Using long phrases

drummingman

drummingman

Gold Member
I’ve been working on a 7 bar phrase in practice that I’ve been thinking about using for a song. Thing is it’s very hard to play by memory because it’s so long. It’s easy to get lost in the mix (doesn’t help that it’s a very complex pattern). So I’ve been thinking about how practical using long phrases really is in the context of a song? 2 and 4 bar phrases are definitely common, but maybe that’s because it takes less processing power, so to speak, to commit it to memory.

Whatcha say?
 
hows it sound if you add a pick up 1st bar or 8th bar of rests
 
Long phrases are easy to remember if they’re memorable. Think of the melody of a song you like; you most likely remember all of the 16-32 bars of it (depending on song form etc…). I find it helps immensely if you vocalise the drum part. That way it’s not just a mechanical sequence of movements on the instrument, but an actual musical phrase.
 
Change the phrase to a more linear pattern, using the most complicated, best sounding pattern as the basis?
 
drummingman said:
I’ve been working on a 7 bar phrase in practice that I’ve been thinking about using for a song. Thing is it’s very hard to play by memory because it’s so long. It’s easy to get lost in the mix (doesn’t help that it’s a very complex pattern). So I’ve been thinking about how practical using long phrases really is in the context of a song? 2 and 4 bar phrases are definitely common, but maybe that’s because it takes less processing power, so to speak, to commit it to memory.
Click to expand...

Normally phrase lengths are part of the structure of the song, as the drummer you don't really have the power to change that. If a song has an odd phrase, I'm thinking in terms of, how does it break down to my ear, something like (if it was 7 bars):

2 + 2 + 2 + 1
4 + 1 + 2
2 + 1 + 4

But it sounds like you're talking about memorizing a composed drum part? If what you're playing is supportive of the song, and is musically logical to you, it shouldn't be hard to memorize.
 
drummingman said:
I’ve been working on a 7 bar phrase in practice that I’ve been thinking about using for a song. Thing is it’s very hard to play by memory because it’s so long. It’s easy to get lost in the mix (doesn’t help that it’s a very complex pattern).
Click to expand...
If it fits the song, it seems that would make it easier to remember. So that would be my concern, does it really fit the song OR is it just a very cool phrase that you wish to incorporate? And does a 7-bar phrase readily fit into the song?
 
As far as how to remember it...well...I like notation...but a lifetime of passing long rhythmic phrases from my head to the air has warped me into 'doing it without really remembering it'. I'm not really sure how that is working...but it does...its like remembering how i felt then feeling it again instead of having an internal verbal dialog about it.

Its like knowing how to talk...its not remembering to move your mouth parts in a specific way with a particular cadence...its all one thing that occurs as a thought extension.

i was very surprised reading a Modern Drummer Article in the '80's where a drummer talked about 'seeing a landscape then walking in it' (abstracted recollection of what I read)...as that is my experience as well.

The drumming is something I move through without having it all in my active memory at one moment...it does not move through me as a stream i conduct...its like a Memory Palace that i dynamically build around me - extending into the temporal distance.

In this way, the drumming is 'more real' than my thoughts about it as it is less abstracted and more foundational with far fewer pieces.

its difficult to think accurately about the way we think.
 
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This one is long.
Tabla beat Simhanadana tala.. has 128 beats.
 
One that comes to mind is Bruford on the verses.
Kinda' hard to remember.......I need a chart. Complicated.....but it works and fits musically.
If it works.....it's good...or?..... it could be one of our drummer math problems on display.
 
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