Dave has got to get a little kick every time he realizes Carter is behind him laying that shit down. :) He's the kind of drummer that will make the whole band better.
I also know there's an interview and/or video somewhere from years ago where Dave mentioned that he knows what kind of night they are going to have based upon what sees when he looks back at Carter. Carter is the de facto heartbeat of the band.
I think the thing that impresses me the most is that while he basically plays god on the drums, and has a smile on his face while doing it, he is giving backup vocals/harmonies for Dave! It's mind-numbing just thinking about what is going on in that brain of his as he executes all of this in such brilliant fashion.
ive been around music all my life and carter , victor wooten and other rythm section african, african americans etc are the best to ever do what they do ... in my experience anyway or maybe i just like the music they put together and what i find most interesting about DMB is that they were all sit in musicians who thought this thing wouldnt work when they got together... wow were they wrong
I've got so much to say, but I'm only gonna say this, if you've never seen DMB live, you better get a ticket the next time they come thru your neck of the woods. You won't regret it!
Love seeing Carter's left foot action, I haven't seen that camera before. I'm an open-handed drummer as well and the way he uses one foot to play both the hihat and aux kick pedal is on point. Definitely something to practice!
This popped up in my recommended list, and I'm happy it did. This man perfectly shows what it's all about. Play TOGETHER with a band and not being a solo artist. Adding flair where it fits, without stealing the spotlight. He just radiates this pure joy of making music with other people. Particularly, see 3:50. Just look at that smile!
Carter is one of the few truly ambidextrous drummers around. Not only is he stylistic, perfect punctuation, great dynamics, and Dennis Chamber level funk, he switches from right hand to left hand drumming within the same 12 bar passages. He also manages to control his hi-hat splashes and closings with stick action as his left foot is occupied at the time. I had to watch this several times to listen to when I had to pay attention. So damn talented. Younger players really need to watch some serious hours of Mr. Beauford. When I was just a shaver I had Ian Paice, Bonzo, Aynsley Dunbar, eventually Neil Peart, and of course Buddy, but what Carter, Dennis Chambers, and Dave Weckel do is spectacular in off beat accents that I wish I could have heard him at 10, instead of in my 30's. Introduce your kids to him, and tell them it's ok to skip some of the DM vocal parts.
I love it when I see someone enjoying their craft as much as I do. I get a smile watching him nail all the little stops and fills and I sometimes catch myself doing that too when I know we're tight and the performance is solid. But Carter is just on fire most nights. So good to watch this again, just purely for inspiration
I found a video of him years ago. I primarily listen to metal and was just in awe after watching him. He doesn’t overplay and it all just fits so well.
Carter and Dave might have the best singer/drummer connection of all time! Just look how Dave often looks back to the drums and gives a joyful smile, and Carter always grinning back, expressing how much they love what they're doing, and how much they accomplished in 20+ years in music!
The first time I heard Carter play was when What Would You Say first came out. I was driving back to Galveston from Houston when the song came on the radio. I literally had to pull over on I45 so I could hear what the hell was coming out of my speakers! I was in my mid 20’s and had played drums professionally for around 5 or 6 years (can’t remember the exact year it came out) and had NEVER heard someone put accents where he was putting them in the groove. Not to mention the fact that the whole arrangement of the song and how Dave played the guitar was unlike anything I had heard up to then. And it was freaking incredible, I was thinking “how the hell did something this awesome make it to the radio!l?? Lol Anyway, what a difference it makes to be able to play open handed as well as your regular side. Vinnie will always be my favorite drummer but Carter is right behind him.
Great video ... I would pay money to see a whole show from this perspective. I wish he would come out with another under the table and dreaming video ... Cmon Zildjian make it happen
I love watching this guy and always have ! I particularly like his unorthodox, left-hand style, on a right-hand set. Ride cymbal on the left and plays snare with right hand. Really cool !
I love this drummer! I've heard him interviewed and he is the most humble man and he sure enjoys playing the drums. What an amazing and talented musician!!!!!!!!
It's hard for people that don't play drums to fully appreciate how good Carter is. This dude is an absolute beast behind a drum kit and makes it look like he's barely trying
Carter is my idol. When I was young and starting out, I had a printout of his drum kit layout on my wall. Just shapes and numbers, not even an actual real picture of them. I could never grasp his open hand play style tho.
+Ramsey L It's not too late to learn the open hand technique. I don't use it but I wish I did. If u think about it, it makes perfect sense to play the drum set like that. Using your left hand to play the ride cymbal, which is to your left, opens up so much space for your right hand. If you're playing the hi-hat with your right hand using the close hand technique, it's really really hard to play anything on the toms with your left hand. However, if you're playing the hi-hat with your left hand using the open hand technique, you're free to do all kinds of stuff on the toms with your right hand. I can play simple beats using the open hand technique, like straight 8th notes on the hi-hats with my left hand and 2 & 4 on the snare with my right hand, but I can't play any kind of syncopated rhythms with my left hand on the hi-hat and my right hand on the snare. But I can learn, and so can you dude, if you want. Peace.
+drewper73 I am left handed and I play open handed just like Carter. I've played this way every since I was a kid, because I am self taught and no one ever told me differently. But I am dominant left handed so open handed makes sense to me. Everything is set as a right handed player, with my ride on the left, near my hi hats. I do all of what you said, I can do so much with my right hand on toms and snare and cymbals. Other lefties like Phil Collins and Ian Paice play closed handed with the hi hats on the right side and they roll right to left. I could never do that. I would not be able to carry the bass drum with my left foot. I'll stick to my open handed way.
+thecoolestdad I wish I had started out playing open handed. But I had seen drummers on tv playing the hi-hat with their right hand and that made perfect sense to me, a right handed drummer. It also felt right but that was before I had the 4-way independence that I have now.
Love the camera angles we got to see all focused on Carter. He's so damn good. I love his drumming. He's in my top 3. In no particular order, Carter Beauford(DMB), Mitch Mitchell(Jimi Hendrix), George Hurley(the Minutemen)
Dave Matthews Band is the band from my College years that I made fun of the fans around my hometown because they were always saying stuff like, "I'm going to see Dave this weekend." Or, "We're just drinking and listening to Dave, man". I never really cared much for their music, it just never really grabbed me. I'm more of a Tool fan. However, they are and always have been fantastic musicians and great at what they do! Imo, Carter Beauford is their bread and butter. The man is a joy to watch play! Respect!
The man behind the drums I practice/cover (Rapunzel, Ants Marching, Drive In Drive Out, Satellite, etc..) Tripping Billies is very hard :s I can't forgive myself missing their concert here in Dubai. :s
If you are beginning to play drums or are a journeyman, this is a great drummer to study. Carter Beauford show us how to be in the pocket and really groove! I mean his doesn't 'overplay' his parts like so many of today's drummer do especially the so called 'church' drummers. I like drummers like David Garibaldi, the late John Blackwell. Damien Schmitt, Dennis Chambers, Billy Cobham and the like, because these guys know how to 'finese' their drums to make the sounds fantastic!!
