Yes this is a great video. There’s a difference between playing drums and banging drums. This information totally gives an explanation on that clear distinction. . I’m a drummer that has been needing a Drumset for years and this channel keeps my interests alive.
3 can be summed up in a word: Consistency. I noticed this quick when I first started playing over 30 years ago. Like a chef that cooks an exceptional meal exactly the same every time. And not only zero metronome variation but the ability to play the same exact grooves for verse or chorus if the song requires it; right down to the dynamics, ghost notes and fills. Example: Jeff Porcaro in Rosanna. Difficult to do but that's what sets the best drummers apart.
I've experienced that vibe of fully locking into a track a few times this year in particular, man what a drug! It's like you only realize you're doing it and quickly have to stop being aware of it again or there's a chance you'll mess it up. Truly being locked on the grid is a pretty phenomenal experience, hopefully I can experience that with a live band in years to come!
I'm not a fan of "labels", but should I ever wish for an "Advanced Drummer" badge I want it coming from great MUSICIANS. Not from me, not from other drummers. Great exercises and content Nate, keep it up!
This is an awesome list!! One more thing worth mentioning (and I think I've seen you talk about it) is the ability to not lock only with the band, but within yourself (the interactions between your limbs, if they are flowing nicely when it's linear or unisons). Great video!!!!!
When playing with a click or a track with a click, if you can't hear the click on play back then your timing is spot on. To be an advanced Drummer I think it involves many many different aspects. Your ears are the most important, Dedication, Passion, Patience, Abandonment, Looking & Feeling relaxed when playing, Knowing when to verses Knowing when not to, Playing for the music & not for yourself, Knowing what to play and when to play it, Confidence, Mean what you Play & Play what you Mean, Practice to the point where you couldn't make a mistake even if you tried, Polish your craft, Wax on Wax off, Tuning, Your Sound, Gear Placement & Maintenance, Take breaks, Try to stay in shape, Having the right attitude in all musical situations, Knowing when it's your time to shine, Give your audience something to latch onto, Groove with Feel & Dynamics, Creativity, Knowledge that is Stage Worthy verses Knowledge that isn't (Work in Progress). Funny thing happened to me a few years ago, I was doing a show in Cannes with a BeeGee Trib outfit, I'd been with this outfit for 10yrs performing in Theatre's all over the UK & Abroad, but this particular show was a little more High Profile as we were performing with Jamiraqui's Brass Section. The first song I would arrive on stage on my own, the intro had a big build up to it which had a few Hit Sections to it only on this particular show the Brass Section & myself would play those Intro Hits. After sound checking we ran through the Hit Section, despite the Brass Section having the Hit Section on their Charts there was a Flam type thing happening involving my Snare Hits & the Brass Section Hits. Don't forget I'd been doing this Gig for 10 or more years and never had any band member complain about me flamming with those Hits that were on a Backing Track. The Blame pointed towards me from Band Members but I know that this Brass Section were playing those Hits in a really lazy way, I was convinced their timing was not spot on and after many Intro Hit rehearsals it was a case of me having to play those Hits in a lazy fashion so as to be spot on with the Brass Section, only now me & the Brass were lagging behind the Track. Certain members of the band were now convinced the problem was now solved, only I knew things had just gotten a whole lot worse. Musicians in general seem to think it's just us Drummers who need to learn TIME, I say (THAT'S CRAP). Always remember, Drummers with all the above knowledge are there to make you Look & Sound Great. Such is Life.
This is maybe an unusual request but can you share a list of songs, YOU play along to? Especially songs where you have some degree of creative freedom? I liked the first 2 songs you put out as an example
I once played a gig with a decidedly lazy horn section that had a tendency to drag the groove (or struggled to breathe, perhaps), which meant on occasion I had to sacrifice the timing/pulse to maintain "lock up" with them. If you can do that well, you can create the illusion that the pulse is not lost and still propel the groove (if that makes any sense).
Well, it depends a bit on how you define "advanced" I suppose, but I don't think this *quite* encapsulates an advanced player. #1 and #3 are easy enough to agree with, with maybe a small exception on #3 for the hyper-metal-centric guys who don't really do groove. Maybe "make you want to head bang" could be a substitution there, or perhaps a more general "ability to evoke an emotional response without the aid of a band". #2 could be more concrete and the wording invites interpretation. I agree with the spirit of it, but I'm thinking of terms like intentionality and music-sense. That said, as much as it's vogue nowadays to dump on chops, chops and technique are obviously a part of being an advanced player. While a good portion of the people who check the three supplied conditions are also going to be technically proficient, some won't be. It's difficult to set specific benchmarks here because there are so many different ways one can branch out, but I think the universal truth is that advanced players, even if there's a specific thing that they aren't great at, are great at such a number of other things that they can quickly gain proficiency. So, I would add: *4. Can you learn to play anything, not necessarily as well as another drummer can, but to a reasonable level of competence, at a reasonable tempo, in a reasonable amount of time?*
Yeah I'd have to agree with all the above. I don't think just playing what you know and doing it well is enough to be an "advanced" drummer, but who said you need to be advanced anyways? Plenty of great music was made with non "advanced" musicians who just played like they had something to say. So yeah being advanced is cool, but it's less than related to making good music than a lot of us would like to believe. I guess it's one of those moments where you have to reflect on what you really want to get out of your instrument.
Great stuff Nate - always really well thought out no bs content. I'm onto module 11 of the coaching course and I've really enjoyed going through it - def worth the dollar.
Great episode, as always! I'd consider myself an advanced drummer more than a pro, tbh. Not in the sense of being more pro-active at playing. But more of approaching from the side of playing music compared to playing note for note what's needed. If there is something I do not like, I will def play it but it would be a flat out job. Compared to something that I really love playing even if I'm doing a session work. Few yrs ago I recorded with my friends an album, 10 tunes. We recorded live and pretty much worked on the songs solid year with practicing once a week. The songs were pretty unusual for what I would normally play but I liked working on the new stuff with ppl that I know personally and who I trust. There were 2-3 particular songs that I really LOVED but I wouldn't say it to the guys because I didn't want them to be distracted while working on the album overall with me. I would always tape the practices and listen back to the songs and arrangement details. So, the bass played once told me "it's interesting these 3 tunes sound way more intense than others, it feels like you really like playing them!" and I told them "that's 100% true. I really like these ones and I wish I actually wrote them" :). Playing like you mean it, is 300% spot on reference!
I really enjoyed that with each piece of criteria it’s easy to think of good examples and with each example it’s easy to see why the drummer met that criteria. A lot of the time it’s easy to know that you are seeing someone advanced even if it can be hard in the moment to stop and describe exactly why.
Such a massively different style from metal (what I play). Your shredding my musical horizons. I need to start practicing all those crazy right hand patterns. My feet are usually doing all the heavy lifting.
Yeah. The same. But now getting older I am trying to nail the Rosanna half time shuffle. Hopeless. I mean bass drum and hats, ok. Hihats and Snare, ok. But all together... I am fighting.I am very proud to even know what a shuffle groove is. :) having my edrums beneath me every afternoon, my doubles and paradiddles getting better as well...
@@eDrumsInANutshell This guy has really helped me... even with the metal side of things. I take a lot of his hand patterns and apply them over double bass. th-cam.com/users/jmensticks
Totally unrelated...but I need to get the quote from you where you said something like: "great drummers play from the ears down as opposed to...limbs up..." I forget how exactly you said it. But it has been on my mind for some time. I strongly believe that is the most important and defining statement in the history of drumming and even music pedagogy. Please respond with the full quote/statement when you have time ❤
I also think one of the bigger dividing lines that doesn't get talked about, is musicality. A lot of lists and a lot of stuff on the boys vs men subject deal with more technical aspects of playing, which are obviously very important, but I think sometimes gets overemphasized, or at least it overshadows musicality. There a so many drummers with names who aren't actually amazing, technically speaking, but their musicality was off the charts. Paul Motian is the big one that comes to mind that falls in the ok/so-so technique, but monster musicality (an old teacher of mine went to see him play, and Motian did a roll on the snare and his hands went together, haha). Some more names, are Ringo Starr, James Gadson, arguably Elvin Jones (he had a lot of technique, but he definitely wasn't the cleanest, although he was doing something really different, hence arguably.)If you can hear the music, and what it calls for, it can really make you sound much, much stronger than you might actually be. It carries you over the fence, if you will. Just my 2 cents.
Honestly I think with the drumming community being oversaturated with CHOPZ due to the easy access of information through the internet, musicality is one of the most important things that sets a drummer apart now days. Dont get me wrong, chops are awesome. And you need chops to some sort of degree to better articulate yourself and it definitely requires lots of practice. But it's getting to the point where chops are becoming the norm and to the trained ear, it's not really all that impressive. Imo, I think the key to being a good drummer, or musican for that matter, is balance. You need a balance of technical prowess, groove, and musically.
I've heard the "danceability" factor raised before in regards to the quality of a drummer and I don't disagree that it can be an important measuring stick. But I don't think that it can be called essential simply because some of the most interesting beats played by some of the finest drummers are rhythmically intriguing but don't "inspire" dance, especially, say, with progressive rock drummers. Great video as usual.
I think it's still applies but can you dance to it is part of the spectrum it's all about being drawing interest into the groove and feel So a big aspect of drawing interest into a track is being able to dance to it but if it's a track that's less danceable you can still make the track more than the sum of its parts Personally I don't know a track I can't in some way dance to but I've not decided if that's good or not. Like I've danced to numbers stations sometimes, all about finding motion in sound, any sound.
I don't think it's meant to suggest that everything a good drummer plays has to inspire dance, but more aout whether a drummer has that ability when it is called for.
Any form of music has a 'groove' that inspires one to move in a certain way. Maybe that's swinging to bop, carving to EDM, moshing to metal, breathing in time to meditation music, etc. "Danceability" in drumming terms is the ability of a drummer to bring out that quality and make people move, even if that movement doesn't look like normal dancing.
I often "sing" drum parts to learn them while I'm walking or laying in bed- it works! I've received more gig offers than I've lost, and it's because of 1. locking up and 3. can they dance to me? No. 2, not so much. Unless the band is covering "Elizabeth Reed" or "Inna Gadda Davida" don't plan or expect a drum solo! You are paid for 1 and 3. Love these videos and your common sense approach.
me watching the video wondering if I'm advanced - nate: *shows video of Vinnie Colaiuta me: definitely not. nate: *shows video of Patrick Carney me: ok maybe
What a great ego boost for me, thanks man, but honestly I still set the bar for myself way way higher... but in all seriousness, I feel good about the criteria and can overall agree. I just constantly push myself to learn more and to better myself in as many aspects as possible. I hope to someday be able to play anything and everything at any given moment. So much to always learn. 😬
It’s real simple, watch the buddy rich concert where weckl and vinnie throw everything they can into their solos, then watch Gadd play crazy army..including the bass drum accents. Makes them both sound like kids Or that drummer who wows you at a clinic..how many records has he/she been asked to play on??
Almost every advanced drummer you showed is also dancing to their own playing in one way or another. Maybe more effect than cause, but it seems to be a pretty good indicator that the more you are into it the more others will be as well.
Nate for president lol... but seriously there is so much in that "no bullshitting" criteria. As an older drummer, I know that when I suck, that is why. Well, also just lack of preparedness
I would definitely classify this as a highly "advanced" drum TH-cam video...also waving your freak flag high (Hendrix) is really the only and hardest threshold a true musician has to cross..
Ringo didn't get love except for one other guy in the comments... :( I'm a huge fan of the band Colosseum and though Jon Hiseman is a beast, his drumming feels like a mental overload after a while. I never get that with Ringo's drumming, it's so molded into the songs and everything feels effortless! That said, I like listening to a lot of other guys who have chops as well!! One of my favorite TH-cam drummers right now is Carter McClean... His stuff is smooth and his drum tuning video is hilarious as well as eye opening! Worth a watch!! BTW, cool stache... I might have to shave the beard and start rocking mine again!!
When I was a kid, I was jamming with a well respected piano player. We had played together several times. This last time, I had started taking lessons. He said to me, you used to be so much better before you started lessons.
I’m using the metronome on a lot of practice with the electronic Kit I just got and it shows fast or slow on my rudiments and grooves . Found lots of problems.Correcting flaws and it’s getting better with out checking.
I was about to break current death core speeds but got stopped to try to do more important things. I seen some of thats machines. Most physical activities is a sport where there is a clear winner as far as ability an stamina . I think that's what most people think of when they do try to rank musicians
90% of drummers will be on the scale of intermediate I'd expect. I'm back having not played in a few years so would be ambitious to say lower intermediate as I know how to play, but have developed to bad habits that need to be unlearned
I’ve often wondered about that ‘mute’ in the hi hat pattern that Charlie Watts does to allow his snare to ‘sneak’ in and I think to myself “is that a good thing…?“ By that I mean is it something I should be aiming to do too?
Skill is real. Artistry and lyricism is beyond mere skill. That is what technical drummers don't get. It is possible to be musical without dropping elite chops. Clyde stubblefield is the legit.
The absolute, most elite level is when you can incorporate those elite chops on a whim in just about any situation and never harm musicality. Nate Smith is a master of that. I'd be surprised if there were any more than a couple dozen people in the world with such an ability.
Oof that 16th offbeat is hard to start! I couldnt find the second song on 4:10 but then I just did: Capyac - Shouldabeen Great exercizes! There is hope yet!
I find it strange that people think your a drum snob. You seem pretty approachable to me, you just put emphasis on different areas of drumming than most people do. You put feel and clarity ahead of chops.. which I think is pretty constructive. It's not all about speed, and complexity. A good drummer can add feel to a simple 2 and 4.. and I think that is what separates those who are moving into the more advanced category of drumming.
I'm a drum snob but I'm from St Louis I don't dislike new drummers I like that they're into what I do and we have similar interests. But I do get really upset when we're at at open Jam or I don't know you're playing a gig and somebody brings a tambourine. Then you have to toe the line whether to just stick it out and sound bad with a tambourine that doesn't know how to play and doesn't appreciate that it's a music instrument and people you know spend time and effort to sound good and they show up and drink beers and hit cowbells with the bottle. Those people drive me crazy. Because you can ask them to stop or call it out but you risk upsetting the whole crowd that that may be a little bit tone-deaf. I also dislike it when I go see a good rock bands they have everything except the drummer doesn't have chops and I don't mean Thomas Pridgen chops I mean the drums are actually quiet and a little bit behind the back gate because the band wanted it so bad that they booked a gig that they weren't prepared for and they got their buddies cousin to play drums and borrowed someone else's drum set because the drummer doesn't own a drum set. And every song drags by about 5 to 10 beats per minute. Which could be a good song except they need Tommy Lee, not Randy's cousin. That kind of shit bothers me. And honestly to the drummer I'll be like hey good try that took a lot of guts and I hope you're having fun I don't really criticize them but then to the band leader or the band is a whole unlike you guys what are you thinking you're not ready you don't have a drummer. And if I show up and they see me they're like oh hey Donnie I can't get my hi-hat stand together I need your help and I'm like dude you're on your own I didn't come here to drum-tec I came here cuz I'm sick of playing for coffee beans. Can't fix your pedal play without it that's what I do except I know how to fix a pedal. And I keep a backup. Okay rant over. I do appreciate the art of drumming I think my animosity is when people don't appreciate it and they think it's easy so easy that they can just show up never rehearse and then they're like oh my God I'm a natural drummer! NO! you would have known that when you were fourteen not 43. Forgive my poor grammer.
ay man i love your videos, mostly your attitude and mindset relating to the art of practice, its great, but im not a drummer... Know anyone who does it like you but with guitar? Rick Beato is good but broad with topics, Adam Neely is good but not guitar focused. anything would be apreaciated, thanks!
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If you get regular calls for pro gigs, you’re an advanced drummer.
Man, the drum machine is the most advanced drummer then.
Yes this is a great video. There’s a difference between playing drums and banging drums. This information totally gives an explanation on that clear distinction. . I’m a drummer that has been needing a Drumset for years and this channel keeps my interests alive.
The Only Way to Tell if You're an Advanced Drummer is to Subscribe
3 can be summed up in a word: Consistency. I noticed this quick when I first started playing over 30 years ago. Like a chef that cooks an exceptional meal exactly the same every time.
And not only zero metronome variation but the ability to play the same exact grooves for verse or chorus if the song requires it; right down to the dynamics, ghost notes and fills. Example: Jeff Porcaro in Rosanna. Difficult to do but that's what sets the best drummers apart.
I've experienced that vibe of fully locking into a track a few times this year in particular, man what a drug! It's like you only realize you're doing it and quickly have to stop being aware of it again or there's a chance you'll mess it up.
Truly being locked on the grid is a pretty phenomenal experience, hopefully I can experience that with a live band in years to come!
I'm not a fan of "labels", but should I ever wish for an "Advanced Drummer" badge I want it coming from great MUSICIANS. Not from me, not from other drummers. Great exercises and content Nate, keep it up!
This comment is how I know without listening that you're legit 😉
your drumming and youtube is getting better month by month.. already the best drum channel for some time imo
This is an awesome list!! One more thing worth mentioning (and I think I've seen you talk about it) is the ability to not lock only with the band, but within yourself (the interactions between your limbs, if they are flowing nicely when it's linear or unisons). Great video!!!!!
Comments poll: Stache or pass?
Not gonna lie, he rocks the stache
Stache!!! All the way
Eh, pass
Prog-stache indeed! :)
When playing with a click or a track with a click, if you can't hear the click on play back
then your timing is spot on. To be an advanced Drummer I think it involves many many
different aspects. Your ears are the most important, Dedication, Passion, Patience,
Abandonment, Looking & Feeling relaxed when playing, Knowing when to verses Knowing
when not to, Playing for the music & not for yourself, Knowing what to play and when
to play it, Confidence, Mean what you Play & Play what you Mean, Practice to the point
where you couldn't make a mistake even if you tried, Polish your craft, Wax on Wax off,
Tuning, Your Sound, Gear Placement & Maintenance, Take breaks, Try to stay in shape,
Having the right attitude in all musical situations, Knowing when it's your time to shine,
Give your audience something to latch onto, Groove with Feel & Dynamics, Creativity,
Knowledge that is Stage Worthy verses Knowledge that isn't (Work in Progress).
Funny thing happened to me a few years ago, I was doing a show in Cannes with a
BeeGee Trib outfit, I'd been with this outfit for 10yrs performing in Theatre's all over
the UK & Abroad, but this particular show was a little more High Profile as we were
performing with Jamiraqui's Brass Section. The first song I would arrive on stage
on my own, the intro had a big build up to it which had a few Hit Sections to it only
on this particular show the Brass Section & myself would play those Intro Hits.
After sound checking we ran through the Hit Section, despite the Brass Section
having the Hit Section on their Charts there was a Flam type thing happening
involving my Snare Hits & the Brass Section Hits. Don't forget I'd been doing
this Gig for 10 or more years and never had any band member complain about
me flamming with those Hits that were on a Backing Track. The Blame pointed
towards me from Band Members but I know that this Brass Section were playing
those Hits in a really lazy way, I was convinced their timing was not spot on and
after many Intro Hit rehearsals it was a case of me having to play those Hits in
a lazy fashion so as to be spot on with the Brass Section, only now me & the Brass
were lagging behind the Track. Certain members of the band were now convinced
the problem was now solved, only I knew things had just gotten a whole lot worse.
Musicians in general seem to think it's just us Drummers who need to learn TIME,
I say (THAT'S CRAP). Always remember, Drummers with all the above knowledge
are there to make you Look & Sound Great.
Such is Life.
This is maybe an unusual request but can you share a list of songs, YOU play along to? Especially songs where you have some degree of creative freedom? I liked the first 2 songs you put out as an example
A fun exercise when you're hearing the click on the Ees, ands, or uhhs, is to adjust back and forth to hear the click straight or swung.
You’re very good at creating content that captures the attention and really tells a useful story. Thank you.
I once played a gig with a decidedly lazy horn section that had a tendency to drag the groove (or struggled to breathe, perhaps), which meant on occasion I had to sacrifice the timing/pulse to maintain "lock up" with them. If you can do that well, you can create the illusion that the pulse is not lost and still propel the groove (if that makes any sense).
Dragging horn sections? That's rare.......said no one ever...lol. Been there.
Same here, read my story on Jamiriqui's Brass Section.
Yup, uniformly loose = tight.
Reminds me of "the cough syrup incident" from yonder years..Only, I was the one dragging due to flu, fever, and cough syrup.😜
Another great lesson your highlighting of how to tackle problem areas (locking in) has greatly helped me see clearer..thanks Nate dude
Well, it depends a bit on how you define "advanced" I suppose, but I don't think this *quite* encapsulates an advanced player.
#1 and #3 are easy enough to agree with, with maybe a small exception on #3 for the hyper-metal-centric guys who don't really do groove. Maybe "make you want to head bang" could be a substitution there, or perhaps a more general "ability to evoke an emotional response without the aid of a band".
#2 could be more concrete and the wording invites interpretation. I agree with the spirit of it, but I'm thinking of terms like intentionality and music-sense.
That said, as much as it's vogue nowadays to dump on chops, chops and technique are obviously a part of being an advanced player. While a good portion of the people who check the three supplied conditions are also going to be technically proficient, some won't be. It's difficult to set specific benchmarks here because there are so many different ways one can branch out, but I think the universal truth is that advanced players, even if there's a specific thing that they aren't great at, are great at such a number of other things that they can quickly gain proficiency. So, I would add:
*4. Can you learn to play anything, not necessarily as well as another drummer can, but to a reasonable level of competence, at a reasonable tempo, in a reasonable amount of time?*
Yeah I'd have to agree with all the above. I don't think just playing what you know and doing it well is enough to be an "advanced" drummer, but who said you need to be advanced anyways? Plenty of great music was made with non "advanced" musicians who just played like they had something to say. So yeah being advanced is cool, but it's less than related to making good music than a lot of us would like to believe. I guess it's one of those moments where you have to reflect on what you really want to get out of your instrument.
If we're setting the 'advanced' standard to the likes of Vinnie, then I haven't really been born yet ;)
If you haven't been born yet, then I'm still in the primordial soup
Yea hard shoes to fill
In that case, my parents haven't met yet.
Correct Vinnie is in the 1% of the hierarchy of master drummers!
Great stuff Nate - always really well thought out no bs content. I'm onto module 11 of the coaching course and I've really enjoyed going through it - def worth the dollar.
Awesome! Glad you’re finding the course helpful!
Great lesson. I dig how it brings the consciousness of our individual styles coupled with locking in to the room you are playing in. Aspiring snob.
I think it all sums up to playing with confidence, and you just perfectly explained how to do.
I like to think of it as "The amount of time needed to prep for any surprise sub gig is inversely proportional to the instrumentalist's level."
Great episode, as always!
I'd consider myself an advanced drummer more than a pro, tbh. Not in the sense of being more pro-active at playing. But more of approaching from the side of playing music compared to playing note for note what's needed. If there is something I do not like, I will def play it but it would be a flat out job. Compared to something that I really love playing even if I'm doing a session work.
Few yrs ago I recorded with my friends an album, 10 tunes. We recorded live and pretty much worked on the songs solid year with practicing once a week. The songs were pretty unusual for what I would normally play but I liked working on the new stuff with ppl that I know personally and who I trust. There were 2-3 particular songs that I really LOVED but I wouldn't say it to the guys because I didn't want them to be distracted while working on the album overall with me. I would always tape the practices and listen back to the songs and arrangement details. So, the bass played once told me "it's interesting these 3 tunes sound way more intense than others, it feels like you really like playing them!" and I told them "that's 100% true. I really like these ones and I wish I actually wrote them" :).
Playing like you mean it, is 300% spot on reference!
this video is absolutely fantastic nate! I'm going to the US to study music in the fall and your videos have helped me quite a lot.
I really enjoyed that with each piece of criteria it’s easy to think of good examples and with each example it’s easy to see why the drummer met that criteria. A lot of the time it’s easy to know that you are seeing someone advanced even if it can be hard in the moment to stop and describe exactly why.
Such a massively different style from metal (what I play). Your shredding my musical horizons. I need to start practicing all those crazy right hand patterns. My feet are usually doing all the heavy lifting.
Yeah. The same. But now getting older I am trying to nail the Rosanna half time shuffle. Hopeless. I mean bass drum and hats, ok. Hihats and Snare, ok. But all together... I am fighting.I am very proud to even know what a shuffle groove is. :) having my edrums beneath me every afternoon, my doubles and paradiddles getting better as well...
@@eDrumsInANutshell This guy has really helped me... even with the metal side of things. I take a lot of his hand patterns and apply them over double bass. th-cam.com/users/jmensticks
Hope Ya had a Great New Year!
Totally unrelated...but I need to get the quote from you where you said something like: "great drummers play from the ears down as opposed to...limbs up..." I forget how exactly you said it.
But it has been on my mind for some time.
I strongly believe that is the most important and defining statement in the history of drumming and even music pedagogy.
Please respond with the full quote/statement when you have time ❤
Great video Nate. I love your quest to explore the drumming world and to rip it up sometimes. All the best
Hey thanks for the inspiration and education!😀
110% agree. Great video as always. #bringbacktheStache
I also think one of the bigger dividing lines that doesn't get talked about, is musicality. A lot of lists and a lot of stuff on the boys vs men subject deal with more technical aspects of playing, which are obviously very important, but I think sometimes gets overemphasized, or at least it overshadows musicality. There a so many drummers with names who aren't actually amazing, technically speaking, but their musicality was off the charts. Paul Motian is the big one that comes to mind that falls in the ok/so-so technique, but monster musicality (an old teacher of mine went to see him play, and Motian did a roll on the snare and his hands went together, haha). Some more names, are Ringo Starr, James Gadson, arguably Elvin Jones (he had a lot of technique, but he definitely wasn't the cleanest, although he was doing something really different, hence arguably.)If you can hear the music, and what it calls for, it can really make you sound much, much stronger than you might actually be. It carries you over the fence, if you will. Just my 2 cents.
Honestly I think with the drumming community being oversaturated with CHOPZ due to the easy access of information through the internet, musicality is one of the most important things that sets a drummer apart now days. Dont get me wrong, chops are awesome. And you need chops to some sort of degree to better articulate yourself and it definitely requires lots of practice. But it's getting to the point where chops are becoming the norm and to the trained ear, it's not really all that impressive. Imo, I think the key to being a good drummer, or musican for that matter, is balance. You need a balance of technical prowess, groove, and musically.
@@skateforzero357 100%! The internet has definitely warped the priorities of younger musicians these days.
Dave Tough comes to mind
Your practice cymbals look like mine..haha. Dig your perspective on drumming. Best on TH-cam
I've heard the "danceability" factor raised before in regards to the quality of a drummer and I don't disagree that it can be an important measuring stick. But I don't think that it can be called essential simply because some of the most interesting beats played by some of the finest drummers are rhythmically intriguing but don't "inspire" dance, especially, say, with progressive rock drummers. Great video as usual.
I think it's still applies but can you dance to it is part of the spectrum it's all about being drawing interest into the groove and feel
So a big aspect of drawing interest into a track is being able to dance to it but if it's a track that's less danceable you can still make the track more than the sum of its parts
Personally I don't know a track I can't in some way dance to but I've not decided if that's good or not. Like I've danced to numbers stations sometimes, all about finding motion in sound, any sound.
I don't think it's meant to suggest that everything a good drummer plays has to inspire dance, but more aout whether a drummer has that ability when it is called for.
Any form of music has a 'groove' that inspires one to move in a certain way. Maybe that's swinging to bop, carving to EDM, moshing to metal, breathing in time to meditation music, etc. "Danceability" in drumming terms is the ability of a drummer to bring out that quality and make people move, even if that movement doesn't look like normal dancing.
I often "sing" drum parts to learn them while I'm walking or laying in bed- it works! I've received more gig offers than I've lost, and it's because of 1. locking up and 3. can they dance to me? No. 2, not so much. Unless the band is covering "Elizabeth Reed" or "Inna Gadda Davida" don't plan or expect a drum solo! You are paid for 1 and 3. Love these videos and your common sense approach.
Your snare sounds great.
me watching the video wondering if I'm advanced -
nate: *shows video of Vinnie Colaiuta
me: definitely not.
nate: *shows video of Patrick Carney
me: ok maybe
That's a low blow mate😂
My thoughts exactly 😂
You aren’t wrong lol
I love how Rob Brown used your name first when he suggested watching other drum channels. Rob’s got taste 👅
Wait - he did?!? That’s crazy. Flattered
@@8020drummer Rob did it in his new video today. Check it out.
Great analysis and a difficult one to achieve. 👍🏾
I can only do double-time swing at 243 1/3. Damn it! I'm throwing my drums in the garbage right now.
What a great ego boost for me, thanks man, but honestly I still set the bar for myself way way higher... but in all seriousness, I feel good about the criteria and can overall agree. I just constantly push myself to learn more and to better myself in as many aspects as possible. I hope to someday be able to play anything and everything at any given moment. So much to always learn. 😬
Good call bro !!!
I do believe! Happy New Year!
Going for the Rafael Dos Anjos/Freddie Mercury?
C'mon man, I just got my freak FLAG flying but the sunglasses hurt my eyes.
Yes, I agree.
I didn't expect you'll do a video after I asked on ig. Very cool sir, thank you for you explanation!
You pointing scared me....for real!
Lido shuffle is jamming
It’s real simple, watch the buddy rich concert where weckl and vinnie throw everything they can into their solos, then watch Gadd play crazy army..including the bass drum accents. Makes them both sound like kids
Or that drummer who wows you at a clinic..how many records has he/she been asked to play on??
Hey there! Nice video! I have enjoyed watching your videos.
I agree with this, and I’m a bass player
Nailed it again bro.
Dope Moonchild! They’re great. Dug tune after too.
Which Jeff groove was that you played there?
Good content as always, keep it coming!🎶🥁
Almost every advanced drummer you showed is also dancing to their own playing in one way or another. Maybe more effect than cause, but it seems to be a pretty good indicator that the more you are into it the more others will be as well.
Seems like he's constantly on the quest. Good luck.
Nate for president lol... but seriously there is so much in that "no bullshitting" criteria. As an older drummer, I know that when I suck, that is why. Well, also just lack of preparedness
I would definitely classify this as a highly "advanced" drum TH-cam video...also waving your freak flag high (Hendrix) is really the only and hardest threshold a true musician has to cross..
Ringo didn't get love except for one other guy in the comments... :( I'm a huge fan of the band Colosseum and though Jon Hiseman is a beast, his drumming feels like a mental overload after a while. I never get that with Ringo's drumming, it's so molded into the songs and everything feels effortless! That said, I like listening to a lot of other guys who have chops as well!! One of my favorite TH-cam drummers right now is Carter McClean... His stuff is smooth and his drum tuning video is hilarious as well as eye opening! Worth a watch!!
BTW, cool stache... I might have to shave the beard and start rocking mine again!!
the list is such a fire song. if someone can do all the shit in ur list but cant play past 80 bpm are the still advanced tho
Hey! You should do a tutorial on your intro tune and how to play the ‘dilla swing/ drunk 3 year old/ unquantized feel
You should check out Francesco Paoli playing The Violation live, pretty wild stuff
When I was a kid, I was jamming with a well respected piano player. We had played together several times. This last time, I had started taking lessons. He said to me, you used to be so much better before you started lessons.
Great video Nate! 👌🏽
Intermediate 4 life bro....qq
I’m using the metronome on a lot of practice with the electronic Kit I just got and it shows fast or slow on my rudiments and grooves . Found lots of problems.Correcting flaws and it’s getting better with out checking.
What is the title/artist of the second example for testing lock up? Should've been? By ....?
I was about to break current death core speeds but got stopped to try to do more important things. I seen some of thats machines. Most physical activities is a sport where there is a clear winner as far as ability an stamina . I think that's what most people think of when they do try to rank musicians
90% of drummers will be on the scale of intermediate I'd expect. I'm back having not played in a few years so would be ambitious to say lower intermediate as I know how to play, but have developed to bad habits that need to be unlearned
That was a verrry tasty fill around 7:40
If you're still concerned where you are in the scale of "advanced", you're not advanced.
This is actually true
@@8020drummer It's true, but the corollary isn't :P
I learned a snare drum goes “gack” but a table goes “dap” 😊
I like to think I’m close to advanced when I get to practice everyday but I am scared to watch this. I have a feeling it’ll be a reality check.
I’ve often wondered about that ‘mute’ in the
hi hat pattern that Charlie Watts does to allow his snare to ‘sneak’ in and I think to myself
“is that a good thing…?“
By that I mean is it something I should
be aiming to do too?
It’s definitely a thing
Do you have an opinion on drummers hitting super hard, like Aaron Gillespie?
Skill is real. Artistry and lyricism is beyond mere skill. That is what technical drummers don't get. It is possible to be musical without dropping elite chops.
Clyde stubblefield is the legit.
Clyde stubble field has elite left hand chops
The absolute, most elite level is when you can incorporate those elite chops on a whim in just about any situation and never harm musicality. Nate Smith is a master of that. I'd be surprised if there were any more than a couple dozen people in the world with such an ability.
Oof that 16th offbeat is hard to start!
I couldnt find the second song on 4:10 but then I just did:
Capyac - Shouldabeen
Great exercizes! There is hope yet!
Ha@ yes!!!! Couching course.
dude replace your right crash already lol. great video, that’s just all I could think about the entire time.
I almost choke on the cult leader joke mam xD
Fire Safety First!!
I never noticed that I sang what I was playing while playing until I went to the studio to record.
Apparently the mics do pick up everything. 🤯
Oh yeah I do the same!
I'm constantly singing the parts while playing. It helps me stay In time.
I agree, but I have nothing constructive to add since this video was deep in the pocket.
New jerrrrrsey mannnnn
"We're all the same, maaaaan" 😂
thousandth like baby.
I find it strange that people think your a drum snob. You seem pretty approachable to me, you just put emphasis on different areas of drumming than most people do. You put feel and clarity ahead of chops.. which I think is pretty constructive. It's not all about speed, and complexity. A good drummer can add feel to a simple 2 and 4.. and I think that is what separates those who are moving into the more advanced category of drumming.
Vinnie, 'advanced'? 😂 Your channel is funny!
And why are you so STIFF playing drums while you 'Flow state'?
Are you an advanced drummer:
Did you watch this video? No
Did you make this video? Yes
I like your snobbishness, stay with it :-) This Porcaro part you've chosen is killer.
Who are you listening to at the moment
You have unique thumb nails, distinct
I just learned advanced aint shiiiiiiit !!! Good luck my brothers. LOL
Flow State! I have a song all about that 😎
Ha! Me too!🙂👊
I'm a drum snob but I'm from St Louis I don't dislike new drummers I like that they're into what I do and we have similar interests. But I do get really upset when we're at at open Jam or I don't know you're playing a gig and somebody brings a tambourine. Then you have to toe the line whether to just stick it out and sound bad with a tambourine that doesn't know how to play and doesn't appreciate that it's a music instrument and people you know spend time and effort to sound good and they show up and drink beers and hit cowbells with the bottle. Those people drive me crazy. Because you can ask them to stop or call it out but you risk upsetting the whole crowd that that may be a little bit tone-deaf. I also dislike it when I go see a good rock bands they have everything except the drummer doesn't have chops and I don't mean Thomas Pridgen chops I mean the drums are actually quiet and a little bit behind the back gate because the band wanted it so bad that they booked a gig that they weren't prepared for and they got their buddies cousin to play drums and borrowed someone else's drum set because the drummer doesn't own a drum set. And every song drags by about 5 to 10 beats per minute. Which could be a good song except they need Tommy Lee, not Randy's cousin. That kind of shit bothers me. And honestly to the drummer I'll be like hey good try that took a lot of guts and I hope you're having fun I don't really criticize them but then to the band leader or the band is a whole unlike you guys what are you thinking you're not ready you don't have a drummer. And if I show up and they see me they're like oh hey Donnie I can't get my hi-hat stand together I need your help and I'm like dude you're on your own I didn't come here to drum-tec I came here cuz I'm sick of playing for coffee beans. Can't fix your pedal play without it that's what I do except I know how to fix a pedal. And I keep a backup.
Okay rant over. I do appreciate the art of drumming I think my animosity is when people don't appreciate it and they think it's easy so easy that they can just show up never rehearse and then they're like oh my God I'm a natural drummer! NO! you would have known that when you were fourteen not 43.
Forgive my poor grammer.
Vocab 2 locking
Was gonna like but it's at 420 and I'm not gonna be the one to ruin that. :-)
8:04 this would be a funnier joke if I actually knew how to type what *coughing in Konnakol* would be in actual Konnakol.
I think I maybe "advanced" according to the criteria of this video. Woohoo ! BTW I only have a month playing a cheap electronic kit.
What's the name of the drummer at 9:13?
The very danceable Dana Hawkins
ay man i love your videos, mostly your attitude and mindset relating to the art of practice, its great, but im not a drummer... Know anyone who does it like you but with guitar? Rick Beato is good but broad with topics, Adam Neely is good but not guitar focused. anything would be apreaciated, thanks!
Rhett Shull is more guitar focussed than Beato. Then there is Tim Pearce and a host of others.