What I like is the free form elements of a good drum solo. How the drummer can go off, and then come back into the song, with the band. Cheers, Rob! ✌️🥁
I go with melody..if it makes me dance then I really love it..instead of technique, which I do appreciate, but if it moves me melodically I’m really impressed😄
Dynamics, varying rhythms staying tight with continuity and for me a lot of world music influence as well. Omar Hakim and Dave Weckl are great reference points I've admired and will continue to as well. 🎼💙🥢
And what I like is the use of empty spaces., not a constant flow of hits. Like in Joe Morello's Take Five. A good solo combines different styles while keeping the same tempo. And, of course, the hard to define "musicality". The solo should sound like a song, not just a series of hits.
The only thing I would add would be the space in between, kinda hard to express but, listen to early Joe Morello with Dave Brubeck particularly on Take Five that kinda says it.👍👍
It's all about structure for me. I like the story telling aspect of a well written solo, with highs and lows, and a flow from one idea to the next with a tasty transition between ideas. I do appreciate improv built in to let the moment take over, but then come back to the story. Take me on a musical journey!
In the beginning it was technicality, musicality and melody. Then came entertainment. I saw Carl Palmer and ELP in 1973 (also again in 1977) I was fascinated by his solo. The way he would twirl the sticks, flipping them from behind his back and catching them right on time, never missing a beat was incredible. I wanted to learn that but how? So I actually watched my older sister and her friends out in the yard twirling their batons and that was how I learned to twirl drumsticks.
Carl Palmer cracks me up. His face is like an 8 year old boy, eyes popping as he thinks to himself, "How many drums can I hit at the same time at 400mph, while doing a triple reverse paradiddle flam?"
Its more about hearing than watching for me, but when you see any soloist on any instrument truly enjoying themselves, thats what does it for me visually. Gotta love what your doing if you want people to feel that love too. Another cool vid, thanks. Could you please give a lesson about Booker t and the mgs 'Soul dressing', or just give it a listen if you dont take requests(which i wouldn't blame you for).
Its fun to watch great technique, from a student perspective. Musicality and melody is fun to play from a drummer perspective. The best part about drum solos for me is the improvisational aspect, cutting free from the structure of a song and creating in the moment. Pure flow
I agree totally what your saying Rob. Watching you Dave Weckl , Simon Phillips and all the famous drummers and of course Buddy Rich He may be gone but watching and listening solos. Puttting rudiments all together and making the solos totally enjoyable. i have always enjoyed watching your solos. Thanks Rob for making the instrument worth its weight in gold. i will play drums till the day I die.
I like a drum solo that takes me somewhere. When there is a progression from point A to point B in a solo and not just a random display of your best chops. I also like thematic solos that incorporate and develop a particular musical idea. Kinda like the sections of Neil Peart's solos that developed a single musical idea with variations and permutations of it before moving on to the next section.
Favorite drummers/soloists: Dave Weckl (Technically amazing - love his Latin capabilities), Omar Hakim (Amazing dynamics, really clean technique), Dennis Chambers (just a fun guy to watch solo - at the end, I love how he stands up and finishes on his toms while he walks off), Louie Bellson (Great jazz solos and double bass work).
Drum solos that flow from one idea to the next ,that have peaks and valleys of musical ideas. They take time to build with a theme not just chop after chop. Also showmanship not necessarily stick tricks but executing something on the drums that as a drummer you know that wasn’t easy. I like stick tricks if it doesn’t takeaway from the actual drumming.. I don’t do any of that either but do appreciate those that can pull it off
I like a solo that takes you on a journey and through some unexpected twists that builds to an exciting climax. Your playing is very nice and your sound is very cool too.
Regarding nthe question "why£ id like share my thoughts on the drum solo featured at around the 1:40 mark by this channels drummer. I love it because he leaves space while achieving a firm pulse of time. His phrasing breaths and flows rather than blitz the possibility of note subdivion. He plays interesting ideas grounded in strong melodic understanding. I love it because it exemplified for me what i wish to be good at in my own solo playing. Great job by a great pro!
A repetitive rhythm which gives the audience something to latch onto and pulls them into the solo. It's almost like the chorus in a song. I think this allows the audience to relate to it. I've seen drummers do amazing things at the speed of light and then the audience just gave them a luke warm reception. If they can't relate to it, all that flash is lost.
Great video. I think you nailed it Rob. I like to listen to a hook. A storyline. Something to keep revisiting. Melody. Why can't the drums be as melodic as any other instrument? Also the spaces between. Finally something you can't help but tap along to.
in a bar context i like the good positioning of the high intensity ending fill, maybe after a good groovy solo start. And i like the solo's to be in the middle of a song, ending the solo back to the song again.
I think everything you mentioned Rob are important fundimentals in a good drum solo. What first gets my attention is a good rythum pattern and the build up on that.
I like something with a groove, but with fills over the top of it, a bit like the part starting from 7:00 in the clip. I think it's best that you have a repeating theme in your head, and that you can hear a sort of melody and variations based on that theme during the solo.
I"ve been drumming for almost 60 yrs and agree with everything that you"ve said Rob with one caveate. Solos that most impress me incorporate everything that you"ve mentioned but are relatvely short whether or not they are over form or standing alone. I never like that feeling I sometimes get that I want the drummer to move on even though they might be doing some amazing shit (you know those quintuplet hand foot combinations are amazing but can we move on....).
I love Art Blakey's patented "A Night in Tunisia" solo. He opens the song with a solo before the melody, and he solos after the other jazz musicians finish their solos. It doesn't go in all technical directions, but instead goes back-and-forth between a "calm-before-the-storm" toms motif and a thunder-like ride-cymbal motif. I never get tired of it because Art's playing is always telling a story, and the man radiates tons of energy from a single drum kit!
The same story arcs, development, and plot progression that make for a good movie can be applied to a drum solo: have a beginning middle and end. Any of those parts can be the money part and you can have all the sub plots you want, but tell a cohesive and coherent story.
I do love watching drum solos. Here's two examples of great drummers I saw live. I saw Procol Harum live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Mark Brzezicki was the drummer for the band in 1992. He did a drum solo, for the song Whiskey Train. He was in Big Country, and is back in that band. I love both bands. I saw Stewart Copeland live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. He and the orchestra were playing along to the silent film, Ben Hur. Amazing drumming. I've seen others too, but I thought I'd share those. Cheers, Rob! ✌️
When I was young, I used to call my favorites “The Wall of Sound” That approach has changed since then, and all those element you mention are terrific.
If anybody here has not listened to the Peart solo from Exit Stage Left…please check it out. I love Weckl and all the greats. But Neil just created his own world on that one. Technique, Dynamics, Musicality, Inventiveness, and at times it sounds like two drummers.
All of those things you mentioned...plus, I like it when the drummer looks like he's having fun with it. Smiling, and putting a little humor in it. I dig the intensity of a Buddy Rich or Ginger Baker, but I enjoy just a bit of clowning on the kit, too.
"Beat Down Bad Ass" Brown! I really dug your solo man that was bas ass . Being a drummer who taken solos, I learned from audience feedback . And I agree ,it has to have feel and something they can hook onto. One thing I love about solos where a real cool groove is played to establish the feel ,then soloed over in the spirit of that groove. No doubt ,a section of Chops doesn't hurt if it's done the right way. Not everyone is a drummer or a musician for that matter ,so they don't care about anything but being able to feel it . Thanks again Rob for that solo I really enjoyed it man.
Rob, you have said it all as far as what makes a good solo. I remember playing along to Cozy Cole's Topsy part 2 when I first started drumming, That solo had all of the elements. There is nothing worse or more boring than watching someone hitting everything they have in front of them as fast as they can.
I believe Steve Gadd said he plays his solos in 4, 8, 16, or 32 bar phrases which helps the audience understand what’s going on. Great advice. I like solos that tell a story with a beginning, middle and end. And it doesn’t have to be a long story. 😊 I was lucky to see Buddy Rich play a lot at Disneyland. Except for his trademark moments, he hardly ever played a fill or solo the same way twice. So creativity is a big thing as well.
Drummers who play as many notes as they can as fast as they can lose my interest quickly. What captures my attention is a solo that's centered around a rhythm, and the creativity that's displayed by playing in and out of that rhythmic pattern. It's then that I don't mind the occasional flurry of notes blasted around the kit. But only if it's done sparingly and tastefully. I also think a solo is a good solo if it's something an audience of non-drummers can appreciate. This is where that rhythmic pattern is especially important, as it gives people something they can relate to, an anchor they can tap their feet to, a constant they can engage with. They can't do that if the drummer is just constantly blazing around the kit just to show off his chops. Edit: I guess I should've watched your entire video first before commenting. I agree with everything you said! And loved your solo, too!
Philly Joe's smile and Neil P's cowbell tree come to mind as fav things in solos past. These days, I like to hear the melody of whatever song the solo is in to be in there, even in abstract-y drumming terms. Like, the drummer is humming the tune while he solos. I'm saying, if it ain't musical, it's just flash, which bores me now.
I like a solo with a groove attached. Play some of the groove, then go into some cool licks, then back to the groove, then end it with a nice finale. That seems to work and it gives the audience a reference. Keep it short and sweet. Not too long. I don't like drum solos that go on forever with no time behind them. Watching a drummer play a bunch of crazy licks with no reference, is kinda boring and I'm a drummer.
My favorite Drumsolo Players int he World are Nat Townsley, You, Omar Hakim, Steve Gadd, Benn Grab, Simon Phillips and Manu Kathy, the reasons why I love you. guys specifically is, your Solos sound what I call individual. many drummers theses days, even though they are amazing, but often sound very similar to each other and I love learning by watching cause I am the most horrible solo player int eh world and I hope one day I will at least be able to play some sort of a solo
Like watching Steve Smith, Todd Scherman Simon Phillips. And you as a matter of fact. Course Will never stop watching. Dave Weckel as well and Buddy Rich. Using a lot of rudiments and stretching because of my age. Almost 70 now . I do alot of your 20 min workouts doubles Flames etc. So thanks for your help.Making my solos better and faster. Lots of playing along music WDR Yellowjackets, alot of Buddy's songs.
One of my favorite drum solos was simply Steve Lukather running through familiar famous beats that we all know (beatles, zep etc) He put them all together and made them work in a surprising way.
The drum battle between the singer of Godsmack and his drummer is the epitome of what I love in a drum solo. I find super intricate drumming without that groove to be boring.
3 of my favs are neil peart's atwas, exit stage left and mike mangini w extreme. i watch a lot of ken loomer. early ian paice solos are also great... rb also does a great solo.
When the technique is so good and the pocket is solid but my mind is blown to the point that my perception of time and musical possibilities has shifted then I know. It’s spontaneous and novel beyond any one facet of playing. The tonal texture of Steve Smith or the mind bending altered time of Weckl or the pure WTF of Dennis Chambers for example.
i honestly think it's the drummer being able to fluidly express their idea(s) to the listener, above all other things. i don't think yt lets you share links in comments, but if you search "Mirrors Collide - Jerk it out (caesars cover) @JackJack", the solo at 1:27 is very simple, but i can fully grasp what the drummer was trying to say, or play, in this case. same goes for greyson nekrutman's caravan solo on drumeo. he fluidly expresses his ideas, albeit with much more vocabulary, time to solo, etc... but both drummers, i think, are great soloists because of how easy it is for the listener to grasp what it is they're doing.
Dynamics, Flair, Great sounding toms, Great recording, Clear vision of the drummer and multiple camera angles which are cut to follow the point of concentration.
Dude. I'm totally a Dark Energy guy but it didn't take long for me to fall in love with these Traditionals. There was a 17" on my kit when I was out at Drumeo and I couldn't stop hittin' it. The 17" and 18" do sound pretty close in character (I wish there was a 19") but I'll still take them out as a pair. They sound sooo good! Paiste nailed it pretty hard with this line.
@@RobBeatdownBrown I'm lucky to own the 16" 17" 18" & 20" The 17" & 18" are a little to close in pitch so I combine the 18" & 20" or 17" & 20". That works great. Or use it in combination with the 19" Masters Dark Crash. So maybe a 20" Traditionals will be a great next addition. Thanks again for the video
What I love in any instrument solo is a somehow unexpected section that makes my brain itch... *what the hell is that? i have never heard it before but I love it* 😍 also, i really need to fix my Alesis M1 MKii ... i still dont know how my tweeter blew while recording BASS 🙆🏻 (recognized yours in background)
A motif that builds. Intensity that ebbs and flows in sort of a 2 steps up one down kinda way. 3 acts or movements. The ability to hear the song underneath the solo. No longer than verse bridge chorus.
For my part, in addition to the listed things, stuff that really grabs my attention is like, presence. Not just entertainment, but like how they’re feeling it. It could be sick as hell but if they look like a machine playing it, it’s less impressive somehow? The other thing is polyrhythms. I seen a dude effortlessly carrying 4 at once and couldn’t blink let alone look away.
These days the kids are crazy over G Chops and who has the fastest feet. I love that stuff, but I mostly agree with Rob and his observations on this vid. You have to tickle the ears and dynamics, variety, versatility, musicality, melody, dynamics, contrast ... it all tickles the ears.
Ostinatos and leitmotifs! What I can't stand are rock concert solos... you know the ones, where people erupt into ecstatic cheer when the double bass kicks (no pun intended) in
@@RobBeatdownBrown Oh for sure, it just doesn't really do it for *me*, at risk of sounding elitist :) I guess I am more partial to smaller intimate acoustic concerts/settings and not really into the showy aspects in general...
Musicality is the top criterion in my opinion, but you don't get there without dynamics, and I guess to an extent, technique . Like the one you're playing here, it actually sounds like a piece of music, and that's nice to listen to.
I have to agree with you that the older I get, the less interested I am in long drum solos. There are a few drummers, however, that are able to keep my attention during their solos. Buddy Rich is probably my overall favorite drum soloist, for his ability to keep things interesting. I'd say he ticks all the boxes you mentioned. I also think Steve Gadd can put together a very good solo that holds my interest. Ultimately, I think that an interesting drum solo has to be held to the same standards as an interesting solo on any other instrument. There has to be space for the audience to breathe & lots of dynamic variation. Technical facility is essential (otherwise, why solo?), but it needs to be used musically. I had a composition teacher who liked to say that good music follows a 50% rule: half the time, the listener should be able to predict the direction the music is headed, and half the time, the listener should be surprised. If they can too easily predict the music, they get bored, & if they can never predict the music, they get frustrated. A good solo has anchor points that the audience can sense, and surprising elements that they weren't expecting.
Just going to limit it to drummers I've had the fortune of seeing live and are still alive: my favorites are Tyshawn Sorey, Terri Lyne Carrington, Ari Hoenig & Brian Blade. All of these musicians have a very idiosyncratic style & voice. They all have an uncanny ability to harmonize with any melody, enhancing it or bringing attention to some underlying element of it that perhaps might've gone unnoticed if not for their soloing. They're also wildly magnetic behind the kit!
Man, I'm in full agreement. These days I like to watch a mix of very few metal, jazz, and funk drummers. Nate Smith, Marco Minnemann, Steve Smith, or a new and recent face like Jharis Yokley come to mind. Chops are cool, but yeah after like 30 seconds the subconscious is screaming "What's next!?"
I like to hear and see colour and dynamics. While I admire the technical abilities of the Thomas Lang's of this world, it's not what excites me personally about solos. I like to hear and watch something a bit different. Benny Greb is good at trying out different sounds and of course Terry Bozzio. Saw Tool recently and Danny Carey makes good use of synths and electronic pads in his solo.
A quick paced ostinato so the audience doesn’t lose the beat during technical playing. On a different note, could you do a lesson with exercises just for two floor tom playing. I know there are great possibilities, but I can’t find any material. Rock on, Beatdown! Ken Drew
I am a layman to drums and I'd like to ask this question humbly. In this video, did you improvise this drum solo or was it entirely written first. If improvised at all, to what degree would you say it was improvised? Thank you, Rob!
It’s a good question. Yes, it was improvised from start to finish. But there’s no real secret to it, nor am I tryin to say “Puff 🚬 Because I’m that awesome 😑” It’s just because I’ve been playing long enough now that my musical vocabulary is broad enough to pick up the sticks and just start playing without thinking too much about it, much like you can talk to someone at length about something you know a lot about without gettin tripped up. There’s a recent video on my channel called ‘How Do Drummers Just Make Stuff Up’ that should help you understand improvisation. Cheggit out!
@@RobBeatdownBrown Thank you for the answer! For me, talking about something using just regular vocabulary without messing up is difficult enough. And I must say that I can sense that you're not trying to show off, just like with listening to someone speak. Thank you again, and I'll check out the video for sure!
At one time technique and skill were tops for me but you also need musicality to improvise and develop ideas, to groove, use melody, dynamics and look like you are having fun, entertainment puts the icing on the cake. I like watching others do twirls and things, never been into that much myself but I throw in some musical humour and joke with the band/audience.
Maybe this isn't a fair take on it, but I had the pleasure of seeing the best chops on the face of the planet, when I saw Buddy Rich, live, back in the 80s. So,, when you talk about technique, Rob, I couldn't agree with you more. You in fact have great technique and chops. But, bottom line, I need to see a a guy shred that snare drum, as the result of an elite level of technique. Vinny, Weckyl, and Gadd, are my guys; chops and feel to die for.
Like you Rob my patience for long drum solos is wearing thin. I prefer a good drum break! Give the drummer just a few line to do something special within the context of the music.
*Already a bunch of great comments here, y'all. Chime in! What are some of the things YOU love to see in a drum solo?*
The swag level = 💯
What I like is the free form elements of a good drum solo. How the drummer can go off, and then come back into the song, with the band. Cheers, Rob! ✌️🥁
I go with melody..if it makes me dance then I really love it..instead of technique, which I do appreciate, but if it moves me melodically I’m really impressed😄
Dynamics, varying rhythms staying tight with continuity and for me a lot of world music influence as well.
Omar Hakim and Dave Weckl are great reference points I've admired and will continue to as well.
🎼💙🥢
Listen to China girl by David Bowie from the let's dance album, that's a quality drum track. Omar Hakim say no more.
And what I like is the use of empty spaces., not a constant flow of hits. Like in Joe Morello's Take Five. A good solo combines different styles while keeping the same tempo. And, of course, the hard to define "musicality". The solo should sound like a song, not just a series of hits.
Agreed. Hence why the chop vomit kinda bores me.
The only thing I would add would be the space in between, kinda hard to express but, listen to early Joe Morello with Dave Brubeck particularly on Take Five that kinda says it.👍👍
Carter Beauford, 8/15/1995 at Red Rocks, #36. Definitely my favorite drum solo. Love how it builds and goes right into the song.
Rob, you did it again. You made me think and opened my thoughts. Thanks for another great video.
It's all about structure for me. I like the story telling aspect of a well written solo, with highs and lows, and a flow from one idea to the next with a tasty transition between ideas. I do appreciate improv built in to let the moment take over, but then come back to the story. Take me on a musical journey!
I have to do one in a week😮Wish me luck! Glad I watched your video.
Keep the best going, give me something I can relate to on a melodic level, and most of all, do NOT make me stop dancing.
In the beginning it was technicality, musicality and melody. Then came entertainment. I saw Carl Palmer and ELP in 1973 (also again in 1977) I was fascinated by his solo. The way he would twirl the sticks, flipping them from behind his back and catching them right on time, never missing a beat was incredible. I wanted to learn that but how? So I actually watched my older sister and her friends out in the yard twirling their batons and that was how I learned to twirl drumsticks.
Carl Palmer cracks me up. His face is like an 8 year old boy, eyes popping as he thinks to himself, "How many drums can I hit at the same time at 400mph, while doing a triple reverse paradiddle flam?"
I love the way Bonham kept the hi hat foot going through the entire solo on the album song remains the same
Its more about hearing than watching for me, but when you see any soloist on any instrument truly enjoying themselves, thats what does it for me visually. Gotta love what your doing if you want people to feel that love too. Another cool vid, thanks. Could you please give a lesson about Booker t and the mgs 'Soul dressing', or just give it a listen if you dont take requests(which i wouldn't blame you for).
Simon Phillips makes music when he solos, like... he plays drums like I hear music in my head. Love him.
Its fun to watch great technique, from a student perspective. Musicality and melody is fun to play from a drummer perspective. The best part about drum solos for me is the improvisational aspect, cutting free from the structure of a song and creating in the moment. Pure flow
You are The Man! Ever time I watch one of your videos, it makes me want to go practice some more!
I agree totally what your saying Rob. Watching you Dave Weckl , Simon Phillips and all the famous drummers and of course Buddy Rich He may be gone but watching and listening solos. Puttting rudiments all together and making the solos totally enjoyable. i have always enjoyed watching your solos. Thanks Rob for making the instrument worth its weight in gold. i will play drums till the day I die.
I like a drum solo that takes me somewhere. When there is a progression from point A to point B in a solo and not just a random display of your best chops. I also like thematic solos that incorporate and develop a particular musical idea. Kinda like the sections of Neil Peart's solos that developed a single musical idea with variations and permutations of it before moving on to the next section.
Gooooood answer ✅👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Favorite drummers/soloists: Dave Weckl (Technically amazing - love his Latin capabilities), Omar Hakim (Amazing dynamics, really clean technique), Dennis Chambers (just a fun guy to watch solo - at the end, I love how he stands up and finishes on his toms while he walks off), Louie Bellson (Great jazz solos and double bass work).
Good sounding Toms, creativity, and 4 way coordination- up beat on the hi-hat in particular.
Drum solos that flow from one idea to the next ,that have peaks and valleys of musical ideas. They take time to build with a theme not just chop after chop. Also showmanship not necessarily stick tricks but executing something on the drums that as a drummer you know that wasn’t easy. I like stick tricks if it doesn’t takeaway from the actual drumming.. I don’t do any of that either but do appreciate those that can pull it off
I like a solo that takes you on a journey and through some unexpected twists that builds to an exciting climax. Your playing is very nice and your sound is very cool too.
Love billy cobham solos
Regarding nthe question "why£ id like share my thoughts on the drum solo featured at around the 1:40 mark by this channels drummer. I love it because he leaves space while achieving a firm pulse of time. His phrasing breaths and flows rather than blitz the possibility of note subdivion. He plays interesting ideas grounded in strong melodic understanding. I love it because it exemplified for me what i wish to be good at in my own solo playing. Great job by a great pro!
A repetitive rhythm which gives the audience something to latch onto and pulls them into the solo. It's almost like the chorus in a song. I think this allows the audience to relate to it. I've seen drummers do amazing things at the speed of light and then the audience just gave them a luke warm reception. If they can't relate to it, all that flash is lost.
Yeah. I guess musicality in a word. Anything that is ostentatious showiness, I lose all interest almost immediately.
Great video. I think you nailed it Rob. I like to listen to a hook. A storyline. Something to keep revisiting. Melody. Why can't the drums be as melodic as any other instrument? Also the spaces between. Finally something you can't help but tap along to.
in a bar context i like the good positioning of the high intensity ending fill, maybe after a good groovy solo start. And i like the solo's to be in the middle of a song, ending the solo back to the song again.
The mad skill displayed 💯 Love it! 🥁
I think everything you mentioned Rob are important fundimentals in a good drum solo. What first gets my attention is a good rythum pattern and the build up on that.
I never realized drums could be so colorfully variable and pleasing! 😃👍
I like something with a groove, but with fills over the top of it, a bit like the part starting from 7:00 in the clip. I think it's best that you have a repeating theme in your head, and that you can hear a sort of melody and variations based on that theme during the solo.
I"ve been drumming for almost 60 yrs and agree with everything that you"ve said Rob with one caveate. Solos that most impress me incorporate everything that you"ve mentioned but are relatvely short whether or not they are over form or standing alone. I never like that feeling I sometimes get that I want the drummer to move on even though they might be doing some amazing shit (you know those quintuplet hand foot combinations are amazing but can we move on....).
Favorite drum solo. “Godsmack drum battle”. It’s musical and I love when it involves the whole band.
I love Art Blakey's patented "A Night in Tunisia" solo. He opens the song with a solo before the melody, and he solos after the other jazz musicians finish their solos.
It doesn't go in all technical directions, but instead goes back-and-forth between a "calm-before-the-storm" toms motif and a thunder-like ride-cymbal motif. I never get tired of it because Art's playing is always telling a story, and the man radiates tons of energy from a single drum kit!
It’s usually jazz drummers. Love it when the soloist is playing the song.
The same story arcs, development, and plot progression that make for a good movie can be applied to a drum solo: have a beginning middle and end. Any of those parts can be the money part and you can have all the sub plots you want, but tell a cohesive and coherent story.
Weckl and Smith are super good at that.
I do love watching drum solos. Here's two examples of great drummers I saw live. I saw Procol Harum live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Mark Brzezicki was the drummer for the band in 1992. He did a drum solo, for the song Whiskey Train. He was in Big Country, and is back in that band. I love both bands. I saw Stewart Copeland live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. He and the orchestra were playing along to the silent film, Ben Hur. Amazing drumming. I've seen others too, but I thought I'd share those. Cheers, Rob! ✌️
When I was young, I used to call my favorites “The Wall of Sound” That approach has changed since then, and all those element you mention are terrific.
Well said. ❤ Sub point to dynamics: restraint.
If anybody here has not listened to the Peart solo from Exit Stage Left…please check it out. I love Weckl and all the greats. But Neil just created his own world on that one.
Technique, Dynamics, Musicality, Inventiveness, and at times it sounds like two drummers.
The dark energy crashes are ❤❤❤❤
All of those things you mentioned...plus, I like it when the drummer looks like he's having fun with it. Smiling, and putting a little humor in it. I dig the intensity of a Buddy Rich or Ginger Baker, but I enjoy just a bit of clowning on the kit, too.
"Beat Down Bad Ass" Brown! I really dug your solo man that was bas ass . Being a drummer who taken solos, I learned from audience feedback . And I agree ,it has to have feel and something they can hook onto. One thing I love about solos where a real cool groove is played to establish the feel ,then soloed over in the spirit of that groove. No doubt ,a section of Chops doesn't hurt if it's done the right way. Not everyone is a drummer or a musician for that matter ,so they don't care about anything but being able to feel it . Thanks again Rob for that solo I really enjoyed it man.
Periods of speed, and power.That swung feel. Different, and Interesting phrasing is nice as well
Rob, you have said it all as far as what makes a good solo. I remember playing along to Cozy Cole's Topsy part 2 when I first started drumming, That solo had all of the elements. There is nothing worse or more boring than watching someone hitting everything they have in front of them as fast as they can.
The “feel good” feeling of the repetitve beats that make you sway, tap your chest or your feet, bang your head with and all that sort!
I believe Steve Gadd said he plays his solos in 4, 8, 16, or 32 bar phrases which helps the audience understand what’s going on. Great advice. I like solos that tell a story with a beginning, middle and end. And it doesn’t have to be a long story. 😊 I was lucky to see Buddy Rich play a lot at Disneyland. Except for his trademark moments, he hardly ever played a fill or solo the same way twice. So creativity is a big thing as well.
👍🙂Great solo Beatdown!!!!
Passion! Carl Palmer, Aaron Spears, Keith Carlock, etc. You can see and feel the emotion in their playing.
Drummers who play as many notes as they can as fast as they can lose my interest quickly. What captures my attention is a solo that's centered around a rhythm, and the creativity that's displayed by playing in and out of that rhythmic pattern. It's then that I don't mind the occasional flurry of notes blasted around the kit. But only if it's done sparingly and tastefully.
I also think a solo is a good solo if it's something an audience of non-drummers can appreciate. This is where that rhythmic pattern is especially important, as it gives people something they can relate to, an anchor they can tap their feet to, a constant they can engage with. They can't do that if the drummer is just constantly blazing around the kit just to show off his chops.
Edit: I guess I should've watched your entire video first before commenting. I agree with everything you said! And loved your solo, too!
Philly Joe's smile and Neil P's cowbell tree come to mind as fav things in solos past.
These days, I like to hear the melody of whatever song the solo is in to be in there, even in abstract-y drumming terms. Like, the drummer is humming the tune while he solos.
I'm saying, if it ain't musical, it's just flash, which bores me now.
I think speed & endurance (at least 90 seconds ) + all the things you said make a good drum solo thanks for all the instruction videos ❤
The anticipation!!!!!!
I like a solo with a groove attached. Play some of the groove, then go into some cool licks, then back to the groove, then end it with a nice finale. That seems to work and it gives the audience a reference. Keep it short and sweet. Not too long. I don't like drum solos that go on forever with no time behind them. Watching a drummer play a bunch of crazy licks with no reference, is kinda boring and I'm a drummer.
My favorite Drumsolo Players int he World are Nat Townsley, You, Omar Hakim, Steve Gadd, Benn Grab, Simon Phillips and Manu Kathy, the reasons why I love you. guys specifically is, your Solos sound what I call individual. many drummers theses days, even though they are amazing, but often sound very similar to each other and I love learning by watching cause I am the most horrible solo player int eh world and I hope one day I will at least be able to play some sort of a solo
Like watching Steve Smith, Todd Scherman Simon Phillips. And you as a matter of fact. Course Will never stop watching. Dave Weckel as well and Buddy Rich. Using a lot of rudiments and stretching because of my age. Almost 70 now . I do alot of your 20 min workouts doubles Flames etc. So thanks for your help.Making my solos better and faster. Lots of playing along music WDR Yellowjackets, alot of Buddy's songs.
One of my favorite drum solos was simply Steve Lukather running through familiar famous beats that we all know (beatles, zep etc) He put them all together and made them work in a surprising way.
When the boss of beats drops a vid, I shut up and click it!
Dynamics, orchestration and groove.
benny greb makes awesome drum solos. Musical and fun to watch, with a great and unique drum sound
The drum battle between the singer of Godsmack and his drummer is the epitome of what I love in a drum solo. I find super intricate drumming without that groove to be boring.
Hey guy's love it! To me, a good drum solo is a in the pocket repetition dynamically and finally the biggest thing is the build up and conclusion
I love to see drummers who use musicality, technique, emotion and SPACE Like Steve Gadd.
3 of my favs are neil peart's atwas, exit stage left and mike mangini w extreme. i watch a lot of ken loomer. early ian paice solos are also great... rb also does a great solo.
Neil’s Exit Stage Left solo is IMO the best solo ever recorded. Has all of the ingredients described here.
@@gregxite i think i prefer the atwas but ok.
@@sticksbass can't argue with that. Some people definitely prefer the ATWAS solo.
When the technique is so good and the pocket is solid but my mind is blown to the point that my perception of time and musical possibilities has shifted then I know. It’s spontaneous and novel beyond any one facet of playing. The tonal texture of Steve Smith or the mind bending altered time of Weckl or the pure WTF of Dennis Chambers for example.
Rob Brown is an awesome drum solo 😎🥁
i honestly think it's the drummer being able to fluidly express their idea(s) to the listener, above all other things.
i don't think yt lets you share links in comments, but if you search "Mirrors Collide - Jerk it out (caesars cover) @JackJack", the solo at 1:27 is very simple, but i can fully grasp what the drummer was trying to say, or play, in this case.
same goes for greyson nekrutman's caravan solo on drumeo. he fluidly expresses his ideas, albeit with much more vocabulary, time to solo, etc... but both drummers, i think, are great soloists because of how easy it is for the listener to grasp what it is they're doing.
Dynamics, Flair, Great sounding toms, Great recording, Clear vision of the drummer and multiple camera angles which are cut to follow the point of concentration.
This is cool though.The bext solo I have ever seen was by exjames brown drummer Melvin Parker in a concert and I was a young teen
Great Video man! What do you think about those Signature Traditional Crashes? To my ears they are pure musicallity ❤
^^ you could do worse than checking out this guy's solos :)
Dude. I'm totally a Dark Energy guy but it didn't take long for me to fall in love with these Traditionals. There was a 17" on my kit when I was out at Drumeo and I couldn't stop hittin' it. The 17" and 18" do sound pretty close in character (I wish there was a 19") but I'll still take them out as a pair. They sound sooo good! Paiste nailed it pretty hard with this line.
@@RobBeatdownBrown I'm lucky to own the 16" 17" 18" & 20" The 17" & 18" are a little to close in pitch so I combine the 18" & 20" or 17" & 20". That works great. Or use it in combination with the 19" Masters Dark Crash. So maybe a 20" Traditionals will be a great next addition. Thanks again for the video
What I love in any instrument solo is a somehow unexpected section that makes my brain itch... *what the hell is that? i have never heard it before but I love it* 😍
also, i really need to fix my Alesis M1 MKii ... i still dont know how my tweeter blew while recording BASS 🙆🏻 (recognized yours in background)
I just like to see the drummer having fun
Just saw Bill cobham for the first time. He sounds like you. You good bruh. Always a pleasure. Me … I like freakin technique
A motif that builds. Intensity that ebbs and flows in sort of a 2 steps up one down kinda way. 3 acts or movements. The ability to hear the song underneath the solo. No longer than verse bridge chorus.
For my part, in addition to the listed things, stuff that really grabs my attention is like, presence. Not just entertainment, but like how they’re feeling it. It could be sick as hell but if they look like a machine playing it, it’s less impressive somehow? The other thing is polyrhythms. I seen a dude effortlessly carrying 4 at once and couldn’t blink let alone look away.
NICE! One day, when I grow up, I want to learn to solo, just a lil... :D
Tony Williams, vinnie, Gary husbands. Dave weckl Chad wakerman my favorites to listen too.
Hat attacks!! 🍻
These days the kids are crazy over G Chops and who has the fastest feet. I love that stuff, but I mostly agree with Rob and his observations on this vid. You have to tickle the ears and dynamics, variety, versatility, musicality, melody, dynamics, contrast ... it all tickles the ears.
Jaki Liebezeit. Listening Jaki is a great teacher
He flows whether soloing or backing,
Ostinatos and leitmotifs! What I can't stand are rock concert solos... you know the ones, where people erupt into ecstatic cheer when the double bass kicks (no pun intended) in
Rock shows, man. Loud n'fast is where it's at if you don't want your solo to be the crowd's washroom & refreshments break🤘🏾😃🤘🏾
@@RobBeatdownBrown Oh for sure, it just doesn't really do it for *me*, at risk of sounding elitist :) I guess I am more partial to smaller intimate acoustic concerts/settings and not really into the showy aspects in general...
Musicality is the top criterion in my opinion, but you don't get there without dynamics, and I guess to an extent, technique . Like the one you're playing here, it actually sounds like a piece of music, and that's nice to listen to.
I have to agree with you that the older I get, the less interested I am in long drum solos. There are a few drummers, however, that are able to keep my attention during their solos. Buddy Rich is probably my overall favorite drum soloist, for his ability to keep things interesting. I'd say he ticks all the boxes you mentioned. I also think Steve Gadd can put together a very good solo that holds my interest. Ultimately, I think that an interesting drum solo has to be held to the same standards as an interesting solo on any other instrument. There has to be space for the audience to breathe & lots of dynamic variation. Technical facility is essential (otherwise, why solo?), but it needs to be used musically. I had a composition teacher who liked to say that good music follows a 50% rule: half the time, the listener should be able to predict the direction the music is headed, and half the time, the listener should be surprised. If they can too easily predict the music, they get bored, & if they can never predict the music, they get frustrated. A good solo has anchor points that the audience can sense, and surprising elements that they weren't expecting.
Just going to limit it to drummers I've had the fortune of seeing live and are still alive: my favorites are Tyshawn Sorey, Terri Lyne Carrington, Ari Hoenig & Brian Blade. All of these musicians have a very idiosyncratic style & voice. They all have an uncanny ability to harmonize with any melody, enhancing it or bringing attention to some underlying element of it that perhaps might've gone unnoticed if not for their soloing. They're also wildly magnetic behind the kit!
John Bonham , Love the way he played. Keith Moon as well.
Karen Carpenter, Michael Shrieve, Purdie, Joe Jones (theres nice video on youtube where Joe plays with Benson, its amazing)
Man, I'm in full agreement. These days I like to watch a mix of very few metal, jazz, and funk drummers. Nate Smith, Marco Minnemann, Steve Smith, or a new and recent face like Jharis Yokley come to mind. Chops are cool, but yeah after like 30 seconds the subconscious is screaming "What's next!?"
Yeah, that's why I love Steve Jordan's drumming so much. Just lay the groove, man ;)
Is your solo available "clean"?
I listen to a lot of 60's and 70's groups and the only drummer whose solos I found to be really engaging is Ginger Baker. He was definitely special.
Who does the best drum solos?
ME lol
Um Bonham, Peart, Van Halen
Energy!
Yea, that should've been #6, but I knew ONE of y'all would say it here. lol
I like to hear and see colour and dynamics. While I admire the technical abilities of the Thomas Lang's of this world, it's not what excites me personally about solos. I like to hear and watch something a bit different. Benny Greb is good at trying out different sounds and of course Terry Bozzio. Saw Tool recently and Danny Carey makes good use of synths and electronic pads in his solo.
Rob is so cool
A quick paced ostinato so the audience doesn’t lose the beat during technical playing.
On a different note, could you do a lesson with exercises just for two floor tom playing. I know there are great possibilities, but I can’t find any material.
Rock on, Beatdown!
Ken Drew
melody and melodic figures
I am a layman to drums and I'd like to ask this question humbly.
In this video, did you improvise this drum solo or was it entirely written first. If improvised at all, to what degree would you say it was improvised?
Thank you, Rob!
It’s a good question. Yes, it was improvised from start to finish. But there’s no real secret to it, nor am I tryin to say “Puff 🚬 Because I’m that awesome 😑” It’s just because I’ve been playing long enough now that my musical vocabulary is broad enough to pick up the sticks and just start playing without thinking too much about it, much like you can talk to someone at length about something you know a lot about without gettin tripped up. There’s a recent video on my channel called ‘How Do Drummers Just Make Stuff Up’ that should help you understand improvisation. Cheggit out!
@@RobBeatdownBrown Thank you for the answer! For me, talking about something using just regular vocabulary without messing up is difficult enough.
And I must say that I can sense that you're not trying to show off, just like with listening to someone speak.
Thank you again, and I'll check out the video for sure!
Well prefer chops on the snare drum with less grooving, i mean start with a groove and building the chops progressively on the snare drum.
At one time technique and skill were tops for me but you also need musicality to improvise and develop ideas, to groove, use melody, dynamics and look like you are having fun, entertainment puts the icing on the cake. I like watching others do twirls and things, never been into that much myself but I throw in some musical humour and joke with the band/audience.
Creativity and musicality what you see in Larnell Lewis .
Maybe this isn't a fair take on it, but I had the pleasure of seeing the best chops on the face of the planet, when I saw Buddy Rich, live, back in the 80s. So,, when you talk about technique, Rob, I couldn't agree with you more. You in fact have great technique and chops. But, bottom line, I need to see a a guy shred that snare drum, as the result of an elite level of technique. Vinny, Weckyl, and Gadd, are my guys; chops and feel to die for.
Gotta have a good rhythmic appetite ✌🏼
Like you Rob my patience for long drum solos is wearing thin. I prefer a good drum break! Give the drummer just a few line to do something special within the context of the music.
00:12 Nice one