"Ya' Gotta Try" with brushes!

Bo Eder · #1 (**permalink**) 07-25-2010, 09:57 PM

Hey all,

Here's my first drum karaoke video on YouTube:

As I say in the description, I had this crazy idea of doing Buddy's "Ya' Gotta Try" on brushes. I never see enough people playing with brushes anymore. I just wanted to prove to myself that I can still cook at a low level if I had to. But I'm not saying it's perfect, I was trying to channel Buddy on this one, and I don't think I got anywhere near him!

Let me know what you think! Thanks to the internets, my skin is getting thicker everyday!

xxvenom13xx · #2 (**permalink**) 07-25-2010, 11:26 PM

Well, I had to watch it with no sound and I thought it was great! Ha

You really have a groove and look like you're having fun(:

Bo Eder · #3 (**permalink**) 07-26-2010, 03:21 AM

Thanks for "watching"! I guess another thank you will be in order after you "listen"

drumn00b · #4 (**permalink**) 07-26-2010, 02:55 PM

That was great! I personally love jazz drumming, and wish I would get into it more(but I don't...).

xxvenom13xx · #5 (**permalink**) 07-26-2010, 03:47 PM

Well, Bo, I mean, if I can tell what your tempo is just by watching you I think it's pretty good! Ha

I'll watch it with sound later tonight.

xxvenom13xx · #6 (**permalink**) 07-28-2010, 02:26 AM

Whoa whoa whoa whoa!

It's even better with sound(:

Awesome.

dragpyre · #7 (**permalink**) 07-28-2010, 04:09 AM

You're awesome man!

I have a question though.
I was checking out your improv video and i'm just wondering, how did you get those really crisp tom and snare rolls with such great dynamics? Like, how did you practice to get such great execution?

Bo Eder · #8 (**permalink**) 07-28-2010, 11:59 AM

Hi dragpyre, thanks for asking!

However, I don't think there's any substitute for actually putting in alot of time on my basic strokes (singles, doubles, buzzes, etc.,..).

I started seriously playing on a snare drum when I was 4 - and that's all my parents let me have until I was 10. I'm 44 now. When I look back on it, it was just years of sitting with a pad or a drum in front of the tv drilling stuff. I did the high school band thing, then marched in a drum corps (but those didn't help because I was forcing myself to play right-handed, so when I stopped it, I had to re-learn alot of things over the next couple of years before I went off to major in music in college).

In college I did alot of jazz studies, and basically doing alot of listening to alot of musicians (drummers in particular) and really, just trying to emulate the greats. I think that's all any of us really do, we emulate! So if you listen to alot of Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson, you strive for that sound because to me, they were the best at it (although there are countless others that do it great too - they happen to be the most famous!).

Early on I had a teacher who was into playing the most comfortable way possible, because if you do alot of things "wrong", you're physically debilitating yourself and you end up with pain in your later years. I by no means am saying that I don't suffer any aches and pains from drumming, but there is an ergonomic approach to playing that is good for you, and there have been people I've seen with really long careers and I wonder how they can play like that without seriously twisting something out of whack!

But even to this day, I try to put it at least 30 minutes on a practice pad, and I groove along with some of my favorite recordings, and every now and then I get called for a gig (in my 20s I was gigging all the time, was a percussionist at Disneyland for 13 years, and in the last 10 years or so I've slowed down somewhat since I'm now in "full-time-job-own-a-house" mode - still working for Disney, but as a sound engineer nowadays).

So I guess all I can recommend to you is that you listen to the greats, and get a teacher who can correct any mistakes you may be doing, and just put in the time playing. There's no way around that. Hope this helps!

xxvenom13xx · #9 (**permalink**) 07-28-2010, 01:17 PM

(practice rudiments on vicfirth.com!!!)

dragpyre · #10 (**permalink**) 07-29-2010, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxvenom13xx

(practice rudiments on vicfirth.com!!!)

I practise rudiments cause i use the practise chart from FreeDrumLessons.com.
I also have a copy of Stick Control.

And thanks Bo, that's some really good stuff you said there. I know i need to get a teacher anyway because i need to correct my posture and i know i do, i just need a teacher to get me there. I use moeller and the correct grips (french, german), i arrange my kit so i can reach everything comfortably, i do heel up, heel toe, heel down (haven't got to grips with slide though

), And i practise 2 hours a day at least and it doesn't go overboard, I don't think. I mean, i spend at least an hour with GL Stone's Stick Control.

Thanks for the tips though, you've been really helpful.