what makes a great drummer?
there are other drummers that twirl their sticks and constantly play flashy licks and lot's of solos that put you as the listener at awe and makes you wanna go home and practice. those drummers get a lot of attention and become known as great drummers because of their showman ship and their abillity to solo.
those two concepts of drumming often are at odds with each other. and as a drummer one is often forced to choose sides.
so my question to you is : "what does make a great drummer great"? "how do you deal with this as a drummer yourself"? Can/should these two concepts be combined?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Steve DellaVecchia on -
There is so many facets to being a great drummer... For starters if you are familiar with the piano, it lets you know melody so you can play melodic drums when needed... The next thing is the physical part of the instrument... Learning to relax the muscles and having tremendous indurance... Next I believe is the mental part... You must be able to go in to a trace like in Yoga or Martial Arts, then you will be able to hear & feel everthing that is going on... That is what I believe makes a great drummer...
Love, Steve DellaVecchia -
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Permalink Reply by lucky thompson on -
I am not to much of a fan for tricks & gimmicks they have their place. I listen for a drummer that uses the "less is more" concept. The pocket is what keeps the groove. I have been playing for 43yrs. and it still amazes me how a lot of drummers still don,t get it. Some of the younger generation believe that chops is the answer that is just over playing. I tell a lot of young drummers that "you can have all the chops in the world, and be sitting home every wknd". So this takes me back to my original statement about, having the understanding of the music.
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Permalink Reply by Russell A. Worrell on -
In my opinion, if you play in a situation that requires you to play pocket and you are a master of it, ie: Bernard Purdie, Steve Ferrone, Steve Jordan, John "JR" Robinson, Clyde Stubblefield (james brown), then you are a great drummer. If you play in a jazz, gospel, or fusion situation, that requires more technical playing, ie: Dennis Chambers, Tony Royser, Lenny White, Bill Cobham, then you are a great drummer. You can be a great drummer in whatever situation that you're in, as long as you know what your role is. Self confidence is also part of the equation.....not buying into someone being "better" or "faster" or "more technical" than you. Everyone travels down a different path in life....the same applies to musicians (drummers). Never stop learning & elevating your abilities...listen to ALL music....be the best that you can possibly be in whatever genre of music you take the drumchair with....and know from within, that whether you are admired or not...you are a great drummer!
Russ. -
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