Larry
"Uncle Larry"
OK so it started out probably somewhere around late 2010. My wife and I were attending a gig locally. We are friends with the band, and we support them when we can.
Modesty alert, I'm dropping all modesty here for this story. I have to be honest, I don't really like what the drummer does most of the time. His time is wonky, he SLAMS everything way too hard, every song no matter which genre gets a rock treatment, and I think he plays like a caveman.
I'd like to think I am on a completely different level than this guy, going by musical choices alone. I'm being totally honest here, and all this is only in my own mind. I would never say this to anyone out loud. (except you guys) Now if a drummer can clearly wipe the floor with me, I am the first one to acknowledge it, and usually become a big fan of that person.
OTOH, if I feel if I am a better drummer than someone, well TBH I do have those feelings sometimes. And this is the way I feel about this guy.
OK so we're watching the show, and the drummer gets a spotlight thing where he comes out front and sings, then goes and does a drum solo thing. During his solo he whips out some linear triplets, and he really did them well. So my wife comments: Wow that really sounded good. He might be better than you!
(Here's the pride part)
Me: (accusingly, negatively)...Thanks a lot!
Her: What? I just said he might be better than you.
Me: Thanks a lot again!
Her: (Flustered) But...but..
Me: Just keep digging yourself in!
Her: But...but...
So deep inside, I know that yes, he can pull linear trips off better than I. At that point in my playing life, I had never really even tried to incorporate them into the music I do. I just never felt them I guess. Well that had to change. There's no way I'm sitting still for this. So I start trying to get my head around linear trips, and started shedding them.
(Here's the patience and redemption part)
So here I am, a full 5 years later, and last night, a linear triplet shows up in my playing where prior, I would never have had the coordination to slip it in smoothly. I have been incorporating them on certain endings now for about a year, but I never could get them into the body of the song for whatever reason. Until last night, and suddenly it all clicked. 5 years. I admit I'm slow, but my point is, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only slow person. My point is it takes a lot of patience before something new actually shows up in your playing.
So be patient.
Of course my wife has long forgotten this tiny incident, but I never let it go. My stupid pride got bruised, and I had to do something about it.
Modesty alert, I'm dropping all modesty here for this story. I have to be honest, I don't really like what the drummer does most of the time. His time is wonky, he SLAMS everything way too hard, every song no matter which genre gets a rock treatment, and I think he plays like a caveman.
I'd like to think I am on a completely different level than this guy, going by musical choices alone. I'm being totally honest here, and all this is only in my own mind. I would never say this to anyone out loud. (except you guys) Now if a drummer can clearly wipe the floor with me, I am the first one to acknowledge it, and usually become a big fan of that person.
OTOH, if I feel if I am a better drummer than someone, well TBH I do have those feelings sometimes. And this is the way I feel about this guy.
OK so we're watching the show, and the drummer gets a spotlight thing where he comes out front and sings, then goes and does a drum solo thing. During his solo he whips out some linear triplets, and he really did them well. So my wife comments: Wow that really sounded good. He might be better than you!
(Here's the pride part)
Me: (accusingly, negatively)...Thanks a lot!
Her: What? I just said he might be better than you.
Me: Thanks a lot again!
Her: (Flustered) But...but..
Me: Just keep digging yourself in!
Her: But...but...
So deep inside, I know that yes, he can pull linear trips off better than I. At that point in my playing life, I had never really even tried to incorporate them into the music I do. I just never felt them I guess. Well that had to change. There's no way I'm sitting still for this. So I start trying to get my head around linear trips, and started shedding them.
(Here's the patience and redemption part)
So here I am, a full 5 years later, and last night, a linear triplet shows up in my playing where prior, I would never have had the coordination to slip it in smoothly. I have been incorporating them on certain endings now for about a year, but I never could get them into the body of the song for whatever reason. Until last night, and suddenly it all clicked. 5 years. I admit I'm slow, but my point is, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only slow person. My point is it takes a lot of patience before something new actually shows up in your playing.
So be patient.
Of course my wife has long forgotten this tiny incident, but I never let it go. My stupid pride got bruised, and I had to do something about it.