Pollyanna
Platinum Member
I have always struggled with tension in my limbs when drumming. I've long known that I needed to relax but I'd still keep on finding things tensing up. I might loosen up my hands and wrists but then find my shoulders were tense.
Recently, RandomDrummer123 posted a clip of African drummer, Tony Allen who I have since been raving about on a loop (sorry guys, but you know I'm over the top). I'd never seen a clip of a drummer before that was so close up and clear, where the player was so wonderfully relaxed. He needed no tension to groove. It was as though he had faith that his limbs would drop at the right time. I sent the vid link around to the band and told them to expect a slightly different approach from me next rehearsal because this guy is my new role model.
I have struggled at times in my new band to adjust to different genres due to my long background playing rock; I was always trying to deal with the condundrum of keeping the energy and groove happening while playing at low volume.
After seeing Tony Allen I immediately saw that his approach was the missing link. So last rehearsal I was kind of channeling him, trying to approach the songs the way he would if he was on the stool. I refused to play lines that were difficult for me and instead made choices that were easy and under control, keeping my hands very low. Since my technique is limited, it meant playing much more simply than Tony does. I didn't care, as long is it sounded good.
In the past I would play things that were difficult for me because I felt the other musicians would expect a certain level of flair from me or I'd try to replicate a cool pattern I'd heard instead of accepting where I'm at and just trundling it out. I also think I'm not a natural rocker; it was always heavy work for wimpy me to hit so hard - but then it became my modus operandi through constant reinforcement. I think that's where the tension was coming from.
I never mentioned the video to the others at band practice. Everyone seemed to be playing better than usual. Our bassist mentioned that at one point he was watching me and the way I was moving reminded him of the Tony Allen clip. It was thumbs up, all round. Yay!
Yesterday Kindbeats made a remark about one of Stan's clips, "It's refreshing to hear someone just lay back and relax with the instrument". Stan is another who is a very chilled and in-control player and it's good to watch and hear.
That's my little epiphany and hopefully it will be useful to someone, bearing in mind that many great tracks have been laid down by drummers with tension in their limbs. It's just not for me any more. Seeing that clip really drove home the difference to me between knowing something (to keep relaxed) and really understanding it.
Shame it took 34 years for the penny to drop, but better late than never
Cheers!
Recently, RandomDrummer123 posted a clip of African drummer, Tony Allen who I have since been raving about on a loop (sorry guys, but you know I'm over the top). I'd never seen a clip of a drummer before that was so close up and clear, where the player was so wonderfully relaxed. He needed no tension to groove. It was as though he had faith that his limbs would drop at the right time. I sent the vid link around to the band and told them to expect a slightly different approach from me next rehearsal because this guy is my new role model.
I have struggled at times in my new band to adjust to different genres due to my long background playing rock; I was always trying to deal with the condundrum of keeping the energy and groove happening while playing at low volume.
After seeing Tony Allen I immediately saw that his approach was the missing link. So last rehearsal I was kind of channeling him, trying to approach the songs the way he would if he was on the stool. I refused to play lines that were difficult for me and instead made choices that were easy and under control, keeping my hands very low. Since my technique is limited, it meant playing much more simply than Tony does. I didn't care, as long is it sounded good.
In the past I would play things that were difficult for me because I felt the other musicians would expect a certain level of flair from me or I'd try to replicate a cool pattern I'd heard instead of accepting where I'm at and just trundling it out. I also think I'm not a natural rocker; it was always heavy work for wimpy me to hit so hard - but then it became my modus operandi through constant reinforcement. I think that's where the tension was coming from.
I never mentioned the video to the others at band practice. Everyone seemed to be playing better than usual. Our bassist mentioned that at one point he was watching me and the way I was moving reminded him of the Tony Allen clip. It was thumbs up, all round. Yay!
Yesterday Kindbeats made a remark about one of Stan's clips, "It's refreshing to hear someone just lay back and relax with the instrument". Stan is another who is a very chilled and in-control player and it's good to watch and hear.
That's my little epiphany and hopefully it will be useful to someone, bearing in mind that many great tracks have been laid down by drummers with tension in their limbs. It's just not for me any more. Seeing that clip really drove home the difference to me between knowing something (to keep relaxed) and really understanding it.
Shame it took 34 years for the penny to drop, but better late than never
Cheers!