Approaches to learning songs?

[King Of Drums]

I am just wondering what some people's approaches to learning songs are on these forums. I used to rely on drum tabs when I was new to drumming because I couldn't hear a lot of what the drummers were doing. Now I like to learn drum parts to songs only by ear, I find it the most easy/fun way. When I learn a song I try to just learn the fills, transitions, bridges etc. Then just the main groove of the song. I like to improvise the rest to put my own take on the song.

Anyways just wondering what works for you guys? Are you one of those people who just hear the song once than do it all by feel? Or do you like to play everything exact?

[Ironcobra]

Drum tabs don't usually work for me, they are usually wrong and much to complex for the more difficult songs.

For me what works is listening to the song A LOT. And when you're at the drums, play the entire song while listening to it, without hitting the drums, just air drums. It will allow you to hear the drumming in the song very clearly, while still being able to clearly identify any mistakes or challenges you will face in the song.

It's really hard to just read a tab, and play a song. you will always play a song better if you know it really well.

[Class A Drummer]

Cant do drum tabs. If the song is basic enough, i listen to it, then just play it and add in my own special fills.

If it is hard, i get the music. So far i have been through Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, Rush, and am currently working through Dream Theater/Liquid Tension music. Nothing can really be the real music.

I like tabs to get a good basic look at what it may look like. The good thing about tabs is if it's wrong you will know it right away so the problem with them being wrong is not really a problem at all. If you just listen to songs and add your own fills and such then maybe you should look at a tab or 2 of the song to see how it should be correctly played.

I use Tabs, sheet music, (if available) and my ears.

Why not use every possible resource to learn to play something correctly?? I never got the whole anti tab crap on this forum.

[razorx]

i listen to the song over and over agian it drives the people in my house nuts

[foursticks]

Originally Posted by razorx

i listen to the song over and over agian it drives the people in my house nuts

That's the way to do it!

[aydee]

A lot of things work, some better than others.. different strokes for different folks.. but you honed in on whats key, and thats listening, and more listening... more important to listen that to even play sometimes...

[foursticks]

Originally Posted by aydee

A lot of things work, some better than others.. different strokes for different folks.. but you honed in on whats key, and thats listening, and more listening... more important to listen that to even play sometimes...

Aye, wise words there. Listening is practise in itself. As jazzsnob might say: 'LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN'

[Batera945]

listen to the song and get the main tempo and groove first. then you work on the fills and other stuff. But its really important to get the right beat and i like to put my own take on it too. i think that we should be reinventing and creating rather than just being copies and copies. Have fun but also have respect for the song and dont change it around completly.

[bballdrummer34]

Originally Posted by razorx

i listen to the song over and over agian it drives the people in my house nuts

I agree with this, but I also believe it will do you no good to do this unless have a basic understanding of most of the sounds on the drumset. There could be a fill you're hearing that could sound like the hi-hat and it may be the snare (just for an example). Experiment with your drums and what they sound like. It will help you to compare, hear, and figure out the sounds of other drumsets. That way when you go to play it, your hands fall in the right place automatically. There will be no extra confusion involved.

[Guillermo]

I listen to it... get familiar with the basic groove... I try to learn the song, the structure... how the chorus or the verse goes... most songs have a structure you can break down... just being familiar with it gives you cues to follow.

Then you make it your own.

Learning songs is a TERRIFIC teaching tool... you can learn a lot about rythm and different applications of stuff you learn practicing... because in a song you SEE it all WORKING... for instance I personally think it is much easier to understand what you can do with odd times listening to Sting's "7 Days" or Dave Brubeck's "take Five", or whatever, than just practicing rudiments on odd time.

It opens your mind.