Playing drums with bad emotions.........

[Damon Dapper]

Ever had to do a show that's pivital to your career and killer emotions are running through you? Playing while angry works against me on the drums because I don't home-in" on certain elements that are crutial to a solid performance. That's funny, because when I'm sad and down the creativity explodes..........and that can't be healthy. Can it? LOL.

Go figure.

Damon.

[rendezvous_drummer]

I can't play when i'm angry because of the same reasons as you mentioned, because I can't focus at all. I need to be happy when I'm playing..and I achieve that when I'm angry by drinkin a few beers haha. DON'T DO THIS!!

[dasilvs]

you would probably laugh if you heard some of the ways celebrity musicians have found their creative energies...there is nothing wrong with motivation from a dark place, so long as you do not allow yourself to wallow in it completely.

[Pete Stoltman]

Interesting topic. I'm usually a very laid back and reasonably happy guy. My playing reflects that. On a recent gig I had been going through some very frustrating days and was pretty tightly wrapped. I got on the set and my playing was very aggressive that night. The guys in my band were pretty surprised and noticed that there was a difference. I didn't play any better or worse than usual, just differently. Music is and should be an outlet for our emotions however we still have a responsibility to be "musical" regardless of what's going on in our heads. Completely losing control to emotional stimulus is not a good thing. Using music to explore our emotional states is what art is about. I think this is something that other instrumentalists and singers understand much better than we drummers do. We tend to get hung up on technical stuff and sometimes forget that we are painting a picture for the listener with the notes that come out of our instruments.

[NUTHA JASON]

i love having an emmotional reference. my singer/leader is very quxiotic and verbal. if he isn't having a good time on stage he makes sure we all feel it. if i am enjoying the gig and he starts wailing on us i get super angry. its at times like that that my focus becomes diamond ... like: 'oh yeah? well, stick this up yer trews yer mouthy b*****d!'

i'm reading the dave grohl biography and apparently he and kurt had a massive arguement right before dave in a fit of anger sat down and laid the drums for 'smells like teen spirit'. in all the takes before that his drumming just wasn't working.

j

[Drummer Karl]

I can't play when i'm angry because of the same reasons as you mentioned, because I can't focus at all. I need to be happy when I'm playing

Same with me, I have to go into the groove, I need to be kinda "happy" when playing drums...I also already tried to play when I was angry but this was awful, I had nothing but anger...oh, also wanna mention that I don`t have to be ultra-happy to play on my highest standard, I just have to be awake with my body and my head, and I musn`t be angry. lol

Karl

[Stu_Strib]

I just play man. If you practice enough, you won't need emotion. Look at Neil Peart or Thomas Lang ;-)

[Batera945]

well one thing i know ... u can't do ANYTHING right when ur angry... but we are forgetn about other emotions like sadness or something like that... well music is expressin wat you feel and thats wat i do when i write a song.. i'm a drummer/songwriterr hahah but yeah when ur sad u just want to get taht out of ur chest... u might be ablle to play when ur angry too but it wont be very musical i bet... but plain when ur happy is good... but ussually when i play drums i get happy... its just something i love doing and it makes me feel good when i play it! but music SHOULD be filled with Emotions!

[Stormi]

If I'm angry, I usually go and sit at my kit because playing drums relaxes me. I can be at absolute boiling point and as soon as I sit down and play a few notes - whoosh - the anger is gone. I'm so absorbed in my playing that I forget about being angry. My drums are therapy for me.

Sometimes when I sit at my kit (actually, MOST of the time) the kids' "mum's on the drumkit" radar goes off and suddenly the three of them need my attention - NOW. I've got the baby helping out on the floor tom, and the two boys are talking louder and louder over the top of each other to try and tell me stuff. I say "I'm trying to practice, can we talk about it later", which of course is ignored and then they fight and yell and stuff, and THEN I get really annoyed so in my frustration start playing as loud as I can in the hopes that they'll get the message that it's my practice time.

[dunkerton12]

I just play man. If you practice enough, you won't need emotion. Look at Neil Peart or Thomas Lang ;-)

I disagree here. The crowd can definitely sense if there's a problem, and if they can't, your band members can.

I have never really thought about this before, but since you brought up the topic I began thinking about it. It seems that no matter how mad or angry or out of sorts I seem to be, once I sit down at the kit it all just leaves me. It's like a whole different world when I'm playing. I love it!!!

[Stu_Strib]

I disagree here. The crowd can definitely sense if there's a problem, and if they can't, your band members can.

It seems that no matter how mad or angry or out of sorts I seem to be, once I sit down at the kit it all just leaves me. It's like a whole different world when I'm playing. I love it!!!

I don't understand what you disagree about. You and I agree...sit down and play, emotions go away.

[My drums name are George]

i find this more marching than playing drumset, but when i play i get an emotion i can only get playing drums, everything goes away, everything but my silliness, that doesn,t affect my playing

I'm just like a zombie

[dale w miller]

i believe any emotion is as long as it is focused towards your playing is benificial. that is exactly what art is suppose to be, no? an expression of your emotions.............

i'm reading the dave grohl biography and apparently he and kurt had a massive arguement right before dave in a fit of anger sat down and laid the drums for 'smells like teen spirit'. in all the takes before that his drumming just wasn't working.

j no surprise to hear they were having some trouble on that track. i heard all the choruses are the same performance spliced in to each appropriate spot.

[Guinness]

I too have a singer that more often than not will keep you on the edge of wanting to kick the hell out of him. Everytime I get angry on stage I tighten up and play almost flawless. It feels a lot like playing in competetive sports and wanting to show the other guy just what your made of. Do all singers take classes on how to aggravate the hell out of the sidemen in the band? Every band I have ever been in resembles the same scenario.

[microkit]

playing drums is a great release when you're angry, like exercise plus music. gigging angry...different entirely. when i'm sad or anxious, drums help. again, that's the drums being therapeutic, you don't want to be in tears at a show. unless you're emo.

[Quadruple Groove]

yes, our singer also pisses me off.
I don't know why.

[Ozzy Biz]

Reminds me of Lou Reed telling his kids their mother had died, recording their sobbing, and then using the sample on a record....No, hang on, that's just plain creepy and wrong.

You're right, that is mean-spirited. Couldn't he have done something a little less extreme?
Oh well... he made it big, right?

Biz

[rendezvous_drummer]

I piss off my guitarist, he plays like crap
I don't piss m guitarist off, he plays like crap...

My guitarist pisses me off, which makes me play pretty badly when im playin jazz, rock is fine.

[gusty]

when im angry, or upset, or sad, usually playing doesnt help cause if i try something and scew it up (which i would coz im angry) then ill get more depressed about it, but thats probly just a teen thing.

[hold-the-groove]

when ever im angry i always play double bass-thats when practicing though

[Wavelength]

I sometimes suffer from emotionless, cold playing, when I just perform my part mechanically and focus on not making mistakes. Usually any kind of emotion, be it ecstacy or anxiety, will improve my expression on the instrument, even if it means more dropped sticks and mis-played rhythms. When I get my emotions into play, I just melt all over the drum kit, and the emotions become transparent fuel for creativity. You won't hear "angry" drumming or "happy" drumming, you'll just hear inspired drumming.

God, I wish I could get there more often.

[Spence]

I think it depends on what kind of music you are playing as to whether or not the emotion is initially detrimental to playing.

When I'm angry/furious I find it more difficult to practise stuff like complicated rhythms or play that relaxed. However, I could play something loud with energy quite easily.

The more I play, the calmer/more focused I become. I find that improvising a solo helps so, so much. I gradually seem to calm down.

[Batera945]

WELLL i know one thing..... Happiness is doing what YOU love.... You play drums = Happy!...

when i sit down to play i put everything aside and just play for the love of it.... I just recently been through A LOT of stuff... had a really good relationship end really bad and the bad thing is that the girl is part of the church's youth worship band.. And i play for them... so like yesterday at practice it was really all awckward and some sad feelings and anger and all that from both of us... but once i sat down on the drums i was happy again...

WHen u play cast all ur problems aside... Dont bring them with u on stage... I learned that everytime you go up on stage be ready to give ur absolute BEST!if u canlt do that... then dont even bother going up there!... But yeah thats how i feel!...

I love drummerworld.. how we can all just open up to one another :)

[ANIMALBEATS]

no no no kiddies. Light touch tells more. Open and free like the children of mosses.

[Drum Monkey]

I just play man. If you practice enough, you won't need emotion. Look at Neil Peart or Thomas Lang ;-)
That's because they play technically and not emotionally. Athough that is mainly how I play, Neil is my biggest influence and I completely understand where he is coming from, a little emotion could only make things better.

-DM

[Synthetik]

I just did that. I played with bad emotions. It did spike my energy, but perhaps muted my accuracy and flow.

I snapped a 2B stick in the process. I feel better now.

[DrumMasterDave]

Bad emotions can creat Perfect creativity. BUt watch out, for it can also hinder technicality.

[atomicsoy]

i hate it when i play, with bad mood, angry, pissed off, tierd, headache and flue. bad... cant concentrate. me too i have to be happy n joyfull to play well. ehehehe

[low-tech]

i dont know if someone said it before, but there is a different between intensity and anger.

anger,fustration and rage is a loss of emotional control

intensity is the projection of that anger with control.

its like fear, something im more used to on stage.

when you control it...its an asset, sharpened senses,sharper reflexes, more focus.

intensity is a good thing, you may break a few sticks and kill a few head where you didnt need to, but that lets the crowd know or the listener<if its a recording>know there is a human there behind the kit.

[Spence]

i dont know if someone said it before, but there is a different between intensity and anger.

anger,fustration and rage is a loss of emotional control

intensity is the projection of that anger with control.

its like fear, something im more used to on stage.

when you control it...its an asset, sharpened senses,sharper reflexes, more focus.

intensity is a good thing, you may break a few sticks and kill a few head where you didnt need to, but that lets the crowd know or the listener<if its a recording>know there is a human there behind the kit.

There is certainly a difference between anger and intensity. However, anger is not loss of control. Anger can also be controlled so it has no detrimental effects.

Rage is harder to control as it is a more violent form of anger. Yet still can be controlled.

I think it just depends on how good one is at controlling emotions. I for one am rather bad at it most of the time, but when playing gigs etc am actually ok.

E.g. Some MOFO tried stealing my double pedal before a gig. I caught him. I was so mad I almost passed out with intense furious anger. I got the guy thrown out and then had to play about 5 mins later. I managed to perform just fine.

Had the situation occurred at rehearsals and there was not as much pressure to perform, I would probably be mad all day long.

[low-tech]

There is certainly a difference between anger and intensity. However, anger is not loss of control. Anger can also be controlled so it has no detrimental effects.



i guess we define these thing differently


I was so mad I almost passed out with intense furious anger.

thats losing control of your emotions,not your actions. you dont have to cry to be really,really bummed out and depressed, you also dont need to be punching walls to be at a loss of control over your anger.

ever have some jerk try to start a fight with you and you calmly back down<for the greater good, because there is no reason to fight>but have the memory kind of eat you up for a time because of the audacity of the jerk. this happened to me a few weeks ago. it most likely effected how i played during jams for the next week.

emotion is a real deep and tricky thing, its not conquered by simply controlling youself from giving that guy a knuckle sandwich. anger effects you internally, it is what is known as stress.

I got the guy thrown out

thats being in control of your actions and doing the right thing.

I managed to perform just fine.

how did the preformance feel?, did you hit the cymbal, or intro into a song with a little more umph than was usually necessary?, were your accents a little sharper for a time in some parts of songs?

thats sort of how i define intensity and its not just with playing harder or louder, it can be an dramatic response to.....play this part quiet.......play that with more detailing and change up your beats/accents a bit.........speed that tempo up a tiny bit....adds more character to the playing, sometimes you may overdo it, sometime you may not notice the fact you are doing it.

you could of totally just cleared your head and did the show without feeling that experience of the close call <theft of your gear> effected your playing at all. i know i would be playing different in your circumstances.

to be genuinely anger during a set is, how i interpret it, usually distracting, i think about what is making me angry,not my music. my playing can be controlled, others may not notice it BUT, im not submitting to each moment<methodical playing, not expressive> and im most likely not enjoying myself.

[Spence]

Response to low-tech (without having a HUGE quote).

We must define things a little differently.

Anger IS NOT loss of control, it's something along the lines of a strong feeling of displeasure.

Stress does effect you internally agreed. However, to say this always leaves a lasting effect would be wrong. Stress/emotion is not defined as such and who is to say this feeling cannot also be overcome. You make it sound like once you experience an emotion, it cannot be overcome within a short period of time. Sure it can, and who is to say there is a minimum and maximum time such an emotion can last.

As for your response to me saying "I was so mad..." - I know that's losing control of your emotions. That's what I said.

Furthermore, getting the guy thrown out was an action. This action can also have an effect on an emotion. I.e. Getting this guy thrown out can and did make me feel a lot better thus alleviating any 'bad' emotions I may have had, as playing the gig well is so much more important than getting annoyed over an unsuccessful thief.

If something more severe than a guy trying to steal my pedal would have happened, then it is highly likely I would have played aweful.

As for your definition of intensity, it can mean more power, concentration or energy etc. It is not necessarily channelling anger. It's your response to it. Although, some may say they are the same thing.

There seems to be a lot of overlap with what we are both saying. I don't think there is any point in getting into some sort of slanging match. All I said was that anger is not loss of control, which it isn't.

[low-tech]

Response to low-tech (without having a HUGE quote).

We must define things a little differently.

Anger IS NOT loss of control, it's something along the lines of a strong feeling of displeasure.

Stress does effect you internally agreed. However, to say this always leaves a lasting effect would be wrong. Stress/emotion is not defined as such and who is to say this feeling cannot also be overcome. You make it sound like once you experience an emotion, it cannot be overcome within a short period of time. Sure it can, and who is to say there is a minimum and maximum time such an emotion can last.

As for your response to me saying "I was so mad..." - I know that's losing control of your emotions. That's what I said.

Furthermore, getting the guy thrown out was an action. This action can also have an effect on an emotion. I.e. Getting this guy thrown out can and did make me feel a lot better thus alleviating any 'bad' emotions I may have had, as playing the gig well is so much more important than getting annoyed over an unsuccessful thief.

If something more severe than a guy trying to steal my pedal would have happened, then it is highly likely I would have played aweful.

As for your definition of intensity, it can mean more power, concentration or energy etc. It is not necessarily channelling anger. It's your response to it. Although, some may say they are the same thing.

There seems to be a lot of overlap with what we are both saying. I don't think there is any point in getting into some sort of slanging match. All I said was that anger is not loss of control, which it isn't.


oh, its cool man, i just wanted to clarify. i see what you mean and you've made valid points here.

my whole view on projecting negative emotion thru music goes to the point that, if i wasnt playing music, id probably be in a bad way in life by now, to say the least.

i view emotion much differently, thats all.

i guess this is why i play metal.

[Drummer30]

Angry drumming is hard, you get all tense and your rolls, etc., shrivel up and you are just interested in playing to cool off. I try not to so that I don't break the bank with replacements :)

[atomicsoy]

when im angry, or upset, or sad, usually playing doesnt help cause if i try something and scew it up (which i would coz im angry) then ill get more depressed about it, but thats probly just a teen thing.

i agreee :) and then i would bash them and would probaly ended up breaking my precious stuff.

[Acronomic]

I think mood and emotion is everything when it comes to your performance on the kit. Some people are just angry (I'm talking metal here) and that reflects their playing.

I feel a huge difference in performance when in a certain mood. I think I play best when I'm happy, and sometimes I feel "groovy" if you know what I mean. I'll also become angry some times and I'll favor straight beats or fast metal playing.

I do play many different genres though, from funk/jazz inspired to metal. I don't know. Sometimes I'm having an absolute blast on the drums and I'll keep going as long as I can, and sometimes I'm just not in the mood. I'll sit down for 15 minutes, not get the feel, and just give up. Unfortunately I've been feeling that all too often lately.