This is great advice. Although this thread has pretty much run it's course, I really appreciate all who have given me ideas on how to approach a solo. Yes, someone else or a teacher suggested I do this along time ago, but I never went ahead and incorporated this concept of practice into my routine. I should have done this a long time ago. It's so easy to get caught up in new books and exercises. I have a ton of books. Some I have had for 35 years and have never gone thru. Because I basically just use the same books that have been useful to me over the years, such as Stick Control, Chapin, Reed, ect... in which are all good books but don't teach music. Good for technique. I have to take the suggestion that you gave and make it the first priority every day and take a tune to memorize and work 4 bar solos around them. Start to learn the forms. Thanks so much again.....martinbr
No more jam sessions for me. I'm done
- Thread starter martinbr
- Start date
This is great advice. Although this thread has pretty much run it's course, I really appreciate all who have given me ideas on how to approach a solo. Yes, someone else or a teacher suggested I do this along time ago, but I never went ahead and incorporated this concept of practice into my routine. I should have done this a long time ago. It's so easy to get caught up in new books and exercises. I have a ton of books. Some I have had for 35 years and have never gone thru. Because I basically just use the same books that have been useful to me over the years, such as Stick Control, Chapin, Reed, ect... in which are all good books but don't teach music. Good for technique. I have to take the suggestion that you gave and make it the first priority every day and take a tune to memorize and work 4 bar solos around them. Start to learn the forms. Thanks so much again.....martinbr
Lennytoons
Senior Member
I started going to jams a couple of years ago and quickly learned quite a bit including:
Some drummers are there to impress. It's like Saturday morning at Guitar Center. They overplay and usually play too loudly and drown out the other musicians. 20% of the drummers fall into this catagory.
50% of the drummers can't keep time. Some are close but speed up and slow down as the song goes along.
20% are old timers who don't give a flip what other people think. They can do any Beatles or Rolling Stones song dead on. They have a hard time with the fast blues stuff any anything written after 1980.
10% are real drummers. Professional, semi-pro or retired professionals. They keep time, keep out of the way and play. They have good dynamics and the jam sounds tight. Simple is better in these situatuons. Don't try to show off what you learned last week at your drum lesson. Keep time, be steady, make your fills simple and musical. That's my advice. The other musicians will love you for it.
Some drummers are there to impress. It's like Saturday morning at Guitar Center. They overplay and usually play too loudly and drown out the other musicians. 20% of the drummers fall into this catagory.
50% of the drummers can't keep time. Some are close but speed up and slow down as the song goes along.
20% are old timers who don't give a flip what other people think. They can do any Beatles or Rolling Stones song dead on. They have a hard time with the fast blues stuff any anything written after 1980.
10% are real drummers. Professional, semi-pro or retired professionals. They keep time, keep out of the way and play. They have good dynamics and the jam sounds tight. Simple is better in these situatuons. Don't try to show off what you learned last week at your drum lesson. Keep time, be steady, make your fills simple and musical. That's my advice. The other musicians will love you for it.
Larry
"Uncle Larry"
That's really my whole goal condensed into one sentence. In my mind it's not about me...it's about everybody else but me. I get mine by making everybody happy, musicians and audience...by providing what they need, when they need it. It's appreciated, they tell me so. That's all the reward I need. Mission accomplished.