How do I sound?

[OwrKeeng]

My name is Pat Lindel and I've been playing for a year and a half. These videos are for a scholarship I'm trying to get.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0gUMUymphU&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMD7DR4bTqw&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciyG8aAi2Ko&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z9qyL_VXOE&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr7diS1uAZc&feature=channel_page

[Garvin]

Hi, welcome to the forum...

Couple of things. I did read that you have only been playing for a year and a half, so my feedback here is taking that into account.

Basics... Before you even sit down at the drums again, you should think about getting a proper throne. You look like a tall dude but in the videos, it looked like you were sitting on a couch or something. You are sitting waaaaay to low.

Tuning. You should really do some searching on here regarding tuning your drums. It doesn't matter what kind of kit you have, but those toms can certainly be worked with. Possibly think about some dampening or something, but you gotta get the tuning straightened out.

Cymbals. They are what they are. Working on fundamentals can help you coax a better sound out of beginner cymbals, but sitting higher might help with that as well.

Playing. Your playing is sloppy. I'm not being mean, it just is. You have only been playing a year and I understand that. The good news is you aren't wasting your time trying to do over the top fills, but your basic groove and time keeping need work though. No worries though, it just requires sitting down with a metronome or playing along to something solid.

Recordings. If you are going to send these videos in for consideration of a scholarship, take a little extra time and try to dial in the sound of your kit, or find a way to work with the audio options of the camera. Its hard to listen to in terms of sound. Also, do some minor video editing. Fade in, fade out, maybe a scrolling title with your name age, and a little bit about what you are gonna play.

I'm not trying to be a dick, I'm trying to help you get your scholarship. If there is any amount of competition, you have to go that extra mile and show that you are willing to do a little work. Your playing will progress, but you gotta put in some hours to make that happen.

Good luck! Keep us posted...

[OwrKeeng]

Hi thank you!

Replying in order:

I’m average height, I’m 5’9”. I don’t really have room in my room so I make due with what I have. I’m working on it though.

The sound of my drums sound pretty good to me when I play them I guess that cameras recording ability must of made it sound different.

Cymbals, how do I hit them properly? I have a feeling I’m not doing it right.

I don’t have a metronome or usually anything to play along with. Because I can’t hear anything over the drums. I’m a bit nervous in front of camera, I understand the sloppiness, I thought so too I usually have better time keeping skills. I don't think you're being a dick
at all, it's really helpful. :)
Recording, gotcha.

Thank you! I'm going to retune my toms and see what I get. :)

[Garvin]

Cool man, thanks for not taking that hard...

I know how things sound different live than they do recorded. As far as a metronome goes, you can download a list of mp3 metronome tempos for free and just play em' like regular tracks on your ipod or whatever. Its the cheapest metronome I think you'll find.

http://www.download3000.com/download_8925.html">Download Free metronome

Tune for intervals, not note. Find where the toms sound the best, and fine tune from there. Search "tuning" on the forum and I think you'll find more than enough to get you started.

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

What's more interesting is that you have two user accounts...

[OwrKeeng]

What's more interesting is that you have two user accounts...

Its more interesting to me that you caught that.

I forgot my password to my old account and I apparently didn't have an email address attached to the account so I couldn't go retrieve it, so I just decided to make a new account because I didn't want to bother the admins.

I really hope you're not making a big deal out of this.

[trysthedrummer]

I know it might be hard as a beginner but try and play with some dynamic range. And I know it's a very small room but the throne is one of the most important parts of your kit. If your getting accustomed to playing sat on a bed it won't be very good for you in the long run.

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

Its more interesting to me that you caught that.

I forgot my password to my old account and I apparently didn't have an email address attached to the account so I couldn't go retrieve it, so I just decided to make a new account because I didn't want to bother the admins.

I really hope you're not making a big deal out of this.

No, no, not in the slightest. I was just curious. Don't worry - I'm not a secret admin or anything.

I don't think the camera is entirely doing you justice - I can see there is a bit more sensitivity in your snare playing than perhaps you are being given credit for, but I would largely agree with the metronome sentiments. It's true - you do need to tighten up - but there's certainly a lot of potential in your playing.

[Brundlefly]

Not to pile on or anything, but here's another suggestion or two.

Watching you move, I get the sense that you could stand to loosen up. I know you've probably heard or read this a thousand times by now, and I remember having a very hard time doing it myself when I started out, but it really is about the most important thing.

Along those lines, I think if you took that groove from the first video, slowed it down about 20-30 beats and tried to play it as loose (read: relaxed) as possible, focusing mostly on timing and getting a smooth feel, it would sound ten times better.

Another thing that you can try to smooth out your groove is to first try dancing to the groove you are trying to play. Embarrassing and dorky, to be sure, but if you can get your whole body to move smoothly to something, you'll have an easier time playing it. It's a good way of working out the feel of something without having the mechanics of drumming to get in the way.

Btw, it takes a lot of guts to come on a forum like this and ask for critique.

[veggo32]

Keep going! your going to be a real good drummer one day.

[OwrKeeng]

Btw, it takes a lot of guts to come on a forum like this and ask for critique.


I'm just not that smart. But to be honest, I've been to worse places for critiques for other things and drummers tend to be the most nice and informative people I've ever talked with. Most drummers aren't angry and mean, you guys are just very helpful!

Anyway, tell me more about dancing to the groove, this interests me because I have no threshold on being dorky and I want to play to my best. That and loosening up, what do you mean exactly? I hear it all the time but im clueless.

I started doing this thing to loosen up my wrists by swinging the sticks in the air as far as up and down as my wrists allow as hard as I can. It looks ridiculous, I also loosen my elbows by combining the wrist thing moving my elbows so my forearms can go over my head. (think of some sort of unsexy i am genie dance)

[JarodMaybern]

I'm just not that smart. But to be honest, I've been to worse places for critiques for other things and drummers tend to be the most nice and informative people I've ever talked with. Most drummers aren't angry and mean, you guys are just very helpful!

Anyway, tell me more about dancing to the groove, this interests me because I have no threshold on being dorky and I want to play to my best. That and loosening up, what do you mean exactly? I hear it all the time but im clueless.

I started doing this thing to loosen up my wrists by swinging the sticks in the air as far as up and down as my wrists allow as hard as I can. It looks ridiculous, I also loosen my elbows by combining the wrist thing moving my elbows so my forearms can go over my head. (think of some sort of unsexy i am genie dance)

by loosening up i think he means what most mean, just loosen up. It's simply put but sometimes hard, i use to have the same problem and playing fast while your tense is almost impossible. But to loosen up just try to loosen up your muscles by rolling your shoulders a little bit, moving your fingers, and try to feel the music.

And for something to play along to like someone said just grab an ipod (or if you don't have one do what i do and lift a radio right next to you on an unused amp lol) and put some headphones in to some tunes you wanna groove to. i wouldn't start out with nothing to fast though, i personally started on RHCP's slower type songs (where you put your beats seems like you would be comfortable with chad smiths drumming) so try a couple of those and also PRACTICE WITH A METRONOME that's an important factor for your timing.

Best of luck man, you have the feel for drumming btw now you just gotta get your techniques and timing on lock.

I hope i helped in a way.

p.s. not to jack the thread but i'm going for a drum scholarship too, if you could pm me the details on how to go about this that'd be helpful.

[OwrKeeng]

Brilliant! I don't have an ipod or a metronome...but I do have access to a radio! >:D <3 Thanks bud you just gave me some ideas.