Chop?

[Guz2]

Sorry to be a noob, but what's a chop?

[Wavelength]

Chops = technical prowess and licks.

[Guz2]

Chops = technical prowess and licks.Thanks! (what's a lick?) :P

[mrchattr]

For the record, "chops" is literally your playing muscles. For drummers, it involves the lower arm muscles (where your control comes from), your calves (for bass and hi hat), etc. All musicians have "chops," but they are in different places...a trumpter has great chops if they have strong control of the muscles in their lips, etc, that help them play.

So when someone says, "You have great chops," they are talking about your technical prowess, etc, but in the sense of complimenting your muscles.

A "lick" is a term that means any particular quick, short, musical passage, usually designed to put you in the spotlight for a minute. It's a more common term when talking about a melodic instrument, like guitarists, but can work with drummers, too. Think of it in terms of, "Dude, that guitarist played some awesome licks during his solo."

[Guz2]

Aaaaaaah, ok thanks! :)

[caddywumpus]

Chops: noun. In drumming, something that will either be used to create music, or will be used in spite of any musicality whatsoever.

It's good to have accurate and fast "chops". What's more important is how you use them in a musical setting to create something that's more than just ingratiating yourself.

[mrchattr]

Chops: noun. In drumming, something that will either be used to create music, or will be used in spite of any musicality whatsoever.

It's good to have accurate and fast "chops". What's more important is how you use them in a musical setting to create something that's more than just ingratiating yourself.

This is so true. Every time I listen to Steve Jordan, especially his stuff with John Mayer, I am reminded of this more and more.