Trying out a Play-a-long: White Room by Cream

A drummer on my site sent me a play-a-long of White Room by Cream. I thought I'd try out playing along with something and using my Zoom to record it. I had to sync the mp3 of my playing up with the mp3 of the song which was a bit tricky but I think I got it. I didn't record the whole song, I got a phone call right before the guitar solo :)

My playing is ok. My timing is a bit off in places, and when I play the last two notes on the fills on the floor tom during the chorus, my second stroke was a bit weaker than I would have liked. But I'll work on it. I do like how my toms sound kind of old school with the music though.

It definitely shows me that I need to practice with a metronome more, and play along with songs more, something I haven't done in years. It also showed me how damn difficult it is to nail Ginger Baker's feel, especially open hi-hat feel on the chorus.

All constructive criticism welcome!

www.handidrummed.com/whiteroom.mp3

[Bossa Nova]

Sounds good. It seems like there is more feeling in your playing as the song goes on. The rolls that open the song and then are repeated towards the end sound better the second time. That's an awesome way to listen to one's own playing.

Originally Posted by Bossa Nova

Sounds good. It seems like there is more feeling in your playing as the song goes on. The rolls that open the song and then are repeated towards the end sound better the second time. That's an awesome way to listen to one's own playing.

Thanks. Yeah, I loosened up a bit as the song went on. But I was a bit more tense. I haven't played along with anything in so long, especially this song, that I was TOO cautious of my time. That made me tense up a bit and get off a tad.

[mattsmith]

Rob, I'm always inspired by all the stuff you do for disabled drummers and your own story is itself really motivating. That's why I think it's so cool that your playing continues to improve. Actually after listening to this one I think you're close to being there, except for what sounds like one nagging issue.

Is it at all possible for you to loosen up that grip?

It just sounds like the stick can't vibrate and this makes you force stuff, but really not all that much. Still if you could get really loose in the hands you have to think that much of what you hear on this clip starts to fix itself, and then you start playing that way you really want to play.

I'm just askin' man because I don't know enough to understand how much your disability affects all that. But have you ever thought of putting some of that sticky stuff on your hands like Bull Snot? I used to use it in contests when I was working so hard on relaxation that I was dropping sticks. I just think that if you had the security of not dropping sticks that you'd be on your way.

I just think your grip holds the big key here.

But otherwise, really good.

[aydee]

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

A drummer on my site sent me a play-a-long of White Room by Cream. I thought I'd try out playing along with something and using my Zoom to record it. I had to sync the mp3 of my playing up with the mp3 of the song which was a bit tricky but I think I got it. I didn't record the whole song, I got a phone call right before the guitar solo :)

My playing is ok. My timing is a bit off in places, and when I play the last two notes on the fills on the floor tom during the chorus, my second stroke was a bit weaker than I would have liked. But I'll work on it. I do like how my toms sound kind of old school with the music though.

It definitely shows me that I need to practice with a metronome more, and play along with songs more, something I haven't done in years. It also showed me how damn difficult it is to nail Ginger Baker's feel, especially open hi-hat feel on the chorus.

All constructive criticism welcome!

www.handidrummed.com/whiteroom.mp3

Good job, Rob.

I thought your time was very good. Maybe a little too good... Bakers Intro and outro tom fills are a little more 'drunk' n loosey goosey' IMO ( literally... I believe the whole crew was smashed out of their pumpkins when they recorded it ).
The open hat groove on the chorus was very nice ( the hats sound great, BTW ), and your single stroke rolls were very crisp.

Constructive criticism? Dont have any, except maybe you sounded a little tentative, or like you were playing parts, instead of the song. Know what I mean?

Good playing, as usual though.

Thanks guys!

Mattsmith - I don't really have a problem with my hands, my CP only really affects my legs, my right leg mostly. I do have some muscle atrophy in my left hand from Carpal Tunnel that makes holding on tighter harder. But you're right, I may have been tensing up more than I meant to and that was causing me to have a little trouble with the tempo and the feel. Not that I can't loosen up, but just from being too conscious of how I was playing and making sure I was in time, I wasn't relaxing enough. Which brings me to..

Aydee - I get exactly what you're saying. I was too concerned with playing the part instead of playing the song, so I wasn't putting as much feel into it as I could have in hindsight.

All things I'll consider and work on. I'm glad to hear that it wasn't as terrible as I thought it was, especially after I listen to the original *lol*

[mattsmith]

Crap Rob, I totally forgot about your carpal surgery. Other than the muscle atrophy you mention, how's all that coming along?

Originally Posted by mattsmith

Crap Rob, I totally forgot about your carpal surgery. Other than the muscle atrophy you mention, how's all that coming along?

Not bad. I'm no longer working so that helps. All I can do are office jobs and my hands can't handle that any more. But oddly enough the drums make me feel better if I'm having a bad day pain wise. They really are a therapy.

[intooder]

Well done, Rob. Sure the timing might have a been off a bit in spots, but I was really impressed with how close your feel and the sound of your drums were to Baker's. I think that's especially hard when you can't hear the vocals, since I believe they cue off most of the verses in that song. Keep it up.

Gish

[Drummer Karl]

Cool...
I like what you play although you have some physical problems...man, respect! Good feel...

I think this was pretty well done. So the one thing I noticed was this timing thing.
I almost hate to talk about it sometimes but it`s one neccessary aspect...

I`m not sure whether this is a real timing issue or just a matter of letting it flow. You know, in recording situation it can either happen that you hear how it like REALLY or that you are kinda nervous and so have problems in this moment of recording. Or you`re not into it...however.

For example at the beginning and middle part played on the toms you sometimes seesaw between tempi suddenly. For me it helps to practice stuff, grooves...licks at slow tempi. I remember that once my drum teacher has shown a song in which Steve Ferrone played very slow eight notes or quarters on the hi-hat. It was so hard to play with it because I always had problems to stick with such a slow hi-hat.

In the end that is just about practicing and getting "routine". As you just said: Practice with a click and play-along songs and such stuff.

Best,

Karl

[That Guy]

I think it was excellent buddy! Your single stroke rolls were even and it had a great feel. I give it 7 out of 10, not bad.

Originally Posted by Drummer Karl

Cool...
I like what you play although you have some physical problems...man, respect! Good feel...

I think this was pretty well done. So the one thing I noticed was this timing thing.
I almost hate to talk about it sometimes but it`s one neccessary aspect...

I`m not sure whether this is a real timing issue or just a matter of letting it flow. You know, in recording situation it can either happen that you hear how it like REALLY or that you are kinda nervous and so have problems in this moment of recording. Or you`re not into it...however.

For example at the beginning and middle part played on the toms you sometimes seesaw between tempi suddenly. For me it helps to practice stuff, grooves...licks at slow tempi. I remember that once my drum teacher has shown a song in which Steve Ferrone played very slow eight notes or quarters on the hi-hat. It was so hard to play with it because I always had problems to stick with such a slow hi-hat.

In the end that is just about practicing and getting "routine". As you just said: Practice with a click and play-along songs and such stuff.

Best,

Karl

Thanks Karl. Yes those parts were hard for me because it is such a slow tempo. Sometimes I'd hit the cymbals right on, sometimes early, sometimes late. I plan on working on it and re-recording once it's more solid.