approaching a song!!!

[invincibledrummer]

the basic problem i face is how to approach learning a song.... i m actually a play along drummer with little knowledge of time signature nd various scales on guitars nd stuff... all i do is just try getting d beat.. the latest i played is blackest eyes from porcupine tree and wickerman from iron maiden!!!! suggest!!!

[larryace]

First, I listen to it as much as I can. Then, I try to categorize the song. Is it rock? Jazz? Pop? Country? Blues? Funk?

Next I identify the time sig. Is it 4/4? 3/4? 2/4? 12/8? Then, I break down the song form into something that reads like...intro, verse, bridge, chorus, solo, chorus, ending, with notes about anything that differs from the rest of the song, like the length of the verse for instance if it runs shorter or longer..I also make notes about any dynamic treatment that a section may get. Like if the last verse is played quiet or whatever, I'll note that.
Then I try and identify the kick and snare pattern for the various sections, and write them down using my own personal terminology, 4 on the floor, or a shuffle pattern, or perhaps an alternating pattern... Then I try and identify what the ride/hi hat is doing, and write that down. I suppose writing the tempo BPM would be helpful, but I rely on my memory for how the song feels.
I also listen to the words to see what kind of mood or thought or story or emotion is being sung about, and try and keep my drum part in line with that. Like if it's a sad slow song, I don't do anything that sounds too happy or carefree. Common sense stuff.

So basically, I try and break the song down into individual sections and write out my beats to each section, and write down the order of the arrangement. Divide and conquer.

[Anon La Ply]

Good advice from Larry. Sometimes the hard thing is sorting the basic soul of the beat from the ornaments.

If possible I like to boil a song down to its essential beat and try to get that feeling good. Most songs have a single beat (clave, core accents, whatever). Get the basic beat (or more than one, if needed) feeling good and you're well on the way.

The idea is at first to be able to get through the song with good groove and no train wrecks. That's the solid base on which you can build. Add sauce to taste ...

[lucasblogger]

hi. do you know any software program that can separate the sounds of the drums of a song?

[JBoom]

Originally Posted by invincibledrummer

the basic problem i face is how to approach learning a song.... i m actually a play along drummer with little knowledge of time signature nd various scales on guitars nd stuff... all i do is just try getting d beat.. the latest i played is blackest eyes from porcupine tree and wickerman from iron maiden!!!! suggest!!!

If you can learn to play drums, you can learn to read music. If you can read the written word, you can learn to read music. I don't know why there are people who avoid it. I've always had a hard time playing with other musicians who can't read, because in that case there is no common language to communicate with and then we all have to just rely on listening and memorizing (and I'm bad at memorizing).

Learn to read, it's not that hard.

That said, most people learn a cover song by listening and memorizing, and that can be pretty easy for the more popular songs (especially ones that don't have odd time signatures and changes in time signatures).

[larryace]

Originally Posted by lucasblogger

hi. do you know any software program that can separate the sounds of the drums of a song?

Yes, it's called your brain lol. Other than that I got nothing. Welcome to the forum.

[Anthony Amodeo]

Originally Posted by JBoom

If you can learn to play drums, you can learn to read music. If you can read the written word, you can learn to read music. I don't know why there are people who avoid it.

Learn to read, it's not that hard.

agreed

anyone can literally learn to read music in hours if not minutes if they have the right person showing them

or even the Pat Petrillo DVD.....by the end of the DVD you can officially read....then all you have to do is practice

there is absolutely NOTHING difficult about reading music

I have no idea why some avoid it

[invincibledrummer]

Originally Posted by Anon La Ply

Good advice from Larry. Sometimes the hard thing is sorting the basic soul of the beat from the ornaments.

If possible I like to boil a song down to its essential beat and try to get that feeling good. Most songs have a single beat (clave, core accents, whatever). Get the basic beat (or more than one, if needed) feeling good and you're well on the way.

The idea is at first to be able to get through the song with good groove and no train wrecks. That's the solid base on which you can build. Add sauce to taste ...

" aprretiate it man!!! but my problem is time signature... i dnt knw hw to find it!! ny help in dat!!

[invincibledrummer]

Originally Posted by JBoom

If you can learn to play drums, you can learn to read music. If you can read the written word, you can learn to read music. I don't know why there are people who avoid it. I've always had a hard time playing with other musicians who can't read, because in that case there is no common language to communicate with and then we all have to just rely on listening and memorizing (and I'm bad at memorizing).

Learn to read, it's not that hard.

That said, most people learn a cover song by listening and memorizing, and that can be pretty easy for the more popular songs (especially ones that don't have odd time signatures and changes in time signatures).

sir, i knw hw to read sheet music but not all songs have sheet musik... problem comes when there is no sheet musik!!!

[invincibledrummer]

Originally Posted by larryace

Yes, it's called your brain lol. Other than that I got nothing. Welcome to the forum.

hahahaha true no software whatsoever can replace ur brain... i totally second dat sir!!

[Anthony Amodeo]

Originally Posted by invincibledrummer

" aprretiate it man!!! but my problem is time signature... i dnt knw hw to find it!! ny help in dat!!

Mike has a great explanation of time signatures in this vid

skip to 7:20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnhByczOneI&sns=em

[NZ[v]etalhead]

wow. That Mike is something special. I have never heard anyone explain it so clearly. I think the whole 'math' side of things puts people off.... me especially..

Thanks for the link.

[Spreggy]

Originally Posted by lucasblogger

hi. do you know any software program that can separate the sounds of the drums of a song?

I know this sounds goofy, but sometimes covering your ears with your hands while the song is playing can help pick out the drums more clearly. A buddy mentioned once he would pick out guitar parts by turning on his hair drier during the song.

[samthebeat]

Transcribe is good, you can slow things down. If you are working out hard songs and trying to get the drum part exact this can be tricky with out learning read music, it depends on your memory I guess.

[rock fan]

H there theres a few things u could do .1 have u heard of Absolute Slowdowner if not ill explain.Goole it and download free trial version( ive had this a while not time limit on trial).You put a cd in comp and it willslow down the speed of first 2 tracks on cdto 30% of speed if u want.2 .Ye deffo learn to read drum notation thers also drum tabs ( i dont use tabs) some peeps will.It takes away the memory part but opens up a fantastic world i would never not read drum notation.Ideally you need to know your part without music because if you rely on singer or guitarist in song and you take them away your lost .Reading drum notation all u need is this and you can play the song on your own .I have more ides could go 4 a while but ill leave it at this for now hope you get sorted

[PeTeR4171]

I listen to it once or twice, then try and play along with it. I get the beats and fills down to pretty much the bare minimum first, the go back and fine-tune everything once I've gotten a basic idea of the song. It's very primitive, but reading music and tabs aren't really my bag.

[Anthony Amodeo]

Originally Posted by PeTeR4171

I listen to it once or twice, then try and play along with it. I get the beats and fills down to pretty much the bare minimum first, the go back and fine-tune everything once I've gotten a basic idea of the song. It's very primitive, but reading music and tabs aren't really my bag.

reading music isn't your bag huh?

you may want to change bags

[PeTeR4171]

Which is exactly what I keep telling myself every day... Thing is, I can read it, it's just easier for me to play it by ear.

[peety777]

1. I import the song on my iPad to an app called anytune
2. Listen to it
3. Slow it down and start from the beginning notating out all the different parts, fills are the hardest
4. i then jam along to it with out anything, just my hands and legs- air drumming or maybe on a table
5. The app tells me the BPM so i just start slow and bring each part up to speed then play along to the track
6. What I find hard is remember the whole song for gigs and stuff as i don't want to be reading sheet music at a heavy gig haha! Guess it just gets into your system after a while!

[Dr_Watso]

Here's some tips I've picked up over the years.

-Approach a song carefully! Some songs can be sensitive to buffoonery, and the wrong approach could scare them away forever. Don't be "that guy".

-Be confident, but try not to act overtly cocky when approaching a song you like. Chances are, the song is just as nervous as you are.

-Make sure your hair is well groomed, and there is nothing in your teeth. First impressions are everything.

-If you notice a song you like in a group of other songs, make friends with and pay attention to the other songs first... It creates feelings of jealousy in your target song that work out for you in the end.

-Remember to keep your standards. When approaching songs, it can be easy to get discouraged and just go with the first song that comes along. Many times it will only leave you feeling dirty and used. If it does happen, don't worry. It might make you feel better to know that many of us have also had the experience of awakening to hazy memories of last night and Mustang Sally. Learn from your mistakes and carry on.

I hope this helps.

[larryace]

Helped me more or less than you'll likely know! The great thing about this advice is....I can also apply this exact logic to women! The overlap is uncanny. Or canny, whatever. You sir are a sage!

[Jack Boyd]

Originally Posted by Dr_Watso

Here's some tips I've picked up over the years.

-Approach a song carefully! Some songs can be sensitive to buffoonery, and the wrong approach could scare them away forever. Don't be "that guy".

-Be confident, but try not to act overtly cocky when approaching a song you like. Chances are, the song is just as nervous as you are.

-Make sure your hair is well groomed, and there is nothing in your teeth. First impressions are everything.

-If you notice a song you like in a group of other songs, make friends with and pay attention to the other songs first... It creates feelings of jealousy in your target song that work out for you in the end.

-Remember to keep your standards. When approaching songs, it can be easy to get discouraged and just go with the first song that comes along. Many times it will only leave you feeling dirty and used. If it does happen, don't worry. It might make you feel better to know that many of us have also had the experience of awakening to hazy memories of last night and Mustang Sally. Learn from your mistakes and carry on.

I hope this helps.

I dribbled coffee on my shirt laughing so hard at this.

[Toolate]

Originally Posted by Gvdadrummasum

agreed

anyone can literally learn to read music in hours if not minutes if they have the right person showing them

or even the Pat Petrillo DVD.....by the end of the DVD you can officially read....then all you have to do is practice

there is absolutely NOTHING difficult about reading music

I have no idea why some avoid it

I google "how to read drum music" on the way to my first lesson and figured it out in a few minutes. Obviously later there are more complicated items to sort out but the basic reading is not complicated. I am amazed that there is so much discussion about learning or not...