[pantera]

Long story short; I've been jamming with a guitarist/singer that used to have a band years ago, has a good bit of gear in his basement (amps, boards, drums) and just wanted to do some informal jams with me on drums. I was hesitant to join him since I only started drumming after buying my son his first set in February. I've learned some stuff from the Realistic Rock book, but a few weeks later I took the plunge.

I suggested at the last session that we should record our playing, so this way I can listen to my drumming over and over again, see where I need improvement, what I could do differently, etc.

Well this weekend we met and he had a recorder (mini-disc) setup. We warmed up and did one rehearsal, and then he turned on the recorder and taped the whole session, talking and all. We did 3 Cult songs (some a few times) and then did informal jamming, where he'd start a tune on guitar and I'd find whatever beats/fills/patterns would fit. I experimented with whatever came to mind and hoped I'd find something that would work. I also had to be quick on my feet because he'd change the song and go in a different direction, so following and anticipating made me work...

It was strange to hear the playback later. I know what I was feeling and thinking during those songs, but to hear the starkness of just a guitar, vocals and really LOUD drums was weird.

The first thing that struck me is how good we sound. I can hear a few goof ups and misses, but overall I'm not half bad. But words like 'overdoing it' and 'too many fills' kept coming to mind. I was glad I could maintain a consistent groove on some songs and didn't flub too many times.

Quite an experience and we're hooking up again to do some obscure Black Sabbath tunes and hone 2 of our jam songs that have some potential. I let one friend hear parts of the CD yesterday and she flipped out, to the average listener it sounds great. I forget that to me there's so much I need to still learn and drumming is just a part-time hobby.

I'd recommend it to anyone that's been toying with the idea of recording their playing; it's quite an eye opener.

[juan (the ping-pong ref.)]

yea, i do the same thing. my good friend Nate and i just jam and it's a different feeling at first, but once you know the guitarist and learn their body movements you can read them so easily. i find that time will fix all of that. getting used to the drums, the sound it makes, how hard to hit it, ect. and i do agree, i felt like i sucked once i herd my self after recording, but like i said, just give it time.

[pantera]

Actually the Jam CD has made me think along certain new lines, which is what I was hoping for. While deconstructing these lastest songs to prepare for this weekend's jam I'm more conscious of things that I do that create certain sounds or volume. So the CD has had it's intended effect; to improve my drumming and allow me to 'see' where I could do things differently, or in some cases to just maintain a solid groove without messing up the song.

On some tracks I can remember thinking I HAD to add fills in, but after listening to them a few times it's plainly obvious that I messed with the guitar/vocals, I disturbed what should have been 'their moments' with my crashing cymbals or toms.

It made me understand that I should approach my drumming as if I'm in a huge band or orchestra. There are parts were an accent, like a harder snare hit, or crash cymbal hit, are appropriate. And other times I just need to keep the beat going, maybe for a long time, because there's more happening up front with the guitar and vocals that anything I do, besides holding that groove, will spoil their parts.

And for our later, made up jam songs, the guitarist added certain passages that required an 'atmosphere', such as anticipating a bigger part coming up so I'd work 2 cymbals at once, fire the bass drum harder, or he'd quiet right down so I'd bring the volume down with him, and then we'd build up again.

This is all facinating stuff for me, having listened to songs for years, and finally 'getting it' for my part on the drums.

[skinslapper]

Good for you Pan. That can be a big step and sounds like you nailed it.

Over time, the drumming will become more second nature, which will allow you to start listening more to the music being produced.

Good luck sir, keep us posted on your progress.

[pantera]

Wow, amazing what a jam CD and a week of listening to it can do.

We met today (after a 2 hr road bike ride I'm surprised I could stand). My friend never got around to learning Johnny Blade but we tried it anyway. I really wanted to cover it since I actually wrote notes for parts and got pretty good at it. But we instead moved on to Never Say Die.

Two rehersals and we started recording. Man, that song made me tired! We did it three times, and it was a blast. Then we went into a 20 mins. jam that covered an intro very Hendrix-like into Van Halen riffs and some of our previous jam songs.

The CD this time is only 30 mins, but what a difference. First off my drumming is more precise, no messing around with useless fills. The snare, hi-hat and cymbal hits are hard, fast and clean. We're beginning to really sound like we know what we're doing...

The jam song really showcased my improvements. This time I didn't wander around too much trying to find that 'perfect part', if I did find one I held it a lot longer and it really worked. That was it, we were done and cut the CD. Can't wait to do even more.

[ron_j]

I think it is very important to record and listen to what you play as a "band". In my former band I had the sound guy record every gig. Seemed I was the only one in the band who wnated to listen, but it sure helped my playing. I could hear what worked well and what sounded like crap....and hopefully not to the crap again

[Darkside]

In the past when I had a band, we always recorded our gigs. That way we could hear ourselves playing. Shame they are all on old cassettes.

[ron_j]

You can convert the cassettes to cd's on your computer. Google the subject and it will walk you through the process.