Solo

[Blue]

Here's a solo I did recently. I've been struggling with technique big time, and have had tendonitis recently, so this is what I sound like nowadays I guess. I've been trying to work on basic technique again. This isn't a masterpiece, but I just wanted to see what you all thought. Any comments, suggestions, and criticisms are welcome. Thank you.

Curtis

[Blue]

http://media.putfile.com/Drum-solo-60-37

Edit:

Solo 2 (posted a couple months ago): http://media.putfile.com/Drum-Solo-2

Solo 3 (Posted 8/8/07) http://media.putfile.com/Drum-solo-5

[sam132]

Wow! really enjoyed listening to that man! some good grooves and fills well done!

[YamahaDrummerAus]

Hey there,

That was a fantastic solo!

From a musical point of view it was good, started off with very few notes, nice and simple and then built up to have a crazy amount of notes. That is an accurate musical solo.

Your technical stuff seemed good, lots of drags and accents. Good recording too.

Love to see what you would call better hahaha

Tom

[LinearDrummer]

Nice job....
I think I remember you posting some stuff last year and I think you've gotten better...

[Drummertist]

I think everyone is hard on their playing…
I feel like I'm not very good, but if I were to play in front of someone who knows nothing about drums or isn't at your skill level, then they'd be amazed…hopefully.

That was incredible to me. I haven't done rudiments in a long time mostly due to the fact that I got married and have a job to tend to now.

Your playing makes me want to pick up at the beginning and start again.
You have an amazing sense to what people want to listen to.

[radeq]

:) yeah, really, it sounds good :) your ideas are cool ;) i like it, really :) you have really some technical skills :) im writing this post during listening to your solo, and im still smiling :)
i like your sextuplets very much :) these kind of solos are soooo cooool :) ok, it finished now, :) perfect :) just keep on drumming, brother :)

[Blue]

Hey, thanks everybody! I'm glad you enjoyed it, I really appreciate all of the comments. It's really nice to hear.

Here's another I just did if you'd like to take a listen. I've been working on my foot technique, and I think I've improved on it a little bit, which has helped me feel more comfortable with certain grooves, which is basically what I do here. I stick to more of a specific kind of feel, although I do vary quite a bit, just not as much as the other one. Thanks for listening. Comments welcome.

http://media.putfile.com/Drum-Solo-2

[dizkneelande]

you got soem nice chops blue. what ride are you using? i think the bell sounds sweet

[Blue]

Thanks Diz. Right now, I use a Bosphorus Turk Series 20 inch. It's a great cymbal for Jazz, especially.

[rockinrider]

Hey Blue,

You did a good job on that solo. Your work on technique shows...smooth and clean.

It seemed as though your timing wavered during your tom fills early on. However, you were right on in the last half.

That was a joy to listen to. Keep it up.

[Blue]

Thanks rockin' rider. May I ask, during which fills in particular did you notice the time wavering? I still don't like my technique. I still don't understand why they say hold the stick at the first joint. I don't think it's stable enough, especially when you want to hit hard. I feel like, to hold it there, and to keep that space open, you have to really grip it tight, and the stick, when you hit the head, wants to go up to the second joint. That seems more natural to me, although, sometimes it can feel a little tight. But, when you watch drummers like Bonham or others, they don't always maintain the gap, infact, most drummers I see don't. Then there's Dave Weckl's whole middle finger fulcrum thing. I don't seem to feel comfortable in any of them anymore. I am still weary of tendonitis, which I recovered from recently, but resulted from teechnique probelms in the first place. I'm frustrated right now. I am studying to become professional, and I'm not so sure anymore. Anyway, thanks again.

[mhx93]

I really liked that; the ride patterns are really creative.

[Grungydan]

Good stuff, man. I dig your playing.

[radeq]

again positive comment :) yes, those who practice a lot with metronome, they can feel a little wavering, but its nothing horrible....the only thing i dont like is that your bass drum sounds very cheap...i mean the sound, not how you play it...but this is not about hey look how my drums sounds, but hey look what I can do :D

[Blue]

Thanks everyone. I know, the bass drum sounds really cheap. I'm not sure what I did to change the sound of it, but whatever it is, I need to fix it, because I totally agree. It sounds like the mic is right up against the head. Way too much attack. Thanks for the kind remarks. Cheers :)
Curt

[SLEEPY BRiGHT EYEZ]

I really loved the first solo. So much that I would really like to learn to play it myself. heheh

[Dahmer-Gein]

nice... how did you decord it? uh? studio?
I try to get that snare sound.. and nothing.. just crap xP
what ever, I've got a high tone... well... see ya!

[Blue]

Haha, thanks Sleepy. I apreciate that, and I'm glad you liked it.

I recorded it, actually, only using two mics. One AKG D112 Bass mic placed just inside the bass drum, and I have one Shure SM-57 overhead, placed as close as possible to the kit so that I wouldn't hit it with my stick, which is how I ruined an AKG 3000 (I'm still pissed about that). I find less is more, I guess. I don't really have any other options, because I don't have many other mics. I recorded it onto a digital studio, a Roland VS-880 I got a few years back. It's GREAT! Probably somewhat outdated, but it still does the trick!

As far as my drum tuning, I just tighten the heck out of the snare head, both sides. If I don't like it, I'll tweek either side a little bit.

Thanks again.

Peace
~ Curtis

[de Nick]

really liked it. how old are and how long do you play ?

[Blue]

Thanks bro. I'm 25 and been playing since I was about 7. I'm self-taught, and just kind of messed around until two years ago, when I started to actually practice and take it a little more seriously.

[Blue]

I'd like to post another drum piece I made today. I've made a few minor modifictions to my set-up, namely raising the seat height and sitting a little farther back from the bass drum, and I just feel so much more comfortable with everything, so I wanted to share this solo with you. It's a totally different sound than I was getting before. It's much more relaxed and not as stiff. My hands feel better too. I had tendonitis for a while, and I think with this, my hands, for whatever reason, feel like their bouncing of the drum better. For now, I'm happy. :) cheers

Curt

http://media.putfile.com/Drum-solo-5

[ZildjianMan1023]

i absoultley enjoyed it.. what kind of kit do you have? and what are those hi hats they sound like GOLD! i find your playing very enjoyable my friend


Dom

[SeveringDozza]

Holy crap. Nice work, some great grooves in there.

[Blue]

Thank you for the comments! I'm glad you like it! I play on a DW fusion kit (8", 10", 12", 14"; but I don't have the 8" set up, so its just a regular five piece set-up with a 20" bass drum. The hats are 14" Zildjian A customs. The snare is a DW collector's series snare.

[jmontroy]

Damn man, that was really good! Great smooth triplets, a lot of really good ideas in there. Everything sounded accurate and clean too, besides very very trivial hiccups. Your work on technique shows.

[zambizzi]

Excellent chops, very well done. I'm quite impressed. The first one was definitely more energetic and held my attention...and it didn't drop for a note. The second one was a little less captivating...but very well played nonetheless.

Very inspiring! I'm gonna go hit the practice pad for an hour!

[seanardo]

That is some excellent playing, some of the drumming on here makes me wonder how many years of practice are ahead of me before getting close to touching drumming like that. You've got some great sounds in there, enjoyable to listen to. Are any of your ideas Jimmy Chamberlain inspired, I thought I heard some of his stuff in there? I'm not calling you a thief by the way! :-) Keep it up!

[Blue]

Thanks peeps. That's actually really funny you say that. Recently, I was listening to "Gish," Smashing Pumpkins first album, and I realized, after listening to his amazing solo on 'Snail,' how much I was influenced by that exact solo, and his playing in general. Yes, Jimmy Chamberlain is a very bing influenced on me, although I didn't even realize how big until I re-listened to that recording. Some drummers just really stick with me when I hear them. Jimmy was definetely one of them. From his playing on Siamese dream too: wonderful! All of those 90's alt rock bands had a big influence on me I think as well. David Abruzzee for sure, too.