a rock band/covers band etc it might not be that vital to read the dots. However if you use a drum tutor book (Peter Erskine - he of Weather Report - does a good one) then the exercises will be set out in musical notation. I going to guess that all the top drummers are proficient on rudiments; from Ginger Baker to Steve Gadd, so I reckon they are very important - albeit a tad boring ! If you ever want to back cabaret or play in a large band, reading will be probably be vital. I did find a lot of snobbery in musicians between those who could read and those who couldn't; my reading was terrible; I used to rely on sign to sign - coda to coda and knew what time the number was in !! The last 'proper' band I played read and busked and that is an ideal combination. That said I know quite a few good musos who don't recognise when a number, written in 4/4 suddenly has a 3/4 bar in it; they can simply play through it. A last opinion; if you play in a band - listen to the bass player; that combination is vital. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob182 Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 My band, Alex Kid, are playing the kit launch on 15th June at VP (in the car park, no doubt). VTer Paddywhack is also in the band. Maybe we'll play that 'rock' version of The Bells Are Ringing... NAAAAATTTT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingysilvers Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 Bit of a long shot this but does anybody happen to know any Brum based drummers looking for a band? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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