[Drumsticks1]

I've drummed years ago and just picked it up again about 7 months ago. I always played by ear. Then with some advice, mainly in a private conversation with Skinslapper I started taking lessons, learning the basics (rudiments) again, learning different drum tabs and more importantly to me.......timing. When YOU know that YOU have the timing down and that you can do a song, whether it be original or something that you are both jamming to, stick with the timing that YOU know. Stick to the timing of the song and the tabs. Remember, reading drum music is a far different and totally 'greek' language to someone that plays the guitar, piano, etc... You said that you've only been drumming for a few months. Remember that. All of the greats, Neil Peart, Mike Portnoy, Lars Ulrich, Joey Jordison, Steve Gadd, Steve Smith, Gene Krupa, etc... all started somewhere. Most of us got a late start. Remember, you have to crawl before you walk and walk before you run. Soon enough YOUR sound with mesh with the guitar sound and it will all be even ground.
Heck, I can drum 'Enter Sandman' by Metallica with Q-tips. I know it by heart. BUT there will be that time where I'll forget a cymbal or tom. Damn! I should've known better. Yeah, maybe I should've. But we're not perfect!! And never get frustrated at the sound. When you're drumming to a song you will never sound 'just like him'. All songs that we hear on our CD's, iPods, etc... all came from studios that make the songs digitally mastered. Hang in there. You'll get it.

Peace out!