Hi Gavin,
I've been following your advices for some quite time and I wanted to let you know how I progressed and I have also new questions which I would like to ask you.
At first I asked about writing down music. I still find it difficult, but writing down and playing various ideas I had helped me a bit. Also I find out that "decoding" rhythms the other instruments play is better when trying to write down what the drummer play. It is easier the understand the drum part when I have a better idea what rhythms the other musicians play.
My second question was about writing down my ideas, which I found boring later. You said following:
I don't quite understand - you only think it's crap once you see it written down? If it sounds good to your ears - that's all matters. A lot of it is in the interpretation. If you saw some of Jeff Porcaro's drum rhythms written down you would think they look pretty boring and uninspired - but when you hear him play them - it's a whole different thing.
I started to ignore the feeling I had and I found beauty in much simpler stuff. I also looked more into Jeff Porcaro. I have to say I can see his influence on you... I was suprised on how many records he played that I already heard... Another thing, I heard you saying in some interview (or here) that you try to practice everything as relaxed as you can. And this helped me a lot! I noticed when I practice something stressed I tend play with "nervous" feeling.
And last question was about timing. You said:
Playing in good time is about listening. If you want to get good at playing in time get good at listening. There's two types of drummers. Ones who work on their time - and others who just aren't listening hard enough. Your timing might be affected by your (lack of) technique to a degree. If you think your time is struggling - simplify what you're playing so that it doesn't take all of your concentration just to play the rhythm. You need to have control of what you're playing so that you've got some room left in your brain to listen. Listen carefully to yourself and the other band members.
I've been following this advice very carefully. And definitely my timing has improved, but it also shown areas on which I have to work more. However I have hard time finding how to practice it.
My new questions are:
1. I noticed that my sense of steady beat isn't that strong. I think I am too dependant on others, when I hear something playing I can feel my timing is good. But once there are, what I call, "silent parts" I have hard time holding steady beat when there is nothing to hold on. Hope it makes sense... I mean I can play in time simpler things, but the rests can cause trouble. Especially those over few bars.
Another thing. Even when some instruments are playing something not very clear, let's say in triplets I tend to sense it as eight notes for example. I think you call it an illusion.
What I've been practicing is clapping the beat and singing bass line or guitar through the song. It is harder than it seems and I could feel some improvement.
Do you have any tips and exercises that might help me with that?
2. I also noticed that my idea of rhythmic values (Triplets, Eights, Sixteens...) isn't perfect. I have a clue how it is placed in time, but not very clear. It takes me a little bit of time (Two or three beats) to adjust well... For example when playing from sixteens to triplets. And of course syncopated notes are extremely difficult as I tend to be drawn to the beat, for example when I try to play last sixteen note.
How can I practice it alone? I never know if I play it right, even when listening to it from recording. Sadly, I don't have that much lessons nowadays, where a teacher can tell me what I am doing wrong... When I try to practice I think I concentrate too much on it, I can't play it in fast tempos and when I play in slow tempos it is like my head is going to explode.
3. On song 19 days you play a marimba. It is your own marimba? Have you ever practiced melodic instruments like marimba or vibraphone? Do you know any good books? I own xylophone and I sometimes feel guilty not playing it as I don't know what to practice.
Thank you in advance!
...Oh, and I wish you played more funky music. I bought Lewis Taylor's record Lewis II and it is absolutely amazing!