Never good enough...

sticksnstonesrus · #1 07-15-2007, 10:08 PM

Why is it that no matter how much people tell me I'm a great drummer, I can't seem to accept it? I continue to see my own faults in the forefront of my drumming (obviously noone else does, or chooses to voice them) and somehow it's my focus night after night, show after show.

Just a mid-set?

How does one defeat this?

Andy

Michael G · #2 07-15-2007, 10:29 PM

Easy, respect other people's opinion of you and you will accept it. As it is now, you don't care what other people think of you, your drummer skills are only as good as you think they are.

volume_3 · #3 07-15-2007, 10:32 PM

I get the same.

But i reckon its because you are the one playing, you know exactly what u should be doing, and if you make mistakes than you know exactly what they are, observers may not.

However, when you've perfected what you consider bad, then you'll be a better drummer for it.

Joel Woody · #4 07-16-2007, 04:45 AM

kinda like a muscle jock.....they always think they are really small, but everyone else sees them as huge and as a meathead.........you are good....listen to people....dont let yourself put you down

fijjibo · #5 07-16-2007, 10:20 AM

Whatever you do, dont get disheartened from drumming.

Maybe all you need is a break from drumming for maybe a week, so that when you come back to it you'll have fresh ears and wont get frustrated so easily with your playing.

jonescrusher · #6 07-16-2007, 01:22 PM

Not especially a bad thing. The only way to be able to make progress in yourself is to be able to look objectively at your playing and see what needs to be improved upon. It means that you have an idea in your head as to what it is to consider yourself a good player, and currently you're not there yet.

I'm the same, and i've learnt to see this aspect of myself as ultimately an advantage as it is the drive to be the best i can be (horribly corny). If you listened to he people who told you you're good enough now, then you would be left without the motivation to improve.

Consider yourself to be in a good position. If you're playing drum festivals and recording with Steely Dan and you still think you're crap then there may be a self esteem issue somewhere there.....

de Nick · #7 07-16-2007, 01:39 PM

I have the same problem. I play for 5,5 years now and I think I am to bad for this long time. And theres another problem. I had a good teacher for about 1 year and then another one I didn´t like that much (maybe because he wasn´t that good). After 2 years attend his lessons I quit and went to my old teacher. So now I think I "lost" 2 years if you know what I mean.

dale w miller · #8 07-16-2007, 02:28 PM

as long as it is not holding you back, let it keep you humble. for everyone who tells you (or any of us for that matter) that you (or your band) are great, there is always someone who doesn't like your style. believe me, i know.

sticksnstonesrus · #9 07-16-2007, 04:43 PM

I must agree with all who have interjected.

I am a very...and I mean very humble being. I never take any time to appreciate myself out loud...only others. I've always let my playing speak for me, and after 21 years of it, I am still swift enough to know deep in my silent-soul that I am a well-rounded player, and a good showman.

I don't suffer from any self-esteem problems and I don't want it to seem like a sabbatical is in order. The last sabbatical I took lasted 5 years! I'm just meerly peering in the mirror and trying to justify. I guess it's more like looking at others, who I know have dominant aspects of their playing and bouncing those against my own, always seem to trigger an ounce of "determination"...like I haven't done enough. I guess the flip side of that coin is knowing there are dominant aspects of my own playing, that I, at the very least, can guess that others don't have.

I suppose it's a more sane approach to pat ones self on the back with what you know, than to beat yourself down with what you don't.

Hmphh. I guess I'll go practice some more.

Andy

Leadfoot · #10 07-16-2007, 05:10 PM

A couple of the replies have it nailed. The day that you begin to think that you are great, you tend to stop learning & then it's time to hang it up. I've been gigging for 32 years & I find faults with my playing every night & it motivates me to improve- no matter how much someone compliments my playing. I personally know several drummers who think that they are the stuff but in reality, not so much. All ego & no substance, I love opening for guys like that so I can give them a reality check, shuts them up every time. I'm pretty humble to folks who haven't met me, they tend to assume that I play that way too. NOT.

sticksnstonesrus · #11 07-16-2007, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leadfoot

I love opening for guys like that so I can give them a reality check, shuts them up every time. I'm pretty humble to folks who haven't met me, they tend to assume that I play that way too. NOT.

Yeah. Ditto. A nice hand-shake, BS conversation, and on with the show.

Casper "DrPowerStroke" Paludan · #12 07-16-2007, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leadfoot

A couple of the replies have it nailed. The day that you begin to think that you are great, you tend to stop learning & then it's time to hang it up. I've been gigging for 32 years & I find faults with my playing every night & it motivates me to improve- no matter how much someone compliments my playing. I personally know several drummers who think that they are the stuff but in reality, not so much. All ego & no substance, I love opening for guys like that so I can give them a reality check, shuts them up every time. I'm pretty humble to folks who haven't met me, they tend to assume that I play that way too. NOT.

So, music, to you is a competition? You either win, by "shutting them up", or you don't? If it works for you, great, but I don't see music that way at all. If I am thinking about some drummer in the audience while I am playing, I won't be listening to my band, and my victory over the cocky drummer after me will be hollow.....because I will have been totally absent. DPS

brittc89 · #13 07-16-2007, 06:12 PM

Its not really a problem, it only becomes a problem if it starts somehow holding you back, but if you can always see ways you can improve, why not just use that as an opportunity to know what to work on. At least youre not over-confident, that is a much worse trait. And Ive found just as a normal nicety, never disagree with a compliment, just smile and be gracious even if you thought you played horribly. But dont take every single compliment as the truth, you always have to remember that the majority of people arent drummers and if you are looking for an in-depth critique on your performance you arent gonna get it. But then again, making something sound great to a non-drummer can be as equally difficult if not moreso than impressing a drummer. Thats the big difficulty, trying to make it just sound good.

rjvsmb · #14 07-16-2007, 06:51 PM

It's ok, no, it's absolutely necessary to evaluate your progress and work on what you feel is not as strong as it should be. It's the common thread between people who love what they do - they always want to do it better. And if you're not evaluating and striving to improve, then you're not growing as a musician. You have to be able to enjoy the process and not be over whelmed by it.

When you practice, work on what you feel is lacking, maintain (or refine) what you do well and maybe learn something new.

When you play, just go for it and let whatever it is you are feel come out through your music. This is when everything you worked on becomes a part of who you are. Don't let too much critical thinking ruin the great feeling of making music.

When someone pays you a compliment, genuinely thank them. Appreciate the fact that what you did behind the drums moved someone enough to come up to you and pay you a compliment. That's cool.

Don't be too hard on yourself.

Take care,
rjvsmb

Leadfoot · #15 07-16-2007, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPowerStroke

So, music, to you is a competition? You either win, by "shutting them up", or you don't? If it works for you, great, but I don't see music that way at all. If I am thinking about some drummer in the audience while I am playing, I won't be listening to my band, and my victory over the cocky drummer after me will be hollow.....because I will have been totally absent. DPS

Read my post. Then read it again. The scenario to which I refer is the loudmouth guys being the competitive type, not me. I simply sit down & play my show, WITH my band & they see how it works. No, drumming isn't a competitve event to me, that's for the WFD clowns.

brittc89 · #16 07-16-2007, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leadfoot

that's for the WFD clowns.

Lame way to end your post...

Tetley · #17 07-16-2007, 07:13 PM

gotta agree, shoulda left the WFD flame off the end.

rjvsmb · #18 07-16-2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brittc89

Lame way to end your post...

Agreed. Not a fan of WFD, but respect them enough not to call them clowns.

Anyway, cheer.

rendezvous_drummer · #19 07-16-2007, 07:50 PM

Who calls someone a clown......honestly.

Don't be too hard on yourself. PUSH yourself to become better, yea that's good, but don't knock on yourself. People aren't saying you're good for no reason.

sticksnstonesrus · #20 07-16-2007, 08:20 PM

Ok...with that little hurdle overcome.

I do push myself. It's a constant in my life. Not just behind the kit. Although, very much applies in all aspects of life.

I have my niche as a drummer and as a band member. The two, while work in conjunction with each other, have definitive and separate measures as to the "success" in each. I think too many people get zero'd in on the finite details and forget to look at the bigger picture...in that I mean, my production as a drummer, by myself is seen totally different from the eyes and ears of those who are drummers/musicians and, if not equally or more, by those who aren't. Thus, me being the only thing to criticize, takes a much more complex myriad of measures to understand what makes ME a better drummer. Likewise, my bands' production takes a much different approach in that the full-scale is what makes us what we are...not one by himself. Thus a much different measure on what makes me, a better drummer.

Just some philosophy from my perspective.

Joel Woody · #21 07-16-2007, 09:17 PM

ok.....haha....i dont want to sound dumb or anything.....but what is (the) WFD?

brittc89 · #22 07-16-2007, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel Woody

ok.....haha....i dont want to sound dumb or anything.....but what is (the) WFD?

Worlds Fastest Drummer

rjvsmb · #23 07-16-2007, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel Woody

ok.....haha....i dont want to sound dumb or anything.....but what is (the) WFD?

I didn't know either for a while.

World's Fastest Drummer.

Best,
rjvsmb

Casper "DrPowerStroke" Paludan · #24 07-16-2007, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sticksnstonesrus

Why is it that no matter how much people tell me I'm a great drummer, I can't seem to accept it? I continue to see my own faults in the forefront of my drumming (obviously noone else does, or chooses to voice them) and somehow it's my focus night after night, show after show.

Just a mid-set?

How does one defeat this?

Andy

Most people get weird in the face of compliments. It is for some reason hard for us to take in compliments. Like someone said, if you respect other people's opinions, then you are there! But the notion of "defeating" is in my opinion also counterproductive: just accept the little voice in your head that tells you to almost criticize people when they compliment you. Just accept it and listen not to it but to your new fan! And congratulations on the compliments, brother. DPS

Joel Woody · #25 07-16-2007, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjvsmb

I didn't know either for a while.

World's Fastest Drummer.

Best,
rjvsmb

oh alrite....thanks for the input....haha

Leadfoot · #26 07-16-2007, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel Woody

oh alrite....thanks for the input....haha

WFD= Sport drummers.

sticksnstonesrus · #27 07-16-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPowerStroke

Most people get weird in the face of compliments. It is for some reason hard for us to take in compliments. Like someone said, if you respect other people's opinions, then you are there! But the notion of "defeating" is in my opinion also counterproductive: just accept the little voice in your head that tells you to almost criticize people when they compliment you. Just accept it and listen not to it but to your new fan! And congratulations on the compliments, brother. DPS

Thanks Bro'.

All is good.

Andy

Casper "DrPowerStroke" Paludan · #28 07-17-2007, 03:20 AM

WTF? WFD?? 202020202020

Ironcobra · #29 07-17-2007, 04:45 AM

the better you sound to yourself, the better you will sound to them

jim314 · #30 07-17-2007, 08:11 AM

Say to yourself, "I did everything possible to play my best, so it could never truely be any better then that". You can't should have played better - that is an impossible idea.

It might help to stop analyzing your playing and just feel it - stop thinking and you'll be fine.

emmerson · #31 07-17-2007, 08:20 AM

it will only improve your determination to fix the problems you see in your drumming.

brittc89 · #32 07-17-2007, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim314

Say to yourself, "I did everything possible to play my best, so it could never truely be any better then that". You can't should have played better - that is an impossible idea.

It might help to stop analyzing your playing and just feel it - stop thinking and you'll be fine.

The only way to get better is to analyze your playing and find your weaknesses so you cna attempt to improve them. You wont advance by just thinking thats the best its ever gonna get, might as well just be happy about it.