The Problem With Carter Beauford 😒
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ย. 2022
- Ah, the struggles of trying to cover a Dave Matthews Band tune...successfully! 😩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL for more great free drum lessons, tips, advice and cool product reviews.
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yeah when I see someone struggle it helps me to know that everybody makes mistakes and you can learn from them right now I'm just trying to build up confidence again and learn to play with a click at the best way I can
That's fine if you think that is the route you should go getting started again using click tracks. I think every drummer should do what he feels is best. BUT a little wisdom from the one and only Danny Carey. "I never use click tracks, in the studio or live. As I have found if I do my drumming is no longer natural and organic". In other words, with click tracks you use your mind to play the song, whereas music should be played from the heart. best of luck, keep practicing and keep on rocking! Do what You Love!
@@johannjohann6523 I agree with that point, but in today's digital world playing with a click is an essential skill to develop and keep handy. It gets a little clinical after a while, so I try to limit click practice to just enough to "keep me honest" (when I've learned a new phrase/pattern/sticking and want to ensure that I'm not speeding up during easy parts & slowing down during difficult parts). Metronome is also good for warmups, of course, and giving subdivision time to each limb to practice control. It's also surprising to me how when I slow down something to 60bpm it becomes painfully obvious that I do not have the control I thought I had! 😃There are some days when I "absorb" the click (spot on) and others where I have to concentrate. It was nice to watch Rob struggle so I'm easier on myself!
Some of the greats will move up to 2-4 bpm but still use that “motion” to give a groove a certain feel.
Amen! 🙏 I like to see the process, but most drummers won't show you tape of them struggling, just the "super polished" final results.
@Chuck Mos Thank's Chuck. Yeah, I saw them ages ago at The Detroit State Theater and they killed! It was the 2004 "Hallucinogenics Tour". My ex-wife somehow got the audio of that concert on a CD, (pretty cool back in 2004) and gave it to me as a Christmas present...🎁
That was the most apt description of Carter Beauford’s playing that I’ve ever heard. “Carter is the only drummer I can think of that can over play without actually over playing.” So accurate.
Tony Royster also comes to mind, the dude knows exactly where the sweet spot is between showing off and keeping a song intact.
Yes, perfect description! All of these years I’ve bounced back & forth about whether or not Carter over-played (and of course wondered how much was born out of jealousy!). MAYBE if the drums were not so loud in the mix, he might appear to be a more “subtle” player. However, if that were me behind the kit executing flawlessly at Carter’s level, you better believe I’d want my parts up in the mix!
Fact!
RICKY LAWSON r.i.p. many drummers did. Steve Jordan....Will Kennedy/ Omar do at times...under /over play dead neutral .....this insults a long list of drummers.
Will Kennedy is left hand dominant ride ....I never understood why Carter plays w Dave Mathews. Severe mismatch of talent.
Dave is average at best....Carter is premium skills
When Neil Peart decided to bring in a guest drummer on his drumming DVD’s he brought in Cater Beauford. That’s all anyone needs to know about how other famous drummers view his skills. I am fortunate enough to have seen both of them live.
holy corn field that's amazing! I had no idea, that's an big honor I bet they had a great time!
Huh???? Link?
Carter is the most underrated drummer on the planet IMO.. easily top 5 ever..glad you are giving him the credit he deserves!
I think the haters are just so loud for the DMB overall that it drowns out his greatness… because I’ve never met a musician say anything negative about them, let alone Carter.
And remember, this dude smiles bigger than any of us for 3 hour shows
I always list Carter as top 3 and people always ask "who is that"? And when I say "DMB Drummer" they usually say something like "Ew you listen to DMB, I never listen to them"
It's sad because Carter is just pure awesomeness, and people look him over because of the stigma around DMB
I agree, idk if it’s music style or what people don’t like but he’s in my top 5 all time.
The most musical drummer out there, IMHO..I remember buying under the table and drumming CD and watching it over and over over.
I don't listen to a lot of dmb, and they're not really on my radar musically, but I know them enough to know that Carter is from another planet.
Bro Carter has been humbling drummers for decades. He reminds me a lot of Tony Williams in that his playing is nearly impossible to replicate note for note. Man is a living legend
F’sho 🏆
Wrong.
@@bobrobert3642 Yeah. Really, incredibly wrong.
Nice comparison. Carter and Tony W… so good but so hard to copy. Two of my favorites fo sho
for me he's always been the modern day john bonham, just the 4/4 9/8 switches in this song as mentioned reminds you of that, plus his uncanny groove and how much he drove dave matthews band... there's a lot of similarities there
Hey Rob, i think its very important for us young guys to see someone they look up to just struggle and work a part out. Makes you look human, man.
I agree, and I'm 60. Thanks to Beat Down for keepin it real!
I had the same exact reaction and was going to post pretty much the same thing. It's encouraging. I wish more accomplished musicians would transparently show or document their struggles. Then the world would have even more accomplished musicians as a result. Which means more (and better) music.
Thanks for this video! Carter is a monster! “Overplaying without overplaying” is no more evident then on Tripping Billies on his video from Under The Table and Drumming. It’s like he has the speed of Dennis Chambers, the ability to mix time signatures like Mike Portnoy, the technical proficiency of Neil Peart, but he’s so relaxed you can tell nothing is challenging for him!
It's the blowing [bubble gum] bubbles while executing ridiculously complex time signatures, grace notes and tasty licks that gets me...😮💨🥁
@@malarch7Carter is one of the best in the world. Like my brother who drums and barley started drumming again after stopping for 7 years and he only has like 3 years experience said to me. Carter Beauford, Marco Minneman, Niel and all the greats played the drums and not let the drums play them. He’s been taking lessons for the first time in his life and his teacher played with a bunch of famous artist. My brothers said, my goal is to someday be so relaxed and have all the dynamics, fills, Groove, time, and no gaps in my playing like all the greats. Let’s see if he can do it 🙏
While also nailing vocal harmonies! Absolutely bonkers. He's on another level.
Carter is my single greatest drumming inspiration. His approach to hi-hat syncopation and impeccably tasteful licks inspired me to dive into my own drumming and develop my style. A true legend.
I spent a few years around the mid 90's shedding nothing but Carter. My playing (particularly my groove, feel and especially anything with a swung subdivision) grew exponentially. That guy really advanced mainstream drumming to a whole new level. I'm sure we live in a world today where many great young drummers got inspired to pick up the sticks because of him! Great video!!
Carter is the heartbeat of that band. He's amazing.
Carter, dude just turned 64 years old. I usually see him live once a year (wife is a big DMB fan), saw him over the summer and he is still absolutely crushing it. One of the greats!
Glad you did this.
He’s actually my favorite drummer. He taught me to relax and have fun. In live videos he’s smiling and blowing bubbles! I started relaxing more and having more fun. Changed everything for me. Thanks Rob great channel I’ve learned a lot from you.
Mad respect for you Rob. I'm also a left hand dominant drummer that plays a right handed kit (left side ride). I play open sticking also. I'm glad to see that you unlock the mystery behind the pattern. Since I was 8 years old until about 27 I had drum teachers that wanted me to play right-handed. It was really uncomfortable but I trusted they knew better than I did. I FINALLY found a teacher that asked me to sit behind the kit and play what's comfortable for me. He was currently working through the Gary Chester book. That really changed everything for me. I had to learn how to lead a Tom roll with my right hand. Anyway, I can only imagine how you felt playing open grip. God Bless
I really appreciate that you did not edit out the ooof moments but left them it to show that even the best stumble, spit and sputter. Over the last decade, you Mike Johnston, and Jared Falk have been a tremendous encouragement to me in my drumming. You are all real, and transparent about your mistakes, struggles, and learning process. I find it tremendously valuable as I grow in my skill and enjoyment of drumming. Keep the great videos coming Rob! :-)
I’m not a drummer (just a lowly pedal steel player) but watching someone who can really play work through something difficult is inspiring regardless of instrument. I can’t thank you enough for this video. Great work!
“Lowly pedal steel player” 😂
One of the only instruments that is harder to master than drums.
Oh man... thanks for this! Carter Beauford, that sonuvabitch has been causing many of us a boatload of grief for ages. Seriously, he is a genius and a game-changer - and I don't know if a nicer person actually exists. I met him when the Matthews Band were opening (yes, opening) for the Aquarium Rescue Unit. He treated me as though we had known each other for years, like he was no better than I was. One tends to remember these things. Thanks again, Rob. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
I remember Glen Frey reflecting on how much he learned from listening to Jackson Browne painstakingly working out his own material in the apartment downstairs. “So that’s how you write songs, elbow grease.” This video demonstrates that same grossly underestimated aspect of musicianship. Thanks for letting us watch you work through the learning curve - it’s inspiring.
☮️🙏🎶
It's really inspiring to see someone you respect and learn from admitting to and discussing things they find challenging. Makes you realise we've all got to keep working and learning no matter where we are in our drumming journey. Respect, Rob.
As a drum instructor for over 30 years I think it's great and important for students to see the prices of breaking down parts we don't know ourselves so we can teach them. More than once I've had students come in to lessons with songs they want to learn and after we listen I yell them I might need a lesson or two to break stuff down and then still end up picking parts of it apart in front of them and with them. We tell them that they need to take it shower and break it down but doing it with them to show them is a natural part of the process is so important. Great job
I LOVE THIS KIND OF DRUMMING!!! As a huge Primus fan I suffered similar problems with Tim Alexander's parts. He's not strictly "open handed" but, he plays with two high-hats! I put a 2nd (closed) set of hats to the right and play a lot of the high-hat parts with my left hand now. I can't tell you how much it's helped my facility around the kit...🥁🔥 (You're Videos are a great resource, THANK YOU ROB!!!)
It's always great to how honesty is the best teacher , the fact that you go through how difficult it is to play some of Carter Beauford's parts in an honest a painful way is really the best lesson to show unto itSelf !! Keep up the great work Rob!!!
Thanks man! Excellent work. That 9/8 section is reminiscent of the African nanigo pattern. Love how you adapted the part to RH playing. Made a lot of sense!
Because the eight note is the constant it helps me to hear (count) the verse in 8/8 then the transition to 9/8 on the chorus flows smoother. Just another way to skin the proverbial cat. Great channel Rob. Strong work🥁
Thank you for posting your struggles because it makes me feel less down on myself for my own imperfect efforts. It encourages me to keep on trying, rather than assuming every other drummer is a million times better than me and just picks things up naturally.
Kudos Rob! Thanks for showing us mere mortals that it is not just us who struggle with a C.B. tune! Love all of your videos. Much respect!
Watching the "Under The Table & Drumming" Doc BLEW ME AWAY! That guy is a genius. And the JOY he has playing is so great to see!
Sounds great! I really appreciate you on how you want to get the correct patterns going and being consistent! Thanks for this great vid
I'm glad you're sharing the process. It's very encouraging!
I had the same revelation trying to play "Don't Stop Believing." Steve Smith plays it left-handed.
I can get the tom patterns but the cymbal accents are the stumbling block so far😅
@@johndef5075 I suspected he was playing left-handed, but would still try and play right handed. The entire thing was a mystery to me, because playing lefty made no sense. But then I'm NOT Steve Smith, and for him the shift was no big deal. Once I realized what he was doing it just took practice and eventually I got it, sort of. Still screw up if I haven't tried it in awhile. Just stick with it and you'll get it. Once you get it, go back to it every so often to keep the patterns in your head.
That is truly one of THE finest drum sets ever made. Just beautiful. The gold hardware is what really sets it off. Hopefully, you get alot of that, cuz you should!
Yeah brother Rob, Carter is out there in his own universe and makes it all groove. His understanding of the space between is also key to the grooves he creates. Mad respect for showing how humbling even for professional drummers it is to learn DMB parts
Thanks, man. Watch out for the full cover. After I shot it I was like 'How da hell does he keep this up for a 2 hour show?' 😅
I'm left handed and play open handed this is making me want to move my ride on the left side of my kit again. I can see how difficult it would be trying to play open fills crossed over! Looking forward to your cover
I've got 11 drum students under the age of 16, and I really hope that my sessions with those kids are as inspiring as this type of video/instruction. One of my biggest priorities is showing them not just what we're doing, but how we're doing it. How to think our way to the beat we're trying to accomplish, and overcoming the obstacles that pop up as we do. There are solutions, and walking people through your process builds their ability to find the solution themselves next time. Great lesson here. One of the best, really.
I love your honesty, thank you that’s what makes me keep watching your channel. 🥁
Glad to see someone giving Carter the appeciation he deserves. Always been one of my favorite drummers. I could listen to songs like Satellite a million times and still be mesmerized by his technique.
The fact that you could even attempt it open-handed at all on-the-fly is a feat in itself. Great vid. It’s all about interpretation as long as it’s done well albeit CB’s way or RB. Well done. Bravo!
Much respect. This is gold... A Pro level Musician speaking and sharing details of their own struggles. With no shame we have to admit, Carter Beauford is a whole problem. He smiles, he's humble, he's just great people. All the while, breaking minds into pieces as we try to transcribe his incredible drumming. Carter, Simone Philips, and Billy Cobham all have one thing in common.. You have to play open-hand to truly cover their stuff. In Drumeo, I'm doing of your Jazz lessons. I ran into Simone Phillips' The advantages of open-handed drumming. Simone speaks of being influenced by Cobham and Lenny White. After watching that I was sold American. Added his courses, just to watch how he approaches playing open-handed. I'm going back to check out some of your hands stuff, applying to open-handed playing. Simone also has a masters lesson Breaking down Give Blood. Mind Altering. Looking forward to hearing the finished shed Rob man....
Thank you for showing the struggle. I think I’m the only person who sometimes feels that way.
Back in the day, when I was playing, and I do hope to play again (!) Carter was such a huge influence and he is such a remarkable talent and a joy to watch! I really enjoyed your video because of the humility (!) humor and great explanation! I think when we can get even close to a drum part that we really admire, and that even frustrates us a bit to figure out, it’s encouraging and definitely makes us better!
Vinny’s riff on Sting’s “Seven Days,” still just 🤯🤣
Humble as always! Thanks Rob
Hats off to you for having the patience to work this out. Not an easy drum part.
Wow, that was awesome, you did such a great Job!!!! That’s some hard stuff, and for you to be able to play it both way!!!!! Thanks for doing that for us!!!!!
I love Carter and the DMB band. Being a bass player and I can only imagine what joy Stefan has playing with Carter. I am totally floored by Carter's continued genius on the drums. I never saw DMB live and that is on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing your insights and struggles with learning these parts. Any young drummer I meet, I immediately tell them to view and learn (try to learn, LOL) Carter's parts.
I was lucky enough to see them in Cape Town 2013. Best show I've been to
Trying to learn to play open handed as a righty (on a righty kit) is a real challenge, I feel like I'm back to square 1, but it does feel very liberating and straight up better for my breathing and posture.
I'm already happy I'm starting to be able to play the grooves I knew. Next step is getting it fluent so I can improvise. So damn tough!
I set up two ride cymbals on my kit. I practiced playing Neil Peart's signature ride cymbal bell patterns playing along to rush switching back and forth every 4 bars on right or left lead. I practiced other cymbal patterns from other drummers also but the rush thing developed my left side at record speed. Being able to play ride patterns ambidextrously opens up everything in your mind as far as what is possible. Love it.
5:55 Waaay to familiar reaction :D Thanks for showing your struggle, I will try it out tomorrow.
Thanks Rob, this was truly honest Beat down. Looking forward to the final 😀 🥁
I have added a second ride to my left because I jam to a lot of DMB. I do the same with making it work often times playing the right ride as well as some with the left, depends on the song and the groove. Him being an open hand player opens himself up to a different creative mindset and approach, I've been slowly tapping into that and a whole new world of drumming has opened up.
Great breakdown of this tune which I had not heard until I stumbled on your YT channel. What a cool tune.
The common denominator of the two sections here are the 8th notes. 1+2+3+4+. Each A section in 4/4 is 8 bars repeated. CB plays quarter notes on the bd which grounds the whole section. When the B section hits the 8th notes in 4/4 become triplets in 3/4 (or 6/8) 1+a 2+a 3+a |1+a 2+a 3+a etc. 9 eight notes per bar with CB playing his snare on the 2nd and 7th. This section is also 8 bars repeated but in 3. Then back to the A section. A great part that he plays seamlessly. Love the guitar too. Hope this helps. 🙂
The title of this video caught my eye right away. Thank you for putting this together, and acknowledging a master for what he is. I have listened to Carter since I started learning drums over 25 years ago (I’m now 40), and I continue to learn from him all the time.
It was awesome to watch you shedding with the ride on the left, and acknowledging your struggle with note consistency, etc. I’ve sat on the kit trying to lead left-handed, and I always feel like I have a mannequin arm on the left when I do. 😂 I appreciate your humility as an instructor to say “this guy is nuts, and this is HARD!”
I have a degree in music, and to this day, I have never figured out his patterns in the verses of The Dreaming Tree. I know those sections are in 7/8, and I can follow the guitar pattern. But the drumming seems beamed in from another, albeit groovy, planet. The only thing I’ve never done is sit down with staff paper and try to chart that song. It would take a while, if I could even get it. And he probably came up with it in an afternoon. 😁
Again, a great video that is very encouraging. We all struggle with different things as players. But if there was nobody better to inspire us, we wouldn’t get better. I bet Carter would name 5 drummers who he feels are better than him. Thanks, Rob! Great stuff.
Love the honesty!……sounds great to me…… your lessons have helped me tremendously.
Hey thanks for the Rush shoutout too! Neil Peart is certainly one that you better know ALL the notes to play right.
I had the same experience trying to play “Satellite”. I think there’s some time signature trickery that Carter also employed there that I’m gonna have to revisit.
Great video as always Rob! 👍🏻👍🏻
We all have weaknesses and should remain humble and teachable. Your honesty was both refreshing and encouraging. Thanks for sharing.
I knew you were good but I didn’t know you were this effing good until now. Incredible! Blown away. Thanks so much. Not gonna try this but it’s a pleasure watching you do it.
Watching Billy Cobham, and Carter Bufford as a young drummer made me switch to open handed playing and it was definitely a challenge and still is but it's so much fun I think the hardest part is coordinating your left hand with the right foot. Especially if your right handed, it definitely has some advantages. Keep up the good work bro, I've learned alot of exercises from you!. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Carter Beauford is the man! I've had the pleasure of seeing him live with DMB two different occasions, both at the New Orleans Jazz Fest. I had an all-access pass on one occasion so was able to watch from the side-stage and couldn't take my eyes off the man and his open-handed awesomeness. Relaxed as hell and chewing gum the entire time while tearing that drum set a new one! Not much better than Carter.
Mystery solved! 9/8 is the key. The way you articulated this whole scenario was perfect. I love when pop tunes contain rhythmic illusions like this, and this is one of the best rock drum parts ever imo. You also made me listen to this song for the first time in years and I completely forgot how badass it is.
I love watching your videos bro!! Keep em coming.
Brother, you are a masterful musician. What a great pleasure to watch as you work out the parts. Then to make your own
Interpretation… to be able to play it… just awesome. Thank you.
You're the man Rob, another no nonsense lesson. Definitely seems like many drummers just kinda detour around Carter Beauford because his stuff is so difficult to just sit down and wing.
Just a quick hack to anyone interested in exploring the left hand lead thing. Try locking in a simple funk pattern with the bass and snare (right hand), like a funky Chili Peppers "swing rock" type beat , but let your left hand play all the NON 2 & 4 "back beat" snare notes (the ghost notes, accent notes, etc.) on the hi-hat. it takes a minute to get comfortable but you'll surprised how quick you'll get a bit of that Carter sound, and when you sit down to learn something specific left hand lead, you'll be able to do it with more athleticism. The DMB songs "Crush" and "Too Much" are great examples of this sound and a good ones to practice to.
Well done! Definitely not an easy groove to play, especially comfortably. I like how you tried it the open-handed way and then the conventional way. Very interesting and challenging!
"Octopus arms" i said the exact same thing when I was 17 and I tried to learn to cover 41 note for note. So my happy ass opened my hands by putting my hi hat on the right in front of my toms and crash, started leading with my left foot on the bass. and just started sitting up as high as possible. Eventually I bought a remote hi hat with no legs and a left-footed double bass pedal. I never finished the song, but i still play that way when I'm brooding in the basement. I'm the only 1 i've heard of doing it that way so far.
Rob, brother; very much appreciate the humility, the reverence, the willingness to give someone their due, the non-competitiveness and the willingness to be open about one's limitations. This drummer has also wondered about this song for many years and very much appreciates the breakdown. This musician is much better and more solid due to your influence, Rob.
God bless you, my man, and keep killing it.. 🥁🔥💙
Thanks for showing your learning process Rob. Well done Sir.
Great video! The way I think of his style is (gonna try to put this to words) that “he always goes home” meaning he goes off script but never forgets to come home to hit his snare while he is basically playing fills the whole time. Some times his home is the hi-hat and sometimes it’s a tom. But he always goes home. And then a cool third element is he’ll expand on a pocket beat while still plying fills at the same time. Satellite is a good example of the “home” concept. I know that’s obvious to drummers but if my kids ever ask me that’s what I tell them. I also tell them to hit their leg to create a ghost note when Carter goes off beat.
Absolutely great Rob! I love yer passion for drums, and the “Joy” of playing. Thanks for always keeping it real.
Thx for letting us into the Beatdown shed, where you struggle! 👍🏻
Of course, my struggle point comes just a bit sooner than yours... 🤪
My first instrument was drums. I was obsessed with DMB and especially Carter's playing. I bought his instructional video on VHS hoping to learn his tricks and learn the tunes. I quit drums the next day and picked up guitar a few months later. lol
Hey Rob long time subscriber, I am an open handed player naturally, when I first started playing I was really confused because I do some things lefty and some things right so I originally set my drums like a left handed player and it felt very awkward as soon as I set up right handed and played open handed I took right off with it, my point being to what you were talking about their is a huge advantage to playing open handed, when I watch Carter play I can relate to it because I play that way, I am not saying I can play everything he does but I get it, for years playing out in some songs I would cover snare and hi hat with the left hand and play congas with my right hand, I am 66 years old still play a Yamaha live oak custom kit and Roland TD27 KV kit and I still have a lot of drum tricks up my sleeve, love yer channel brother
Great right handed solution imo! The 8th note grouping feels like 4 + 5 to me, which is definitely an eccentric 9/8. Took me a minute to catch on. Thanks for the clear presentation!
Love ya Rob! Can't thank you enough for sharing the knowledge.
You had me rolling!! Dignity!!?? Man, what a choice of words. Thanks for the giggle Rob.
Fun fact - Carter learned by watching his favorite drummer on TV, thus learning left handed before being shown that most drummers are right handed - this is why he can play both hands so damn good.
And he smiles non stop through the shows 🙌 only seen him mad once lol
Hello Rob.
Great video 👌 remembering Carter Beauford!!!! He is one of the reasons I started playing open handed because it gives me the feeling of more freedom around the kit. I also have the book The New Breed of Gary Chester where he explores the domain regions for the r and l hands making you play open handed, but I still don't use the ride on the left side..... 🤪
Allow me to share with you some drummers who play open handed and some have the ride on the left side:
Billy Cobham, Dom Famularo, Simon Philips, Carter Beauford, Patrick Metzer, Claus Hessler, Bobby Jarzombeck, John Blackwell, Lenny White!!!!!
Anyway, Carter Beauford really makes a huge challenge for us all!!!!
Always check your videos!!! 🥁
All the best from Portugal!!! 🇵🇹
I loved his video! And for the record, I too wondered how Carter could do what he did until I watched him live and saw he was playing openhanded… I switched to open handed drumming about two years ago 😊
Rob thanks for letting us watch you struggle with it. Drummers’ dirty little secret is that for every hour we are on stage tearing it up, there are dozens of hours sitting alone at our kits, figuring things out, screwing things up, putting the sticks down in frustration, etc.
But man, when you get it and you hit it, get that groove rolling, when you can sing it and feel it and it makes perfect sense…there are few things better.
I’m a pop/funk drummer for the most part, but I set out to learn Sean Kinney’s drum performance on “Head Creeps” by Alice In Chains. Great part…busy, cool and badass. Boy did I struggle. Like my arms were not connected to my brain. But I got it, eventually. And I’ll never even play it onstage 😂.
No Excuses is a cool song on drums too!
Thank you so much for breaking it down and teaching us the elements of each Of Beauford's parts. Thanks from San Francisco!
2 things:
#1
I went through the same thing trying to play “Give Blood” by Pete Townsend with Simon Phillips on drums. Simon plays open handed, so I moved the ride cymbal over to my left and learned the song that way. Still couldn’t nail it.
BUT!
I found out recently in a Simon P interview, that he had a ride cymbal on his right just for that session!
Screwed my brain up for that song.
#2
Your analogy about Carter Bruford and Neil Peart is dead on! The COMPOSE specific drum parts! They don’t just keep time.
Carters playing changed the game in my opinion. There is NOTHING predictable about his playing and I love that!
You did a very admirable job in this song. Thank you!
He makes his fills make sense with the music....
And his odd time phrasing is incredible....
Big inspiration of mine...
Great video, Rob, your playing is always smooth and tasty and that kit sounds like heaven. Another drummer I would put in the "busy without sounding busy" category is Gavin Harrison. Looking forward to hearing your end results!
The rim shots and how he makes those work on a fool to think gives it so much texture.
Your videos are awesome man and you're great at what you do. I have loved playing to Beauford for many years but as you said it's dang near impossible unless you play w/ a ride cymbal directy to your left like him (& he actually has 1 flat ride and a bell ride side by side on his left)
I hope to be able to do a similar setup at some point just to be able to play to DMB more.
One other interesting thing to note is that, when doing the fills; he leads w/ his left hand as he's moving from left to right around the kit.
He said he ended up playing this way on accident, because he was trying to play along with (i think) buddy rich but didn't realize the mirror effect of the camera/tv and had his kit set up left handed style.
Then at some point he switched the kit to a righ handed setup but still continued playing open handed with his left hand.
I still wish I didn't leave my copy of Beaford's 'Under The Table and Drumming' DVD at someone's house like a decade ago or something lol. I'm surprised I didn't wear that thing out.
Right! Sometimes when I think too much or try to explain a beat to someone, I can't do it.
Hey Rob, Ned from Spain here. A little late to post a comment. Love your channel, as I'm a long time drummer, a left hander on a right hand set-up for 50+ years and get a lot out of your lessons and advice. If you take a look at some of the DMB live gigs, Carter is actually keeping steady 8ths going with his left but moves it from the ride to the hats and snare but keeps the 8ths pulse going. Same with his right as if the whole thing is a pair of circles or ovals crossing over each other.
Just subscribed to your channel after seeing this video. I've been admiring Carter's playing for decades. His technique and style are impossible to replicate exactly, it's like trying to mimic stroke for stroke a Buddy Rich solo. I like the way you incorporated your right hand playing style to get the beat down, I do the same thing. One of my favorite tunes to play is Proudest Monkey from the Live Red Rocks show back in August of 1995. Give it a listen if you haven't already, you'll love it!
Lol I spent around a year learning Stay off Before these Crowded Streets. So difficult but it taught me to play open handed for the same reason. It really does make it easier once the muscle memory kicks in.
“One of the only drummers who can overplay without overplaying” is 100% on point
You said exactly what I was thinking. Over plays without over playing. 😆 🤣
One of my favorite DMB songs is #41. Would be really cool to see you cover that someday! :)
It seems Rob is human after all!!
The most engaging, funny, tell it as it is educator on here. Love his stuff, even though I'm getting on in years and maybe just happy where I'm at now.
@main_robbrown758 Anytime Rob!👍
Your humility is commandable...
Subscribed!
Thank You for sharing Your struggles 👏
I have his drum instruction dvd. I used to watch it all the time. I can’t remember the name of it. But even if you watch him play along, it’s still hard to comprehend. Probably because he’s left handed on a right hand kit.
My brother has a masters degree in music theory and has been following DMB since the very beginning. I said the drummer is amazing! His reply was” yes he is ambidextrous”!
A cool thing I’ve heard drummers do in 9/8 is alternate accents on the bell of the ride even though it remains constant. The accents can land on the downbeat during beats 1-4, but it becomes the upbeat on 5-9.
Man it actually took me 2 months to figure out what the heck Carter was playing during Satellite. First I started with the basic rhythm he was throwing, then I just dissected the tom fills . The frustration I was having trying to piece together what he was playing , I almost gave up . But I stopped, closed my eyes listened to Carter without playing Satellite and prayed Lord you blessed our brother Carter with his instrument and his skill set . If you could just help me get half way through this I would greatly appreciate your blessings. Next thing you know I was more closer with the mistakes than I was in the beginning. Carter thank you for sharing you talents on the kit .
Hey again Rob...You are a really great and very musical drummer..thanks for all the great lessons for us drummers of the world..
You're not too bad yourself 🔥👏
If you have Greg Bissonette throwing you props you know you can keep the beat!
Great vid! If im confused on time signatures in songs, i use the songster app which has a lot of songs and the sheet music to go along.
GOAT. Blessed to see him. going on almost 80x now
Hey Rob. Great post. We all need to be humble and realistic on this instrument. Kudos to you. The other take out for me is be yourself. My final observation is sometimes you just gotta get it to swing, and if that means doing something more straightforward because it works for you, then that's the way to play the song. I've seen many drummers who straighten their parts out live, because it just swings better. So sometimes you're killing yourself to get a part down, that the original guy doesn't even play live. As always, great post.
"Overplay without overplaying" ... You nailed it, Rob!