New drummer here! Just was talking about how this is tricky for me and I think it is really helpful. Thanks!

I have been looking for a drum teacher on KZread that can bring me back to the basics and am glad I found this channel. Thank you.

Super easy to implement, but super critical skill to have. Thank you!!!!

Thank you so much for your KZread content. I'm a new drummer, and I have learned a TON from you. I appreciate your teaching approach and your mission to teach people how to be a player other people want to play with.

This is a great exercise! I am a bassist and often depend on cues from other parts particularly drums to identify section changes. My mind tends to wander on long repetitive parts or empty space and those drum fills or cymbal crashes help me lock in. My bass teacher often says to get in touch with your inner drummer, so I figured what better way to do that than to learn to play drums.

I can’t think I’ve ever seen a lesson like this on YT. It’s an excellent concept and exercise!

Great lesson. I have been looking for something like this lesson for 2 years! Thank you!!!

I like this exercise, it's fun. Thanks Stephen.

You have so much good stuff 🥰

We use the triple cowbell, so the lower cowbell announces a slower tempo/breakdown, and the higher cowbell a more upbeat section.

Do people count when playing? I thought after a certain time as a drummer you develop the feel and don't count at all. I don't remember counting at all unless in cases that there are some tricky signature changes (not all of them) Like there is 6/8 section in the middle of 4/4 or something like that when learning for the first time. After learning I never count again because the audio memory in my mind tells me what I should play there. I'm really surprised that people constantly count regular beats.

The same struggle here! 😭😢😭😭

Hey Stephen, As I am into progressive rock and metal there is a problem with just feeling the groove and parts. But even Neil Peart always thrived to play musically and create a melody on drums. Knowing when something comes up in the song is definitely a great skill that helps with anxiety. Fun thing for me is that if I begin to count less and listen more, I get more hints from the melody or the vocals, where a section of 4, 8 or 16 bars ends. My greatest fear is to trainwreck a coversong by just failing completely. But as long as anything goes on, and be it just the timekeeping or the backbeat this shan't happen. Worst thing that could happen in my opinion is an argument about why I did ruin the core fill, break or solo by not playing it like the record.

@CyberChrist

5 ай бұрын

That's what playing your own stuff liberates you from ;)

@MrGrey-ks8cn

5 ай бұрын

@@CyberChrist sure. If you know your way around and have some stage experience, you will just have the feeling for the music. Unless you are in a tribute band and agreed upon playing like a specific record there is always some liberty with fills and transitions, hell even some variety in a groove is possible. I had the trouble of failing auditions cause I didn't "play it exactly like the record." Therefore I am a bit uneasy even when auditioning for a band playing their own songs.

@CyberChrist

5 ай бұрын

@@MrGrey-ks8cn Well, of course, being in a tribute band doesn't exactly encourage playing your own stuff ^^; If you often improvise, I suggest you use the triple cowbell as we did with my drummer, the lower bell announces a slower tempo/breakdown and the higher one a more upbeat section, it really helps ;)

So, what do you expect new drummers to do when someone sticks a chart in front of them? They need to learn how to count, correct?

Wait do people actually count while they play? Thought that was just for learning

@c.l.4895

5 ай бұрын

I almost never count, but probably should

@scottmyers9360

5 ай бұрын

I'm in a band with about 80 songs, and there are maybe 2 or 3 things that I have to count.

@logic_rules

5 ай бұрын

My exact thought. I posted a comment before seeing yours. I don't remember counting at all unless when I am first learning a song and there is a tricky complex part.

Love the encouragement, Stephen! But those fills? Around 13mins you were playing something reasonably complex to a beginner. Maybe, something simpler needed? The concept is great, but as I'm never going to gig, are there any great tracks where the transition is just crying out for a fill? All suggestions welcome. Thanks!

This should be a "How to play drums for people who shouldn't ever play drums!" Really!

@sabrinareynolds2251

5 ай бұрын

Way to discourage new drummers...

If you need to learn this then you have nothing to do with music. Drop those sticks :)

@jompahyeah7635

5 ай бұрын

Actually, it is better to learn about this than to give up

@alexandrapiedigrossi7696

5 ай бұрын

Agreed. That kind of comment is utterly counterproductive! On the contrary, the video IS useful to less advanced drummers, thank you Stephen.