@@franciscogallegos4408 i went from bass to guitar to drums to keys and every fundamental of each additional instrument has pushed me further on the previous. different mediums create different connections!
This coincides with a similar realisation I had when I recently asked myself 'what is my overall goal?', to which the answer was 'to be the kind of drummer other musicians want to play with'. From there, I spun out practice goals and realised that none of them had much to do with chops. Basically, they were: solid timekeeping, good feel, wide enough vocabulary of beats to play anything I would encounter to a level that could support the song and wide enough vocabulary of fills to be able to keep things interesting, but not to try to impress anyone. One exercise that I found very helpful was using a metronome app that can mute bars. I choose a random BPM, then I play 2 bars on, 2 bars off and try to come in perfectly on the beat. I do this with beats and with fills. I find that the better the beat feels and sounds when played back, the more likely it will be that it was in time (not surprising I suppose!)
Don't confuse speed with chops. What you're referring to is "chops." Without chops you can't play. Speed is a different issue. If a drummer can't do what you're referring to, speed is irrelevant. Once you have accomplished the goals that you refer to, speed is an option. If you accomplish your goals, you will, whether you want to or not, impress people because that's what all musicians are looking for in a drummer. Nobody every got the gig because they were the fastest drummer.
@@farshimelt nah, don't over complicate things. He meant chops as both fast but also complex stuff. What he said just makes sense and there is zero need for you to come here to correct anything.
I’m a guitarist who thought he had good time for years. Was given an electric kit to mess around on and I found how awful my time is. Found this channel and have improved quickly!
Man you’re nothing but if not a complete original in what you’re doing.. You’re answering real questions we drummer’s ask amongst ourselves. Great stuff !
I love the macro/micro timing bit. Took me way too long to realize that my e's and a's were usually rushed. I was too focused on the macro to realize it.
truthbtold I agree. Though many gospel drummers like Teddy Campbell and Eric Moore sounds great playing groove and playing simple. But you wouldn’t know that listening to all the shred stuff online.
Regarding 80/20- One thing that helped keep me accountable to myself: Write a few short-term goals (beats/licks/stickings) on a new snare drum head when you first put it on the drum... have them down cold by the time the head needs to be replaced. Next head, new ideas.
Same as for other stuff too inc rapping... i see beginners start to rap so fast that i tot i could not even get what they were saying at all... and that is not interesting...😐😐😐sometimes, you gotta slow down and start slow... so there will be the feel build up in you and you can deliver better imo
I am guessing this is about meat vs fat for making a juicy burger. Problem is it leaves you gassy. My recipe is a follows. • 1pound prime rib ground by butcher or at home. 90/10 meat to fat. • Shape 1/4 pound patties with slight curvature. This helps patty stay flat. • Lightly salt and pepper patties. • Preheat grill to 450-500 F. • Grill for 5-6 minutes on each side. • Serve on potato bread with 2 dill pickle slices, 1slice hot house tomato, lettace, bbq sauce of your choice and mustard (mayonnaise optional). • Serve with a bed of fries or Potato Salad. Ohhhhhh this about drums. Awesome bruuuuuuh!!!
I have found this to be very true. Playing an instrument isn't automatically "practice." A lot of players, myself included, tend to simply avoid the things they're not good at and focus on the elements we're better at. This doesn't get you ahead. I find it helpful to look for weak spots and spend time focusing on them.
hey man. as jazz guitar player I just wanted to let you know that I get so much out of your videos. they are super densely packed with exactly how to get better, and it's super valuable. thanks dude
very cool man! in my 15th year of playing i decided to start practicing rudiments on the daily. within 6 months i noticed a change in my playing that was comparable to the previous 5 years... in regards to stick control, comfort, position, rebounds, timing speed. i think we all go through phases where specific things interest us and our playing/practice reflects that.
@@8020drummer i learned them at the start obviously, but years of playing in bands, learning sets, recordings etc, you forget that you arent practicing basics. another thing i try to do is a different practice routine every day, made up of the various ones ive used over the years
Nicolas Dinucci I'm a bassist and I've started playing drums in the last year, which really helped me realize how bad my groove was and this channel helped me on both instruments
I find the same concept true with for example drawing and painting. I've liked drawing for most of my life but this last Christmas I started actually practicing the skills professional artist mention all the time and I've progressed more in six months than in the previous 36 years. Yes, a lot of what I've randomly picked up over the years has suddenly clicked into place, but most of the benefit comes from applying the 80/20 rule to drawing. The decisions you take during the first 20% of any drawing account for 80% of the result, things like proportion, perspective, composition, etc. Rendering the piece is just icing on the cake. Same applies to drumming, your timing and feel account for 80% of your ability to drum, the cool fills are the rendering on top of the solid construction drawing.
Food for thought; My father Stan Levey “The Original Original” at 16 was Dizzy’s drummer in Philly, then a year later moved to NY and was in the first noted Bebop band per Leonard Feather with Bird, Diz, Curly Russell, and Al Haig and Stan Levey. Dad then met Max and was blown away, he knew right away that he could match Max’s intensity but he also knew that he could never make the super Independence that Max played with work for him. Back then you didn’t have the teaching aids, videos, books, cd’s nor we’re there many great teachers so you did the best you could, BUT YOU HAD TO MAKE IT SWING!!! To add to dads situation he was right handed and he ended up playing left handed because he had no teacher, this meant his weaker hand was playing all those super fast tempos with Diz and Bird. So my point is, dad could see things very clearly, he knew what he could and could not do and what would get in the way of swinging and making things flow. This is the most important thing and unfortunately it sometimes gets put to the side. We all know that it is the job of the drummer to swing or groove. Practice is great, chops are great but when you are sacrificing swing for chops then you lost site of the goal. Dad in his time played with just about everyone and was on many fantastic recordings along with doing movies, tv shows and the gamut, such as the Carson show every year when they came to Hollywood for six weeks. He also did the academy awards live every year. Not that all of this is a personal great artistic statement but as you all know we’re faced with how to eat. How many teaching jobs are there, how many real jazz gigs are there etc. Dad to have fun always played at Shelly’s, or the Blackhawk in San Francisco plus places like Carnegie Hall and was even with Ella the night Marylin Monroe sang her famous Happy B-day song to the President JFK. Play whatever you want, but remember not everyone is made to play like Max, Tony, Buddy and the guys, and now gals that have huge vocabulary’s and can still make it Groove. All you young guys are amazing and dad said that too towards the end of his life ”They all are are fantastic and can play circles around me.” Again IMHO only.
Don't forget his years at the Lighthouse. You and I met around 1975. I was working with Beverly Spaulding at some place in the Valley and Stan was the photographer. After the gig you came up and talked to me and asked where I was playing next. I told you we had a gig the following week at either Arrowhead or Big Bear (don't remember which) and you showed up. We hung out for a while. We also have a connection via Irv and Phyllis Kluger, who looked after you when you were a child. You dad was one of the most powerful and hard swinging drummers that I've every heard. Dizzy said that he was the, "Best of out of all those white guys." True Dat.
Anthony is my boy and a phenomenal drummer as well as organist. He’s one of my top 2 favorite drummers to get to play with. Hire him, Study his approach, talk to the guy if you see him out in public. He’s a wonderful musician and a wonderful dude.
Love this theory! Makes perfect sense and has been proven true time and time again in my progression. Practice with purpose, a plan and clear goals with constant reflection. Very well explained
No doubt this channel is among the most important drum channels available. The host is relatable, thoughtful, and determined. And because of that, the viewer feels understood, feels represented, to an extent, even championed by the trials and observations in each post. And the pattern groove at 11:00 is simply beautiful. Outstanding author. Outstanding contribution. Outstanding channel. Full steam ahead 80/20 drummer!
I find the 80/20 rule describes my retraining of my left hand. Being a non trained traditional grip player and being right handed I’ve always used my right hand for traditional grip. Once I started doing casual exercises for my left hand I found that even going back to it 10 days later resulted in a considerable improvement. So I’m hoping once I can dedicate 1 hour per day to training my left hand I’ll be in the vicinity of where my right hand is in a years time. It could happen sooner and I hope it does but I have to be conservative and realistic. It could take more than a year.
The more I watch your videos, the more thankful I am for an incredible drum teacher. I’m often surprised by my time and feel in recordings, but in a very good way! I’ve been taught to look at my playing very objectively and pick what needs worked on. Been doing it for 10 years and happy to do it for as long as I can.
I started to develop quickly, the moment i stopped working on the technical part and focusing on those three points 1. controlling and understanding time and rhythm. 2. Play with low volume fast and slow, That keeps me focused and aware of all dynamics. 3. Using what i already know in different formats.
I agree 😁 I lost sight of my goal a long time ago, and just recently reconnected with it. Its surprising how quickly I'm regaining my skill, even though I hadn't touched my kit in over a year
Your channel is so brilliant for drummers from beginners all the way up to paid gigging musicians. And this is a fact because I was once a beginner years ago watching and tonight I just got home from another paid music gig to watch this episode :)
Good stuff here. I’ll take some fill or groove by a drummer I’ve seen, and see how I can incorporate that into a song or practice regimen. I call it “Tools for my toolbox.” I may not need it for a while, but when I do, it’s there. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t learn it, put it away and expect it to work the instant I take it out of the box. I still have to care for the tool to ensure I know how it works when needed. This is where the deliberate practice concept comes in. You’ve given me much to contemplate this week. 🤘🏻
Several things I did that vastly improved my drumming: 1) I stopped spending most of my playing time with musicians that were close friends, but didn't challenge me. 2) I stopped smoking weed and drinking, which really improved my internal metronome. 3) I spent many hours practicing along with challenging albums. 4) I played 2-3 hour shows with groups that improvised at least 50% of their music. This all led to really improving my ear for volume/intensity, composition, any overall groove.
Man,you are by far the best teacher and everything else not only on youtube!Your chanel is great not only for understending drumming but for players of guitars,bass guitars and many more.There are so many things everyone of them can learn here!
Great channel. Insightful and somewhat different to the rest.. many videos are about strategy, not only musicianship, very much necessary. Subscribed, thanks!
Great insight. This is something I have toyed around with in my own head but without all of the specifics that you have described. But because I’ve stumbled upon this and I don’t believe in coincidences I find it ironic that I stumbled upon this and that is somewhat of a message to me in the direction I must go, to further my drumming. I’ve been drumming since I was 10 years old, back in 84, even earlier on pots and pans with pencils LOL. I think this 80/20 thing is crucial because it’s where the rubber meets the road and I only know this because it is true. Most recently when I wanted to learn a John Bonham beat I found that the only way for me to get this is to watch as many people as possible and to spend time alone practicing specifically on each measure sometimes just part of a measure so that I can play it perfectly, or at least the notes that Bonham was playing. Getting his exact feel and sound is a whole Nother ball game. Moral of the story, thank you for this. This is a game changer for me.
Philip Selway (Radiohead) is a great example of less is more - subtly complex grooves that don't compete with the feel and sound of the whole while carrying the musics time and pulse to perfection
Nate - This video, I believe, greatly exemplifies what I think you do best. This is just pure gold in terms of truth, honesty, science, practicality and wisdom for the people who take the time & effort to deeply listen, digest and apply what you've said. You're truly the Professor. What I think most aspiring drummers struggle with is figuring out what comprises the 20% of things we should focus on as drummers to be 80% better drummers. I'm a not a young person. I've done quite a few things in my life and was able to figure out on my own how to be relatively good at most of those things. But being a good drummer/musician is the most difficult thing I've ever tried to do.
The 3 principles I speak about in my practice course are: 1) have a burning goal you're working toward, 2) have a feedback mechanism for evaluating your progress toward it, 3) have a system that allows you to focus on just 1-2 goals at-a-time, rather than trying to do everything in every practice session. Hope this helps!
@@8020drummer - Let's say my burning goal is to have better time or better hands in the pursuit being a good drummer. But being a good drummer also requires having good limb interdependence, dynamics, musicality, etc. I don't know how any course can make me a better drummer by itself. I strongly believe the only way is 1 on 1 instruction. And that can't be just having an instructor take you through some lesson plan. You need some one who can truly assess where you're at on the path to being a good drummer and focus in on the key things you need to work on. And personally, I think this is a lost art from what I've seen because everyone is more interested in developing their own business and brand instead of developing drummers.
8:02 not just solid and consistent but grooving deeply. I'd rather play in a band with Anthony than anyone flashy or technical. You can see from his expression he's feeling it and that's the feel I look for when I play bass.
Salvador Diaz del Valle Santana among others. They do a musician birthdays segment and I’m pretty sure it was Bonzo’s birthday. He played it note for note, as did the rest of the band
Nate! This was a very thoughtful video. Every aspiring musician, pick a instrument has been told by a teacher “you need to practice or you won’t make it!!”. Throw in “ You are doing the instrument a disservice by not respecting it by not practicing!” Nice guilt trip, don’t you think? So, I went to music school, Joined a band after graduation. Went out on the road and the band broke up. So, I need to practice for the next gig. Practiced the way I learned, 8 to 10 hours a day and flamed out. That was the end of my music aspirations and my music career. Barely 3 years out of music school. Obviously it’s much more complex but, over the years teachers have repeatedly told me (sic) “just keep practicing and you’ll get it”. Really? In hindsight, I wish I had the discussion this video addressed 40 years ago. That might of have made a difference. Regards!
A tip for being surprised at your feel and time while playing: remember what youre playing while youre playing it. It keeps you in the pocket while playing, and if youre remembering what youre playing during a gig youll know what you were going for and what you might improve on when practicing or playing in private. Practicing in a goal directed way, this is great advice and this is a great video. Thanks, it opened a new light I can practice in.
Not a new concept (playing musically and for the music, leaving space, let the music breathe, etc.), but nice to get a new perspective on how that focus can improve your playing. Steve Gadd, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Ferrone, Steve Jordan, Bernard Purdie, Ricky Lawson, Harvey Mason, etc., and all the noted "groove" drummers (large list) had this one down as noted by other musicians who want/wanted to play with them; their discography is testament to that. Most session drummers also understand this as a key to good drumming. Listen to these guys a lot and try to play along with/emulate their playing 80% of the time and work on the "tasty stuff" 20%. Jazz, on the other hand, is a more complicated conversation (I profess to know nothing about jazz on any deep level), but even in jazz the best conversationalists listen and respond to what they hear simply, tastefully and musically. Playing this way will improve your playing immensely and gets more gigs every time (being on time and being a good hang also helps). Thanks for the post! Cheers!
I think effective practice centers on BEING PRESENT with YOURSELF, and getting YOUR music out that you feel INSIDE. Ala Bernard Purdie. Everything starts there, as it starts with the natural, heart rhythms of the human BEING, where African rhythm comes from, the rhythms of life, like a shuffle or jazz ride beat comes from the shuffling feet of a funeral parade. see FOLI (there is no movement without rhythm) on RU-vid. and Stewart Copeland going to Conga square in New Orleans.
@@8020drummer thanks man, im honored you agree. Your ideas about drumming are spot-on and relevant, thanks for your intellectual work and reflection. VERY helpful, it made me think out my answer and formulate my ideas better based on the points you made.
Deliberate practice as in listening to yourself. My favorite thing to do is to have listened to m y playing and find just the spot where i'm struggling (or don't sound good). I was trying today on my drumset 1 and 2 on the bassdrum and then left foot on hi-hat on 1 2 3 4 , then 1&2&3&4 while maintaining 2 & 4 on the bass drum, man it is hard it takes deliberate movements.
Your revelation is a fantastic mindset for a playing drums and one I stick to as best I can. I believe Stu Copeland has a video where he is talking about "back beat" drumming and how it drove him crazy. He said " I don't want to play a back beat". He plays to the song and keeps a groove, stays ON TIME, fills where needed and keeps the band moving to the music/song they are playing. All the while not necessarily playing a standard beat whether rock, blues, jazz whatever. To me THAT is the difference maker. A good drummer can bang on ANYTHING (drums/books/garbage cans/pots & pans/bottles, etc.), and be able to play within the song, stay in time, fill when needed....well....you know the rest. Thanks for the video!!
Thank you for not loosely chucking 80/20 around without foundation like most people do! I'm not a drummer, but something I've observed in anything That involves learning and practice - driving, cooking, working out - is that things stay flat for periods and then suddenly lurch forward. The only technique I know to provoke the lurch is to take a break. When you go back, conscious learning has bedded down and is more intuitive. I worked this out when my French improved enormously about ten years after leaving school! Do you know if anyone has explored this, and maybe how to provoke things to leap forward more oftten?
Former berklee college of music alumni 92-94 here. You were mentioning walking past the practice rooms and most all sounded the same. Well,no different for me either,except for 1 room. I heard the craziest ghost note groove that stopped me in my tracks. As it turns out the guy wasn't even a student there,and was just a friend of 1 that was. I still use it to this day. In summary,i basically learned more from him in 2 practice sessions,than months of boring excercises from my instructor at the time. Keep banging and giving people good drum info.🥁🎶🎵🎶
Because of time constraints years ago , i had to adopt a focused practise thing. So, since i may only get a few set hours a week to set practise, i set out to accomplish something. Improvising in "5" ....currently more foot manipulation with hats. Etc. The new concepts work in to gig much quicker. However i do spend alot of time with my pad running stick control. Buddy Rich told me he did that on the bus between shows. This seems to work.
As a failed-ish drummer, finding this video and trying to apply to (of all things) tig welding... this helped me get my head on right and realize how i used to practice. Especially if time is tight, planning how to practice pays dividends.
I have anecdotal evidence as well. Last year I joined a swing group, resulting in me having to learn a new style completely. Of course im not the best jazz drummer out there now, but having to play the gigs forced me to practice specific things and songs, focusing on learning (deliberate practice). Today, I look back and see that in this year I have improved more than the three years prior combined.
You are a f#%$@? GENIUS, thanks so much for this video, I just unlocked a whole different zone in my playing, I will be ordering whatever you are selling, thanks again
Practice is learning something new. Get the proper sticking (w/o meter), then with the slowest cadence possible work on dynamics and orchestration. The last thing do be added to a grove,fill, chop or rudiment is tempo and this can take years to increase 10 bpm. Practice for this nugget has been achieved. Playing something clean at tempo is no longer practice it becomes a recital. A professional musician no longer has to practice because they are able to sightread any music set before them. (Re: “The wrecking crew.” Documentary of the studio musicians of the 60s-70s.) Remember warming up is not practice.
Great content! I'm a fan. I learned a lot here. Possible advice, could you back your face cam up about 6"? Feels like I'm trying to see your pores all the time. LOL
Like your show a lot. If you haven’t checked him out, Carter McLean has a brilliant expose’ of an overall approach to the kit. I know all the big names but to me he has the ultimate package, musically, technique wise, approach, dynamics and chops.
Anthony is a great musician who happens to play drums. His groove is implied. He's not trying to "keep a beat" he's simple playing music with the other band members and he's not thinking about technique(s) He is also playing with very good dynamics for what fits with the music. This is something most drummers (Rock guys) can't do or are completely un aware of.
Good vid. I practice for years in high school and did not get much better. That's because I was immature and did not understand how to practice. It was later that I learned the concept of "practicing mistakes" and how if you aren't deliberate and mature enough to identify errors and fix them in practice, then you are just reinforcing errors.
What you are saying is SO FRICKIN IMPORTANT. I WONT START a band which I’ve had in one form or another for 35 years because I can’t deal with local drummers who can’t or won’t do the basics. Keep time, play the different styles authentically etc. what’s worse is the lack of humility when you try to discuss different concepts. I was spoiled years ago w a drummer who went on to do tours with Benson Jimmy Smith and more. Anyway I’m no John Mayer, just your basic singer guitar player who’s always looking for advice or tips. THIS WAS PRICELESS!!! Rant over lol
Having a great ear and remembering alot and having soul and applying becoming the instrument.I just think you have to make the person listening feel what your playing.
Thought to Consider: I was always told, "practice does NOT make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect." This is so true BC you could practice something wrong ..and master it wrong.
Very true dude! One thing I've noticed about THE BEST drummers, they all look like they're having FUN, relaxed and in full control. Now that's some "deliberate practice!" It's like you taking the extra time to record yourself and then critically analyze your takes, *that's* deliberate. Musicians get hung up on this big brained new-agey stuff like "deliberate practice," like I'm gonna play this C and be *fully focussed on the improvement* then that's gonna make me not suck at my instrument in less time? Lol. For me, it's more about turning my brain OFF and building my practice FLOW in creative, fun ways! 💯💯💯
Gabe Morehouse Yep. Im also a guitarist and this helped me tremendously. Also ditch play-alongs (I only use maybe Irealpro) and play standards/tunes only with metronome or without.
Oscillating between playing verbatim and changing sections helps tremendously. It improves memory and skills you may not be great at in the former, and how to interpret music through your own lens and stream of consciousness playing in the latter.
