Topic: SOLOING (Read 1915 times)

D-Nice · « **on:** March 10, 2005, 01:25:14 PM »

i have problemes soloing, does anyone have anyt advice...

i think i am thinking too much, since music is bout emotion and feeling...i notice whe i just play like a jam session its all good....but when i am in sunday service mode, i am too into the pocket and i dont really come out and give the flava to the song....i struggle w/ creativity on the spot...trying to fill in time...dont get me wrong i can imitate other drummer licks but i have trouble creating my own stuff....any advice? does any one else have this problem? or am i just a scrub...hahahaha

2quick · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2005, 02:14:59 PM »

Man I feel you! Just relax and trust your God given talent. You will be fine! Try to find your own style and go from there. U feel me? Take care and be blessed!

maplecustom · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2005, 03:27:30 PM »

I'll probably be coming from a different point of view on this, since I'm a jazz drummer making a transition to gospel. I'm pretty new to this site, but I dig the positive attitude people have in general. It's all about playing to praise god, not battling egos.

Anyway, in jazz, when soloing, what a lot of guys do is first consider the melody of the tune. If you listen to cats like Roy Haynes, Max Roach, Dennis Chambers, and Tony Williams, a lot of times they'll sort of restate the rhythm of the melody at first, and then elaborate. This gives your solo some form and progression, while encouraging creativity and all that good stuff. Cats like Lil' John, Eric "Booty" Green and others got a lot of their ideas from these old drummers, and I think that's a key part in developing your soloing, as well as playing in general. You gotta know where you're coming from before you can figure out where you're going.

I think everyone has times when they struggle with "thinking" too much. When that happens I try to just relax and take my time, remembering it's not always about taking out all your fast ideas (although that's not bad sometimes), but more about making it feel good and just groovin' hard.

A good exercise in soloing is to listen to other drummers A LOT, and also to take simple grooves and rhythms, mess around with them, and then try displacing them around the kit. Lastly, if you're lucky enough to work with truly talented musicians, they can provide you with ideas to feed off of and mimick. Good luck man!

D-Nice · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2005, 04:48:33 PM »

dang...thanks for ya'll reply. i will keep that in mind to restate the melody and build it up with accents and elaboration...i do listen to a lot of different drummers, i just dont have the opportunity to be surrounded by drummers that i can study and watch, like i could back in Kansas..(havent been in Dallas long) The killer part about it, is that i feel like i am a groove drummer, versus a drummer w/ crazy licks and chops..i am working on incoporating that...(trying to build my foot back up.)..cuz groove wise, i probably could match anybodys groove or pocket. when it comes to chops its a different story i think my licks are too elementary..but again thanks for the advice i will try that out!

maplecustom · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2005, 05:47:10 PM »

Yeah man, I totally see where you're coming from. I feel very much the same way. I've been lucky enough to work under a lot of awesome drummers who were great mentors, but most of that was working on jazz for about 16 years. So now, I've been playing gospel for about a year and a half, but most of my licks are pretty simple, and I'm working on being able to just whip out a quick double time fill across the toms and kick drum without getting all tight. I know what you mean.
Most of what I've learned is from F. Darnell Davis and a couple people from the group he's produced some projects for, Excelsior. My good friend David Billingsley plays keys for Darnell's "Remnant" project, and I hooked up with them through him. It's a life long process, even though we all wouldn't mind waking up one morning with mad speed. It helps when you can get under someone, and like you said, it's hard when there doesn't seem to be anyone around.

« **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2005, 12:45:34 AM »

I have a couple of pointer for you guys! I think you said, " I play to much in the pocket." I don't think that you can play to much in the pocket. Although I understand what you are saying.

Sound like what you need to do is practice with a metornome or click ! And start working on muscle memory, just start working notes around the kit locking down with the click ( use singles, double triplets and mainly paradiddles practice each one at a time ). What this will do is one day allow you to play with out thinking. Your ears will tell you which cymbal to crash instead from just because it there I better use it. Always practice slow, its easy to do something fast! Plus you will get the proper sticking down playing slow. Next start about 70bpm ( beat per minutes ) play a simple groove or a groove that you find yourself playing at church the most to work with. Every two mearsures start a 8 count or 2 bar solo. Don't worry about what it sounds like. Sooner or later you will hear a idea! Once you hear that idea set it as your base than start adding on to it. When you mess up, start at the point you mess up and start it over again. The key is locking it down in time remembering where the one is. Most solos you can still feel the meter or time in it.Once you become able you can than invert or play with the time. But first things first lock it down in time.

Next leave your click at 70 bpm for starters. You need to focus on the subdivisions the ( e & ah's ) the sub's is where to fills line up in the click or time. Meter is just 1 2 3 4 sub's is the 1e&ah 2 e&ah 3 e&ah 4 e&ah

One other thing is that if the band or choir band that you are playing for are not use to playing with a click than you are going to alway have problems. You can't be the only one practicing your timing! When my church first started playing with a MPC it through everyone off except me! It made than realize that it wouldn't the drummer its us messing up!

Bands or churches need to remember that everyone are time keepers not just the drummer! Hope that helps!

I know a lot of stars drummers! They all say at your worse you will be as good as your fundamentals!

Breathe , Relax and don't over think play in the moment!

DRMR727 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2005, 06:57:42 PM »

What yall was saying is so true trust me I know.Ive been playing the drums all my life and just like one of yall was saying trust god which is also true.be faithfull,pray before you practice.Always remember this repitition is the key practice,practice,practice

.What I could tell u about doing a solo is to start off with something easy and than work yourself up. dont show all of your tricks at the same time just give them a little something good. I play for my church and my musicians and I have rehearsal every friday/saturday and we just sit there and work on songs traditional and contemperary.you should always learn traditional and contemperary because one day you might go to somebody elses church and u may not know what the song is.One more thing I have to say before I go DISIPLINE yourself and what I mean by that is to stay in the pocket{keep a straight beat}.Dont go all crazy but just ease your way up to the point.I hope that this helps yall GOD BLESS.

DRMR727[/b]

drummercat777 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2005, 03:12:39 PM »

man, as far as soloing, man, let the stix do the talking. when i say this, i mean to just relax and do what you feel. all a solo is is doing whatever feels natural or right to you at that time to express what you are feeling. it is all for the glory of GOD anyways right?

its all good and its all GOD

Author Topic: SOLOING (Read 1915 times)