Steve Gadd: "This Idea Has Really Improved My Playing” 

Full Interview Here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-j8762lBtu9A.htmlsi=sq3wUn9GtpxdPnPe

I have played drums for fifty years now, and I admire a lot of drummers. But few inspire me like Steve Gadd. His relaxed, yet precise playing is truly amazing and it actually makes me feel relaxed when I hear him play, which doesn’t happen often with me. Mr. Gadd is a treasure to the drumming world. Definitely one of a kind!

His hands are so relaxed as he plays. Killer example

It's so inspiring to see someone as accomplished as Steve to still be so willing to learn and try new things. Thank you Steve and I wish you many more years of sharing your music with us!

I met Mr. Gadd one year, at NAMM-it was a private party that Zildjian threw for him, maybe 25 people in a hotel suite. I took a chance and approached him, saying ‘Mr. Gadd…when I watch you play, I can’t believe we play the same instrument!’ He chuckled and clapped my shoulder, saying ‘I’m sure you’re a fine drummer, son’. Made my year. Chatted a bit after that and he couldn’t have been sweeter or more accessible. Plus, I think he’s a viper-his eyes were VERY red😂

The first time I heard Steve Gadd play drums back in the 70’s ,I said he has the BEST FEEL I’ve ever heard from a drummer,he’s one of a kind,and when he plays his signature grooves ,only he can make the feel come across like it should sound 👏👏👏👍👌❤️

His technique is IMMACULATE

I like drumming and percussion. What first got me intrigued by drumming was hearing the Paul Simon song, 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, in the mid 1970s. Amazing drumming from Steve Gadd. Also, the Paul Simon song, Late In The Evening, shows how brilliant Steve Gadd is as a drummer. I was fortunate enough to see James Taylor live in 2016, and Steve Gadd was drumming for him. Cheers!

I had the honour to work with him on a recording session and it was everything I could have dreamed of: a true master who lives and breathes music, putting all his talent and technique in function of the artist and the music. The moment he started playing and showed us his idea, the magic happened ( feel free to check his playing on 'reckless heart' by CAPPAERT, the song we offered him to play on besides a few others ). I've never heard anybody play drums as gracefully and musically as he does.

Gadd is the absolute GOAT!

Such an elegant technique combined with a curious mind. That's why he is the Maestro!

This talk by Steve Gadd may sound boring to many viewers, but this process he describes, of reviewing basics, in practice, body, and in one's ear, mind, has produced amazing material from musicians. I've come from some young experience in playing drums, then cello in elementary school through high school. I learned some popular music and records from older siblings - loving Rolling Stones, then Jeff Beck, Bowie, Wendy Carlos, Beatles, Sly & Family Stone. In 1980 I started to hear about Philip Glass. I soon started to listen. I couldn't get my head around what he was doing with the seeming "simple" arpeggio sounding compositions. My interest grew. I slowly learned the difference between my intuitive level of grasping music and the distance from my mental grasp of theory. I only learned recently that Glass wanted to get back to practicing music performance skills on piano, and decided to compose some etudes for developing his own skills. Those etudes clearly motivated positive experience and response from himself and others, and became bases for entire new compositions. That's how I explain the few facts I learned about Glass' composition, to myself anyway. Gadd, and many great players and composers seem to keep sharing these similar stories - I guess they help explain why elder musicians encourage "practicing" of younger musicians. I'm starting to grasp the "why".

If Steve Gadd can improve over time, I guess there's hope for me!

I can’t believe there is something new for Gadd! 🤯 Mind blown.

Dude is genius. Pure genius.

I won tickets to see Eric Clapton on his ‘94 Blues Only tour and Steve was his drummer. Phenomenal show as you’d expect. I spent most of the show with my head down and eyes closed, just Listening and Focusing on the Music and Steve of course. It was a pretty basic lighting show so no screens, no crazy effects anywhere, just a tremendous atmosphere with amazing musicians doing what they do best. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen.

A master of rudimental drumming, combined with wonderful creativity we've heard on so many popular songs.

Displacement. Such a simple but powerful concept. Another is taking a phrase and substracking a note or adding a bass drum before or after the phrase to lenghten or shorten it. Best to all of you ❤

Holy shit, he got old. I last saw him on the cover of Modern Drummer magazine in 1985 when I was 15 years old. Holy shit, I got old.

+1.. Mr. Steve Gadd ... A gentlemans gentleman drummer extraordinaire. .. Toured like an airline pilot.

Steve and Rick - 2 lovely people

One of my favorite drummers. Best drum video IMHO is Steve, Vinnie and Dave, at the Buddy Rich Memorial. Love Flams, diddles, singles, doubles, and triples. And all on different beats.

Still total badass. Awesome Rick

Steve Gadd is arguably the greatest drummer that ever lived. The breath of his oeuvre is far and wide. Some of the most influential and revered pop/rock albums of all time with unique one of a kind grooves like "50 Ways" or "Late In the Evening" by Paul Simon, mind blowing fills like Steely Dan's "Aja" and virtuoso all around playing like anything he did with Chick Corea and Al Di Meola. Not to mention his never ending contribution to so many unforgettable songs by so many artists. His resume is second to none. Different genres, different styles, one towering musician.

I got the Gaddiments book a while back. It's so fun and challenging. It stands alongside the Wilcoxon book when it comes to rudiments.

You actually spoke to Steve Gadd. Nice. A true super hero.

If non-drummers knew how hard some of these rudiments are, they'd be as blown away as drummers. Steve is one of the all-time greats.

Steve has all the chops of the great jazz legends.

"He didn't show off like that on the run through!" 😂

Steve Gadd, the master. Displacement. I remember seeing the whole video of Steve when you posted this originally watching the short again my head hurts because I can’t get my mind around what he’s doing. I understand the concept. I’ve been a drummer most of my life but I could never say OK start on one and a half and do the same thing , I can’t play as original rudiment anyway. Like I said, the master and Rick, you probably played drums better than I do.

The grid, baby. Absolute gold.

Steve Gadd became my favorite drummer after I tried his sticks. They feel good.

We're all students of our instruments, I'm working on the Virgil thing with single paradiddle on one side and double on the other.. It's crazy what else comes along in each individual journey.

Took me over 2 weeks to get through the first page of Gaddiments. 😂 Learning an excercise is one thing but starting it on the and of 1 is a whole different ball game.

1:45 Steve Gadd understood something new about drumming during covid 2020!! You can never learn it all in a lifetime, GET TO WORK!!! :)

Such a brilliant artist!! Gadd has inspired me as a musician/drummer my whole life!! HE inspires us to keep growing... NEVER settling on your current level. ... Keep reaching! YESsssssssss! Thank you Mr. Gadd!!!

It is fantastic that new layers of your art will be revealed for a lifetime of learning! So many artists found new and surprising things during lockdowns for COVID.

Hands down my greatest influence growing up!

His hands are so beautiful and even. Steve is the god because of consistency and groove.

This was a great full interview. The broader lesson from this clip to me is how endless musical possibilities are, and how no matter how advanced you are there are always new challenges to explore.

Still learning and burning. I need to check out the Gadiments booklet. I left my socks behind the couch. Another form of "displacement" but not so much my socks but more so with my brain. Drum on Steve.

Haha! Rick! I was laughing as well. So relaxed and smooth.

The Groove Master! Top of the tops Dr. Steve Gadd. RESPECT! Thank You Rick

David Garibaldi also covers this concept a bit in his Future Sounds book. He calls them permutations. Lots of good exercises.Someone mentioned about Gadd doing Garibaldi 😊. It's neat to see that someone as accomplished as Gadd still has the humility to look for fresh ways to approach his playing.

I subscribed Rick. Because you asked and it's one of the few ways to pay you back for all the fun you provide us.

This is an amazing story! Especially , because of the sticks he is using here. I first met Steve in Orlando FL. When he was playing a venu with Chick, & Stanley C. many years ago. A return to Return for Forever Gig ? I paid extra for the (Meet & Greet) to meet Steve before there performance. So, I was first in line , waiting at the door to open for me to meet him. Strangly ? there was only two other people waiting also. The door opens, Whala!! out walks Steve first. He asked me where was every else was to meet him? Not sue I said, I was the only drummer, because of poor prees about him playing this venue.? I introduced myself to him in amazement ! He was very nice. I asked him , if could sign one of my drum sticks. Ready ? As I handed him one of the new rubber style round ended sticks , I bought for myself to practice with. He asked me where did I get such an unique stick like this? He had never seen one like this before. The same similar style he's using here in your video. I said at the local music store near by. He asked me if I could get him a pair ? I said for sure Steve. I said I'll be back quickly. Then he said OK, I'll tell the stage guards to let you come back stage after the show. So, I was in shock ! Then quickly I was driving to local SA music store to buy him 2 pairs of these same sticks. It felt like I was in a some bizare dream? When I arrived, and went to buy the sticks for him, I told the manager / employee of the drum department who these were for. The guy said What ? He didn't know anything about this gig? So, after , I drove back quickly to the gig before they started. I waited till after the show , walked up to the stage front , told the guard who I was , and he escorted me back stage. Steve was waiting for me. I handed him the new two pair of the round rubber ended type sticks. He replied, you bought two pairs? Yes Steve, here. He was so appreciative! We talk a little, then he asked me if I'd like to sit behind his kit on stage. Great,! I said . He even let me play on his kit for a few minutes. I still thought I was in some sort of a sureal dream. So, he thanked me again for the new sticks, we took some pictures together, and exchanged emails. I said goodbye , it was a honor to meet you. Thank you again for you time, and kindness with me ! So , here he is in your video interview, talking a little about, and using these same type of stick all because of our meeting each other years ago. Wow! What a incredibly, and wonderful memory. 😊 Thank you so much for your interview Rick. You're always so Great too. G

In Gadd we trust

He's soooo good!!

What a great interview! I love that Steve talked about sticking with inverted paradiddles - I discovered the same thing during Covid marathon practice sessions.

MOAR GADD!! Can’t believe you got him! Such an enlightening interview!!!

This is why Sicily sounds so amazing ❤️

thank you Rick! thank you Steve !!! touches many souls 🙏

I love this man so much. What a magnificent human being.

I’m a drummer and I’ve studied audio engineer and I love Rick’s channels. Subscribed. 🎉

Always inspired watching Steve!

I'm noticing more and more that this kind of thing is what works to orchestrate my motor neural situation to make me near normal as a whole the best without any bad side effects. ❤

wOOOOw...these were amazing lessons!! Thank you!! 💖

This is fascinating, because in my mind Steve has been displacing otherwise-familiar rhythms (especially paradiddles and their variants) since the mid-70's, along with Cobham and Colaiuta and a few other players that married crazy technical precision with a sweet feel. But in his mind, it's new to him. So it goes!

Thank you 😊

Living proof showing drumming keeps you young and agile. Steve Gadd for life

Will there ever be another Steve Gadd? I highly doubt it! I saw the long interview and it made me an even bigger Gadd fan. Some drummers just know how to get the job done. Gadd is always looking for the OTHER ways to get the same job done. Ringo is a completely different type of talent. He also would play "other choices" and not always the obvious ones. He had a formula though, and Steve Gadd seems to always be coming up with new formulas! There are and have been many great drummers out there. Steve Gadd is a legend that stands with any and all of them.

There’s a video on RU-vid where Anthony Jackson gives a speech about Steve at an award ceremony, and he has lofty and authentic praise for Steve’s musical mind. He’s definitely one of the most electrifying drummers I’ve ever listened to.

Rick is so cool. When asked by Gadd whether he’s a drummer he just says “I’m not a drummer, no.” I would immediately list everything that I am.

Thank you for inspiring. The Gadd interview was awesome and helpful. The displacement theory is WOW. Thank you

Fantastic!

Thank you for making it possible for us to get into all these musical prodigies' approaches to art. It's a real privilege. I had already subscribed to your main channel and have just subscribed to this one. Cheers from Türkiye!!

So damned cool!

Subscribed on both, great content as always..

Drummers love to share. True that. ❤️

The epitome of smooth and cool in drumming.

This is something… he’s talking about “displacement”. I started playing paradiddles playing the “diddle” 1st! It adds a completely different feeling/dynamic. He is so cool!!!!

He makes me want to practice even more!

Goodness gracious…those hands are just magnificent

The most beautiful hands that ever played a drum set.

so awesome.

Gridding! Gridding is great practice; grid some book reports and you’ll understand how difficult it is

My fav

That guy is great WOW ❤️

Legend

Steve Gadd was the only reason why I spend 120€ for a Eric Clapton ticket. Watched every single stroke he played. Didn't notice that Clapton was on stage. Gadd is a groove monster.

The displacement concept exists in Tabla with the name “Laggi”. Remarkable stuff to open the mind on a groove :)

One of the best drummers ever!

Didnt realize Rick Beato has two channels till now. By bad. Ive liked this and subscribed. Awesome content!

Steve loves flam taps. speed hand to hand flams feel just like flam taps in a way.

in 1981, being Dutch and a profesional drummer (just starting my pro career then) , I was invited to visit the Yamaha stand in the Frankfurter Messe in Germany. Steve Gadd did a clinic, as an endorser for Yamaha. Of course I knew him, but he was usually playing with or for bands that I wasn't that interested in, except for Paul Simon, who is a real hero for me. So I sat almost front row and Gadd started to play an easy 4/4 beat, slowly adding very small alterations, but wasn't showing off. And I really started wondering what happened there. I mean, I also have two arms and two legs, I was a pretty good drummer according to many musicians I played with at the time, but somehow there was something going on on that stage. The feel he displayed was amazing. I've watch in awe the whole say 20 minutes and when I left the large booth I was a believer..... 😊 And now, in this interview, again he keeps amazing me!!!!

Great drummer 👌 👍.

GADD ROCKS! 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

One of the greatest for sure!!

Gadd is playing with James Taylor this summer

Drumming is a brain workout.

What makes Gadd so great is his uncanny ability to keep perfect time within a solo.

This was so special to see. Please get Billy Cobham onto the show also. 🙏

i literally just started practicing rudiments recently after drumming for like 3 years, and all these displacement ideas started coming into my head and now here i am watching Steve Gadd talking about the same stuff. whats a coincidence

Watching this made me feel really good about how I practice. I started doing things like displacing stickings and accents, all kinds of permutations, after I saw Matt Garstka doing stuff like that. I just love the results, I can play things cleanly and at speeds I couldn't begin to dream of just weeks ago. You should really give it a try, this kind of practice has become one of my favorite parts of drumming. If it's good enough for Gadd & Garstka, I belive it's good enough for us mere mortals. 😄 PS. Any guitarists or bassists here who have an idea how translate this concept to their instruments?

There is a lesson here from Mr Gadd: One of the biggest gifts of music is that growth is potentially *limitless*. It never stops- if you never stop.

Un fenomeno!!!💪👏👏👏

3.38 “are you a drummer? " 😂😂😂

This also makes me feel better about my tatts in old age 🤘🥁

This shows that drumming is mathematical and Mr Gadd is a humble man. I play percussion - not the drum kit because of CP. I'd like to try though.

:39 Flam Rats! Yeah, Steve Gadd is the man!