I'm a long time rock/funk player who is just beginning to learn how to play jazz and this explanation is absolutely brilliant and so helpful. Thanks for all that you're doing!
John it's great to connect with you and learn more about your drumming! Thanks for the kind words and if you'd like to feel more solid when you comp on the drums , I would love to help you out in my Jazz Drum Comping Course at Jazz Drum School: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Have a swinging great day my friend 🤙
Very cool video. I’m a rock drummer and always struggled trying to have that jazz feel. You explained the idea very well. I was thinking, sure I could do that - then you said don’t overplay. In my head I was totally overplaying. Thanks for the advice. Great job. 🥁🙏🎶🥁
Scott thanks so much for watching and for your comment! I'm glad the video was helpful. If you're interested in going a little deeper into Jazz drumming, you might take a look at my Jazz Drumming Basics Course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/beginner-drumming I've also got a good video here on my TH-cam channel about how to get strong swing from your ride cymbal playing: th-cam.com/video/9L16x2iXdkQ/w-d-xo.html Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Just seeing this video and really appreciate it. As a still somewhat novice to jazz playing, this is going to be very helpful moving forward. Thank you.
Thanks for the kind comment and I'm so glad it was helpful! I hope you'll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course to take your drumming even further: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Thanks so much for the kind words and for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed and if you ever need any help with your Jazz drum comping, I hope you’ll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend🤙
Something to mention is your ride cymbal phrasing while you're thinking about the comping. There are a lot of quarter notes there, with the skip notes interweaving with the comping figures. It's not just a conversation with the soloist, but also between your comping and the ride pattern.
BINGO! Thanks for the comment and for watching! Yes indeed, I often think of my ride cymbal as the leading voice and my other limbs support that lead. I also teach this approach in my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Great explanations about the opportunities of filling spaces, how to listen and the distinction between coordination and communication or conversation.
I know you did this a year ago...but I just watched it now and I have to say this was sooo helpful! My favorite part is when you say, "there's no need to overplay." That's so true...in every type of music. I'll be singing along to piano parts from now on!
@ Von, thank you for asking. I have been playing drums for nearly 40 years and I have played nearly all genres, but have leaned toward fusion, funk, and what I would consider “smooth jazz.” I have recently been focusing on learning all aspects of jazz…more traditional jazz and it’s been challenging and fun!
Glad to hear more about your drumming journey and sounds like you've had a lot of fun! It's great that you are diving into Jazz drumming. I've always said that learning Jazz can improve everything we want to play. Not only the technique and musicality but also the variety of styles we play in Jazz that make us more musically flexible. If you ever need a hand with your Jazz drumming, I'd love to help you out at Jazz Drum School: jazzdrumschool.com/ It's great to connect with you my friend!
When you played on beat 1 and 3 it reminded me of Paul Motian (RIP), that nice and heavy stuff he had. I guess it depends on the vibe a drummer wants to bring. Thanks for sharing the knowledge!
Thank you so much for checklist out my Dad. He would have loved you. I look forward to studying your methodology and theories of practice and performance. Diane 🎶
Thanks Diane. It was fun to watch your dad tap. He really was dancing on such a high level. He and Buddy were both at the top of their game. Please enjoy the videos and if you’re wanting to deepen your Jazz drumming please also check out my online drum school: jazzdrumschool.com Keep swinging those sticks and tap shoes🤙
Wonderful video. I talk to my students all the time about discreetly filling the gaps ... I call them "quotes" and "suggestions" because we are usually either quoting a bit from what we just heard or lightly suggesting rhythmic ideas to take the conversation in a certain direction. Big Ears! is what Joe Porcaro would say in class ... I carry that on today with my students. We usually end a lesson with me yelling Big Ears! to which they respond Big Ears! ... thank you for doing what you do.
This video is gold. Answered a lot of my questions I stumbled upon by now. Thank you thank you! Ps Interesting is that in jazz there's no ready recipe. From my experience the lessons are not about what to do, but how to think. You just gotta go out and try.
Thanks for the kind comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the video! You are absolutely correct, this lesson is conceptual instead of teaching precise drumming patterns to play for comping. To get your drumming independence together for comping, I hope you'll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping In there you'll also learn great patterns to play and other technical skills for comping on the drums. Keep swinging 🤙
Howard thanks for the kind comment and for watching! If you need any help with comping on the drums, I hope you'll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Great videos ! I'm gonna share this ! btw, do you have a video about your gears ? I've never used the fiberskyn before and thinking of trying! It's hard to get them from my country, so i'm trying to research
Thanks for the kind words and for sharing! If you ever need a hand with your Jazz comping, I'd love to help you out in my Jazz Drum Comping Course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping I think the Remo Fiberskyn and Evans Calftone Heads are great for Jazz. I use them both. Here are a couple of affiliate links for you to check them out. I hope you are able to get them in your area too! The Evans heads seem a little easier to get than the Fiberskyns. Remo Fiberskyn: amzn.to/4dBUUD8 Evans Calftone: amzn.to/3WI0z3Z Keep swinging my friend🤙
I really love those K Con Flats! I don't know how I ever played without one. What I love about mine is that smoky undertone and the stick definition is so different than those other more brittle sounding flats. I also have a K Custom Lite Flat that has some of those same qualities. Nice explanation on comping. This is the first one I've seen that basically talks about playing in the space. There are a lot of ways to approach what to play and it's nice to give yourself a challenge by creating certain "limitations" at the beginning of a solo so that there's something to build upon. It might be something like keeping to ride and hat with very sparse snare activity, listening to how the soloist is developing and following the flow, adding more density as the conversation moves along. I might also start with just a quarter note ride and slowly increase the density as the soloist builds steam. But it's always about two things, I've found...mutual support, and mutual trust among the players. Without those, it just becomes a bunch of guys doing their own thing with no purpose.
Thanks for this awesome comment too! Yeah, I'm a big fan of the flat ride sound. I'm not sure why but I just like the Zildjian sound. Thanks for the complement on the teaching and your thoughts. Yes, I think if we just stay focused on everyone else, we'll know what we need to play, when we need to play it. Sounds like you have some BIG ears! I bet cats enjoy playing with you a lot! Keep swinging!🤙
Thanks Trevor for watching and for your comment! I'm glad you found it helpful! You might also enjoy my Secrets of Jazz Drumming course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drumming-lessons where I dive even deeper into Jazz comping and many other essential Jazz drumming skills. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Hey Von.... Even your overplaying example sounds good.. Haha. Really honest tutorial this gives us students the feeling of.. Hey I can do that... Brilliant 👍👍👍
Hey thanks man! I’m so happy that it’s helpful. I wanted to share real world examples of Jazz drumming concepts. I hope mixing these in with other regular lessons will be beneficial for you and other drummers out there. Many thanks again for watching and commenting! 🤙
Thanks for the kind words, question and for watching! I’m using a 20” Zildjian Kerope on the left and a 20” Zildjian K Constantinople Flat Ride on the right. I’m also using mixed 14” hi-hats, Top: K Constantinople, Bottom: K Custom Dry Hope that helps and keep swinging my friend 🤙
Thanks so much! I try my best to share content that is useful in the real world of Jazz drumming. No theory here! Have a swinging great day my friend 🤙
Thanks Isaac for watching and for your comment. Without seeing you play, I’m not exactly sure what might be causing the disconnect between your ideas and your actual drumming. We often have this kind of problem when our coordination won’t allow us to play the things we think of. Have you worked on Jazz drumming coordination?
Thanks for the kind comment and for watching! I hope you’ll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Jack thanks for the comment and for watching! This is one of my practice tracks to help drummers with timing. I also have versions without the bass during the fours: store.vonbaronmusic.com/product/trading-fours-and-eights-swing-and-bossa-nova-samba-drumless-tracks-mp3s/ Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Are you really engaging the hihat...? I see your left foot moving and I think I hear the steady hihat beat, but the Ride cymbal obscures the hihat-cymbals....
Thanks for watching and for the question! I am indeed playing the hats with my left foot. It's a little on the softer side but I am playing them. Sometimes, I like to keep my hi-hat volume low so that the ride can really shine through. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Who's the bassist? That's the guy to lock in with. Once you've done that, you can dance all over the cymbal. On another note. I played with a pianist who left no space, anywhere, ever, and liked aggressive drummers who would push their way in. One night was enough of that.
Thanks for the great comment and for watching! The bassist is Tetsuro Aratama. He's a first call cat hre in the Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto area and plays in Tokyo too. One of my favs. Now on to your piano player, I am with you 1000000000% That kind of playing makes me like a deer in headlights. I just end up grooving with minimal anything else. Glad to hear from another drummer with the same perspective. I need a conversation, not a monologue from the other players. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
I'm a long time rock/funk player who is just beginning to learn how to play jazz and this explanation is absolutely brilliant and so helpful. Thanks for all that you're doing!
John it's great to connect with you and learn more about your drumming! Thanks for the kind words and if you'd like to feel more solid when you comp on the drums , I would love to help you out in my Jazz Drum Comping Course at Jazz Drum School: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Have a swinging great day my friend 🤙
Very cool video. I’m a rock drummer and always struggled trying to have that jazz feel. You explained the idea very well. I was thinking, sure I could do that - then you said don’t overplay. In my head I was totally overplaying. Thanks for the advice. Great job. 🥁🙏🎶🥁
Scott thanks so much for watching and for your comment! I'm glad the video was helpful. If you're interested in going a little deeper into Jazz drumming, you might take a look at my Jazz Drumming Basics Course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/beginner-drumming
I've also got a good video here on my TH-cam channel about how to get strong swing from your ride cymbal playing: th-cam.com/video/9L16x2iXdkQ/w-d-xo.html Keep swinging my friend 🤙
I love your presentation. My Dad was Steve Condos.
He's the only dancer Buddy Rich ever let dance with his band.
Thanks for watching and for commenting! Wow, I just checked out your dad. AMAZING! I can definitely see why Buddy Rich liked teaming up with him.
Steve also played drums and taught rudiments, which is what I teach. It's many rudiments ... his own style.
Just seeing this video and really appreciate it. As a still somewhat novice to jazz playing, this is going to be very helpful moving forward. Thank you.
Thanks for the kind comment and I'm so glad it was helpful! I hope you'll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course to take your drumming even further: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Some real comping wisdom! You sound so great! 😊
Thanks so much for the kind words and for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed and if you ever need any help with your Jazz drum comping, I hope you’ll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend🤙
Something to mention is your ride cymbal phrasing while you're thinking about the comping. There are a lot of quarter notes there, with the skip notes interweaving with the comping figures. It's not just a conversation with the soloist, but also between your comping and the ride pattern.
BINGO! Thanks for the comment and for watching! Yes indeed, I often think of my ride cymbal as the leading voice and my other limbs support that lead. I also teach this approach in my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Great explanations about the opportunities of filling spaces, how to listen and the distinction between coordination and communication or conversation.
Thanks John for the nice comment and for watching. It always means a lot coming from you.
I know you did this a year ago...but I just watched it now and I have to say this was sooo helpful! My favorite part is when you say, "there's no need to overplay." That's so true...in every type of music. I'll be singing along to piano parts from now on!
Great Mike! I'm so glad the video was helpful. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Excellent video and instruction!
Thanks so much for your comment here too my friend! I'm so glad you enjoyed. Are you new to Jazz drumming?
@ Von, thank you for asking. I have been playing drums for nearly 40 years and I have played nearly all genres, but have leaned toward fusion, funk, and what I would consider “smooth jazz.” I have recently been focusing on learning all aspects of jazz…more traditional jazz and it’s been challenging and fun!
Glad to hear more about your drumming journey and sounds like you've had a lot of fun! It's great that you are diving into Jazz drumming.
I've always said that learning Jazz can improve everything we want to play. Not only the technique and musicality but also the variety of styles we play in Jazz that make us more musically flexible.
If you ever need a hand with your Jazz drumming, I'd love to help you out at Jazz Drum School: jazzdrumschool.com/ It's great to connect with you my friend!
When you played on beat 1 and 3 it reminded me of Paul Motian (RIP), that nice and heavy stuff he had. I guess it depends on the vibe a drummer wants to bring. Thanks for sharing the knowledge!
Thanks for watching and for your comment! Lately, I’ve been listening to Paul Motion. How apropos your comment is🤙
Thank you so much for checklist out my Dad. He would have loved you.
I look forward to studying your methodology and theories of practice and performance. Diane 🎶
Thanks Diane. It was fun to watch your dad tap. He really was dancing on such a high level. He and Buddy were both at the top of their game.
Please enjoy the videos and if you’re wanting to deepen your Jazz drumming please also check out my online drum school: jazzdrumschool.com
Keep swinging those sticks and tap shoes🤙
Excellent explanation and beautiful playing - thanks a lot again!!
Hey thanks for watching and for your kind words. I’m glad my videos continue to help you!
Wonderful video.
I talk to my students all the time about discreetly filling the gaps ... I call them "quotes" and "suggestions" because we are usually either quoting a bit from what we just heard or lightly suggesting rhythmic ideas to take the conversation in a certain direction.
Big Ears! is what Joe Porcaro would say in class ... I carry that on today with my students.
We usually end a lesson with me yelling Big Ears! to which they respond Big Ears!
... thank you for doing what you do.
Wow! Thanks so much Anthony for your comment and for watching. I love what you’re saying. Your students are lucky to have you as their teacher!
This video is gold. Answered a lot of my questions I stumbled upon by now. Thank you thank you!
Ps
Interesting is that in jazz there's no ready recipe. From my experience the lessons are not about what to do, but how to think. You just gotta go out and try.
Thanks for the kind comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the video! You are absolutely correct, this lesson is conceptual instead of teaching precise drumming patterns to play for comping.
To get your drumming independence together for comping, I hope you'll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping In there you'll also learn great patterns to play and other technical skills for comping on the drums. Keep swinging 🤙
Great video - thanks for posting!
Howard thanks for the kind comment and for watching! If you need any help with comping on the drums, I hope you'll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Great videos ! I'm gonna share this !
btw, do you have a video about your gears ? I've never used the fiberskyn before and thinking of trying! It's hard to get them from my country, so i'm trying to research
Thanks for the kind words and for sharing! If you ever need a hand with your Jazz comping, I'd love to help you out in my Jazz Drum Comping Course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping
I think the Remo Fiberskyn and Evans Calftone Heads are great for Jazz. I use them both. Here are a couple of affiliate links for you to check them out. I hope you are able to get them in your area too! The Evans heads seem a little easier to get than the Fiberskyns.
Remo Fiberskyn: amzn.to/4dBUUD8
Evans Calftone: amzn.to/3WI0z3Z
Keep swinging my friend🤙
I really love those K Con Flats! I don't know how I ever played without one. What I love about mine is that smoky undertone and the stick definition is so different than those other more brittle sounding flats. I also have a K Custom Lite Flat that has some of those same qualities. Nice explanation on comping. This is the first one I've seen that basically talks about playing in the space. There are a lot of ways to approach what to play and it's nice to give yourself a challenge by creating certain "limitations" at the beginning of a solo so that there's something to build upon. It might be something like keeping to ride and hat with very sparse snare activity, listening to how the soloist is developing and following the flow, adding more density as the conversation moves along. I might also start with just a quarter note ride and slowly increase the density as the soloist builds steam. But it's always about two things, I've found...mutual support, and mutual trust among the players. Without those, it just becomes a bunch of guys doing their own thing with no purpose.
Thanks for this awesome comment too! Yeah, I'm a big fan of the flat ride sound. I'm not sure why but I just like the Zildjian sound. Thanks for the complement on the teaching and your thoughts.
Yes, I think if we just stay focused on everyone else, we'll know what we need to play, when we need to play it. Sounds like you have some BIG ears! I bet cats enjoy playing with you a lot! Keep swinging!🤙
Fantastic lesson 🥁👏🏻
Thanks Trevor for watching and for your comment! I'm glad you found it helpful! You might also enjoy my Secrets of Jazz Drumming course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drumming-lessons where I dive even deeper into Jazz comping and many other essential Jazz drumming skills. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Thank you
Thank you too! Keep on hoofin'🤙
Thanks
Thanks Leroy for watching and for commenting!
great thanks!
My pleasure! Thanks for watching and commenting🤙
Hey Von.... Even your overplaying example sounds good.. Haha.
Really honest tutorial this gives us students the feeling of.. Hey I can do that... Brilliant 👍👍👍
Hey thanks man! I’m so happy that it’s helpful. I wanted to share real world examples of Jazz drumming concepts.
I hope mixing these in with other regular lessons will be beneficial for you and other drummers out there.
Many thanks again for watching and commenting! 🤙
I was just talking to a fellow hoofer about feelin the bars and knowing where you are in the music.
Yes, so important to really contribute to what's going on.
Swish. Enjoyed it. Going to the shed. Thnx
Thanks for watching and for your comment. Have fun in the shed!
I love your cymbals. What are they?
Thanks for the kind words, question and for watching! I’m using a 20” Zildjian Kerope on the left and a 20” Zildjian K Constantinople Flat Ride on the right. I’m also using mixed 14” hi-hats, Top: K Constantinople, Bottom: K Custom Dry Hope that helps and keep swinging my friend 🤙
Great channel 👍😄
Thanks so much! I try my best to share content that is useful in the real world of Jazz drumming. No theory here! Have a swinging great day my friend 🤙
when I play jazz my minds creates a sound for what to do but when I actually do it it ended up sound weird. Do you have any tips ?
Thanks Isaac for watching and for your comment. Without seeing you play, I’m not exactly sure what might be causing the disconnect between your ideas and your actual drumming.
We often have this kind of problem when our coordination won’t allow us to play the things we think of. Have you worked on Jazz drumming coordination?
Nice Video!
Thanks for the kind comment and for watching! I hope you’ll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Over playing - it’s a trap I fall into, no longer. Thankyou ✌️🌻
Yay! I'm glad my video helped you. If you ever get a video posted of you in your new and improved comping, I'd love to check it out 🤙
I’m surprised that the bass plays during your fours - generally my bass player stops while I take four
Jack thanks for the comment and for watching! This is one of my practice tracks to help drummers with timing. I also have versions without the bass during the fours: store.vonbaronmusic.com/product/trading-fours-and-eights-swing-and-bossa-nova-samba-drumless-tracks-mp3s/ Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Are you really engaging the hihat...?
I see your left foot moving and I think I hear the steady hihat beat, but the Ride cymbal obscures the hihat-cymbals....
Thanks for watching and for the question! I am indeed playing the hats with my left foot. It's a little on the softer side but I am playing them. Sometimes, I like to keep my hi-hat volume low so that the ride can really shine through. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Who's the bassist? That's the guy to lock in with. Once you've done that, you can dance all over the cymbal. On another note. I played with a pianist who left no space, anywhere, ever, and liked aggressive drummers who would push their way in. One night was enough of that.
Thanks for the great comment and for watching! The bassist is Tetsuro Aratama. He's a first call cat hre in the Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto area and plays in Tokyo too. One of my favs.
Now on to your piano player, I am with you 1000000000% That kind of playing makes me like a deer in headlights. I just end up grooving with minimal anything else. Glad to hear from another drummer with the same perspective. I need a conversation, not a monologue from the other players. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Is it bad I thought the overplaying sounded good
LOL 😂
Very insightful and wonderfully tasteful playing all around. Thanks!
Thanks Jonathan for watching and sharing your positive comment! I'm glad my video was helpful. 🤙
Thanks a lot!!
Thanks Joni for watching this one too! Keep groovin' man!