It finally hit me! took long enough

[PreppieNerd]

This thread could just as easily be titled: In Praise of Simple Drumming

I play regularly in the youth worship band at my church. The Band leader is always the same guy and other musicians play on a rotation. On one of my off days I was listening to the drummer especially carefully. This guy is a very talented drummer, but often time he plays pretty busy beats. They don't sound bad with the songs, but I thought to myself, "It would probably serve the music better if the beat was just something fairly simple." I applied this thought the next time I played, and afterwards the band leader said that that was the best he's heard me play. Also, since I'm not thinking, "how cool/intricate of a beat can I fit in here," I can forcus on the structure of the song and add to it musically.

[caprisun3484]

that's good man playing in church is always fun

[That Guy]

Welcome to the world of musicianship my friend. I'm glad to see that you recognize how important it is to keep things simple at times. Many wonderful and expertly skilled drummers have been criticized as if they have a lack of ability for doing exactly what you are now focusing on. Many of them are featured drummers on this site, and have been criticized throughout this forum.

I'm happy to see a post that acknowledges the simplicity that a drummer needs to have at times.

Don't let it go.

[k3ng]

You have seen the light! Welcome to the light! hahaha

Self discovery is cool ain't it? The thing you've gotta to do now is let the other drummer dude in on your little secret. Help bring others to the light.

[Butch Axsmith]

Now you have got it ////
Good for you ''''
Butch Axsmith

[acctd4]

totally know how you feel i play for my church a bit too...and sometimes when you try to do too much it just sounds "messy"...totally agree with simplicity and just a steady beat which in my opinion is the main purpose of drums to provide a steady rhythm for the band and just add on afterwards!

[fijjibo]

Go to NUTHA JASON's site and check out his article on Church drumming.

He focuses on how it is important that if the worshipers go home thinking about how brilliant the drummer was with all his/her little licks and fills, the drummer hasnt done his/her job properly.

[drumtechdad]

Funny how it takes listening to another drummer for this to really sink in.

I've told my 14 year-old drummer son the same for years as he tries to fit his Dennis Chambers fills into simple rock songs. But it wasn't until he was asked to coach the drummer in another, younger band that it really came to him: he found himself saying things like "keep it simple/concentrate on groove/play for the song/don't play fills, play setups."

I'm more convinced than ever that you can't teach anyone anything, you can only trick them into figuring it out for themselves.

[dale w miller]

what i find interesting is i always came from the other side. i always got into bands with well written songs first over an amazing drummer. i find sometimes being criticized for playing things too simple. simple is not necessarily the answer, being musical is.