Being Creative

[Drummerdude23]

Hey guys I was wondering if anybody could give me some idea's on how i can be more creative on the kit. I feel like i've hit a brick wall and i can't get over it no matter what i do. I want to be more creative on the kit with my beats and my fills but i just can't come up with any idea's. I play the drums for my church and we play more up beat kind of music but half the time i feel like i'm to predictable and boring. Even when i'm on my own kit at home I try to come up with new stuff but i just can't think of anything. I know that our main job is to be the time keeper but i still want to have some fun with it. I've watch video's of other people play and they seem to me like they can just flow with it and what ever they do works. But when i try to play things like they do it just doesn't feel like it works. I don't know if i'm just thinking to much about it or what. But if anybody had any suggestions or tips on how i could get over this wall i would be very thankful.

Thanks!

[royspeed]

You could try going to this site I found;-

http://britdrummer.com/

There are videos on there for Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced players, and you could pick up a few good tips from watching them.

Roy King
Drummer, MindfooD

[balboa]

for creativity, a lot comes from the mind. people can have all the writting ability in the world and it doesnt increase creativity. you have to create the notation your writing dont you? with that said, for ideas i usually do write them out. i have a sonar 6 program i use to write out random rhythms. i listen to them, see if they work and if they do i learn them and perhaps use them in the original project im in. of course a teacher is always a good thing and reading articles or watching videos helps. but like is said, sometimes the smartest most schooled people are the least creative. as musicians we have to learn, imitate then create. creation is the hardest part for some people. i know some drummers who could read any type of music and learn it. but, when it comes to great feel and creativity...they are sub par. i realize this doesnt hold true nor am i trying to say this is fact. this is merely my opinion, my take on what creativity is and how us drummers may be able to embellish on it.

[Wavelength]

I want to be more creative on the kit with my beats and my fills but i just can't come up with any idea's.

Listen to all kinds of music and pick up as many things as you can. Creativity isn't all about pulling neat beats and fills out of your donkey, it's more about combining the things you know in unpredictable ways. Learning new styles and using that knowledge in other styles is one way of going about it.

[Deathmetalconga]

Try to replicate melodies on your drum set, even on the snare. This will force you to use the set in different ways and open up new ideas.

[balboa]

Try to replicate melodies on your drum set, even on the snare. This will force you to use the set in different ways and open up new ideas.

bill bruford used this method on earlier earthworks music!

[mr. inards]

for creativity, a lot comes from the mind. people can have all the writting ability in the world and it doesnt increase creativity. i have a sonar 6 program i use to write out random rhythms. i listen to them, see if they work and if they do i learn them and perhaps use them in the original project im in.


I do something similar, because Ive always relied on my ear, it works well for me to get things out in front of my ear first and not worry about the skill involved to actually play it, letting my mind do the creating without being obstructed by my skill level or habits around the kit. Your always better in your own head and I dont think one shoud ever get to a point where they are not anymore. Somethings gone wrong if you are extremely skilled but can no longer challenge those skills with your OWN creativity.

[millerdakiller]

PARADIDDLES, Lots and Lots of PARADIDDLES. anything from this family of rudiments is a really great way to be creative on the drumset. Steve Gadd knows where its at.

[balboa]

I do something similar, because Ive always relied on my ear, it works well for me to get things out in front of my ear first and not worry about the skill involved to actually play it, letting my mind do the creating without being obstructed by my skill level or habits around the kit. Your always better in your own head and I dont think one shoud ever get to a point where they are not anymore. Somethings gone wrong if you are extremely skilled but can no longer challenge those skills with your OWN creativity.

you are so true. one of my students, who plays guitar, said that he probably wouldnt benefit from any lessons or anything. this kid is 15yrs old! i said "wow, thats it, you learned it all in 2 yrs"? "do you do any arpeggio sweeps"? he looked at me dumbfounded! i told him there are so many different styles and applications and techniques, thats its impossible for one to not learn anymore, and if they do, they are doing something wrong. even the greats still learn! "the more we learn, the more we grow" -YES

[zambizzi]

The best way to be creative, hands down, is to play in a band (if you're not already.) I also find that I'm more creative when I'm not sitting around learning patterns. Take a concept you like and try as many variations of it as you can imagine...throw the metronome on and just jam on it for a while.

[millerdakiller]

you are so true. one of my students, who plays guitar, said that he probably wouldnt benefit from any lessons or anything. this kid is 15yrs old! i said "wow, thats it, you learned it all in 2 yrs"? "do you do any arpeggio sweeps"? he looked at me dumbfounded! i told him there are so many different styles and applications and techniques, thats its impossible for one to not learn anymore, and if they do, they are doing something wrong. even the greats still learn! "the more we learn, the more we grow" -YES


ha. lemme play guitar for that kid for one minute. i'll change his mind

[Tryitagain]

I've been in the same situation in the past...many times. You hit a brick wall and you feel like you're playing the same stuff over and over. One bit of advice I could give is to constantly keep yourself challenged. Find stuff you can't play and practice the heck out of it! Learn to play music fron a different genre that you've never played before. Even if you're not digging the style, you'll learn some different stuff that may open your mind to new ideas. Be patient. I think it's happened to all of us before!

[burnthehero]

For 99.9% of us, creativity doesn't just happen at random. We need to have a starting point to stimulate our minds, which can come from many, many things. For me, personally, it starts with hearing something that I really like. From there, I'll play with and try to make it my own. As many people have already said, the best way to do this is to listen to as many different types of music and musicians as you possibly can. Don't limit your listening to only what sounds good to you at the moment.