Playing with music

[the.tree]

Ive been playing for a couple years and basically the only playing i do is with different cds that i have. I like to improvise and maybe if i really like the song, learn it. Im self taught and not sure if this is a good way to practice/play. Any advice?

[frank0072]

I am playing for a year now and the best thing I have done this year is buying The Groove Essentials by Tommy Igoe, it made me improve a lot. Other then that I play along with music and spend time here to learn.

[Bossa Nova]

That is a good way to practice/play. But what are your goals? If you goals are to have fun playing the drums and to be able to play along to cds of people you like, then you are all set. Buddy Rich famously never practiced--he only played gigs, but he played a gig every night. I think that if you spent some of your time doing more woodshedding, you would improve as a drummer faster. Your way could work, but I suspect that you could be a better drummer if you diversified what you are doing.

What is your assessment of your drumming? None of us have heard you play or the progression of your playing. Only you know if you are as good as you want to be, or as good as you think you should be at this stage of your playing. Everyone has a weak spot. What's yours and do you want to take the time to work it into a strength?

I think that you need to do more practicing in a manner other than what you are doing now to improve on your improvising. One great way would be to get a list or a book of grooves that you can't play now, a copy of Stick Control, and a metronome. Once you get all of that, sit down and get to work. Spend half your time on that, and reward yourself by playing along to cds for the other half of your time. Then reassess after three months or so. My bet is you will have more fun playing along to your cds because you will be a better drummer.

[grue]

i would say you have discovered one of the tools needed to become a better drummer.

[a1DrummerT]

I am playing for a year now and the best thing I have done this year is buying The Groove Essentials by Tommy Igoe, it made me improve a lot. Other then that I play along with music and spend time here to learn.


groove essentials is a great book..ihave it also

[Jimothy]

Ive been playing for a couple years and basically the only playing i do is with different cds that i have. I like to improvise and maybe if i really like the song, learn it. Im self taught and not sure if this is a good way to practice/play. Any advice?


Get yourself in a room / garage with a few mates who have and can play guitars etc. Sink a beer or two and have some fun. You'll learn loads playing with real people and also have a ball!

Lessons and constant practise and reading up are essential obviously, but you can work on that side. It is very important to enjoy what you are doing which you will do even more if you get having some fun in a band! Even if it is only every once i a while... It's what drumming is all about! :-)

[Jimothy]

*double post 20 20 20*

[the.tree]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm gonna start to practice more rudiments and then see how that translates into my playing.

[nebula821]

I personally dislike playing with metronomes, so as sort of a substitute I play along with my MP3 player a lot. I think it's just as effective. Occasionally I will play a longer fill and come out of it just behind or in front of the beat and realize I need to tighten up a bit. I think it's a great way to practice. (I do encourage the use of metronomes btw)

[aydee]

I personally dislike playing with metronomes, so as sort of a substitute I play along with my MP3 player a lot. I think it's just as effective. Occasionally I will play a longer fill and come out of it just behind or in front of the beat and realize I need to tighten up a bit. I think it's a great way to practice. (I do encourage the use of metronomes btw)

If I was to split my time on the drums between WORK and PLAY, playing with music would fall under play.

Groove Essientals, stick control, etc is WORK and so is the metronome.

I consider myself to have decent time ( have been told by others as well... ; ), but with a metronome, if I was to play, say, even 32 bars of a groove with fills and accents, I would find myself out-of-beat.

If cds and mp3s are the french fries, the metronome is brocolli.......

[nebula821]

I totally agree with you aydee, that's just an example of my lack of discipline when it comes to practice. Metronomes are certainly the way to go.

[maddrummr]

JAZZ!!!!

i used to be generally a rock drummer. When i made honors jazz at school. I was really outta step. I never took lessons or played jazz in my life. I had to apply myself in different ways through music and when you mess up you have to find ways to make things right again. Thus i am getting better at improvising to get out of those little mental mistakes that happen when i'm playing a chart.