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YEP, a very big agree on me on those ! lol nostalgic buut you will really wanna say to yourself... why didn't I?? lol, thanks Stephen! (I'm still laughing at myself *VERY Lol)
Thanks man. Im lost my skill, its just was in me naturally, but last 2 years i didnt practice much. Now its time to get my skills back. Thank you for your work!
1- Practice with a metronome, 2- start slow... then go fast, 3- learn how to play with your left and right sides, 4- record yourself, 5- learn a song 100%... then move to the next one, 6- HAVE FUN and play what you like!
yeah ur right bro. i only practiced with metronome only once or twice and i play the drums at church. I always get the advice to practice with a metronome but don't know how to get the right app and how to use it lol. I also have problem in controlling my left hand haha anyways I'm just saying hehe
@@sharonk7 Suggestion? If you need a V-drum kit, the very excellent Roland has a nice tiny kit. I'd put money it still has a metronome with a tiny Japanese man voice :) best thing ever. I use an app called Tempo, but I like the old wood kind or my Roland better, actually.
Even shoddy recordings on your phone will help. I listen to myself sometimes and think "never again, that sounds horrible" or "I did not know that easy roll sounded so good"
As a full time musician, drum teacher and hardcore practise freak I can tell you that what Stephen is saying is 100 % true. Music is really a great investment of time in Life. My advices are: be your own teacher, find out your personal struggles/problems and ask yourself questions. Do your research, but try to find the answers yourself before you look them up - it’s beyond exciting to explore! If music is important to you and you love it above all, then you better make sure you get the time you need to play, explore, research, practise, grow etc - no excuses!!
I’m a music teacher as well and whether we like it or not, students can smell the energy we bring to our art. If it’s a job, you will fail. If it’s a purpose, you will wear it.
I’ve played for many years, and one of the best tips for a drummer, I’ve discovered? When sitting on your drum seat ,don’t hunch over them, sit so your balance is slightly tipped back, makes everything easier, and after you get used to it, much less fatigue, the sticks will bounce back effortlessly, better dynamics!
I am an drummer in my 40s who has always buried the beater until 6 months ago. After watching this video I decided to follow your advice due to my leg literally giving out after 3 hr rehearsals. It is now so much easier to play , for longer, with no knee pain. I thought I was just getting too old to keep up and now realized I was working WAY harder then needed. I think there is a notable sound improvement as well. Thanks for the lifesaving tip.
Do you play "heels up" on your pedals? If you play heels down, you may want to try a heels up style. I was surprised when I realized how much more control I seemed to have when I played heels up.😉👍🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I'm 42 and just bought my first drum kit a couple of months ago. I'm trying to learn good fundamentals from the start but I can't seem to not bury the beater. I'm currently trying to learn the beat from Radio Head - Creep. It would probably way easier to get that kick in if I didn't bury the beater.
@@lobbyrobby Maybe check your foot position? I find it works best for me to have my foot placed a bit farther back on the pedal and use mostly the ball of the foot.
@@frogtite I've been practicing more and I'm kinda getting it. I've played with foot position a little and I have moved back some but when I'm not paying attention my foot seems to move up again. I'll keep at it tho.
Damn. Youve got a decade on me....I switched, not really by choice at first to guitar. I lived, breathed and knew myself as a drummer. Still to this day , I miss it bad. Sadly eviction was a worry since I moved to Ga as I had to move into apmt and was just awarded custody of my kids. They then were 10 and 5. I played a few sit in jams but never bought another kit. Hurricane Katrina took everything i had. So i had to focus on my kids and moved here. I taught my son guitar what I knew...And keys. When he grad I missed his playing from his room and bought a strat. Haven't stopped since. 2018. I threaten that I just may have to buy an Ekit at least to see if i still have it. 27 years active i believe. I took lessons really young for 4 to 6 years plus high school marching , jazz and concert. Man its cool to meet another old school drummer. Heheheh. Sorry you struck a small memory. Hahah Whats funny is I play ambient guitar stuff. Drumming was more prog , fusion Rock etc. Have a great day man.
@@outtatime9746 I hear ya there. I'm 38, but started guitar when I was your age. Decided to learn some drums when I was about 18 or 19. Only stuck with that for about a month, then focused more on guitar. Winds of Change by the Scorpions was the first song I learned to play on drums. A friend just bought a drum set recently and I went over to check it out. Had him play that song on his Stereo and still remembered how to play Winds of Change on drums after 20 years, it was so much fun. I think I want to invest in another drum set.
@@outtatime9746 Same I'm 14 as well. I just literally became a church drummer and I'm having anxiety cause I'm having trouble to everyone on the music team
I've just picked up a set of drums. As a 16 year old whose never touched a drum set in their life, these tips are really appreciated. Thank you for this
i just started learning drums and i feel so bad because my family is asking me all the time like “do you know how to play X already?” “can you play something to us?” and i’m trying to tell them that i’m just learning the basics and they’re putting so much pressure and rushing me....
Hey, don't sweat it! Tell um it takes time, but don't just say it, say it with their direct attention to YOU. If that doesn't work then have them try the drums and see how difficult it is for a beginner. Good luck to ya!
Take your time! I’ve been teaching myself how to play for about 3 years, and I’m still learning! I recently decided to take a week away from my kit entirely and spend 2 hours a day on a practice pad improving my doubles/singles/bonham triplets because I hit a wall and felt I wasn’t getting better. If you ever feel stuck creatively I highly recommend letting yourself get a break to allow your motivation to build back up. One day you’ll be proud of how far you’ve come!
Play the ten-hour version of "They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard" and ask them the next morning how they think you did. Seriously, just play whatever you want. Learn some silly, short song to shut them up, or just explain to them that you're in no hurry to play full songs. And depending on how much they know about music, they won't even notice the difference between playing it note by note and just jamming a regular old 4/4 over some fairly easy song you can find. Don't worry, in a year you'll be way ahead if you just keep practicing, at some point you will just play for them if they so desire.
Get a rudiment book. Listen to all types of drummers. Hands first. Drum music easy to learn to read. Takes lessons from a good drummer. Practice often. Go slow. Learn to be timely. Speed comes later. Play to music often. Proper form and setup of kit is important. Use volume effectively. Practice every day. Keep a routine. Posture important too. Do what's hard for you, not easy. Half to push yourself. You want accurate timely fills. Experiment is big part of playing drums. Start off on trap kit. Can do a lot on a small kit and two cymbals. Hats are most universal part of kit. Good luck!
An addition to #6 rule is to take the nervous energy and make it excitement also. I use to play in churches for like 15 years and the nerves always show up. I would put it into happy energy and would listen to a band that was similar to what I was playing and I got in a zone and the nervousness became excited energy. love the show. Rock on!!
How I’ve always played. I never get nervous now, but at the beginning I’d be nervous all day until back stage, then I turned it into excitement. Let me at em’ attitude
Many of the best players in the world ”bury the beater” instead of letting it bounce. It’s really all a matter of preference and depends on the sound you’re going for and what feels good. Just do whichever comes natural to you, there really is no right way to play the bass drum
@Rob Boss when you reach a certain speed it's impossible to not bury the beater. It'd be more of a bother to do that. Personally I like to bury the beater, because I like that dampened Bass drum sound and it gives me more control over the pedal. But I'm nevertheless practicing to not bury the beater, to enlarge my vocabulary
I've found that whatever makes you most comfortable, then do it. Be comfortable while playing. It's one of the most important parts of playing this instrument.
@@maltegunst4951 Yea would retrain your muscles memory to let the pedal rebound, get more efficiency for multiple quick strokes and it opens the drum sound a bit more. Allthough I agree u can bury the beater if u want the tone.
I’m 23 & I’ve been playing since I was 10 in church & in school & I’ve had a lot of experience in different live environments, these tips even helped me! These aren’t just great for beginners I think but for all drummers, I’m a firm believer in there’s always someone who knows more & I’m never done imporoving so videos like this help alot! 🤙🏼
If you play any instrument fast but sloppy nobody’s going to care but if you play fast with near perfect timing, tone, and phrasing then that will draw people in.
2:50 or just sit wherever you feel comfortable, and play with the heel up so you get your whole leg to support the movement and don't get tired no matter how many hours you play
Playing heels up tires you out because you are basically standing on your toes the whole time. The best way to play is to be relaxed after every hit you do, hands or feet. This means that you can just rest your right foot on the pedal without pressing or holding it up. A good sitting position is called ergonomics, which means it is paramount to sit correctly behind your drum set and have your drums set up correctly as well, just as you would want to do when sitting at your desk behind a computer all day.
@@allaboutdrumz6263 idk about you, but every drummer I know personally or in videos, including myself, play heel up and it's WAY more comfortable than lifting the tip of your foot then trying to slam it to get a decent strike. It's simple physionomy, you have the aid of your whole leg versus the tiny shin muscle. Unless you've played heel down your whole life, it's 100x more tiring, whilie you could play uninterrupted for hours and hours without getting tired at all heels up
I was a music business major and my theory teacher promised not to fail me if I played in his 3rd string jazz band. He showed me the swing is in the 1/4 note and I matured into a decent jazz player comfortable enough to sit in with just about anyone at school. I gigged in Austin and toured for a good 6 years and all these pointers are so painfully true. Great great advice!
As a beginner drummer, being able to ‘rip’ the sticks is such an aspiration, whether it’s good playing or not. It’s something that in my mind separates someone who can play and someone who’s just a beginner. I have no idea when this will develop in my skills, and seeing others do it just contributes to the frustration. Hence focus on hand speed. It’s not showing off, it’s a measure of capability in my mind
I am 100% non glamorous. 55 years old and after 2 months of practice pad drills, I bought a used lower end “learner set”. Having so much fun just learning and trying. Thanks for your videos - I learn something new every day.
I just started at the beginning of 2023 and one thing that has helped me is learning to count everything in eighths. I don't mean just in drumming but even walking counting in eighths, learning something so simple helped me relax and keep the beat in my band class.
#3 is SO important. Even after I feel like I've mastered a song I can still pick up on things by just listening. Kind of like a movie you've seen a few times than all of the sudden you catch something for the first time.
I was told by the best musician that ever created music " If you want to be a good drummer" . A great musician has the ability to make the audience anticipate notes that are not really there. Your advice has been about the most sound words I've heard in the last..... we'll leave it at 40 years. I hope they listen! Thanks for sharing the experience.
I love your #1 rule especially. Both QuestLove and my all time favorite drummer, Danny Carey, both have talked about feeling the music and not worrying so much about perfection. That’s sound advice coming from someone as masterful as Danny, especially. Just look at how relaxed QuestLove is when he plays, too. That man couldn’t be bothered if we tried. It’s beautiful to watch. I cannot WAIT to get my first kit someday. I’m trying to learn before I lose my legs (old car accident injuries taking their toll).
If I would have known the secrets of the double stroke, and the "swiss triplet" which is actually two double strokes L R , sixteenth rest L R, which, depending on the tempo, sounds like any four legged animal running.Using sounds found in nature transposed to the kit, is used so much by Danny Carey, who is the God of drumming, right now. That, and learning four limb independence, or poly rhythm playing, is crucial for setting yourself apart from all the other kit players who can play a million notes without sounding musical. you have to combine rhythm and melody in order to stand out among the crowd, my opinion.
I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self to focus on sitting up straight while playing, or at least don't slouch. Today, I'm a notorious sloucher and that has been one tough habit to break! I can sit up straight when I think about it, but as soon as my mind is on something else I tend to revert back to my slouching ways. Another bad habit for me I wish I could've corrected a long time ago is not looking at the drums while I'm playing, especially during fills and other more challenging playing. Drums really sound a lot better if you hit them with authority close to the center (as the video points out), but it's hard to do that consistently if you aren't looking at them. I tend to close my eyes or look off into the void while playing, which often causes me to hit the drums off center, or even hit the rims. I've made a lot of progress breaking this habit, but it's tough! These bad habits can really get ingrained!
Watch Danny Carey as he plays, he gets all his power from sitting up straight, you can train yourself as I did, by buying a throne with a backrest, best way to break that bad habit
I've never agreed with the 6th point honestly relaxing and getting into the music really helps, it's allows you to ignore everything and everyone watching cos you're focus on your music not them
My thing for a long time, was practicing the rudiments to all different styles of music, tempo's and time signatures. This way you can find a way of applying the rudiments either on one drum, around the drum, or using it as a beat. Another fun thing for me was taking the simple right-left-foot pattern, then changing it to easily to alternate hand right-left-foot left-right-foot, then of course, doubling the foot, then the hands, now take that pattern and start applying the different rudiments. This early on opened a lot of ideas for me......As a side note, there is a band called Focus out of the Netherlands, who's drummer Pierre Vander Linden did some crazy drum solos LIVE, that to this day i'm not sure of a few things he's doing. We're talking about 1971 and 1973 recordings. There is a 46 minute version of a tune called "Eruption" Where he does some great drumming, especially a section with just him and the Guitar player, then his solo....WOW! also a couple different solo's on another long 21/22 + minute versions of Anonymous II again some very unique drumming for its time, and he NEVER used double bass, and there wasn't double pedals out yet, that wasn't until 77/78. He is still one of my all time favorite drummers, along with another rather unknown, the great BOBBY CALDWELL; Johnny Winter and "LIVE" 1st and 3rd albums in a band Captain Beyond, Rick Derringer's "All American Boy" album and a band called Armageddon, they only did one record in 1974.
Really great advice. I've been playing for 45 years, and these ideas are what it's all about. If you disagree anywhere, think about why. Getting better is about enlarging your vocabulary, and being able to adapt, to innovate, to combine these things and keep on surprising yourself with where your playing can take you. The best lesson I ever had was simply to play and to listen at the same time, with taste. That simple idea can be said in so many ways and ten of them are expressed here. -e.
Well said, good drummer can bring the song to a totally different level by even the simplest fills! That’s what great drummers do! Doesn’t matter how great your speed and difficult patterns you can play. Great if you can, but it all boils down to? What can you do to make the song come to life! And most of the time the iconic air drum fills that we love, are the simplest ones That’s what matters! VH-Beginning “Jamie‘s Crying Rush-the break in “Tom Sawyer.” VH-Beginning “Dance The night Away” This is just 3 and there’s so many more! Don’t play a song to show people how good you are, play the song Way needs to be heard! That’s what makes it a great hit!
As a now 58 yr old self taught drummer I can definitely appreciate you for this video good job. Oh and I started when I was 10 yrs old prompted by my uncle. I use my electronic set for most of my practice time acoustic set for gigs but having said that one really needs to keep up with acoustic practice as well simply due to the overall dynamics of an acoustic set. 😉👍
@@GeeRoy3 like I was saying it really is a matter of practice just as with any instrument (except tends to be louder). With my electronic set up and with my Zune my headset and poof I can practice with ANY band I wish to and now at 60 it's all about the "Classic Rock"😄
All 12 points you made were things I learned when I played at church from 10-18yrs old. Even when I still play from time to time, I care more about blending in. My style was never a “shedder” I added the color to the picture being painted. Listening to music, playing different instruments and understanding dynamics will always be more important than just shedding. You spoke all facts my guy. 💯
Been playing for 50 years hardcore and EVERY tip here is spot on. Very very thankful I learned all of these at the beginning of my career. ALWAYS record yourself (you may discover a good fill by accident) and ALWAYS practice to a SLOW metronome. (Try to GROOVE at 40 bpm) Dynamics, groove, a good ear, and feel rule over chops ALL DAY EVERY DAY, and will keep you working. Play because YOU love it. TRY to play with other instruments if possible, so your feel can develop, rather than just trashing around in your basement hammering out your chops. Work on your attitude that you're PART of a band, not the STAR of the band. Put in the time and have FUN. Proper posture and breathing will help you not get injured over decades. Perfect practice makes BETTER. GREAT video Stephen. Keep up the great work
#10 i think it’s important to know and use both techniques, as they produce a different sound. I personally never had any knee pain when using the burying one.
Thanks so much for making this video. I've been playing for over 25 years and a lot of the points you mentioned really open my mind and thinking I need to take time of what I'm actually playing versus just playing and thinking I'm doing well. Thanks!
Number #11 was absolutely essential and I totally agree! Playing what you "feel" and playing what you "know" are definitely 2 different things. I was in a highschool jazz band many moons ago and we played at a venue called "Valley Bear Festival" in CA. This band stepped up to play and were facilitating this nice easy rhythm jazz song. Then all of a sudden the drummer forces these "triplets" that he does using the bass drum, 2nd tom, and floor tom. Gads, it sounded terrible and he kept doing this thru out the song. Needless to say, the judges had something to say about it. They brought up how it was unnecessary to add fills of that dynamic to a song of this stature. If he woulda played what he felt there probably woulda been a chance of them winning the festival. Thanks for bringing this up and here's hoping more will need the good advice from you....🤘😎👌
For the beater, one aka the third one, just use your full leg. You can use even more power if you need it in the drum and it doesn't hurt your ankle over time, You get used to it, The hi-hat you can either stay with your ankle or swap with your leg depending on your setup. Usually your leg will hit the hi-hat, but trust me, use the full power of your leg when you need it, You get a lot of volume
Thanks for your videos, especially this one, I literally went through my old keepsakes from my childhood, I found a couple of cassette tapes that I recorded myself playing when I got my first kit and i had only been playing for approximately 6 months before I got my first kit so I was still a beginner and I have to say that it was better than I remembered it being and it was like a time machine for me, and I wouldn't have done it without you posting this,thanks again 🥁
You've said what I have been taaching for over 20 years. I've played for over 50 years and get frustrated with many drummers who know drums but don't understand music. Cheers Pete
I’m new to your channel with this video, so apologies if you’ve covered this elsewhere, but one other tip that really helped me when I was young was - don’t learn beats, learn songs. Really learn right from the start how to put an effective part together. Also, really good point about swing coming from the quarter note. When you demonstrated it, there it was! The more people know that one the better. Very nice!! 👍🏻
Well done! I have been playing for 56 years, 50 professionally. You have offered good sound advice. Most drummers and lead guitarists play for themselves, not the song. Dynamics and time, and to quote Hal Blaine, “ One well placed drum luck is better than a thousand mediocre ones.”
Nice. I'm not a great drummer be any measure, but I am experienced, and wow, your tips should resonate to every drummer, whether they're a reminder for old souls or a revaluation for the beginner.
One factor you should mention is proper set up and understanding of each piece of your kit. The learning curve of how to physically create a synergy relationship between proper playing and skill development is fundamental in growing as a drummer but to have a intrinsical understanding of what each piece has the capability to create when you apply proper skills will open doors for how you relate to sounds and creative applications to create new and challenging sounds and expand your skill levels. Proper kit set up to enhance your comfort and confidence will also go a long way in helping you shape your playing skills.
Subscribed! I am almost 70 and have been playing all genres for 30 years or so but am partial to jazz (what 65 year old drummer isn’t, st least in their own practice studio … lol) This is a most excellent tutorial, thank you. Though I have learned most of these through the years through trial and error, there were a couple that I will use going forward. Especially the one about burying the kick drum beater. Good stuff!
These are all pretty fantastic tips, most of which I came to myself as well over time and experience playing. They aren't easy lessons to stomach, especially realizing that no one cares if you can play faster, and that your dynamics compared to the rest of the song really are more important than just playing to a metronome or click track, but once you get that in your head and you're conscious of them, people will notice. I keep looking for ways to simplify my playing to ensure I'm complimenting the song rather than just trying to put on a clinic, and I've gotten so much more positive feedback since I started playing to enhance the song as a whole than to just make sure I stand out.
Becoming "one with the music" will also help those who aspire (as I did) to become one of the thousands of unknown, unseen, but always heard session players. For them, their next callback will depend on two things: 1) technical flexibility and chops, of course, including the ability to read the lead sheet you are given, and 2) being fully supportive of the music because you're not the headliner. Fail at that and your career in sessions will be short.
I’ve been drumming for 15 years I didn’t start until I was 31 but by doing this it introduced drumming to my son at 3 yrs old. He’s 18 now and I consider him to be a real drummer. Me not so much. There’s some internal skill set I lack and I think I’ve figured it out. I cannot role my R. You know what I’m saying like burrrrrito. Every real drummer I know including my son can role their R. I’ve spent the last 5 years trying to role my R and all I’ve managed to accomplish in this is make my kids roll around on the ground in laughter which awesome but not my intention. So until I roll my R I m never gonna be a drummer. If anyone reads this and is a drummer confirm please that you do indeed roll your R as well thanks
I once had a teacher that said i would get fired sooner on later for overplaying, something ive never been known for. 44+ yrs later, that hasnt happened. Good vidio, good advice. Relax-liston-groove.
Stephen, your advice has been integral to my understanding of how to get the most out drumming. You are a fabulous drummer but also a great teacher and a humble man with wisdom.
Man, you've got the best drumming channel on YT, I bet you. Thanks for the tips, I've been learning drums for a year now. Tomorrow I'm moving my set a bit futher from myself - I like my knees. Thanks a lot!
I also lowered my cymbals way closer to the toms when I first started. That may be an issue for you too, not sure if that helps any or not. It improves your speed obviously as the distance is shorter, but it helps tremendously with fatigue too.
I agree, I had the same thought, "if I only knew what I know now ten years ago, I would be 20 years further than I know now". and agree with all your points!
It's really instructive how many of these tips are not specific to the drums: listen to the music around you, prepare/tune your instrument properly, good posture, don't rush, learn from listening to others etc etc. I respect the fact that you took that approach, rather than throwing out a load of technical 'tips'. It's important to remember that you are a musician first and a drummer second.
I’m a musician and mainly came here for some quick drum set tips. #6 is the number one rule for performers. I used to get so nervous because I felt I had to be 100% accurate 100% of the time, but as I progressed and watched performances as well I realized that doing that only hinders the performance. If you hate performing, just listen to the music and the room around you and you’ll have 1000 times more fun performing. The reason we are hard on ourselves when we learn and practice is so that when it comes time to perform, you can just lock in and jam
Yes, I agree with you and when I heard all 12 tips on here, number 6 stood out. As a 64 year drummer in the UK, I have changed my playing a lot over the years and always listen to what is going on (especially the vocals) to guide my playing. Also, I am doing less now (more space) as the gaps make a difference, rather than filling them up all the time.
Listen to the bass player (assuming they're great). Ignore everyone else. ESPECIALLY the singer and guitar player, lol. And I can sing. I'm awful on guitars, tho. Lol
I like very much how you accent on a "less is more" attitude. Relaxed mindset opposed to glorified velocity and aggressiveness (which at the beginning translates to lots of muscular tension)... It may come to a point where those are musically wanted, but... we all drummers start as primitive bones and skin players, neandertal lovers.... and i love that, but maturity makes you relax, restart, take a few steps back and see the big picture... Love this video and agree, these are invaluable tips. Thank you!!
Wow! I've got a B.M. in Music Industry from Moorhead State University, MN and have been playing drumset since middle school. I learned almost all of these deceptively important tips very late in my drumset journey also. Very good video and one in which for a beginner, if taken to heart will improve their playing dramatically. Great education on the intangibles!
The number 3 is so underrated, i've actually got better way more when away from my drum kit and listening to Dream Theater, Transatlantic etc. Good one !
It is so important to listen to music. I recently started playing drums and I've been making, listening to music for a while. It feel like i improved a lot faster than other people.
When I was a teenager, my inspiration to pick up the drums was John Bonham. Unfortunately, after a couple of years, I failed to dedicate the time I should have into my playing and gave up on the idea of being a drummer. Needless to say, it has been the biggest regret of my life. I am positive I could have been a very good drummer. Fast forward 30 something years later and my new inspiration......is you, Mr. Clark. I've watched a lot of drumming videos on RUclips. And all of the folks I have watched are great and seem to really care about teaching you how to play. However, there's something to say about your style, man. I really like how you focus on reminding your viewers that "you can do this". Your teaching technique and demeanor really struck a chord with me. So much, that I went ahead and finally made the move on something that I've been procrastinating about for years: I finally purchased a practice pad and sticks. I am now dead set on becoming the best drummer I can be. I know I've lost a lot of time. But like you made clear in your "10 Lies" video: Just because you've lost a lot of time, doesn't mean you can't become a good drummer. I can only wish that I would have had your RUclips channel as a resource when I was a kid. But....the Internet as we know it didn't even exist then. Yes...I'm old. 🧓 I will continue to watch your videos and make sure to follow your practice advice for beginners. By the way, I watch RUclips videos for a lot of different things but rarely, if ever, subscribe. I know, that's usually considered almost sacrilegious to RUclipsrs. But I'm a pretty private person, so it's in my nature not to subscribe. Of course, for you, I have happily and gratefully subscribed. Thank you for inspiring me once again, Mr. Clark. And If you are ever visiting NC, I would love to chat over a couple of beers. God bless, my brother.
The longest gig I played was playing with a cover band a few years back for a runner's marathon and at certain mile markers there were bandstands. We played from 6am to 4pm. for 35-45 minutes at a time, roughly 30-40 songs on the master list. This was when i was 33, I'm currently 39. I buried the beater, no knee pain. I'm not what may have caused you knee pain but I think there's more to how you were sitting, the height, and you may have left your beater deeply buried causing tension. Sorry to hear that you developed that kind of pain.
Not sure how I have gone so long without knowing about your channel. But I’m glad I’ve found it. Love the video! Playing in a country/swing band helped me a ton with several of these. I was always a metal drummer. So speed, energy, size, feel, they were all the same thing to me. I never slowed down and matured as a drummer until I was forced. Once I realized my old fills and go-to grooves wouldn’t apply well in this situation, I slowed down and really listened to the music and other instruments and found my spot within that framework. I couldn’t have articulated this very well if not for you explaining it. But anyways, super pumped I found your channel and love that you’re focusing on fundamentals and “non-glamorous” things.
Major tip here from professional drummer that's been all over the world. LEARN TO SIGHT READ SHEET MUSIC. You're skills will increase by vast amounts. New grooves, fills, timing, polyrhythms, different genres and style, etc are all available to learn. Other musicians will thank you
I used to work on a place that had live gigs all weekends (I was the sound tech guy). What I used to do after the show (when I was putting everything back together in the scenario) was play the drums and take note of the differents tunnings that drummers played in! So, if you can access to the drum kit after a local show, totally do that if you liked the sound it had
Regarding #6 - I still, to this day, get confused and uneasy looks from some musicians when I talk about supporting the song/band instead of their chops. In essence, they are playing "in their head" instead of in the song. I think this a huge key that makes some bands sound so much better than others. You see this problem all the time with local bands who haven't quite matured musically. Musicality and chops are two different but equally as important features of a good musician.
I'm so glad I watched this upload because every point made sence..I got a electronic kit just before lockdown (millennium 750)with a extra crash and as a starter kit it's been GRT...if I lived in a detached house I would definitely be looking at buying a acoustic kit....1st time I've watched this bloke and every point made sence resonated with me,I don't know if this fella teaches drums if he doesn't he should because he explains each point clear and calm not over examination he's a teacher some people are born for it... I'll definitely be watching more uploads and I'm going to sub as well ... GRT stuff Stephen keep it up....
A little a tip I use for tuning my kit. I use a tension watch. I find the sound I want with one tom tom, tune the keys to that tension number on the tension watch, and do the same for the next tom tom, and the snare. For the floor tom, I go down ten points on the tension watch. Then I add moon gels on and start comparing double single notes all the tom toms.... I sounds amazing and very tightly tuned.
Point #10 - I think your knees hurt with that technique because you're tall so your legs are really long. For us shorter guys we simply cannot sit that far back or we won't be able to reach the rack toms, because shorter legs means shorter arms.
On Lesson #2, I agree 100%. My first jazz lesson from a very experienced pro required me to NOT use the snare muffler (yes, they did exist) and TO use giant marching band sticks to practice an almost silent and very smooth double-stroke roll that sounded like tearing tissue paper. It did not go well. That was over 50 years ago and I still practice this, along with all rudiments. I started out as a garage band rock drummer who knew it all. Then I started progressing to a professional jazz, pop, classic soul, classic rock, latin, and everything else, drummer who made a lot of money by playing quietly, under control with good time. I'm still working on this. It's amazing how much I didn't know when I thought I knew it all. I've learned so much that I have worked my way up to "just decent". I have tons of favorite drummers. Included in them are Danny Seraphine for rock, Joe Morello, Bid Sid Catlett, Louis Bellson and Jeff Hamilton for jazz.
I really appreciate your material and that you are not pushing an expensive course etc. I'm an old drummer and I have been told I'm a great drummer but I was never great iMHO. I wondered why people said this. It was because I played solid grooves and fills that worked with the music rather than showing off. I learned to play by playing along with records from Phil Collins who was a very musical drummer. Sorry he can't play anymore.
Also practice keeping your hats closed going into your fills. Hi-hats can become an ear sore. You don't want everyone knowing you're about to start a fill because you open your hats.
I've been playing for 40 years and this is all really good advice. I think you covered all the fundamentals to being a good musician who plays the drums. Great stuff.
Loving your page. Thank you for the tips. I played drums as kid then switched to lead vocals for over 20 years. Now that I retired from the stage, I have gone back to my first love. The drums. It's like starting all over again. Cheers!
#10 is the best one in my opinion. Been teaching my lil’ bro to play the drums and he always asks about how to stop the knee pain, I personally never had any so I didn’t what to tell him, so this has helped both of us.
Thanks so much... #6 should be the golden rule for any musician at any age! At 53' yrs and a guitarist all my life I finally have the drum set I've always wanted and I am the world's most frustrated drummer! LOL however you're points about keeping it back beat consistent even though timing is important but Dynamics is where the feel is really alleviated a lot of my anxiety cuz I felt like I could not keep a consistent beat. I can play a good beat and I could play but I just can't play consistent and this will absolutely help! Cheers!
The backgorund music at 0:10 is the outro music for another RUclipsr called Firebat (professional video gamer). The music is so familiar and I couldn't place it at first - drove me nuts!
As a drummer now for 40 (25 of those semi-pro) - there are some really good points here :) I would add one more tip - playing three hour shows, you really have to keep yourself in top shape - drumming is such a physical instrument - after 40 years of playing I have had my share of tendonitis, carpel tunnel and lower back issues - so you really have to take care of your body too!
@@fabfishing7422 EXCEPT, I've seen pro after pro after pro digging into the beater! Pros do it ALL THE TIME to creates dynamics, eliminate resonance, etc. As long as you know how to use it, don't train your bodyto do only that, etc.; it's actually an asset. If you want the 80/20s video on a similar thing, he clearly shows huge pros burying the beater for specific things. Only technique to have? Definitely not! Another good one to have just like staccato and legato notes and rebound with sticks? Yep! ;) Happy drumming, buddy!
I found early on in my career (the late 70's playing live 5 or 6 nights a week) is that all the 1/64th and even most 1/32nd notes I played went right past 99.9 % of the people in the crowd. I also learned that most people do not even look at the drummer unless you are doing something (twirls or stick tosses) to get their attention. If I had 5 bucks for all the times people ask me if I knew the band (because they saw us talking together) and would I ask them to play a song. Once I started being a little flashy it helped me get noticed as a member and it also helped the band as people saw we were talented, back when few drummers did any visual stuff. And last...that playing the songs so that people can recognize what song you are playing. And play the signature drum fills that make a song ...other wise...just play something else. If you play covers...play them with respect to the original. If you play originals...play them like they are huge hit songs on the radio. And that a great front man (even if he plays guitar or bass) makes all the difference in the world. People like to feel that they are part of the show in a way...to bridge that gap between the crowd and the band on stage. Thanks for the tips.
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Tip #1, nobody cares about your chops.
*clicks off video*
YEP, a very big agree on me on those ! lol nostalgic buut you will really wanna say to yourself... why didn't I?? lol, thanks Stephen! (I'm still laughing at myself *VERY Lol)
Do you know how to join a band
...
Thanks man. Im lost my skill, its just was in me naturally, but last 2 years i didnt practice much. Now its time to get my skills back. Thank you for your work!
1- Practice with a metronome, 2- start slow... then go fast, 3- learn how to play with your left and right sides, 4- record yourself, 5- learn a song 100%... then move to the next one, 6- HAVE FUN and play what you like!
yeah ur right bro. i only practiced with metronome only once or twice and i play the drums at church. I always get the advice to practice with a metronome but don't know how to get the right app and how to use it lol. I also have problem in controlling my left hand haha anyways I'm just saying hehe
@@sharonk7 Suggestion? If you need a V-drum kit, the very excellent Roland has a nice tiny kit. I'd put money it still has a metronome with a tiny Japanese man voice :) best thing ever.
I use an app called Tempo, but I like the old wood kind or my Roland better, actually.
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 thanks i hope that app Tempo is on playstore gonna download it later
I was never able to practice with the metronome it always distracted me
Metronome daily is just general for any instrument
Lesson: don't play to impress, play because you love it, the more you like it better you play and sound. If you want to impress you get annoying
best one right here
That should be a billboard.
Don't play EVERY note you can POSSIBLY cram in there. I know guys playing DECADES, who STILL do that.
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 Exactly. Sometimes, "LESS IS MORE". No two songs are alike. It's about the music. The drums are the heartbeat.
So right on!
100% record yourself. It’s a totally objective way to determine how you really sound.
Absolutely! No matter how painful.
Joseph Gurzynski hahaha
Record a video or just sound? If video with what angle?
Even shoddy recordings on your phone will help. I listen to myself sometimes and think "never again, that sounds horrible" or "I did not know that easy roll sounded so good"
Yess!! I do it too with guitar lol
As a full time musician, drum teacher and hardcore practise freak I can tell you that what Stephen is saying is 100 % true. Music is really a great investment of time in Life. My advices are: be your own teacher, find out your personal struggles/problems and ask yourself questions. Do your research, but try to find the answers yourself before you look them up - it’s beyond exciting to explore! If music is important to you and you love it above all, then you better make sure you get the time you need to play, explore, research, practise, grow etc - no excuses!!
So many great tips here in these comments.. And this is one of them.
I’m a music teacher as well and whether we like it or not, students can smell the energy we bring to our art. If it’s a job, you will fail. If it’s a purpose, you will wear it.
Well SAid.
Wow thanks @Tim Wallander life lessons for me
That was a great comment "you better find they time to play, learn" 👌
I’ve played for many years, and one of the best tips for a drummer, I’ve discovered? When sitting on your drum seat ,don’t hunch over them, sit so your balance is slightly tipped back, makes everything easier, and after you get used to it, much less fatigue, the sticks will bounce back effortlessly, better dynamics!
yea, but Buddy Rich...
@@bcp5296d buddy rich wasn't particularly tall, so had a lower centre of gravity. Anyone 6'+ is throwing their balance out if they lean into the kit.
@@h489agf Yea but it is odd as you could adjust drum and cymbal height back then just like you can now.
@@bcp5296d buddy rich suffered from severe back pain because of his horrible kit posture
YESSS i slouch while playing too often and i find it almost always makes my playing worse
I am an drummer in my 40s who has always buried the beater until 6 months ago. After watching this video I decided to follow your advice due to my leg literally giving out after 3 hr rehearsals. It is now so much easier to play , for longer, with no knee pain. I thought I was just getting too old to keep up and now realized I was working WAY harder then needed. I think there is a notable sound improvement as well. Thanks for the lifesaving tip.
Do you play "heels up" on your pedals? If you play heels down, you may want to try a heels up style. I was surprised when I realized how much more control I seemed to have when I played heels up.😉👍🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
@@PoppaBadgerit’s hard to play heel up without burying the beater , ima newbie so any tips would be cool .
I'm 42 and just bought my first drum kit a couple of months ago. I'm trying to learn good fundamentals from the start but I can't seem to not bury the beater. I'm currently trying to learn the beat from Radio Head - Creep. It would probably way easier to get that kick in if I didn't bury the beater.
@@lobbyrobby Maybe check your foot position? I find it works best for me to have my foot placed a bit farther back on the pedal and use mostly the ball of the foot.
@@frogtite I've been practicing more and I'm kinda getting it. I've played with foot position a little and I have moved back some but when I'm not paying attention my foot seems to move up again. I'll keep at it tho.
I"ve been playing for 40 years. These are Excellent tips. I too wish I knew this when I was 15.
Damn. Youve got a decade on me....I switched, not really by choice at first to guitar. I lived, breathed and knew myself as a drummer. Still to this day , I miss it bad. Sadly eviction was a worry since I moved to Ga as I had to move into apmt and was just awarded custody of my kids. They then were 10 and 5. I played a few sit in jams but never bought another kit. Hurricane Katrina took everything i had. So i had to focus on my kids and moved here. I taught my son guitar what I knew...And keys. When he grad I missed his playing from his room and bought a strat. Haven't stopped since. 2018. I threaten that I just may have to buy an Ekit at least to see if i still have it. 27 years active i believe. I took lessons really young for 4 to 6 years plus high school marching , jazz and concert. Man its cool to meet another old school drummer. Heheheh. Sorry you struck a small memory. Hahah Whats funny is I play ambient guitar stuff. Drumming was more prog , fusion Rock etc. Have a great day man.
I'm 10
@@robertclarkguitar that’s awesome, hope u get a kit. I’m only 14 but it’s insanely fun to jam out to songs
@@outtatime9746 I hear ya there. I'm 38, but started guitar when I was your age. Decided to learn some drums when I was about 18 or 19. Only stuck with that for about a month, then focused more on guitar. Winds of Change by the Scorpions was the first song I learned to play on drums. A friend just bought a drum set recently and I went over to check it out. Had him play that song on his Stereo and still remembered how to play Winds of Change on drums after 20 years, it was so much fun. I think I want to invest in another drum set.
@@outtatime9746 Same I'm 14 as well. I just literally became a church drummer and I'm having anxiety cause I'm having trouble to everyone on the music team
I tried playing fills with my ears but the sticks wouldnt fit in my ear holes.
hol up
jk
you good bro?
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
L😂L!
try using a new pair of ears
I've just picked up a set of drums. As a 16 year old whose never touched a drum set in their life, these tips are really appreciated. Thank you for this
you still play?
@@MethanolWarrior often but not every day
@@Thaisweetchillisensations and now ?
@@LS-fr6if yeah I still do, not often but a couple times a week
@@Thaisweetchillisensations couple times a week is still pretty often imo
i just started learning drums and i feel so bad because my family is asking me all the time like “do you know how to play X already?” “can you play something to us?” and i’m trying to tell them that i’m just learning the basics and they’re putting so much pressure and rushing me....
Hey, don't sweat it! Tell um it takes time, but don't just say it, say it with their direct attention to YOU. If that doesn't work then have them try the drums and see how difficult it is for a beginner. Good luck to ya!
Take your time! I’ve been teaching myself how to play for about 3 years, and I’m still learning! I recently decided to take a week away from my kit entirely and spend 2 hours a day on a practice pad improving my doubles/singles/bonham triplets because I hit a wall and felt I wasn’t getting better. If you ever feel stuck creatively I highly recommend letting yourself get a break to allow your motivation to build back up. One day you’ll be proud of how far you’ve come!
Play the ten-hour version of "They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard" and ask them the next morning how they think you did.
Seriously, just play whatever you want. Learn some silly, short song to shut them up, or just explain to them that you're in no hurry to play full songs. And depending on how much they know about music, they won't even notice the difference between playing it note by note and just jamming a regular old 4/4 over some fairly easy song you can find. Don't worry, in a year you'll be way ahead if you just keep practicing, at some point you will just play for them if they so desire.
Don’t take it the wrong way. They are just trying to show you their support.
Get a rudiment book. Listen to all types of drummers. Hands first. Drum music easy to learn to read. Takes lessons from a good drummer. Practice often. Go slow. Learn to be timely. Speed comes later. Play to music often. Proper form and setup of kit is important. Use volume effectively. Practice every day. Keep a routine. Posture important too. Do what's hard for you, not easy. Half to push yourself. You want accurate timely fills. Experiment is big part of playing drums. Start off on trap kit. Can do a lot on a small kit and two cymbals. Hats are most universal part of kit. Good luck!
My tip that I learned too late is:
Include the feet in fills !!
Bass or hi-hat pedal.
An addition to #6 rule is to take the nervous energy and make it excitement also. I use to play in churches for like 15 years and the nerves always show up. I would put it into happy energy and would listen to a band that was similar to what I was playing and I got in a zone and the nervousness became excited energy. love the show. Rock on!!
Nice! Transmute energy
How I’ve always played. I never get nervous now, but at the beginning I’d be nervous all day until back stage, then I turned it into excitement. Let me at em’ attitude
Many of the best players in the world ”bury the beater” instead of letting it bounce. It’s really all a matter of preference and depends on the sound you’re going for and what feels good. Just do whichever comes natural to you, there really is no right way to play the bass drum
@Rob Boss when you reach a certain speed it's impossible to not bury the beater. It'd be more of a bother to do that. Personally I like to bury the beater, because I like that dampened Bass drum sound and it gives me more control over the pedal. But I'm nevertheless practicing to not bury the beater, to enlarge my vocabulary
I've found that whatever makes you most comfortable, then do it. Be comfortable while playing. It's one of the most important parts of playing this instrument.
@@maltegunst4951 Yea would retrain your muscles memory to let the pedal rebound, get more efficiency for multiple quick strokes and it opens the drum sound a bit more. Allthough I agree u can bury the beater if u want the tone.
I fully support ‘Bury the beater’
The moment I saw the thumbnail I knew this would be one of the top comments hahah
I’m 23 & I’ve been playing since I was 10 in church & in school & I’ve had a lot of experience in different live environments, these tips even helped me! These aren’t just great for beginners I think but for all drummers, I’m a firm believer in there’s always someone who knows more & I’m never done imporoving so videos like this help alot! 🤙🏼
"Don't try to impress other by playing fast"
Me as a thrash metal player:
Me as a hardcore punk fan:
Me as a Black Metal Player:
If you play any instrument fast but sloppy nobody’s going to care but if you play fast with near perfect timing, tone, and phrasing then that will draw people in.
Agreed.
@@darthvader4339 yeah thrash metal aint no joke
i’ve been playing drums for over half my life, but these are still very useful. great video dude 👍
Same and agreed
2:50 or just sit wherever you feel comfortable, and play with the heel up so you get your whole leg to support the movement and don't get tired no matter how many hours you play
Yeah just pretend we don’t all have spines and knees, and always pretend you are so unique nothing could apply!
Playing heels up tires you out because you are basically standing on your toes the whole time. The best way to play is to be relaxed after every hit you do, hands or feet. This means that you can just rest your right foot on the pedal without pressing or holding it up. A good sitting position is called ergonomics, which means it is paramount to sit correctly behind your drum set and have your drums set up correctly as well, just as you would want to do when sitting at your desk behind a computer all day.
@@allaboutdrumz6263 idk about you, but every drummer I know personally or in videos, including myself, play heel up and it's WAY more comfortable than lifting the tip of your foot then trying to slam it to get a decent strike. It's simple physionomy, you have the aid of your whole leg versus the tiny shin muscle. Unless you've played heel down your whole life, it's 100x more tiring, whilie you could play uninterrupted for hours and hours without getting tired at all heels up
@@orti1283u sir, r wrong
Bro, how tf do you use the bass drum pedal without lifting up your foot? I've been drumming for a year and still haven't figured that out 😅
I was a music business major and my theory teacher promised not to fail me if I played in his 3rd string jazz band. He showed me the swing is in the 1/4 note and I matured into a decent jazz player comfortable enough to sit in with just about anyone at school. I gigged in Austin and toured for a good 6 years and all these pointers are so painfully true. Great great advice!
_"No one cares how fast you are"_
Tell that to high schoolers.
Tell that to Billy Cobham
that's what he's trying to do in this video lol
Facts g
Highschooler here, and believe me, I regret trying to impress my friends with my "speed". That experience humbled me ever since...
Not True. Metal Drummers and fans care!!
As a beginner drummer, being able to ‘rip’ the sticks is such an aspiration, whether it’s good playing or not. It’s something that in my mind separates someone who can play and someone who’s just a beginner. I have no idea when this will develop in my skills, and seeing others do it just contributes to the frustration. Hence focus on hand speed. It’s not showing off, it’s a measure of capability in my mind
His point is that the music and the audience doesn’t care.. playing a solid, appropriate groove is 100 times more important than speed
I am 100% non glamorous. 55 years old and after 2 months of practice pad drills, I bought a used lower end “learner set”. Having so much fun just learning and trying. Thanks for your videos - I learn something new every day.
Never too old to start! Good on you.
I just started at the beginning of 2023 and one thing that has helped me is learning to count everything in eighths. I don't mean just in drumming but even walking counting in eighths, learning something so simple helped me relax and keep the beat in my band class.
#3 is SO important. Even after I feel like I've mastered a song I can still pick up on things by just listening. Kind of like a movie you've seen a few times than all of the sudden you catch something for the first time.
Know how you can tell when a drummer is knocking on your door?
The knock speeds up.
B L E E D
Hahahahahaha!!!! 🤣
damn
What do you call a drummer without a girlfriend.........Homeless
@@scottleacox7516 I don't get it lol
I was told by the best musician that ever created music " If you want to be a good drummer" . A great musician has the ability to make the audience anticipate notes that are not really there. Your advice has been about the most sound words I've heard in the last..... we'll leave it at 40 years. I hope they listen! Thanks for sharing the experience.
I love your #1 rule especially. Both QuestLove and my all time favorite drummer, Danny Carey, both have talked about feeling the music and not worrying so much about perfection. That’s sound advice coming from someone as masterful as Danny, especially. Just look at how relaxed QuestLove is when he plays, too. That man couldn’t be bothered if we tried. It’s beautiful to watch. I cannot WAIT to get my first kit someday. I’m trying to learn before I lose my legs (old car accident injuries taking their toll).
The tip about distance from the bass pedal helped me alot. Thanks
If I would have known the secrets of the double stroke, and the "swiss triplet" which is actually two double strokes L R , sixteenth rest L R, which, depending on the tempo, sounds like any four legged animal running.Using sounds found in nature transposed to the kit, is used so much by Danny Carey, who is the God of drumming, right now. That, and learning four limb independence, or poly rhythm playing, is crucial for setting yourself apart from all the other kit players who can play a million notes without sounding musical. you have to combine rhythm and melody in order to stand out among the crowd, my opinion.
I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self to focus on sitting up straight while playing, or at least don't slouch. Today, I'm a notorious sloucher and that has been one tough habit to break! I can sit up straight when I think about it, but as soon as my mind is on something else I tend to revert back to my slouching ways.
Another bad habit for me I wish I could've corrected a long time ago is not looking at the drums while I'm playing, especially during fills and other more challenging playing. Drums really sound a lot better if you hit them with authority close to the center (as the video points out), but it's hard to do that consistently if you aren't looking at them. I tend to close my eyes or look off into the void while playing, which often causes me to hit the drums off center, or even hit the rims. I've made a lot of progress breaking this habit, but it's tough! These bad habits can really get ingrained!
Watch Danny Carey as he plays, he gets all his power from sitting up straight, you can train yourself as I did, by buying a throne with a backrest, best way to break that bad habit
I've never agreed with the 6th point honestly relaxing and getting into the music really helps, it's allows you to ignore everything and everyone watching cos you're focus on your music not them
Yep, the #6 is nowhere a tip for a drummer
My thing for a long time, was practicing the rudiments to all different styles of music, tempo's and time signatures. This way you can find a way of applying the rudiments either on one drum, around the drum, or using it as a beat. Another fun thing for me was taking the simple right-left-foot pattern, then changing it to easily to alternate hand right-left-foot left-right-foot, then of course, doubling the foot, then the hands, now take that pattern and start applying the different rudiments. This early on opened a lot of ideas for me......As a side note, there is a band called Focus out of the Netherlands, who's drummer Pierre Vander Linden did some crazy drum solos LIVE, that to this day i'm not sure of a few things he's doing. We're talking about 1971 and 1973 recordings. There is a 46 minute version of a tune called "Eruption" Where he does some great drumming, especially a section with just him and the Guitar player, then his solo....WOW! also a couple different solo's on another long 21/22 + minute versions of Anonymous II again some very unique drumming for its time, and he NEVER used double bass, and there wasn't double pedals out yet, that wasn't until 77/78. He is still one of my all time favorite drummers, along with another rather unknown, the great BOBBY CALDWELL; Johnny Winter and "LIVE" 1st and 3rd albums in a band Captain Beyond, Rick Derringer's "All American Boy" album and a band called Armageddon, they only did one record in 1974.
Really great advice. I've been playing for 45 years, and these ideas are what it's all about. If you disagree anywhere, think about why. Getting better is about enlarging your vocabulary, and being able to adapt, to innovate, to combine these things and keep on surprising yourself with where your playing can take you. The best lesson I ever had was simply to play and to listen at the same time, with taste. That simple idea can be said in so many ways and ten of them are expressed here.
-e.
It’s important to feel the music 🎼
Without that there is no point, and no magic. I'm with you all the way.
It's just like making love. 😁
Agreed, a drummer told me that a long time ago, it took a while for me to feel it, now I fully understand. 👍🏻
Back in the day "feel" was known as playing with "soul".
Well said, good drummer can bring the song to a totally different level by even the simplest fills! That’s what great drummers do! Doesn’t matter how great your speed and difficult patterns you can play. Great if you can, but it all boils down to? What can you do to make the song come to life! And most of the time the iconic air drum fills that we love, are the simplest ones That’s what matters!
VH-Beginning “Jamie‘s Crying
Rush-the break in “Tom Sawyer.”
VH-Beginning “Dance The night Away”
This is just 3 and there’s so many more!
Don’t play a song to show people how good you are, play the song Way needs to be heard!
That’s what makes it a great hit!
As a now 58 yr old self taught drummer I can definitely appreciate you for this video good job. Oh and I started when I was 10 yrs old prompted by my uncle. I use my electronic set for most of my practice time acoustic set for gigs but having said that one really needs to keep up with acoustic practice as well simply due to the overall dynamics of an acoustic set. 😉👍
I'm 58 and just began playing last week!
@@GeeRoy3 like I was saying it really is a matter of practice just as with any instrument (except tends to be louder). With my electronic set up and with my Zune my headset and poof I can practice with ANY band I wish to and now at 60 it's all about the "Classic Rock"😄
All 12 points you made were things I learned when I played at church from 10-18yrs old. Even when I still play from time to time, I care more about blending in. My style was never a “shedder” I added the color to the picture being painted.
Listening to music, playing different instruments and understanding dynamics will always be more important than just shedding. You spoke all facts my guy. 💯
As a relatively new drummer that is looking for more information other than rudiments and warm ups - this video rocked. Thank you!
Been playing for 50 years hardcore and EVERY tip here is spot on. Very very thankful I learned all of these at the beginning of my career. ALWAYS record yourself (you may discover a good fill by accident) and ALWAYS practice to a SLOW metronome. (Try to GROOVE at 40 bpm) Dynamics, groove, a good ear, and feel rule over chops ALL DAY EVERY DAY, and will keep you working. Play because YOU love it. TRY to play with other instruments if possible, so your feel can develop, rather than just trashing around in your basement hammering out your chops. Work on your attitude that you're PART of a band, not the STAR of the band. Put in the time and have FUN. Proper posture and breathing will help you not get injured over decades. Perfect practice makes BETTER. GREAT video Stephen. Keep up the great work
#10 i think it’s important to know and use both techniques, as they produce a different sound.
I personally never had any knee pain when using the burying one.
The most underrated thing about this video to me is the fact that he cut the audio when he inhales.
Thanks so much for making this video. I've been playing for over 25 years and a lot of the points you mentioned really open my mind and thinking I need to take time of what I'm actually playing versus just playing and thinking I'm doing well. Thanks!
Number #11 was absolutely essential and I totally agree! Playing what you "feel" and playing what you "know" are definitely 2 different things. I was in a highschool jazz band many moons ago and we played at a venue called "Valley Bear Festival" in CA. This band stepped up to play and were facilitating this nice easy rhythm jazz song. Then all of a sudden the drummer forces these "triplets" that he does using the bass drum, 2nd tom, and floor tom. Gads, it sounded terrible and he kept doing this thru out the song. Needless to say, the judges had something to say about it. They brought up how it was unnecessary to add fills of that dynamic to a song of this stature. If he woulda played what he felt there probably woulda been a chance of them winning the festival. Thanks for bringing this up and here's hoping more will need the good advice from you....🤘😎👌
For the beater, one aka the third one, just use your full leg. You can use even more power if you need it in the drum and it doesn't hurt your ankle over time, You get used to it, The hi-hat you can either stay with your ankle or swap with your leg depending on your setup. Usually your leg will hit the hi-hat, but trust me, use the full power of your leg when you need it, You get a lot of volume
Thanks for your videos, especially this one, I literally went through my old keepsakes from my childhood, I found a couple of cassette tapes that I recorded myself playing when I got my first kit and i had only been playing for approximately 6 months before I got my first kit so I was still a beginner and I have to say that it was better than I remembered it being and it was like a time machine for me, and I wouldn't have done it without you posting this,thanks again 🥁
You've said what I have been taaching for over 20 years. I've played for over 50 years and get frustrated with many drummers who know drums but don't understand music. Cheers Pete
I’m new to your channel with this video, so apologies if you’ve covered this elsewhere, but one other tip that really helped me when I was young was - don’t learn beats, learn songs. Really learn right from the start how to put an effective part together. Also, really good point about swing coming from the quarter note. When you demonstrated it, there it was! The more people know that one the better. Very nice!! 👍🏻
Well done! I have been playing for 56 years, 50 professionally. You have offered good sound advice. Most drummers and lead guitarists play for themselves, not the song. Dynamics and time, and to quote Hal Blaine, “ One well placed drum luck is better than a thousand mediocre ones.”
Nice. I'm not a great drummer be any measure, but I am experienced, and wow, your tips should resonate to every drummer, whether they're a reminder for old souls or a revaluation for the beginner.
Number 6 is a big one. Being present with the music is essential. It’s the whole purpose I feel. Both for the listener and for the musician.
One factor you should mention is proper set up and understanding of each piece of your kit. The learning curve of how to physically create a synergy relationship between proper playing and skill development is fundamental in growing as a drummer but to have a intrinsical understanding of what each piece has the capability to create when you apply proper skills will open doors for how you relate to sounds and creative applications to create new and challenging sounds and expand your skill levels. Proper kit set up to enhance your comfort and confidence will also go a long way in helping you shape your playing skills.
Subscribed!
I am almost 70 and have been playing all genres for 30 years or so but am partial to jazz (what 65 year old drummer isn’t, st least in their own practice studio … lol) This is a most excellent tutorial, thank you.
Though I have learned most of these through the years through trial and error, there were a couple that I will use going forward.
Especially the one about burying the kick drum beater.
Good stuff!
Why am I even watching this, I don’t even play drums
Probably cause u have no life dont worry most of us drummers dont either
Not yet...
Sounds like a classic youtube rabbit hole.
😂🤣 me either! That’s how you know you’re a good RUclips-er right there!
Same 😂
These are all pretty fantastic tips, most of which I came to myself as well over time and experience playing. They aren't easy lessons to stomach, especially realizing that no one cares if you can play faster, and that your dynamics compared to the rest of the song really are more important than just playing to a metronome or click track, but once you get that in your head and you're conscious of them, people will notice. I keep looking for ways to simplify my playing to ensure I'm complimenting the song rather than just trying to put on a clinic, and I've gotten so much more positive feedback since I started playing to enhance the song as a whole than to just make sure I stand out.
Becoming "one with the music" will also help those who aspire (as I did) to become one of the thousands of unknown, unseen, but always heard session players. For them, their next callback will depend on two things: 1) technical flexibility and chops, of course, including the ability to read the lead sheet you are given, and 2) being fully supportive of the music because you're not the headliner. Fail at that and your career in sessions will be short.
Right on James!
I’ve been drumming for 15 years I didn’t start until I was 31 but by doing this it introduced drumming to my son at 3 yrs old. He’s 18 now and I consider him to be a real drummer. Me not so much. There’s some internal skill set I lack and I think I’ve figured it out. I cannot role my R. You know what I’m saying like burrrrrito. Every real drummer I know including my son can role their R. I’ve spent the last 5 years trying to role my R and all I’ve managed to accomplish in this is make my kids roll around on the ground in laughter which awesome but not my intention. So until I roll my R I m never gonna be a drummer. If anyone reads this and is a drummer confirm please that you do indeed roll your R as well thanks
Yes
m.ruclips.net/video/9Sid6MQvTRQ/видео.html
lmfao
I once had a teacher that said i would get fired sooner on later for overplaying, something ive never been known for. 44+ yrs later, that hasnt happened. Good vidio, good advice. Relax-liston-groove.
Stephen, your advice has been integral to my understanding of how to get the most out drumming. You are a fabulous drummer but also a great teacher and a humble man with wisdom.
Man, you've got the best drumming channel on YT, I bet you. Thanks for the tips, I've been learning drums for a year now. Tomorrow I'm moving my set a bit futher from myself - I like my knees. Thanks a lot!
I also lowered my cymbals way closer to the toms when I first started. That may be an issue for you too, not sure if that helps any or not. It improves your speed obviously as the distance is shorter, but it helps tremendously with fatigue too.
I agree, I had the same thought, "if I only knew what I know now ten years ago, I would be 20 years further than I know now". and agree with all your points!
It's really instructive how many of these tips are not specific to the drums: listen to the music around you, prepare/tune your instrument properly, good posture, don't rush, learn from listening to others etc etc. I respect the fact that you took that approach, rather than throwing out a load of technical 'tips'. It's important to remember that you are a musician first and a drummer second.
My college band recorded every gig and many rehearsals- the tape don't lie! All good tips here- been playing for over fifty years. Still playin'!
I’m a musician and mainly came here for some quick drum set tips. #6 is the number one rule for performers. I used to get so nervous because I felt I had to be 100% accurate 100% of the time, but as I progressed and watched performances as well I realized that doing that only hinders the performance. If you hate performing, just listen to the music and the room around you and you’ll have 1000 times more fun performing. The reason we are hard on ourselves when we learn and practice is so that when it comes time to perform, you can just lock in and jam
Yes, I agree with you and when I heard all 12 tips on here, number 6 stood out. As a 64 year drummer in the UK, I have changed my playing a lot over the years and always listen to what is going on (especially the vocals) to guide my playing. Also, I am doing less now (more space) as the gaps make a difference, rather than filling them up all the time.
Listen to the bass player (assuming they're great). Ignore everyone else.
ESPECIALLY the singer and guitar player, lol. And I can sing. I'm awful on guitars, tho. Lol
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 funny thing is I AM the bass player 😂
I like very much how you accent on a "less is more" attitude. Relaxed mindset opposed to glorified velocity and aggressiveness (which at the beginning translates to lots of muscular tension)... It may come to a point where those are musically wanted, but... we all drummers start as primitive bones and skin players, neandertal lovers.... and i love that, but maturity makes you relax, restart, take a few steps back and see the big picture... Love this video and agree, these are invaluable tips. Thank you!!
Wow! I've got a B.M. in Music Industry from Moorhead State University, MN and have been playing drumset since middle school. I learned almost all of these deceptively important tips very late in my drumset journey also. Very good video and one in which for a beginner, if taken to heart will improve their playing dramatically. Great education on the intangibles!
Every drummer should watch this video. #5 was spot on, the most important and overlooked aspect of drumming is the space between the notes
The number 3 is so underrated, i've actually got better way more when away from my drum kit and listening to Dream Theater, Transatlantic etc. Good one !
It is so important to listen to music. I recently started playing drums and I've been making, listening to music for a while. It feel like i improved a lot faster than other people.
When I was a teenager, my inspiration to pick up the drums was John Bonham. Unfortunately, after a couple of years, I failed to dedicate the time I should have into my playing and gave up on the idea of being a drummer. Needless to say, it has been the biggest regret of my life. I am positive I could have been a very good drummer. Fast forward 30 something years later and my new inspiration......is you, Mr. Clark. I've watched a lot of drumming videos on RUclips. And all of the folks I have watched are great and seem to really care about teaching you how to play. However, there's something to say about your style, man. I really like how you focus on reminding your viewers that "you can do this". Your teaching technique and demeanor really struck a chord with me. So much, that I went ahead and finally made the move on something that I've been procrastinating about for years: I finally purchased a practice pad and sticks. I am now dead set on becoming the best drummer I can be. I know I've lost a lot of time. But like you made clear in your "10 Lies" video: Just because you've lost a lot of time, doesn't mean you can't become a good drummer. I can only wish that I would have had your RUclips channel as a resource when I was a kid. But....the Internet as we know it didn't even exist then. Yes...I'm old. 🧓 I will continue to watch your videos and make sure to follow your practice advice for beginners. By the way, I watch RUclips videos for a lot of different things but rarely, if ever, subscribe. I know, that's usually considered almost sacrilegious to RUclipsrs. But I'm a pretty private person, so it's in my nature not to subscribe. Of course, for you, I have happily and gratefully subscribed. Thank you for inspiring me once again, Mr. Clark. And If you are ever visiting NC, I would love to chat over a couple of beers. God bless, my brother.
The longest gig I played was playing with a cover band a few years back for a runner's marathon and at certain mile markers there were bandstands. We played from 6am to 4pm. for 35-45 minutes at a time, roughly 30-40 songs on the master list. This was when i was 33, I'm currently 39. I buried the beater, no knee pain.
I'm not what may have caused you knee pain but I think there's more to how you were sitting, the height, and you may have left your beater deeply buried causing tension. Sorry to hear that you developed that kind of pain.
Not sure how I have gone so long without knowing about your channel. But I’m glad I’ve found it. Love the video! Playing in a country/swing band helped me a ton with several of these. I was always a metal drummer. So speed, energy, size, feel, they were all the same thing to me. I never slowed down and matured as a drummer until I was forced. Once I realized my old fills and go-to grooves wouldn’t apply well in this situation, I slowed down and really listened to the music and other instruments and found my spot within that framework. I couldn’t have articulated this very well if not for you explaining it. But anyways, super pumped I found your channel and love that you’re focusing on fundamentals and “non-glamorous” things.
Timestamps:
0:30 #12
1:13 #11
2:08 #10
3:19 #9
4:13 #8
5:03 #7
5:49 #6
7:37 #5
8:53 #4
9:55 #3
10:59 #2
12:12 #1
Major tip here from professional drummer that's been all over the world. LEARN TO SIGHT READ SHEET MUSIC. You're skills will increase by vast amounts. New grooves, fills, timing, polyrhythms, different genres and style, etc are all available to learn. Other musicians will thank you
As a guitarist I love these tips a few themes came up, your not gonna be comfortable at first, your not trying go be the best, not everything is speed
Enjoyed your video. You touch on some vital issues. Been a drummer since 1969 and all those years has been one long 'classroom' of learning.
Thanks Stephen, not only are you clear in your explanations, you're very generous sharing your knowledge and wisdom!
I used to work on a place that had live gigs all weekends (I was the sound tech guy). What I used to do after the show (when I was putting everything back together in the scenario) was play the drums and take note of the differents tunnings that drummers played in! So, if you can access to the drum kit after a local show, totally do that if you liked the sound it had
Regarding #6 - I still, to this day, get confused and uneasy looks from some musicians when I talk about supporting the song/band instead of their chops. In essence, they are playing "in their head" instead of in the song. I think this a huge key that makes some bands sound so much better than others. You see this problem all the time with local bands who haven't quite matured musically. Musicality and chops are two different but equally as important features of a good musician.
I'm so glad I watched this upload because every point made sence..I got a electronic kit just before lockdown (millennium 750)with a extra crash and as a starter kit it's been GRT...if I lived in a detached house I would definitely be looking at buying a acoustic kit....1st time I've watched this bloke and every point made sence resonated with me,I don't know if this fella teaches drums if he doesn't he should because he explains each point clear and calm not over examination he's a teacher some people are born for it... I'll definitely be watching more uploads and I'm going to sub as well ... GRT stuff Stephen keep it up....
You got my like from your first comment. Nobody cares how fast you can play. Agreed.
*stares in metal fan* Yes, actually. Some care. Playing fast is cool and fun.
If you can't blast 32nd notes at least 200bpm I won't even speak with you.
@Koa -_- What if playing "well" includes playing fast?
These are excellent tips I like how fast you are
This advice is sage as hell. There is as much philosophy as there is technique. Advice doesn't get any better than this.
Really great advice. So refreshing to see someone focus on the mental aspect to playing such a physical instrument! Thanks for this!
A little a tip I use for tuning my kit. I use a tension watch. I find the sound I want with one tom tom, tune the keys to that tension number on the tension watch, and do the same for the next tom tom, and the snare. For the floor tom, I go down ten points on the tension watch. Then I add moon gels on and start comparing double single notes all the tom toms.... I sounds amazing and very tightly tuned.
Point #10 - I think your knees hurt with that technique because you're tall so your legs are really long. For us shorter guys we simply cannot sit that far back or we won't be able to reach the rack toms, because shorter legs means shorter arms.
On Lesson #2, I agree 100%. My first jazz lesson from a very experienced pro required me to NOT use the snare muffler (yes, they did exist) and TO use giant marching band sticks to practice an almost silent and very smooth double-stroke roll that sounded like tearing tissue paper. It did not go well. That was over 50 years ago and I still practice this, along with all rudiments. I started out as a garage band rock drummer who knew it all. Then I started progressing to a professional jazz, pop, classic soul, classic rock, latin, and everything else, drummer who made a lot of money by playing quietly, under control with good time. I'm still working on this. It's amazing how much I didn't know when I thought I knew it all. I've learned so much that I have worked my way up to "just decent".
I have tons of favorite drummers. Included in them are Danny Seraphine for rock, Joe Morello, Bid Sid Catlett, Louis Bellson and Jeff Hamilton for jazz.
Play the foot pedal with the ball of your foot and the heal off. This way you can control the power and speed more easily
I really appreciate your material and that you are not pushing an expensive course etc. I'm an old drummer and I have been told I'm a great drummer but I was never great iMHO. I wondered why people said this. It was because I played solid grooves and fills that worked with the music rather than showing off. I learned to play by playing along with records from Phil Collins who was a very musical drummer. Sorry he can't play anymore.
Also practice keeping your hats closed going into your fills. Hi-hats can become an ear sore. You don't want everyone knowing you're about to start a fill because you open your hats.
Or maybe don’t open your hats every time you do a fill
I've been playing for 40 years and this is all really good advice. I think you covered all the fundamentals to being a good musician who plays the drums. Great stuff.
Imagine Zach groves face when he said no one cares about chops 🤣🤣🤣🤣
It's just *internalised screamimg*
Loving your page. Thank you for the tips. I played drums as kid then switched to lead vocals for over 20 years. Now that I retired from the stage, I have gone back to my first love. The drums. It's like starting all over again. Cheers!
'sit far back and don't bury the beater'
*Laughs in Mario Duplantier*
I fucking love Gojira and Brann Dailor is one of my biggest inspirations to play drums
@@douchebagginsmctalibancock2510 +1 Gojira and Mastodon are my favourites
@@douchebagginsmctalibancock2510 hard same
@@adamnesbitt11 same here. I think it's caused by their distinctive drumming "sound", which is something I need in a metal band
#10 is the best one in my opinion. Been teaching my lil’ bro to play the drums and he always asks about how to stop the knee pain, I personally never had any so I didn’t what to tell him, so this has helped both of us.
If you’re doing a slipknot song and there’s a full just blast the snare always works
Metallica*
Thanks so much... #6 should be the golden rule for any musician at any age! At 53' yrs and a guitarist all my life I finally have the drum set I've always wanted and I am the world's most frustrated drummer! LOL however you're points about keeping it back beat consistent even though timing is important but Dynamics is where the feel is really alleviated a lot of my anxiety cuz I felt like I could not keep a consistent beat. I can play a good beat and I could play but I just can't play consistent and this will absolutely help!
Cheers!
The backgorund music at 0:10 is the outro music for another RUclipsr called Firebat (professional video gamer). The music is so familiar and I couldn't place it at first - drove me nuts!
As a drummer now for 40 (25 of those semi-pro) - there are some really good points here :) I would add one more tip - playing three hour shows, you really have to keep yourself in top shape - drumming is such a physical instrument - after 40 years of playing I have had my share of tendonitis, carpel tunnel and lower back issues - so you really have to take care of your body too!
Great video, bro! Fantastic demonstrarions and great advice! You're a great player and instructor! Happy drumming!
AGREED! 💪
@@fabfishing7422 EXCEPT, I've seen pro after pro after pro digging into the beater! Pros do it ALL THE TIME to creates dynamics, eliminate resonance, etc. As long as you know how to use it, don't train your bodyto do only that, etc.; it's actually an asset. If you want the 80/20s video on a similar thing, he clearly shows huge pros burying the beater for specific things. Only technique to have? Definitely not! Another good one to have just like staccato and legato notes and rebound with sticks? Yep! ;) Happy drumming, buddy!
I found early on in my career (the late 70's playing live 5 or 6 nights a week) is that all the 1/64th and even most 1/32nd notes I played went right past 99.9 % of the people in the crowd. I also learned that most people do not even look at the drummer unless you are doing something (twirls or stick tosses) to get their attention. If I had 5 bucks for all the times people ask me if I knew the band (because they saw us talking together) and would I ask them to play a song. Once I started being a little flashy it helped me get noticed as a member and it also helped the band as people saw we were talented, back when few drummers did any visual stuff. And last...that playing the songs so that people can recognize what song you are playing. And play the signature drum fills that make a song ...other wise...just play something else.
If you play covers...play them with respect to the original. If you play originals...play them like they are huge hit songs on the radio. And that a great front man (even if he plays guitar or bass) makes all the difference in the world. People like to feel that they are part of the show in a way...to bridge that gap between the crowd and the band on stage. Thanks for the tips.
Why am i here im a guitarist
I'm a first drummer. And I appreciate these tips. Some of these I was thinking about just the other day. Including the Seat Position tip.