In my experience, playing in the pocket is more than just playing in time. It's matching rhythms and dynamics with vocal patterns, bass patterns, and guitar riffs. Requires listening. Also, playing in time is more an art, many of the bands of old didn't use clicks, so the music speeds varies. That movement of the music makes it richer. Having a good sense of time, and then using it skillfully to push and pull with intensity is a real art form.
Sounds like you're aware of the concepts and apply them stylistically to your playing situations. Those are valid nuances to consider. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts! 🙏🥁🤘
Personally, not a fan of using a click on stage! I avoid those gigs; perfection in tempo is never my goal, matching my team, and vice versa is always my goal!
He's correct in most musical endeavors by using basic terminology that's been said over..... staying in the pocket and keeping perfect time. However that applies to what kind of music your producing and the outer band members. Alot of jazz and improv/prog musicians don't want a puppet drummer who doesn't bring the dynamics of either pushing the tempo at times during crescendos of songs, or on the flipside a drummer who cant play behind the downbeat at times. A perfect example of that is Ginger Baker and Cream, Eric Clapton enjoyed Ginger's ability to play behind the tempo(out of the pocket) at times because it added dynamics to a group consisting of only 3 members. Keep in mind a studio hobbit made this guy do what he wanted for album recordings, that doesn't necessarily mean it applies all the time. Realize and gauge what the music calls for, before settling on a single-minded end all be all narrative.
That's simply called "playing the song" U can play..... 1) a drum beat 2) a drum part 3) THE SONG U will get more gigs u can wish for if you start playing THE SONG & THE SONG ALONE 💯💯💯💯💯 When I was @ UMA (college), in 4 yrs, as of 2002, (mite still stand, I honestly don't know) I had played in MORE "student produced" productions, (recitals, senior concerts, junior standings, etc etc) than ANY OTHER SINGLE MUSICIAN in the HISTORY of the program. Was I THE BEST, NOPE, I was probably 3rd or 4th in terms of "SKILL" & "TECHNICALITIES"..... BUT what I DID DO, was "PLAY THE F*CKIN' SONG" THAT is IT. A bandleader or songwriter...... ALL THEY WANT is a drum part that keeps the time, while ACCENTUATING ALL THE NUANCES THE SONGWRITER WROTE. they do NOT care how FAST you can play, how many notes you can fit into a measure, or how ridiculously large your drum kit is. They don't care about ANY OF THAT. All they want is a HUMAN time keeper WHO CAN LISTEN, HEAR, & PLAY "WHAT" is "going on" with-in the song P E R I O D & once you are able to do THAT...... You will get MORE WORK than you can handle 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯 It took ME a LONG TIME to REALLY "figure this out". I knew that people obviously liked the way I went about creating my parts, but I didn't realize it was THE REASON WHY musicians WANTED ME. is cuz when I play a song, I PLAY THE SONG. I've actually gotten angry when band leaders do NOT give ME a copy of the chart, cuz ALOT of drummers don't even bother LOOKING @ IT, let alone READING IT & UTILIZING IT. the EASIEST WAY to come with KILLER DRUM PARTS for A SONG...... IS TO LEARN THE F*CKIN' CHART!!!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💯💯💯💯💯💯💯 Another thing I notice on UA-cam, is that there is a WHOLE LOT of drummers on here playing "drum covers" That's all fine & well if THAT is WHAT you WANT to do .... But what I DO NOT see very much of @ ALL is people WRITING A SONG or SOLO & then performing THAT...... THIS is something that I AM looking to do in this next year. I like seeing people's "CREATIVITY"...... NOT "MIMICRY". Just saying. Seeing people get endorsement deals from playing NOTHING BUT OTHER•PEOPLES•SONGS is kind of infuriating. I understand the whole purpose of endorsements is to SELL MORE PRODUCT, but rewarding people for NOTHING BUT MIMICRY is..... Kinda like getting a "participation trophy" IN MY OPINION. JUST SAYIN' What makes a song "great" is the creativity used to get there. ANYONE can learn an instrument & then copy sum one else's work. But the REAL question is, & what separates the "men from the boys" (just a phrase ladies, don't get worked up 😆) is WHAT YOU CAN DO in a song WITH-OUT a "pre-existing" drum part. It's funny. I have an ALESIS COMMAND-X E•kit too, & there are 60 "play along" songs & I NEVER EVEN LISTEND to the programmed drum parts til bout 2 YEARS AFTER I got it, then I NEVER listened to them again..... Honestly, they were kinda a joke 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💯💯💯💯
That was a real moment. My band directors and everyone I played with always told me what a great drummer I was, so it was really hard to hear that I needed help with fundamental stuff 😢 🤣🥁🤘
@@skiddleberry When I was a very young dude a woman said to me after a gig that my performance was way to innocent. Of course I was offended and of course I didn't know what she meant. After having licked my wounds I came to realize that she was right - a game changing moment! Today I think of it at the best piece of advice I ever got in terms of music. So yeah, the truth can be brutal at first, but it can trigger a learning process if you're open for it.
Great tips here boys & girls. I think WE ALL go thru this "thing" Some of my BEST practice sessions, including the one I did yesterday, include NOTHING BUT my SD, BD, HH, & Ride..... that's IT. i call it my "groove•machine". I need to find one of these "speedometers"
I started gigging in the late '70's. Big drum kits were the sign of a pro drummer (so I thought). We played dances, weddings, graduations so a lot of one night shows. After a while the band kept threating to leave half my kit behind in that small town because they were tired of carrying all those drums. I really appreciate a skilled drummer who can use a basic 4 or 5 piece drum set over the guy who carries chimes, 10 toms and 14 cymbals but only use them once per night.
I'm 66 years. Played drums in my dad's band at the age of 8 yrs., played drums throughout my school years and have been playing weekly for my church worship band. YOU ARE SO RIGHT ON!!!! Thanks!
Hey there!! I completely resonate with this. So glad to hear and see really good, solid and sound advice for drummers out there! And the great thing is that your playing embodies that; you've got a great feel. When we find our "why"-why do drummers play? What are our roles?- it REALLY helps us excel! Thank you for laying this out so beautifully. All the best 👊🏾🙏🏾
I started using live BPM with my band a couple of years ago, and I've been using it at every one my live gigs since. Just sits on my kick drum where I can see it easily all the time. It has helped enormously with pocket playing and over time I've learnt the best tempo for each song and I can make adjustments quickly if needed. I've never used a speedometer but I can certainly recommend the live BPM app.
I somewhat agree with you. And those are of course some good tips. But I have some “contentions”. I agree that “pocket is locking in with the band”. And I would say that Phil Rudd & Billy Cobham are equal masters of pocket. With that said I’m more of the opinion that “pocket” develops with other musicians, how you become a unit. And tempo doesn’t really matter then. It can go up & down as long as it occurs as a locked in unit. Metronomes and clicks are good tips to learn how to practice too, but sometimes I think they work against the “pocket”. Pocket is an organic human element, and it can be disturbed by machine like precision. Secondly I view fills more from a jazz perspective (and yes I’m a huge fusion fan). They can (and often should) signal to the band what’s coming up. But they’re also a tool for pocket. To show that you know not just your part, but also everybody else’s. To follow a bass-line here and there, to accentuate a vocal line, to lock in with a guitar-lick. Well, that was my 2 cents . Good luck and keep it up ✌🏻🤩
Those are valid points. I think all those things work together to help musicians and music jell. My goal with all of the timed practicing is to improve my inner sense of time so that others have a strong backbone to hang on to without taking off to the races lol And yes, excellent point about fills setting up and accentuating hits - especially in jazz. Certainly a useful tool to support other musicians' parts. I appreciate your thoughts and support! 🥁🤘
I used to think that "pocket" was everything you said and still have a warm heart to that but when our band started using a click track I found that that pocket needs to stay in time or otherwise someone in the band will run off with their own time (every time).
@@tommcmichael8679 Well, my spontaneous reaction to that would be (without knowing your level of musicianship) that you need more personal development and more rehearsal. Usually pocket is a result of “greater awareness” 😅
This is all great info. I would rush it sometimes and my band mates were to kind, they should have been more direct. Had some fantastic shows over the years, but it would have made me a better drummer. Had they let me know.
Thanks for the video, and I agree. Looking forward from more on your channel. Anything musical and can help musicians at any level is always helpful. You should never stop learning, and going over things you "think" you know just to make sure you haven't forgotten anything. And most of all: Have Fun! That's why hopefully anybody plays drums!
Enjoying playing music is what it's all about! I'm working on new content every day. Didn't expect things to start to take off this quickly, but I'm honored and grateful! Thanks so much for your support 🙏🥁🤘
Love the content, well for me, reading with interpretation is a must as well. Cruise ships, theater and other session. I just realized that reading will almost get you all the jobs that would pay the bills. Being an independent drummer yes, once you get discovered with all the fundamentals, these in mind, but like to get a fixed paying job for example, cruise ship, since in reality not all would be on the spotlight right away, artists, sessions, etc, reading is truly a key. Sight reading guest entertainers is no joke and yup these fundamentals come into play.😊 Pocket, time, etc… reading/ability to sight read/ basically to become a well rounded session/working drummer, hence Vinnie❤. I had friend that has great time, fundamentals, etc, but could not get a big band gig he wanted because of the reading, he wanted to do big band shows on cruise ships and travel, wanted to work on a cruise or theater gig, but could not read well, so I told him focus on great fundamentals but read as well.😊 But truly in General, Pocket and Time would be King and Queen
I had to read a ton marching and playing jazz, but I have to admit I'm probably a bit rusty 🤣 it is a must in some applications. Best luck to you and thank you for taking the time to share! 🙏🥁🤘
Your comment is the BEST I read in a long time! However, as a profession for a grown Man who thinks about more than himself,I.e. wants a Wife, Kids, Benefits, Ins.for the Family, Pension, Security, going to your Child's Ball Game, Getting a Mortgage (or 2), Great lifestyle for all, Traveling???All things to SERIOUSLY CONSIDER!
When we are composing a new song i will, as a drummer, learn to play the basic rythmguitar. And when that is done, i will record it with some midi drums that I've done my self. Due to midi drums composing I will test some different fill ins and markings to see how it sounds all in together. Every band member would then have a copy of the song to practice at home with their respective instrument.
Heard all this before , many , many times. You explained it very thoroughly and made it interesting and it makes sense. I cut my kit down to those bare bones occasionally to remind me of what is really essential, really important .. we all love drums and cymbals and gadgets but to be really comfortable on a kick, snare hats is where it’s all at.. nicely done, great video . Thank you for the great tips & all that inspiration! 🥁
super cool video!! will definitely be using these tips; i’ve been a totally self-taught drummer and am now in a cover band looking to develop my skills! 🙏🏼
That's great! Any skills in particular? I'm working on new content every day and I want to make videos that help drummers develop, so let me know what would be useful. If you're not already subscribed please do so we can grow together! 🙏🥁🤘
@@skiddleberryyou’ve definitely gained a new sub today! 🙏🏼 and my biggest thing is trying to keep a consistent tempo without speeding up/slowing down. it’s far too easy for me to get distracted about things going on during the song and i will unintentionally change tempo.
For me, playing in the pocket basically means Clyde Stubblefield. The drummer with James Brown. He basically invented the term with his playing (the term came later though). For me "in the pocket" does not mean playing like a drum machine - on the contrary. There simply are drummers that gives a millisecond of slack (or plays a millisecond before) the exact beat. Songs from James Brown are an excellent example, but Prince and many other great artist always had a drummer that mastered "in the pocket". The very subtle differencies between the drummer and the basist creates "The Groove".
I had the Beat Bug, one of the best drumming inventions of its time! It made a huge improvement in my groove, and took me to a new level! Now after a couple years hiatus, my V-Drums have got me back in the pocket and quickly! Old drummers never die, the numbers just change every year!
@@kvmalley it took me a while to fully embrace the digital technology, but the possibilities are incredible and the feel is almost 💯 Built in speedometer is just one great advantage. Rock on my old school brother! 🤘🥁
@@skiddleberry me too! I just got the VAD306 with TD-17 module this spring! I’m a retired techie, so upgraded to V2 right away and I’m off! Having fun with it! Best practice tool since I started playing a very, VERY long time ago! 😂
My metronome can go down to 30. On the e-drums, 20 ! That's a challenge for concentration, but for students, I would recommend 40, you can have it on any cheap quartz metronome. But playing Cuban music, where we weave the tempo together, it's wrong to play with a click. On the question of structures, it would be a good idea for many drummers to learn music...
I haven't run across anything like that, but I would bet there's something out there. Try searching "beat detector laptop". There are also physical ones that are trigger based, but they are kind of expensive. Not a bad investment in my opinion!
what's really annoying and i have this problem is i play all the cover songs to a click and really dial in so the songs are very close to the correct tempo and when i play with the band and i have the metronome right in front of me with the correct time of the the song (lets say Honky Tonk woman) and I'm playing the song i get told by the singer or guitar player to SLOW DOWN ,.... and my tempo is correct ... It happens all night and i tell them there dragging and they dont believe me ...What can a drummer do ..Its so frustrating .Happy Holidays be well
I hear you! Some people just don't get it 🙄🤣 The speedometer app that I mentioned and linked to in the description (liveBPM) can be useful for proof of tempo as it keeps a graph running for quite some time. The other options would be putting the click in everyone's ears (at least at rehearsal) or you might just have to grace another band with your solid time keeping LOL Thanks for commenting 🙏 Happy Holidays to you and keep on fighting the good fight! 🥁🤘
I have this problem, too… super irritating is someone in the band complaining I’ve counted the song “too fast”, when I’ve used the metronome to count it in at the agreed tempo. Sometimes, someone else will decide to count in (because obviously they know better) and if it is a rehearsal, someone else will shout “stop, that is too slow”. I’ll count it in again at the original tempo “Ah, that’s better -why didn’t you count it in at that speed first time?” Er… I did. 🙄
The drummer does drive the band. It's my job to provide a sturdy framework for others to lock on to. Playing solid time doesn't mean sterile, without feel and emotion! 🥁🤘
I had a bass player tell me that while my pocket playing was great, I needed to “drive the beat” which he interpreted as being slightly ahead that gave the song a drive. How is “driving the beat” not the same as “rushing”?
You can play slightly ahead of time without rushing. If you keep the bpm constant, but land your notes consistently just ahead of the tempo, that can give a more driving feel...anticipating the beat. Just be careful to keep bpm constant and not go off to the races!! 🥁🤘
Right but: I'll never be good at that. "tempo playing" so I play quite slow, quiet, fast and speedy to slow, I never play hard (loud) because I want to keep it smooth and subtle. so i never gonne play in a band. but I'm having fun with my drum kit
Good question! The speedometer is more accurate than my ears. Even though a click is going I can still wander off of it. The speedometer let's me visually see when I start to stray. It helps me get into that zone where playing feels completely comfortable and that number doesn't change because the tempo is completely solid (pocket). 🙏🥁🤘
While I agree, of course, that a drummer has to play on tempo, what you are describing is boring and over simplistic for a great drummer to do constantly. The greatest drummers that have ever lived are able to make their instrument as much as a lead instrument as a guitar or keyboard. Examples would be Billy Cobham in the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Marco Minneman in the Aristocrats, Dave Weckl in the Chick Corea Electrik Band or Bill Bruford in YES. These players can easily pick up on what the guitar and keyboards are doing and play note for note with them during leads. None of these drummers would be able to generate the thrills and interest in the music that they did adhering to your formula. So now the comment will be "But most people are not at their level of drumming". Of course, that's true, but it shouldn't dissuade people from trying to get to that level and having fun along the way. The same goes for Bass Players. I'd much rather listen to Mohini Dey than I would some straightforward simplistic bass line created to appease the "lead" players in a band or studio scenario. BTW, I've played professionally for six decades in both live and recording sessions and nobody has ever told me to tone down my playing, or taken drums away from me. That's ridiculous. If someone is trying to get you to play "their way" I would tell you to find musicians that can handle more complex playing, such as jazz rock fusion or progressive players.
I love drummers that can tear it up too. In my early twenties, I greatly needed and appreciated a professional helping me break down my playing and develop fundamental funk inducing groove. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts! Rock on 🙏🥁🤘
Drummers must be familiar with the entire song and know it well. They must know the length of the verse, when the chorus is, when the bridge is, where the solos are. How can you navigate the song if you don't know where you are going?
I consider myself a drummer first and foremost. But also have learned other instruments and can read music. I highly recommend drummers learn how to read music, music theory, understanding melody, and how more notes do not make a song "better" It will help you play drums better to a song, and find how drums can elevate the song making altogether better instead of simply playing whatever beat you can think of. Try to play to the song, and I think learning other instruments will help you do that.
Absolutely! Drums came naturally to me, but I have put a lot of work into learning guitar and some bass the last few years. Overall it helps me as a musician for sure 🥁🤘
I agree mostly. I think perfect timing can be pursued at the expense of creativity. Obviously chops out of time, sloppy and out sync coming back in on one in time is awful, there’s a human element to imperfection that makes music appealing. A lot of recordings today are overly sanitized and to me highly uninteresting. The equivalent of elevator music. Some of the most iconic recordings in music are not perfect at all. Honky tonk women being one. By the end of the song the stones are playing twice as fast as when they started. But that’s never mentioned in fact all you ever hear is about how great Charlie’s timing was. It’s the flaws and human elements that are all part of what makes the song great.
Yep good points. I don't think I'll ever be absolute mechanical precision, nor do I want to be. Milliseconds will fall where they fall, but that quarter note pulse is what I want to keep steady and deep 🙏🥁🤘
Sounds a little extreme, unless you want to be only a human metronome & not an artist. But then again if that's all the band wants why don't they just use a drum machine? As far as the click track thing, it should be noted that minor changes in tempo are used by drummers as a dynamic effect the same way changes in playing volume, sometimes parts of a song will be played louder than other parts as played by the drummer to help heighten the emotion. As for me, in this era of Pro-Tools computerized music production & click tracks, this doesn't always work for me & I refuse to give up my creativity to machines & computers. Finally: Anyone who has no use for the tonal variations that multiple sized toms gives you, that provide the drummer with creative latitude, fundamentally just doesn't like drums, and therefore their opinions mean nothing to me at all. 3:39
Play however makes you happy! The guy who took my toms away for a period of time was a very successful drummer. It was an exercise that taught me how to provide a solid backbone to the music and be an artist of my craft. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts 🥁🤘
"speedometer" for the snare drum? All drummers should learn to play with a "click track". However, I must say most "click tracks" sound horrible. Someone needs to devise one that at least sounds good and "musical". After getting good with that, hopefully you will not need one and playing organically with that tempo always from inside of you. Your "gut" so to speak. But, other musicians in a band may feel more comfortable with a click track live. Hopefully not, because you are such a solid drummer that it isn't needed anymore. But always do what's best for "the band". Only through music can the sum be greater than the parts. That's the magic of music.
These concepts are all designed to build solid inner tempo. It's not always feasible to play with a click track all the time, especially live. But the more solid I am in practice the better I am performing 🥁🤘
Less is more that makes a good musician. The lack of that attitude is probably why music and everything else sucks today. Playing guitar and bass is no different than someone taking your shit away. I can noodle and pimp the pentotonic on solos. But... it dont fit a song structure. Then comes the fills. Then you can add some bends, walk ups and walk downs and so on. Get the basics down first and then work in the candy. This is how all songs come about in the beginning. And drums are no different than guitars or vocals. You can add the flash later. Its called "evolution". We hear songs and automatically believe they were composed that way. They all started out basic and evolved to what we here. I have tried to teach people guitar. I dont have the patience for it. They want to play songs before they can play basic chords. Hell music theory is not theory, it is fact.
Well said! I agree 💯 this applies to any instrument.... and just about anything in life for that matter! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts 🙏🥁🤘
You either have timing or you don't. If you don't you have a very long road to perfection. I have NEVER been accused of being out of time. It's innate.
Roland TD-17 KVX2 Review here --> ua-cam.com/video/0Xn5WZAj2yQ/v-deo.htmlsi=m0liSmcYF_owPmx1
In my experience, playing in the pocket is more than just playing in time. It's matching rhythms and dynamics with vocal patterns, bass patterns, and guitar riffs. Requires listening. Also, playing in time is more an art, many of the bands of old didn't use clicks, so the music speeds varies. That movement of the music makes it richer. Having a good sense of time, and then using it skillfully to push and pull with intensity is a real art form.
Sounds like you're aware of the concepts and apply them stylistically to your playing situations. Those are valid nuances to consider. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts! 🙏🥁🤘
Agreed!
Personally, not a fan of using a click on stage! I avoid those gigs; perfection in tempo is never my goal, matching my team, and vice versa is always my goal!
He's correct in most musical endeavors by using basic terminology that's been said over..... staying in the pocket and keeping perfect time. However that applies to what kind of music your producing and the outer band members. Alot of jazz and improv/prog musicians don't want a puppet drummer who doesn't bring the dynamics of either pushing the tempo at times during crescendos of songs, or on the flipside a drummer who cant play behind the downbeat at times. A perfect example of that is Ginger Baker and Cream, Eric Clapton enjoyed Ginger's ability to play behind the tempo(out of the pocket) at times because it added dynamics to a group consisting of only 3 members. Keep in mind a studio hobbit made this guy do what he wanted for album recordings, that doesn't necessarily mean it applies all the time. Realize and gauge what the music calls for, before settling on a single-minded end all be all narrative.
That's simply called "playing the song"
U can play.....
1) a drum beat
2) a drum part
3) THE SONG
U will get more gigs u can wish for if you start playing THE SONG & THE SONG ALONE
💯💯💯💯💯
When I was @ UMA (college), in 4 yrs, as of 2002, (mite still stand, I honestly don't know) I had played in MORE "student produced" productions, (recitals, senior concerts, junior standings, etc etc) than ANY OTHER SINGLE MUSICIAN in the HISTORY of the program. Was I THE BEST, NOPE, I was probably 3rd or 4th in terms of "SKILL" & "TECHNICALITIES"..... BUT what I DID DO, was "PLAY THE F*CKIN' SONG" THAT is IT.
A bandleader or songwriter...... ALL THEY WANT is a drum part that keeps the time, while ACCENTUATING ALL THE NUANCES THE SONGWRITER WROTE. they do NOT care how FAST you can play, how many notes you can fit into a measure, or how ridiculously large your drum kit is. They don't care about ANY OF THAT. All they want is a HUMAN time keeper WHO CAN LISTEN, HEAR, & PLAY "WHAT" is "going on" with-in the song
P E R I O D
& once you are able to do THAT...... You will get MORE WORK than you can handle 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
It took ME a LONG TIME to REALLY "figure this out". I knew that people obviously liked the way I went about creating my parts, but I didn't realize it was THE REASON WHY musicians WANTED ME. is cuz when I play a song, I PLAY THE SONG. I've actually gotten angry when band leaders do NOT give ME a copy of the chart, cuz ALOT of drummers don't even bother LOOKING @ IT, let alone READING IT & UTILIZING IT. the EASIEST WAY to come with KILLER DRUM PARTS for A SONG...... IS TO LEARN THE F*CKIN' CHART!!!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
Another thing I notice on UA-cam, is that there is a WHOLE LOT of drummers on here playing "drum covers"
That's all fine & well if THAT is WHAT you WANT to do .... But what I DO NOT see very much of @ ALL is people WRITING A SONG or SOLO & then performing THAT......
THIS is something that I AM looking to do in this next year. I like seeing people's "CREATIVITY"...... NOT "MIMICRY". Just saying. Seeing people get endorsement deals from playing NOTHING BUT OTHER•PEOPLES•SONGS is kind of infuriating. I understand the whole purpose of endorsements is to SELL MORE PRODUCT, but rewarding people for NOTHING BUT MIMICRY is..... Kinda like getting a "participation trophy" IN MY OPINION.
JUST SAYIN'
What makes a song "great" is the creativity used to get there. ANYONE can learn an instrument & then copy sum one else's work. But the REAL question is, & what separates the "men from the boys" (just a phrase ladies, don't get worked up 😆) is WHAT YOU CAN DO in a song WITH-OUT a "pre-existing" drum part. It's funny. I have an ALESIS COMMAND-X E•kit too, & there are 60 "play along" songs & I NEVER EVEN LISTEND to the programmed drum parts til bout 2 YEARS AFTER I got it, then I NEVER listened to them again..... Honestly, they were kinda a joke 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💯💯💯💯
Well said in your demonstration it's all
Thank you 🙏🥁🤘
What you said around the 1:40 mark was so spot on!
Drying your tears and being ready to learn is imho the very essence of any musician's life.
That was a real moment. My band directors and everyone I played with always told me what a great drummer I was, so it was really hard to hear that I needed help with fundamental stuff 😢 🤣🥁🤘
@@skiddleberry When I was a very young dude a woman said to me after a gig that my performance was way to innocent. Of course I was offended and of course I didn't know what she meant. After having licked my wounds I came to realize that she was right - a game changing moment! Today I think of it at the best piece of advice I ever got in terms of music. So yeah, the truth can be brutal at first, but it can trigger a learning process if you're open for it.
Great tips here boys & girls. I think WE ALL go thru this "thing"
Some of my BEST practice sessions, including the one I did yesterday, include NOTHING BUT my SD, BD, HH, & Ride..... that's IT. i call it my "groove•machine".
I need to find one of these "speedometers"
That's great! Thanks so much 🙏 The speedometer app I referred to in the video is a great $4 solution. 🥁🤘
Wow! .. That was a fantastic piece of advice for me personally. Gave me a new lease of confidence. Thank you.
Glad it resonates with you! Thanks very much 🙏 🥁 🤘
I started gigging in the late '70's. Big drum kits were the sign of a pro drummer (so I thought). We played dances, weddings, graduations so a lot of one night shows. After a while the band kept threating to leave half my kit behind in that small town because they were tired of carrying all those drums.
I really appreciate a skilled drummer who can use a basic 4 or 5 piece drum set over the guy who carries chimes, 10 toms and 14 cymbals but only use them once per night.
Absolutely! It takes creativity to use less. My kit is a little bigger now, but nothing like what it was when I was young. 🙏🥁🤘
Sir, thank you for sharing. Advice like you received, I am jealous of that.
My pleasure. I'm grateful he took the time to pass it along to me. Thank you so much 🙏🥁🤘
I'm 66 years. Played drums in my dad's band at the age of 8 yrs., played drums throughout my school years and have been playing weekly for my church worship band. YOU ARE SO RIGHT ON!!!! Thanks!
That's a lot of banging!! Thank you so much 🙏 🥁 🤘
Hey there!! I completely resonate with this. So glad to hear and see really good, solid and sound advice for drummers out there! And the great thing is that your playing embodies that; you've got a great feel.
When we find our "why"-why do drummers play? What are our roles?- it REALLY helps us excel! Thank you for laying this out so beautifully. All the best 👊🏾🙏🏾
My pleasure! I'm grateful someone took the time to pass it along to me. So glad you identify and enjoy. I'm honored by your words 👊🙏🥁🤘
Good instruction. Exactly what I needed. Using Live-BPM is an eye opener.
Crazy isn't it? Thank you so much 🙏 🥁 🤘
Great lesson, wonderful example also for my beginner Students, thanks for sharing !!
My pleasure! Thank you so much 🙏 🥁🤘
one more thing id add is consistent and diverse dynamics
Great information thanks for the video
My pleasure! Thank you 🙏
I started using live BPM with my band a couple of years ago, and I've been using it at every one my live gigs since. Just sits on my kick drum where I can see it easily all the time. It has helped enormously with pocket playing and over time I've learnt the best tempo for each song and I can make adjustments quickly if needed. I've never used a speedometer but I can certainly recommend the live BPM app.
Great lesson - thanks.
☮️🙏🥁🎵
My pleasure! Thank you so much 🙏 🥁 🤘
I somewhat agree with you. And those are of course some good tips. But I have some “contentions”. I agree that “pocket is locking in with the band”. And I would say that Phil Rudd & Billy Cobham are equal masters of pocket. With that said I’m more of the opinion that “pocket” develops with other musicians, how you become a unit. And tempo doesn’t really matter then. It can go up & down as long as it occurs as a locked in unit. Metronomes and clicks are good tips to learn how to practice too, but sometimes I think they work against the “pocket”. Pocket is an organic human element, and it can be disturbed by machine like precision.
Secondly I view fills more from a jazz perspective (and yes I’m a huge fusion fan). They can (and often should) signal to the band what’s coming up. But they’re also a tool for pocket. To show that you know not just your part, but also everybody else’s. To follow a bass-line here and there, to accentuate a vocal line, to lock in with a guitar-lick.
Well, that was my 2 cents . Good luck and keep it up ✌🏻🤩
Those are valid points. I think all those things work together to help musicians and music jell. My goal with all of the timed practicing is to improve my inner sense of time so that others have a strong backbone to hang on to without taking off to the races lol
And yes, excellent point about fills setting up and accentuating hits - especially in jazz. Certainly a useful tool to support other musicians' parts. I appreciate your thoughts and support! 🥁🤘
I used to think that "pocket" was everything you said and still have a warm heart to that but when our band started using a click track I found that that pocket needs to stay in time or otherwise someone in the band will run off with their own time (every time).
@@tommcmichael8679 Well, my spontaneous reaction to that would be (without knowing your level of musicianship) that you need more personal development and more rehearsal. Usually pocket is a result of “greater awareness” 😅
We gotta herd those cats 🤣🥁🤘
@@skiddleberry Yeah, or as I would say on my channel: Ape Is The Way! 🥁🦍😂
This is all great info. I would rush it sometimes and my band mates were to kind, they should have been more direct. Had some fantastic shows over the years, but it would have made me a better drummer. Had they let me know.
Better late than never! We've all been there and then some I'm sure lol Thank you so much 🙏 🥁 🤘
Absolutely!!! Amen, and thanks !
🙌 My pleasure! Thank you 🙏 🥁 🤘
Thanks for the video, and I agree. Looking forward from more on your channel. Anything musical and can help musicians at any level is always helpful. You should never stop learning, and going over things you "think" you know just to make sure you haven't forgotten anything. And most of all: Have Fun! That's why hopefully anybody plays drums!
Enjoying playing music is what it's all about! I'm working on new content every day. Didn't expect things to start to take off this quickly, but I'm honored and grateful! Thanks so much for your support 🙏🥁🤘
Love the content, well for me, reading with interpretation is a must as well. Cruise ships, theater and other session.
I just realized that reading will almost get you all the jobs that would pay the bills. Being an independent drummer yes, once you get discovered with all the fundamentals, these in mind, but like to get a fixed paying job for example, cruise ship, since in reality not all would be on the spotlight right away, artists, sessions, etc, reading is truly a key. Sight reading guest entertainers is no joke and yup these fundamentals come into play.😊
Pocket, time, etc… reading/ability to sight read/ basically to become a well rounded session/working drummer, hence Vinnie❤.
I had friend that has great time, fundamentals, etc, but could not get a big band gig he wanted because of the reading, he wanted to do big band shows on cruise ships and travel, wanted to work on a cruise or theater gig, but could not read well, so I told him focus on great fundamentals but read as well.😊
But truly in General, Pocket and Time would be King and Queen
I had to read a ton marching and playing jazz, but I have to admit I'm probably a bit rusty 🤣 it is a must in some applications. Best luck to you and thank you for taking the time to share! 🙏🥁🤘
Your comment is the BEST I read in a long time! However, as a profession for a grown Man who thinks about more than himself,I.e. wants a Wife, Kids, Benefits, Ins.for the Family, Pension, Security, going to your Child's Ball Game, Getting a Mortgage (or 2), Great lifestyle for all, Traveling???All things to SERIOUSLY CONSIDER!
Im happy to get in on this channel right as it is about to explode. Good stuff here, thanks man!
Thank you so much 🙏 I'm honored and working on my next video now!! 🥁🤘
Good stuff! New sub.
Sweet! Thanks so much 🙏 🥁 🤘
EXCELLENT!
Thank you so much! 🙏🥁🤘
When we are composing a new song i will, as a drummer, learn to play the basic rythmguitar. And when that is done, i will record it with some midi drums that I've done my self. Due to midi drums composing I will test some different fill ins and markings to see how it sounds all in together. Every band member would then have a copy of the song to practice at home with their respective instrument.
That sounds like a thorough and well thought out competition method. Your band is fortunate to have you! Thanks for sharing 🙏🥁🤘
Excellent advice and video. Well done and agree as a bass player and guitarist
Thanks very much! 🙏 🥁 🤘
SOOO LONG OVERDUE, THANK YOU
My pleasure! Thank you 🙏 🥁 🤘
Great video - super helpful!!
Thank you so much! 🙏 🥁 🤘
Heard all this before , many , many times. You explained it very thoroughly and made it interesting and it makes sense. I cut my kit down to those bare bones occasionally to remind me of what is really essential, really important .. we all love drums and cymbals and gadgets but to be really comfortable on a kick, snare hats is where it’s all at.. nicely done, great video . Thank you for the great tips & all that inspiration! 🥁
My pleasure! Glad you appreciate it 🙏 Thank you for your kind words and support! 🥁 🤘
super cool video!! will definitely be using these tips; i’ve been a totally self-taught drummer and am now in a cover band looking to develop my skills! 🙏🏼
That's great! Any skills in particular? I'm working on new content every day and I want to make videos that help drummers develop, so let me know what would be useful. If you're not already subscribed please do so we can grow together! 🙏🥁🤘
@@skiddleberryyou’ve definitely gained a new sub today! 🙏🏼 and my biggest thing is trying to keep a consistent tempo without speeding up/slowing down. it’s far too easy for me to get distracted about things going on during the song and i will unintentionally change tempo.
Practice with a metronome and try that speedometer app live bpm! 🥁🤘
For me, playing in the pocket basically means Clyde Stubblefield. The drummer with James Brown. He basically invented the term with his playing (the term came later though). For me "in the pocket" does not mean playing like a drum machine - on the contrary. There simply are drummers that gives a millisecond of slack (or plays a millisecond before) the exact beat. Songs from James Brown are an excellent example, but Prince and many other great artist always had a drummer that mastered "in the pocket". The very subtle differencies between the drummer and the basist creates "The Groove".
Yep, agreed. Well said. Best feeling in the world! Thanks for sharing 🤘
I had the Beat Bug, one of the best drumming inventions of its time! It made a huge improvement in my groove, and took me to a new level! Now after a couple years hiatus, my V-Drums have got me back in the pocket and quickly! Old drummers never die, the numbers just change every year!
@@kvmalley it took me a while to fully embrace the digital technology, but the possibilities are incredible and the feel is almost 💯 Built in speedometer is just one great advantage. Rock on my old school brother! 🤘🥁
@@skiddleberry me too! I just got the VAD306 with TD-17 module this spring! I’m a retired techie, so upgraded to V2 right away and I’m off! Having fun with it! Best practice tool since I started playing a very, VERY long time ago! 😂
@@kvmalley Nice! I just upgraded to Roland last week LOL Still finding my way around, but it's already phenomenal 😁
Right On
TY sir 🙏 🥁 🤘
First 16 seconds I’m like “yes he gets it”
Glad you do too 😉 🙏🥁🤘
My metronome can go down to 30. On the e-drums, 20 ! That's a challenge for concentration, but for students, I would recommend 40, you can have it on any cheap quartz metronome. But playing Cuban music, where we weave the tempo together, it's wrong to play with a click.
On the question of structures, it would be a good idea for many drummers to learn music...
Yep, playing slowly and accurately is as important and can be more difficult than playing fast! 🥁🤘
Pocket playing has a “feel” which makes the song sound and feel the same. It’s very powerful.
Agreed 🙏🥁🤘
Huh. I have never heard of a speedometer for drums. I would like to get one. I don't use cellphones but can I get one for a laptop?
I haven't run across anything like that, but I would bet there's something out there. Try searching "beat detector laptop". There are also physical ones that are trigger based, but they are kind of expensive. Not a bad investment in my opinion!
@@skiddleberry Thanks for the information. Keep on drummin'
Same, and thank you! 🙏 🥁 🤘
what's really annoying and i have this problem is i play all the cover songs to a click and really dial in so the songs are very close to the correct tempo and when i play with the band and i have the metronome right in front of me with the correct time of the the song (lets say Honky Tonk woman) and I'm playing the song i get told by the singer or guitar player to SLOW DOWN ,.... and my tempo is correct ... It happens all night and i tell them there dragging and they dont believe me ...What can a drummer do ..Its so frustrating .Happy Holidays be well
I hear you! Some people just don't get it 🙄🤣 The speedometer app that I mentioned and linked to in the description (liveBPM) can be useful for proof of tempo as it keeps a graph running for quite some time. The other options would be putting the click in everyone's ears (at least at rehearsal) or you might just have to grace another band with your solid time keeping LOL Thanks for commenting 🙏 Happy Holidays to you and keep on fighting the good fight! 🥁🤘
ty bro great playing
I have this problem, too… super irritating is someone in the band complaining I’ve counted the song “too fast”, when I’ve used the metronome to count it in at the agreed tempo. Sometimes, someone else will decide to count in (because obviously they know better) and if it is a rehearsal, someone else will shout “stop, that is too slow”. I’ll count it in again at the original tempo “Ah, that’s better -why didn’t you count it in at that speed first time?” Er… I did. 🙄
Thank you so much! 🙏 🥁 🤘
The struggle is real sometimes 🤣 To thine own self be true 🙏🥁🤘
Drummer drives the band,i play off the lead player,I play what i feel and with emotion,crowd loves it. If I was a human metronome,it wouldnt happen.
The drummer does drive the band. It's my job to provide a sturdy framework for others to lock on to. Playing solid time doesn't mean sterile, without feel and emotion! 🥁🤘
I had a bass player tell me that while my pocket playing was great, I needed to “drive the beat” which he interpreted as being slightly ahead that gave the song a drive.
How is “driving the beat” not the same as “rushing”?
You can play slightly ahead of time without rushing. If you keep the bpm constant, but land your notes consistently just ahead of the tempo, that can give a more driving feel...anticipating the beat. Just be careful to keep bpm constant and not go off to the races!! 🥁🤘
Love that "playing in pocket"
Sadly it's just a thing of the past here in Philippines ✌️🤣😂
Awwwww bummer 😭 Bring the pocket back!! ✌️🙏🥁🤘
Right but: I'll never be good at that. "tempo playing" so I play quite slow, quiet, fast and speedy to slow, I never play hard (loud) because I want to keep it smooth and subtle. so i never gonne play in a band. but I'm having fun with my drum kit
Have fun and do what you do! Thanks for sharing 🙏🥁🤘
Interspersed 32nd notes is where its at. What are you talking about
🤣 Fo sho! 🥁🤘
Merry Christmas everyone!!!!
Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅🙏🥁🤘
If you're using a click track, why the need for a speedometer?
Good question! The speedometer is more accurate than my ears. Even though a click is going I can still wander off of it. The speedometer let's me visually see when I start to stray. It helps me get into that zone where playing feels completely comfortable and that number doesn't change because the tempo is completely solid (pocket). 🙏🥁🤘
While I agree, of course, that a drummer has to play on tempo, what you are describing is boring and over simplistic for a great drummer to do constantly. The greatest drummers that have ever lived are able to make their instrument as much as a lead instrument as a guitar or keyboard. Examples would be Billy Cobham in the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Marco Minneman in the Aristocrats, Dave Weckl in the Chick Corea Electrik Band or Bill Bruford in YES. These players can easily pick up on what the guitar and keyboards are doing and play note for note with them during leads. None of these drummers would be able to generate the thrills and interest in the music that they did adhering to your formula. So now the comment will be "But most people are not at their level of drumming". Of course, that's true, but it shouldn't dissuade people from trying to get to that level and having fun along the way. The same goes for Bass Players. I'd much rather listen to Mohini Dey than I would some straightforward simplistic bass line created to appease the "lead" players in a band or studio scenario. BTW, I've played professionally for six decades in both live and recording sessions and nobody has ever told me to tone down my playing, or taken drums away from me. That's ridiculous. If someone is trying to get you to play "their way" I would tell you to find musicians that can handle more complex playing, such as jazz rock fusion or progressive players.
I love drummers that can tear it up too. In my early twenties, I greatly needed and appreciated a professional helping me break down my playing and develop fundamental funk inducing groove. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts! Rock on 🙏🥁🤘
Drummers must be familiar with the entire song and know it well. They must know the length of the verse, when the chorus is, when the bridge is, where the solos are. How can you navigate the song if you don't know where you are going?
Yep exactly. We're not along for the ride. We're driving the bus 🙏🥁🤘
I consider myself a drummer first and foremost. But also have learned other instruments and can read music. I highly recommend drummers learn how to read music, music theory, understanding melody, and how more notes do not make a song "better" It will help you play drums better to a song, and find how drums can elevate the song making altogether better instead of simply playing whatever beat you can think of. Try to play to the song, and I think learning other instruments will help you do that.
Absolutely! Drums came naturally to me, but I have put a lot of work into learning guitar and some bass the last few years. Overall it helps me as a musician for sure 🥁🤘
🥁 WATCH NEXT for a FREE DRUM LESSON!! 🥁🤘
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In my opinion, the best drummers do the MOST with the LEAST.
Agreed 💯 🙏🥁🤘
nice
Thank you so much! 🙏 🥁 🤘
I agree mostly. I think perfect timing can be pursued at the expense of creativity. Obviously chops out of time, sloppy and out sync coming back in on one in time is awful, there’s a human element to imperfection that makes music appealing.
A lot of recordings today are overly sanitized and to me highly uninteresting. The equivalent of elevator music. Some of the most iconic recordings in music are not perfect at all. Honky tonk women being one. By the end of the song the stones are playing twice as fast as when they started. But that’s never mentioned in fact all you ever hear is about how great Charlie’s timing was. It’s the flaws and human elements that are all part of what makes the song great.
Yep good points. I don't think I'll ever be absolute mechanical precision, nor do I want to be. Milliseconds will fall where they fall, but that quarter note pulse is what I want to keep steady and deep 🙏🥁🤘
Sounds a little extreme, unless you want to be only a human metronome & not an artist. But then again if that's all the band wants why don't they just use a drum machine?
As far as the click track thing, it should be noted that minor changes in tempo are used by drummers as a dynamic effect the same way changes in playing volume, sometimes parts of a song will be played louder than other parts as played by the drummer to help heighten the emotion. As for me, in this era of Pro-Tools computerized music production & click tracks, this doesn't always work for me & I refuse to give up my creativity to machines & computers.
Finally: Anyone who has no use for the tonal variations that multiple sized toms gives you, that provide the drummer with creative latitude, fundamentally just doesn't like drums, and therefore their opinions mean nothing to me at all. 3:39
Play however makes you happy! The guy who took my toms away for a period of time was a very successful drummer. It was an exercise that taught me how to provide a solid backbone to the music and be an artist of my craft. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts 🥁🤘
who are you mr. bow
Tell this to the young gospel drummers
I'm grateful for the guy who sat me down! 🙏🥁🤘
I hate studio work but I'll take it. I prefer live. My metronome is the girl with the great @ss on the dance floor.
🤣Love it! 🥁 🤘
listen to more soul funk
Word 🥁🤘
"speedometer" for the snare drum? All drummers should learn to play with a "click track". However, I must say most "click tracks" sound horrible. Someone needs to devise one that at least sounds good and "musical". After getting good with that, hopefully you will not need one and playing organically with that tempo always from inside of you. Your "gut" so to speak. But, other musicians in a band may feel more comfortable with a click track live. Hopefully not, because you are such a solid drummer that it isn't needed anymore. But always do what's best for "the band". Only through music can the sum be greater than the parts. That's the magic of music.
These concepts are all designed to build solid inner tempo. It's not always feasible to play with a click track all the time, especially live. But the more solid I am in practice the better I am performing 🥁🤘
Less is more that makes a good musician. The lack of that attitude is probably why music and everything else sucks today. Playing guitar and bass is no different than someone taking your shit away. I can noodle and pimp the pentotonic on solos. But... it dont fit a song structure. Then comes the fills. Then you can add some bends, walk ups and walk downs and so on. Get the basics down first and then work in the candy. This is how all songs come about in the beginning. And drums are no different than guitars or vocals. You can add the flash later. Its called "evolution". We hear songs and automatically believe they were composed that way. They all started out basic and evolved to what we here.
I have tried to teach people guitar. I dont have the patience for it. They want to play songs before they can play basic chords.
Hell music theory is not theory, it is fact.
Well said! I agree 💯 this applies to any instrument.... and just about anything in life for that matter! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts 🙏🥁🤘
You either have timing or you don't. If you don't you have a very long road to perfection. I have NEVER been accused of being out of time. It's innate.
Rock on! 🙏🥁🤘