Does any other instument infuence drumming.....

[SharkyBait911]

Hey guys,

I was going to learn the piano and i wondered if it would make me a better drummer? I thought it might help my coposing of drum fills,grooves etc. That led me on to think if drummers play another instument, does it effect there drumming in any way ???

I thought it was worth asking you drum wise guys, and if is worth learning piano?

Thanks, Tris

[timmdrum]

piano and/or bass, certainly.

[TheGroceryman]

I just started getting into the melody side of music and i have to say my approach to drumming changed SOOO much. Now i'm listening to what the melody/harmony guys are playing a lot more, and thus I guess i really try to complement that a lot more, instead of just playing what's on my mind and not really caring what the "other guys" were doing. And being able to play a bunch of songs you love on the piano is just sooooo cool. that's actually what got me interested in that stuff, i really wanted to play this piece from the soundtrack of this game i played... and it just snowballed.

Definitely get into it.

[nhzoso]

I asked Dennis Chambers this question during a recent clinic he gave here and he said that while he has played some bass in the past he would recommend that drummers take up keyboard/piano as a 2nd instrument due to harmony and also sharpening reading skills.

[geeza]

Hey guys,

I was going to learn the piano and i wondered if it would make me a better drummer? I thought it might help my coposing of drum fills,grooves etc. That led me on to think if drummers play another instument, does it effect there drumming in any way ???

I thought it was worth asking you drum wise guys, and if is worth learning piano?

Thanks, TrisI would suggest at least learning the basic knowledge of as many instruments as possible including singing. For one thing it makes communicating with band mates so much easier when they know what you're trying to say. Just learning basic vocabulary of other instruments is usefull. Also for me ,drumming has had a big impact on my playing of other instruments. I think it works both ways.

[ExPLiciT]

I just started getting into the melody side of music and i have to say my approach to drumming changed SOOO much. Now i'm listening to what the melody/harmony guys are playing a lot more, and thus I guess i really try to complement that a lot more, instead of just playing what's on my mind and not really caring what the "other guys" were doing. And being able to play a bunch of songs you love on the piano is just sooooo cool. that's actually what got me interested in that stuff, i really wanted to play this piece from the soundtrack of this game i played... and it just snowballed.

Definitely get into it.

did happen to be final fantasy???

@ question: i think it definitely changes they way you look at drums and composing. it is also good to know about scales/modes/harmony/keys etc.., especially if your writing originals.

[KCDrummer]

I think learning ANY other instrument gives you a greater understanding of music, and that in itself makes you a better drummer.

[aydee]

Max Roach thought it was really important for drummers to learn the piano.

Pianist Keith Jarrett always really wanted to play the drums.

Figure it out.

[jjmason777]

I play just enough keys to be dangerous. But seriously, I would have to say it this way: Learning a melody instrument will not make you a better drummer, but it will make you a better musician. I know, drummers are musicians, but you know what I mean. For example: Learning a C chord on the piano will not make you play a better half time shuffle, see? But it will make you a more well rounded musician in general.

[TheGroceryman]

did happen to be final fantasy???

@ question: i think it definitely changes they way you look at drums and composing. it is also good to know about scales/modes/harmony/keys etc.., especially if your writing originals.

you got me.

and i think jjmason couldnt have said it any better.

[abe]

Oh and Jack DeJohnette also plays piano a little :)

http://www.dustygroove.com/item.php?id=2c5c7pttpv&ref=upcoming.php

[mrchattr]

The first instrument I messed around with after becoming a drummer was harmonica...so simple, but even THAT made me a better drummer.

[dkerwood]

Every bit of music knowledge you an acquire will profoundly affect every musical endeavor that you embark upon. Piano lessons, composition, drum circles... the more information and experience you allow yourself, the bigger your musical world view will become. As your world view grows, you will blossom into a stronger musician.

I consider myself to be a pretty average drummer. I'm also an average guitarist, bassist, and a terrible classical piano player. I'm horrid at the trumpet and trombone and even worse on woodwinds. But my MUSICIANSHIP... I can tell you in all honesty that my musicianship is my strength, and musicianship can cover many technical flaws.

Due to my musicianship, people actually believe I can play the piano. They believe me to be a great guitarist, bassist, and drummer, all because I can play musically. Heck, I have people thinking I'm actually proficient at wind instruments thanks to my musicianship.

My point is, take it all in. Some might say you're wasting time behind a piano when you could be sitting behind the drums... Technical chops can get you only so far. Solid groove and the ability to really sit well in a group comes from musicianship, not chops.

[Bruce M. Thomson]

I always thought that Bass and Piano would be natural instruments to gravitate to, Alan White credits his style of playing to his beginning on piano. I had recently been playing Vibraphones at a friends house and was really getting into it, I have always enjoyed The Modern Jazz Quartet (Skating in Central Park is a great Christmas type tune) but alas he has moved away and I couldn't see me putting a set in my apartment. Piano is the all around instrument and any knowledge taken away from playing even just a little bit would be a great asset I would think.

[jimtyler]

I heartily recommend piano lessons. It makes you a better musician, ie, a better drummer. Back when I played college jazz band years ago, the director knew I could read a little keyboard music, so he would give me the piano charts to songs instead of the badly written drum charts. That way I could sense the entire feeling of a piece of music and play appropriately.
Now I play totally tonally on a large set. I usually work out my arrangements on keyboard first to see what they sound like (and make sure the notes are in the right key), then transpose them to the set.
Taking piano lessons will lead to nothing but positive results for a any drummer.

[jay norem]

Now I play totally tonally on a large set. I usually work out my arrangements on keyboard first to see what they sound like (and make sure the notes are in the right key), then transpose them to the set.

Well, wait a minute. You transpose the notes, after you're "sure they are in the right key(?)" to the drums? How the hell do you do that, and why?

[jimtyler]

Ok, I sure this may sound strange.. I can't play a song that has flats. My set has 2 and a half octaves key of C (no flats or sharps) so I have to be sure my kit can handle a particular piece of music. I am not just kicking 2 and 4 on snare, I'm trying to play the key of C melody at the same time. I am not in a band and do nothing but solo/concert performances. If a song has an F sharp for example, I'm screwed. No matter how much I like the song, unless I can somehow transpose it, there is no way I can perform the piece because I simply do not have enough toms.

[jay norem]

Ok, I sure this may sound strange.. I can't play a song that has flats. My set has 2 and a half octaves key of C (no flats or sharps) so I have to be sure my kit can handle a particular piece of music.

Two and a half octaves in C=18 notes. You're saying that your kit consists of 18 drums? I mean, that's possible, of course, but constantly tuning them to a C scale must be a bitch.
It's a novel approach, I'll give you that.

[jimtyler]

Two and a half octaves in C=18 notes. You're saying that your kit consists of 18 drums? I mean, that's possible, of course, but constantly tuning them to a C scale must be a bitch.
It's a novel approach, I'll give you that.

Actually not quite. I use 20 toms, but my low D was stolen a while a go. I double up on the high D because of positioning within the set (to make sticking easier). I use, even in my "small" set, starting low..ACEFGABCDEFGABCDDEFG. The set has 2 levels. The bottom level is in thirds and the upper(above the cymbals) level is in opposing thirds allowing the octave play.

[ExPLiciT]

you got me.

and i think jjmason couldnt have said it any better.

hahaha final fantasy 10's To Zanarkand is what got me into wanting to play piano. all the music in that series of games well fairly well written and composed. i think it should be more noticed.

[dkerwood]

Actually not quite. I use 20 toms, but my low D was stolen a while a go. I double up on the high D because of positioning within the set (to make sticking easier). I use, even in my "small" set, starting low..ACEFGABCDEFGABCDDEFG. The set has 2 levels. The bottom level is in thirds and the upper(above the cymbals) level is in opposing thirds allowing the octave play.
If there are no pictures, it didn't happen! :-D :-D :-D

[jimtyler]

If there are no pictures, it didn't happen! :-D :-D :-D

Believe me. Old photo here..

[drumguyfromWI]

I used to play trombone in my school marching band before I played drums. I sucked at it. then, a while after I started to play drums, I took up guitar and bass just for fun. I can play them well enough to make people think I'm good at them, but in reality, I don't know much more than power chords and such (which basically limits me to playing punk songs). I am way WAY better at drums. also, I can sing decently well, and can write lyrics, which works out good for my band, because, in addition to playing drums, I write lyrics and do background vocals in the band. and I can mess around on keyboards and pianos, but I can't really play whole songs.

someday when I have the money, I'd like to get recording software, a microphone, an electronic keyboard, and electronic drums so I can make my own music on my computer with drums, guitar, bass, keys, and vocals.

but I think playing other instruments has helped me become a better dummer, by reminding me to not play super-busy, and to play for the song and make space for the vocals and other instruments, with little flourishes here and there to keep things interesting.

P.S. I can't really read sheet music or tabs very well, but I can learn a song, especially on drums, after a just few listens and play-alongs.

[dkerwood]

Believe me. Old photo here..

Awesome! I have no idea how you'd play that set, though! :-)

[TheGroceryman]

Awesome! I have no idea how you'd play that set, though! :-)

check it out:

http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45156

pretty sweet stuff.