Drum solo - Too short, too conservative

I really need to stop being so scared... I need to learn to just let it fly and let whatever happens, happen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-WVszMr-ng

That was a good drum solo Don! Yes, too short, but I really dig your "attack" and somewhat aggressive approach. There is something of Dennis Chambers in your playing. Those fast single strokes sound impressive. Keep up the good work!

Kind regards,
Anders

Anders wrote:That was a good drum solo Don! Yes, too short, but I really dig your "attack" and somewhat aggressive approach. There is something of Dennis Chambers in your playing. Those fast single strokes sound impressive. Keep up the good work!

Kind regards,
Anders

Thank you, Anders.

I commented on YouTube. Great job!

Why was it so short?

Racman wrote:I commented on YouTube. Great job!

Why was it so short?

I got cold feet, Rac... I was just thinking about keeping it uniform and it wound up being a uniform of a single color...

What can I say?! After 42 years of this, I'm still learning...

Thanks for checking it out, Rackster.

D.

uniform of a single color

Don

Different fabrics may share or look like having the same colors yet differs in texture - matter of improv-ing or highlighting it.
Uniformality, or in your words, same color uniforms, do or can have various textures underlayed beneath the basic color (structure). It's just a matter of trying to highlight these textures from the other. I as well am still learning this after many a years too.

Never the less, you sounded great in my estimate. Sometimes we tend to think too much which can interfere relaxing and breathing properly to engage our thoughts. And that can cause us to downplay our comments on ourselves. Dont allow for that kind of mindset to seat in your mind. Thats been a problem with me for sometime now but has gotten better, much better over the years.

Hell....just last week I was called up on stage to jam a bebop song. As I was grooving along, I was suddenly given an open solo that was "unexpected." I had to grab-hold of my thoughts and sort of scrambled for about a couple of minutes until these ideas were harnessed (under control) then approached certain textures that came to mind and exicuted them fairly well. What I noticed was that relaxation and proper breathing was factors that made it work. My arsenal of thought, if put that way, was stuff from Elvin Jones who plays this texture game and color very well.

After my solo, the audience responded very well as were the musicians which tells me this was not a subjective but rather an actual experience that fleshed out. Again, I'm still learning after all these years too.

Keep up the great playing D!

Absolutely, Rac! I for one am guilty of that (thinking too much). To the point of pulling back as I did in this video or tensing up to the point where I can't execute the necessary technique to properly make the statement I would like to make from behind the kit. I'm finding that even here is a place to "let go and let God."

Thanks, Rac.

D.

Nice work Don,
You kept the groove feel happening which was nice- not really easy to solo AND groove too-

Daveonskins wrote:Nice work Don,
You kept the groove feel happening which was nice- not really easy to solo AND groove too-

Thanks, David... These comments mean the world to me coming from you... I'll never forget how much your input helped me on the drum solo section on the tune, "West side worry" on the JC's CD.

Thanks for everything, bro!

D.

D. Slam wrote:I really need to stop being so scared... I need to learn to just let it fly and let whatever happens, happen.
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-WVszMr-ng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-WVszMr-ng[/quote[/url]]

Like Jackie Gleason from the "Honeymooners" used to say: OH, HOW SWEET IT IS!!!

From where I sit, and play Nephew, this solo was neither short nor conservative! You said/played just what in your heart at the moment, while you kept in mind the meter of where you were going with the rest of the track with E.C. You spoke in discernable and terse rhythmic structure; never once dropping a beat - and even adding a few stick/feet controlled nuances in the mix.

Technically, you were working off of a full-kit application of the double paradiddle, where the meter can be morphed between 4 and 6. Musically, you applied this subtlety to the interesting application and sounds from your kit. Sure, Dennis Chambers does this, Billy does this and I do this. Who cares who does it better. What makes it memorable is that I've had the opportunity to hear you DO IT in YOUR OWN WAY.

I LOVED IT! You better know that dude!

What I liked most about this was the sound of the drums... I thought the tones and the way they were projecting really came off well.... Far better than the actual solo application itself.

Regardless my feelings toward what was (or wasn't) played, I greatly appreciate being appreciated. Even more so when that appreciation comes from someone of YOUR musical stature.

Thank you, Uncle John.

Nephew.

D. Slam wrote:What I liked most about this was the sound of the drums... I thought the tones and the way they were projecting really came off well.... Far better than the actual solo application itself.

Regardless my feelings toward what was (or wasn't) played, I greatly appreciate being appreciated. Even more so when that appreciation comes from someone of YOUR musical stature.

Thank you, Uncle John.

Nephew.

I like what you said about the tones of the drums when you were mixing them up with this particular application. I experimented with the same concept when I recorded Boomer's "Conundrum." Like you, I reveled in the variations while seeking to keep everything cogent and on the mark. I believe rudiments like the double paradiddle affords one the best opportunity to make this approach. Why? Because by definition its' structure crosses meter, regardless of the genre. The trick is to make it work so that others in the crew don't get confused - most certainly the drummer himself!

Hey, I'm just one among many vessels. But thank you too Nephew Slam! Let's keep stickin!

I thought it was impressive. Not every song is Moby Dick, but that solo had more than enough moments and was certainly right on in context . . .

I really like the sound the groove and the ideas, good job pal!