Ha Like play UNDER the tune to anchor the groove. Don't play the ENTIRE tune on the drums and especially don't ghost all the bass syncopations on the kick drum and don't play all the accents (just because you can) because that makes the whole band sound one dimensional!
@@martinheath5947 nice feedback from a bassist. thanks. i played in a country band and the time was driving me crazy because it just felt like I coulnd't sync up with the bass player, no matter how hard I tried. I kept asking the band how the time felt, they said 'fine' but it felt off. drove me crazy. I talked to another bass player weeks later and he said, "oh, that's just so-n-so, he never locks in with the drummer" thought he was too good for that, to stoop to lock in with just ANY drummer, but my time at least is usually pretty good. snob.
The more I record myself the more I realize that the simplest drumming groves and fills sound the best. Its definitely changed how and what I practice / play. Good stuff Nate. Thanks
For a while, prog and fusion went through a phase of ultra-dense notes and it became fatiguing. There was no feel. space between the notes or groove. I lost interest in that kind of playing, too mechanical for me.
@@scottlowell493 I actually think that the best proggy bands of late have taken that kind of perspective into account. There will always be pastabands with tons of pointless noodling, but the number of technical bands who can channel a wide range of feelings/styles with a wide dynamic range and serve the song has never been better in my opinion!
Lurking trombonist here who needs work on rhythm. Yep I agree, the simpler your content, the wider appeal it will have. I played a jazz gig, and stayed clean and true to lines I knew, and got complimented. I guess my self assessment was more accurate than it had been previously.
it hurts but if you are committed you can really focus on the mistakes and improve those. Practice should not sound good because you are practicing your weaknesses!
I remember going in to class one day with the intention of recording a cover on which I had been working for several weeks. I was dead sure I was going to nail it. When my instructor emailed it to me a couple of days later....well let's just say it never saw the light of day outside of my own home.
I was asked to play for a Jazz jam type event, with a paid for rhythm section and a whole string of jazz musician, (mostly sax players!) It was a big annual thing, every Christmas. The regular drummer was having surgery, so I was asked to fill in. I was flattered to be asked, but a bit nervous. It started off ok, I seem to be doing ok for half a dozen numbers. Then this young kid turned up and asked to sit in. On drums... He was a graduate of the London School of music. Mastering in drums. He was much less than half my age - and clearly *miles* ahead. Then another kid turned up - another music graduate. Also brilliant. Following them afterwards was one of the worst things I've ever had to do... my confidence was blown to pieces, I was a total wreck. A horrible, horrible experience. Than was a year ago.. I still wouldn't have the confidence to play the gig again, if they offered it to me. Which they haven't.
Don't worry, Soon or later, You will realize that is not about 'The best' is about who 'hangs out' cool in The Pack and do the job with 'his/her unique' something ...
I just listened to some of your playing and you sound great man. Take their styles as inspiration and a learning experience. They probably did the same with someone else. Keep it up!
thanks for the honesty. Youre an inspiration for drummers who want to improve 🙏🏾. huge lesson here, HUMILITY and being HONEST with one's self is KEY! again, thanks heaps!
When you think about how "good" or "bad" you are at the drums (or many things in life, really) - It helps if you think of yourself on a journey of knowledge and learning on the instrument. Everyone starts at the same point - picking up a pair of sticks and hitting a drum. Depending on your level of commitment, the amount of effort you put in, your natural ability (because that certainly differs among all of us), and most importantly your interest determines how far the journey will take you. Comparing yourself to others on the journey is pretty pointless, because you're not at the same point on your journey. It is great to strive to play like someone you admire, but to compare yourself to them is not fair to you or them. Try to be your best, and the next day try even harder. The only person you should be competing with is yourself.
@@francisodonnellsmith2352 exactly. As long as we identify with the Ego, we will each remain as individual consciousnesses, separated from the Eternal.
I'm self taught and sat in at a blues club a few times playing songs with no rehearsal. I knew a few of the songs and heavily improv anyways so I made it through the sets decently. Bassist one night told me I had good pocket and "kept the train rolling." That's been my best compliment so far! :D I've definitely found a lot of success in recording myself playing what I thought was absolutely nailed down. It's very surprising and revealing!
t3hgir I used to jam with a guitarist friend of mine. He was friends with an area band I really looked up to. At one time they’d been signed to Metal Blade records & had toured all over the states & Europe, opening for a bunch of pretty well known bands. Well, a few years later, after they’d broken up, my friend came over with their drummer & he asked if he could play the bass while we jammed. I was hella nervous. I noticed him checking me out a few times & I thought I was probably doing a shitty job. After we finished, he took a couple of steps over & said, “Man, you’re a really good drummer.” I said thanks & played it off, but I was doing somersaults inside. I figured this dude had seen plenty of bands on tour & the fact that he complimented me when he didn’t have to made my decade. Turned out my friend had shown him a shitty recording of us jamming & he wanted to come see us play. 🙂
Evik James He meant that he never had any professional instruction by way of drum or other music lessons & he didn’t play an instrument in band in grade, middle or high school. I knew exactly what he meant, so will 99.9999% of everyone else who will ever read that comment. Stop being a fucking pedant. You pretty much took the time & went out of your way to be a dick. If you truly have a problem with that terminology, there are a thousand ways to leave a comment that’s not just some snarky jab.
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 Right! You're saying that if you ask 10,000,000 people what "self-taught" means, they will all give exactly the same definition that you gave. That's incredibly naive. And, you're going to tell me that this guy NEVER learned anything from anyone by watching them on TH-cam or TV? That he was basically locked in a room with a drum set and somehow developed all of these skills with his own imagination? Riiiiiiiiight.
TheKillerAwokeBeforeDawn “Self taught” means learning by oneself, without the aid of teachers, books, TH-cam, friends, magazines, or anything else. So, how many people are self taught? Nobody. While you may attempt to pride yourself on your ignorance, I don’t. I read guitar magazines, watch TH-cam, and take lessons. Anyone who is remotely serious about anything knows that cracking a book on any topic is a good idea...except for you. You are suggesting that you’re brilliant for spending hundreds or thousands of hours learning a rudimentary skill when a couple of hours with an instructor would do the trick. That is some real caveman shit right there. Furthermore, instead of addressing the issue, you chose to attack me by calling me names? Does that make you feel smart? Nah, you’re a caveman who just grunts and hits rocks with sticks. You pride yourself on ignorance. I’m glad most musicians aren’t like you.
My parents put a poster up in my room as a first grader that your comment reminded me of. "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp or what's a heaven for?" Internet says its a Robert Browning quote. Lol. Glad we can understand enough of what we can't do yet to be able to conspire to achieve it!
The first time I recorded myself, I blamed the lack of close-micing fir my lack of time and dynamics. 8 years later, I use my recordings to improve my playing and work on my weaknesses. I also speed up my recordings to hear what chops will sound like once they are developed. Helps me decide what to practice and what to flush down the toilet.
Great video once again. I'm pretty sure I ain't the only one who has learned more than enough from this channel, thank you! I have started recording myself some time ago and it's true, I'm looser and my playing has improved and I ain't that anxious anymore when playing Infront of others.. Hearing/watching yourself play is painful at first but you'll get used to it and the results are garanteed.
I'm a piano player and not a drummer but I feel like my ego is so big and so little at the same time. For instance, I struggle to transcribe my favourite musicians at times due to feeling like my ideas are fine and I don't need to borrow ideas from others (which I know is completely false due to the fact that I struggle in many musical situations) and at other times due to feeling like I can't transcribe the music because it is too technically difficult or complex or because I doubt that the ideas I'm transcribing will be useful in my playing. Your video has made me realise that I just need to go ahead and practice new ideas constantly in spite of my ego and not just default to practicing things I kbow and feel comfortable playing. Thanks.
Nate: been following you for a bit and I'm am completely impressed with how you blend the art of drumming with philosophy, and psychology. Love how you develop drive the art form and link it to human nature and development. Would love to catch an "in person" clinic if you do them in the NYC area. Keep up this important work!
Awesome video, Nate. I appreciate the depth to which you analyze these things. You're the thinking man's drummer. Or the drumming man's thinker. Something like that.
THANKS for this Nate! Realising I wasn't the musician I thought I was has been one of the most difficult thing to accept. I'm still in that zone. Next step, buying a recorder and building from what I can do. The statement "keep it real" makes more sense now.
A 'good' drummer is any drummer that can make music that you like. Other people may not like that music and think that drummer is crap. "Good" is also subjective and cannot be measured. All we can do is keep practicing and try to get better, whatever that may be relative to your own measuring stick....so just be the best 'you' that you can be!
This is so true. I used to think I was amazing until one day, I went into the studio with my band and got one of the biggest reality checks of my life. I'd been drumming about three or four years and it destroyed my confidence and everything I thought I knew about myself as a drummer. I'm about twelve years in now and have much more successfully recorded in studio since. I will not play any fill live unless I have it down perfectly, I play with Ralph Hardimon signature (marching) sticks so to get every single hit at an even velocity, my left foot never stands still because it is either playing the second kick pedal or the pedal hat, I will not learn a song unless it syncs to a click track, I am strictly the backbone of the band and not flashy in any way. If I looked at the drummer I was back then, I wouldn't recognize him.
you are one of the best drums (and more)teatcher on youtube's channels... ...So opened for "all can happening in this F....and beauty world" and i'm sure you're a real Zikos(real musician in french;) thank's for all your videos!...and for all you gave to me!!! kisses! Benja.
LOVE this video. I'm glad I'm not alone in wondering about my actual abilities and having that constant lingering bit of doubt. I have projects, I get calls to fill in, but I will definitely not be shy about my shortcomings in my playing *and* as a student. 😊 Thank you for posting this!
Im a Bass player in Jazz college and the one thing that gets me down to earth everytime is listening to my recordings. I record almost everything from practice to rehersals to gigs on a small GoPro and listen back to parts i thought were really good/Bad/interesting. Its a really great learning tool and in improved majorly since in started doing that
Just listened to 2 CD-Rs worth of what i had considered to be a really good performance by a jazz band i'm in. Those guys played really well... me? Well... it was incredibly humbling... painful at times! There were some good moments, but there were an equal number of moments where i was left wondering "...what was I thinking?" - or - "...why WHY WHY WWWHHHYYY???" There were some time issues (not tons), and some taste issues... but the most disturbing thing had to do the the amount of time i simply was not playing in the jazz idiom. I had thought that what i was doing was really all about jazz, but listening to it... it veered back & forth between jazz and some sort of a lumpen aggregate of funk, fusion, and the few 'G_____ Chops' i can actually manage to keep in time. In the context of this particular band, it sounded awful. So... yeah... this video is very timely for me. I particularly enjoyed your reference to the Dunning-Kruger Effect. I am very familiar with it (...and the Peter Principle) through my day job.
My most important drum lessons have been the failures of my playing in working situations that forced me to understand my playing limitations. The ability to critically look at your weaknesses and continue to press forward is what makes the greats drummers great. Unless you are Vinnie! Lol great lesson! 👍🏻🤟🏻🤘🏻✌🏻
I greatly appreciate the humble pie stories and the fact that you even put yourself in those situations. Being good at the drums is kind of ambiguous & personal. Are you a good drummer if you play very simple, but keep good time? Are you a good drummer just b'cuz you're fast or really creative but you've got no pocket? Also, being a good jazz drummer is different than being a good rock drummer or good metal or good reggae drummer. A really good drummer, should be competent in all those styles. As I've matured as a person, developed as a drummer and learned about music and drumming, what makes a someone good at drums has changed greatly.
I like one of the closing comments, the one about recognizing that someone else will always be better. Within less than a year of beginning my drum studies, I saw both Buddy and Neil Peart live, both at the very top of their games, and Steely Dan released Aja. I knew even then of course that I had to live with that reality.
I feel that everyone has talent. But most people auto block their creativity putting borders to expression. Most musicians tend to imitate, and not to explore their own creative potential, nor practice their own expression they discover, and work in develop it. I learned that improvisation is key in this subject. To be creative you need to free yourself from your preconceptions, that way you won't have limited creativity, and a better oriented path in learning/growing process.
Ok, But It is not all about 'Your Creative Journey' ... How much Drummers had I know working in their 'Limitless Creativity' that cannot provide a Common Ground For Interplay ?? ( ... Hundreds ... )
Thanks. For this video..ive only been playing 8 months...self taught except for youtube etc. First 6 months just jamming to my favorite songs..last 2 months be starting to focus on the technical stuff...rudiments..finger control etc...at first just jamming though i was doing good..but once I started tryin to really learn.. I felt like I hit that fork in the road...amd realize I wasn't near as good as I thought I was...but I sucked it up. And trying to learn and play as much as I can...this video..gives me inspiration to keep going...thanks👍🎵🎶🎼
Recording myself has always been my favorite reality check tool, especially when prepping for a performance or gig. It gives me a chance to spot and correct my mistakes before anybody else hears them. Glad to see that its still recommended. I watched this video for any 'new' methods. As always, there was something......I didn't know about the site. I'm going to go back and write it down.....Garage? Something like that.....Thanks for the tip! Time to go retrieve the info and get busy!
People have been telling me I'm a great drummer since I'd been playing for only a few months. But most of them weren't drummers. Coming up on 20 years since I first picked up a pair of sticks and I know I'm not even remotely close to where I want to be. The depth of the instrument is often vastly underestimated, I'll be learning trying to improve and understand the drums until I die.
Studying music, and I think esp drumming, is a very personal study of oneself. I've always maintained that the potential for one's growth as a person can be directly linked to their growth as a person. (Notice I said "can be", because there are many "mature" players who aren't particular mature people, but the opportunity is there.) I've also wondered about the idea of recording oneself during basic human interactions. There might be plenty to glean from that experience that may help someone grow both as a person and a musician. Anyway, I think you're onto something here. Keep it going!
Ahh great video. I subscribed. Everyone has an opinion of course. I can compare myself to less talented drummers then I am great but sucks when comparing myself to more talented ones than me so there you have it. That is how I look at it. What it matters is that one knows he or she has the ability to play a tune in time and blend with the arrangement or a cover and be close to the recording. I believe there are three kind of drummers; the soloist super technical, the opposite or in the pocket and a mix of the two. Bad, good, medium are relative terms that depends on opinions and as I mentioned earlier every one has one so why worry how good you really are. Go play something if you can and be happy you are especial enough to do it; you may not be able to play with Rush but surely there are millions that would not be able to even come close at your level! I am as good as I allowed myself to be with my own efforts or the lack of it. And that applies for anything we do in life. That’s it.
Good reminder. For me, I can honestly say, that during my 32 years of drumming, I've never overrated my drumming skills. I've probably done the opposite. That may not be a good thing either, because I've avoided to even try stuff I can't play, I've thought it's no use cuz I'm not good enough.
@@philfleetwood2618 He has that Chris Dave type of groove and a heavy dose of straight ahead witth a relax feel and good taste.. the guy is great player and great communicator.
In my experience as a drummer, you can tell a lot looking at form. Every type of skilled drummer has a consistent, flowing, and dynamic form that is quickly recognizable. To put it simply, if you walk up to a drumset and see that the heads all have a small circlular mark in the center of them, you know whoever plays it is skilled.
I've recorded myself for a long time just to hear where I'm at and to correct what I hear needs work. my wife is convinced I do it because I love my own playing lol
I had one of those experiences last night editing my parts for a record. It was rough as hell. I thought I played amazingly at the time. Then I heard it and had a strong "ouch" feeling
There are different levels. But first thing is to be able to keep time. Establish and maintain the grove of the song and nail the transitions. Other than that, it’s all flash and show off. Which is fine when it’s needed but what is it that makes a good drummer for the right band. Mainly it is to do your job for the music you are playing. Fancy drummers can’t be used if all the flash doesn’t go with the music. So you’re a solo artist? Either way, I find your videos informative. I enjoy them.
Great vid. I wish I saw it 20 years ago. I've sat with a couple pro' drummers (constantly working for big artists, bands, and studio) everyone heard of. I studied with a couple, as I grew up with a couple. When I think I'm good, and I go to do something to impress, I'd get it w/out any lipstick. I mean, completely lost in 3 bars of 4/4. When ya see pro chops up close, it freaky! Thing is, the drums can, nor ever will be mastered! It's infinite
If people are willing to pay you is a pretty good guide and in another life I was semi pro but doesn't make me John Bonham. I let others' determine how good they think I am. Musical instruments rely on motor skills so practice makes perfect. Never thought I would hear Justin Kruger and David Dunning referenced in a drum vid.
You were able to find your lane, which is just as difficult. Any of us could be better than we are, but when we find the scene that works for us, which in some areas is a true challenge, we can thrive.
I know I've gotten pretty good at drumming, but the last few years have gone with little practice. Only performing. Everything but my timing as stayed solid. Something I've been working on lately.
And FWIW, my friend, there might be many other better drummers than you in the world, but I've watched a lot of drum tutorial videos, and a lot of really good drummers aren't very good teachers. The Drumeo archives are chock full of them. IMHO, you, Stephen Taylor and Rob Brown reign supreme. And what I think you do better than anyone else is explain & demonstrate complex technical stuff better than anyone else. If I were a more advanced drummer, you'd be my go to guy. I put you up there with the likes of Bruce Becker. This is just 1 man's opinion, but I think you'd do far better or give the world better drummers if you just focused on 1 on 1 lessons on advanced music/drum topics.
There's a line in the new season of Sneaky Pete, "Take a good look in the mirror and be honest about what you see...the truth will set you free". You make some of my favorite music lessons online.
I did a video similar to this a month or so ago and I rated myself as closer to a beginner than to a world-class drummer. It’s a matter of perspective sometimes. If you don’t know how much better you could be, how can you estimate how good you are now? I’ve signed 2 record deals and I’ve got a music degree. I’m still reluctant to take gigs outside of my comfort genres or even go to jam sessions because I think I won’t know the tunes or I won’t understand some nuance of the music because I’m not in that specific scene. People accuse me all the time of being a “know it all” because I dare to have a yt channel about drums and people cite the DKE at me. I think there’s a difference between thinking I know everything and stating my opinion on a tiny facet that I do know about. I’m well aware that I can’t hang in certain circles. I instruct a drum line but that in no way leads me to believe I could even make the last spot on a DCI snare line. I’m definitively better than the kids I teach at literally everything... but it’s a low bar. They’re kids. There’s always a gradation of ability and almost everyone falls into the middle somewhere. If you think you’re the best, you’re wrong. There’s always someone better. Always. You’re literally Buddy Rich? Oh, ok play like Thomas Lang then... yeah that’s what I thought. How “good” you are is very specific to the task at hand. Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses is the first step in improving. It’s ok to be great at one particular skill and then admit you are inept at another. That’s how everyone is. Everyone. Nobody does it all. Or maybe 10 or 15 people on earth can do it all... but nobody in this comment section is one of them.
Having good, honest musicians around you helps as well. Nothing like a bass player telling what is missing to give you areas to work on.
Ha Like play UNDER the tune to anchor the groove. Don't play the ENTIRE tune on the drums and especially don't ghost all the bass syncopations on the kick drum and don't play all the accents (just because you can) because that makes the whole band sound one dimensional!
@@martinheath5947 nice feedback from a bassist. thanks. i played in a country band and the time was driving me crazy because it just felt like I coulnd't sync up with the bass player, no matter how hard I tried. I kept asking the band how the time felt, they said 'fine' but it felt off. drove me crazy. I talked to another bass player weeks later and he said, "oh, that's just so-n-so, he never locks in with the drummer" thought he was too good for that, to stoop to lock in with just ANY drummer, but my time at least is usually pretty good. snob.
Yes I’d love to have me an bass player..
Guitar also
The more I record myself the more I realize that the simplest drumming groves and fills sound the best. Its definitely changed how and what I practice / play. Good stuff Nate. Thanks
For a while, prog and fusion went through a phase of ultra-dense notes and it became fatiguing. There was no feel. space between the notes or groove. I lost interest in that kind of playing, too mechanical for me.
@@scottlowell493 I actually think that the best proggy bands of late have taken that kind of perspective into account. There will always be pastabands with tons of pointless noodling, but the number of technical bands who can channel a wide range of feelings/styles with a wide dynamic range and serve the song has never been better in my opinion!
Lurking trombonist here who needs work on rhythm. Yep I agree, the simpler your content, the wider appeal it will have. I played a jazz gig, and stayed clean and true to lines I knew, and got complimented. I guess my self assessment was more accurate than it had been previously.
The 80/20 drummer: how to tell if youre good at the drums
Drummers: Sweating nervously
video starts at 4:58 for you impatient ones...
but watch the whole thing. It’s good for you.
hearing recordings of me drumming when I thought I was hot shit has broken me down to tears before LOL.
Same.
it hurts but if you are committed you can really focus on the mistakes and improve those. Practice should not sound good because you are practicing your weaknesses!
My wife kept her childhood drum covers just to show people that you can be THAT BAD and then get good
Yup
I remember going in to class one day with the intention of recording a cover on which I had been working for several weeks. I was dead sure I was going to nail it. When my instructor emailed it to me a couple of days later....well let's just say it never saw the light of day outside of my own home.
I was asked to play for a Jazz jam type event, with a paid for rhythm section and a whole string of jazz musician, (mostly sax players!) It was a big annual thing, every Christmas. The regular drummer was having surgery, so I was asked to fill in. I was flattered to be asked, but a bit nervous. It started off ok, I seem to be doing ok for half a dozen numbers. Then this young kid turned up and asked to sit in. On drums... He was a graduate of the London School of music. Mastering in drums. He was much less than half my age - and clearly *miles* ahead. Then another kid turned up - another music graduate. Also brilliant. Following them afterwards was one of the worst things I've ever had to do... my confidence was blown to pieces, I was a total wreck. A horrible, horrible experience. Than was a year ago.. I still wouldn't have the confidence to play the gig again, if they offered it to me. Which they haven't.
Don't worry, Soon or later, You will realize that is not about 'The best' is about who 'hangs out' cool in The Pack and do the job with 'his/her unique' something ...
Nothing to do with the video other than to say I'm a SAHB fan also!!!
I just listened to some of your playing and you sound great man. Take their styles as inspiration and a learning experience. They probably did the same with someone else. Keep it up!
great video! (as always ) respect!
Whats up benny! Loved your video on your floor tom air trick today.
Holly fuck. I've never seen you in the comments! Ur my favorite drummer
thanks for the honesty. Youre an inspiration for drummers who want to improve 🙏🏾.
huge lesson here, HUMILITY and being HONEST with one's self is KEY! again, thanks heaps!
When you think about how "good" or "bad" you are at the drums (or many things in life, really) - It helps if you think of yourself on a journey of knowledge and learning on the instrument.
Everyone starts at the same point - picking up a pair of sticks and hitting a drum.
Depending on your level of commitment, the amount of effort you put in, your natural ability (because that certainly differs among all of us), and most importantly your interest determines how far the journey will take you.
Comparing yourself to others on the journey is pretty pointless, because you're not at the same point on your journey.
It is great to strive to play like someone you admire, but to compare yourself to them is not fair to you or them.
Try to be your best, and the next day try even harder.
The only person you should be competing with is yourself.
JustHazardous - the best comment in here! Agree to the letter.
Indeed. If I learn a new sticking or fill, I go, hell yeah. Progress. Then I act like it never happened and work on something else.
Thank you. I needed to hear that.
Removing the ego is the first step towards serious understanding, learning and ultimately wisdom.
You're nothing without me
@@theego2897 We are All The Eternal existence that Transcended Your Dead ...
@@firstnamesurname6550 do you believe you're an autonomous, eternal individual?
@@theego2897 So you say. Without you, individuals become something beyond and you are eclipsed.
@@francisodonnellsmith2352 exactly.
As long as we identify with the Ego, we will each remain as individual consciousnesses, separated from the Eternal.
I'm self taught and sat in at a blues club a few times playing songs with no rehearsal. I knew a few of the songs and heavily improv anyways so I made it through the sets decently. Bassist one night told me I had good pocket and "kept the train rolling."
That's been my best compliment so far! :D
I've definitely found a lot of success in recording myself playing what I thought was absolutely nailed down. It's very surprising and revealing!
t3hgir I used to jam with a guitarist friend of mine. He was friends with an area band I really looked up to. At one time they’d been signed to Metal Blade records & had toured all over the states & Europe, opening for a bunch of pretty well known bands. Well, a few years later, after they’d broken up, my friend came over with their drummer & he asked if he could play the bass while we jammed. I was hella nervous. I noticed him checking me out a few times & I thought I was probably doing a shitty job. After we finished, he took a couple of steps over & said, “Man, you’re a really good drummer.”
I said thanks & played it off, but I was doing somersaults inside. I figured this dude had seen plenty of bands on tour & the fact that he complimented me when he didn’t have to made my decade. Turned out my friend had shown him a shitty recording of us jamming & he wanted to come see us play. 🙂
Everyone is self taught. Quit using that term. It means nothing.
Evik James He meant that he never had any professional instruction by way of drum or other music lessons & he didn’t play an instrument in band in grade, middle or high school. I knew exactly what he meant, so will 99.9999% of everyone else who will ever read that comment.
Stop being a fucking pedant. You pretty much took the time & went out of your way to be a dick. If you truly have a problem with that terminology, there are a thousand ways to leave a comment that’s not just some snarky jab.
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 Right! You're saying that if you ask 10,000,000 people what "self-taught" means, they will all give exactly the same definition that you gave. That's incredibly naive. And, you're going to tell me that this guy NEVER learned anything from anyone by watching them on TH-cam or TV? That he was basically locked in a room with a drum set and somehow developed all of these skills with his own imagination? Riiiiiiiiight.
TheKillerAwokeBeforeDawn “Self taught” means learning by oneself, without the aid of teachers, books, TH-cam, friends, magazines, or anything else. So, how many people are self taught? Nobody. While you may attempt to pride yourself on your ignorance, I don’t. I read guitar magazines, watch TH-cam, and take lessons. Anyone who is remotely serious about anything knows that cracking a book on any topic is a good idea...except for you. You are suggesting that you’re brilliant for spending hundreds or thousands of hours learning a rudimentary skill when a couple of hours with an instructor would do the trick. That is some real caveman shit right there. Furthermore, instead of addressing the issue, you chose to attack me by calling me names? Does that make you feel smart? Nah, you’re a caveman who just grunts and hits rocks with sticks. You pride yourself on ignorance. I’m glad most musicians aren’t like you.
A big problem is that no one wants to hurt anothers feelings by giving them constructive criticism
The Ego true. That’s why Terence fletchers and the iPhone are our allies. Occasionally
@@8020drummer Haha, indeed.
This is me to a T. I hear others play and I think I can do it because I understand it. Unfortunately understanding does not translate to ability.
My parents put a poster up in my room as a first grader that your comment reminded me of. "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp or what's a heaven for?" Internet says its a Robert Browning quote. Lol. Glad we can understand enough of what we can't do yet to be able to conspire to achieve it!
The first time I recorded myself, I blamed the lack of close-micing fir my lack of time and dynamics. 8 years later, I use my recordings to improve my playing and work on my weaknesses. I also speed up my recordings to hear what chops will sound like once they are developed. Helps me decide what to practice and what to flush down the toilet.
Hemispheres controlling different things like math and art is actually a misconception
Hemispheres is still a dope album though.
can you elaborate on that?
@@PLScarecrow sciencebasedmedicine.org/left-brain-right-brain-myth/ thats what he means
Maybe that's why drummers can only count to 4
So true!
Great video once again. I'm pretty sure I ain't the only one who has learned more than enough from this channel, thank you! I have started recording myself some time ago and it's true, I'm looser and my playing has improved and I ain't that anxious anymore when playing Infront of others.. Hearing/watching yourself play is painful at first but you'll get used to it and the results are garanteed.
I'm a piano player and not a drummer but I feel like my ego is so big and so little at the same time. For instance, I struggle to transcribe my favourite musicians at times due to feeling like my ideas are fine and I don't need to borrow ideas from others (which I know is completely false due to the fact that I struggle in many musical situations) and at other times due to feeling like I can't transcribe the music because it is too technically difficult or complex or because I doubt that the ideas I'm transcribing will be useful in my playing.
Your video has made me realise that I just need to go ahead and practice new ideas constantly in spite of my ego and not just default to practicing things I kbow and feel comfortable playing.
Thanks.
Ah Nate… where were you when I was twenty!! Great wisdom to grow with. I’m sixty now and I have to say “ Better Nate than never!” 👍
"There's levels to this game." New mantra.
Nate: been following you for a bit and I'm am completely impressed with how you blend the art of drumming with philosophy, and psychology. Love how you develop drive the art form and link it to human nature and development.
Would love to catch an "in person" clinic if you do them in the NYC area.
Keep up this important work!
The more you know, the more you know what you don't know.
Exactly
Awesome video, Nate. I appreciate the depth to which you analyze these things. You're the thinking man's drummer. Or the drumming man's thinker. Something like that.
Simplicity and a spot on clock is what gets the gig
THANKS for this Nate! Realising I wasn't the musician I thought I was has been one of the most difficult thing to accept. I'm still in that zone.
Next step, buying a recorder and building from what I can do. The statement "keep it real" makes more sense now.
This is now my favorite TH-cam music site- and I don't even play drums.
A 'good' drummer is any drummer that can make music that you like. Other people may not like that music and think that drummer is crap. "Good" is also subjective and cannot be measured. All we can do is keep practicing and try to get better, whatever that may be relative to your own measuring stick....so just be the best 'you' that you can be!
Playing to recordings is a great study tool. V-Drums helped me alot with getting a good mix of drums vs. track.
This is so true. I used to think I was amazing until one day, I went into the studio with my band and got one of the biggest reality checks of my life. I'd been drumming about three or four years and it destroyed my confidence and everything I thought I knew about myself as a drummer. I'm about twelve years in now and have much more successfully recorded in studio since. I will not play any fill live unless I have it down perfectly, I play with Ralph Hardimon signature (marching) sticks so to get every single hit at an even velocity, my left foot never stands still because it is either playing the second kick pedal or the pedal hat, I will not learn a song unless it syncs to a click track, I am strictly the backbone of the band and not flashy in any way. If I looked at the drummer I was back then, I wouldn't recognize him.
Simply ( and well ) stated. I enjoy your perspective and I enjoy your course.
you are one of the best drums (and more)teatcher on youtube's channels...
...So opened for "all can happening in this F....and beauty world" and i'm sure you're a real Zikos(real musician in french;)
thank's for all your videos!...and for all you gave to me!!!
kisses!
Benja.
I love where you’re going with your content! Really incredible stuff
Hubert Payne thanks man!
Story of our lives.
LOVE this video. I'm glad I'm not alone in wondering about my actual abilities and having that constant lingering bit of doubt. I have projects, I get calls to fill in, but I will definitely not be shy about my shortcomings in my playing *and* as a student. 😊 Thank you for posting this!
Im a Bass player in Jazz college and the one thing that gets me down to earth everytime is listening to my recordings. I record almost everything from practice to rehersals to gigs on a small GoPro and listen back to parts i thought were really good/Bad/interesting. Its a really great learning tool and in improved majorly since in started doing that
I appreciate the honesty in this video. Very relatable. Many of us don't give ourselves an honest evaluation. Cheers!
Love the retreat into the corner 😂. Appreciate getting into the psychological side of things 👍
Just listened to 2 CD-Rs worth of what i had considered to be a really good performance by a jazz band i'm in. Those guys played really well... me? Well... it was incredibly humbling... painful at times! There were some good moments, but there were an equal number of moments where i was left wondering "...what was I thinking?" - or - "...why WHY WHY WWWHHHYYY???" There were some time issues (not tons), and some taste issues... but the most disturbing thing had to do the the amount of time i simply was not playing in the jazz idiom. I had thought that what i was doing was really all about jazz, but listening to it... it veered back & forth between jazz and some sort of a lumpen aggregate of funk, fusion, and the few 'G_____ Chops' i can actually manage to keep in time. In the context of this particular band, it sounded awful. So... yeah... this video is very timely for me. I particularly enjoyed your reference to the Dunning-Kruger Effect. I am very familiar with it (...and the Peter Principle) through my day job.
My most important drum lessons have been the failures of my playing in working situations that forced me to understand my playing limitations. The ability to critically look at your weaknesses and continue to press forward is what makes the greats drummers great. Unless you are Vinnie! Lol great lesson! 👍🏻🤟🏻🤘🏻✌🏻
I greatly appreciate the humble pie stories and the fact that you even put yourself in those situations.
Being good at the drums is kind of ambiguous & personal. Are you a good drummer if you play very simple, but keep good time? Are you a good drummer just b'cuz you're fast or really creative but you've got no pocket?
Also, being a good jazz drummer is different than being a good rock drummer or good metal or good reggae drummer. A really good drummer, should be competent in all those styles.
As I've matured as a person, developed as a drummer and learned about music and drumming, what makes a someone good at drums has changed greatly.
No matter how you think you are there's some 10 year old on the internet already doing better than you.
:)
TRUE!! Humans are doing good!!!
Like that 9 year old Japanese girl
@@Daniellexdful yes! That little munchkin can groove, haha.
So racist 😂😂😂
@@8020drummer little Japanese girls will one day rule planet Earth.
Thank you so much for your videos that whistle at the end was the cherry on top.
I like one of the closing comments, the one about recognizing that someone else will always be better. Within less than a year of beginning my drum studies, I saw both Buddy and Neil Peart live, both at the very top of their games, and Steely Dan released Aja. I knew even then of course that I had to live with that reality.
“Don’t believe everything you think.” Yea...the more I learn the less I know!
I feel that everyone has talent. But most people auto block their creativity putting borders to expression. Most musicians tend to imitate, and not to explore their own creative potential, nor practice their own expression they discover, and work in develop it. I learned that improvisation is key in this subject. To be creative you need to free yourself from your preconceptions, that way you won't have limited creativity, and a better oriented path in learning/growing process.
Ok, But It is not all about 'Your Creative Journey' ... How much Drummers had I know working in their 'Limitless Creativity' that cannot provide a Common Ground For Interplay ?? ( ... Hundreds ... )
Good content. I know the taste of that pie.
Nice Video. I like your teaching style.
Great video Nate. This is valuable information and sums up the learning journey.
Awesome video! You just earned yourself a subscriber! But you had me at “Gateway drug”.
Love this video.. and good to see Lignum drums repped in this video. Gert deserves alot more credit!
Thanks. For this video..ive only been playing 8 months...self taught except for youtube etc. First 6 months just jamming to my favorite songs..last 2 months be starting to focus on the technical stuff...rudiments..finger control etc...at first just jamming though i was doing good..but once I started tryin to really learn.. I felt like I hit that fork in the road...amd realize I wasn't near as good as I thought I was...but I sucked it up. And trying to learn and play as much as I can...this video..gives me inspiration to keep going...thanks👍🎵🎶🎼
7:09
Basic drummers - Use inears
Epic alpha male pro drummers - Use AirPods
Sam Godzwa those things give u brain cancer
Dude you're so on the spot again!
Great video Nate!
Don't let em get to ya Nate, your doin a Great job
Good stuff! Definitely feeling this lately.
Recording myself has always been my favorite reality check tool, especially when prepping for a performance or gig. It gives me a chance to spot and correct my mistakes before anybody else hears them. Glad to see that its still recommended. I watched this video for any 'new' methods. As always, there was something......I didn't know about the site. I'm going to go back and write it down.....Garage? Something like that.....Thanks for the tip! Time to go retrieve the info and get busy!
sherryl henning yes I agree it helps me too and every time it’s helped me do better .
The Bill Hader of drumming
Another good display and breakdown of a healthy attitude. As Mike Johnston once said: Embrace the suck!
Ja ich verstehe. Bitte gib uns mehr und mehr und mehr
@@welk2703 you wot m8?
Saw Nasheet playing with Anouar Brahem in Sweden recently... Amazing
People have been telling me I'm a great drummer since I'd been playing for only a few months. But most of them weren't drummers. Coming up on 20 years since I first picked up a pair of sticks and I know I'm not even remotely close to where I want to be. The depth of the instrument is often vastly underestimated, I'll be learning trying to improve and understand the drums until I die.
This is the best drum channel on the net. Really enjoy your videos. Brilliant!
My humble pie story. Music school. Me: notes, notes, notes. Bob Van Sice: "do you own a metronome?"
Studying music, and I think esp drumming, is a very personal study of oneself. I've always maintained that the potential for one's growth as a person can be directly linked to their growth as a person. (Notice I said "can be", because there are many "mature" players who aren't particular mature people, but the opportunity is there.) I've also wondered about the idea of recording oneself during basic human interactions. There might be plenty to glean from that experience that may help someone grow both as a person and a musician. Anyway, I think you're onto something here. Keep it going!
I always viewed my mistakes as progression and work to be done. Hell, it means I get to play more drums.
^^^ this guy
Ahh great video. I subscribed. Everyone has an opinion of course. I can compare myself to less talented drummers then I am great but sucks when comparing myself to more talented ones than me so there you have it. That is how I look at it. What it matters is that one knows he or she has the ability to play a tune in time and blend with the arrangement or a cover and be close to the recording. I believe there are three kind of drummers; the soloist super technical, the opposite or in the pocket and a mix of the two. Bad, good, medium are relative terms that depends on opinions and as I mentioned earlier every one has one so why worry how good you really are. Go play something if you can and be happy you are especial enough to do it; you may not be able to play with Rush but surely there are millions that would not be able to even come close at your level! I am as good as I allowed myself to be with my own efforts or the lack of it. And that applies for anything we do in life. That’s it.
To be fair, playing with Forrest would be daunting to most. Dude is a monster.
The DKE applies to 90% of online comments, including this one....
...and always assume you are wrong.
Good reminder.
For me, I can honestly say, that during my 32 years of drumming, I've never overrated my drumming skills. I've probably done the opposite. That may not be a good thing either, because I've avoided to even try stuff I can't play, I've thought it's no use cuz I'm not good enough.
Your channel makes me wanna learn to play drums properly. You're so crisp and precise
You are an excellent drummer! love your style!
Aníbal De León
Style? What style?
@@philfleetwood2618 He has that Chris Dave type of groove and a heavy dose of straight ahead witth a relax feel and good taste..
the guy is great player and great communicator.
Dude this video is fricken fantastic!
In my experience as a drummer, you can tell a lot looking at form. Every type of skilled drummer has a consistent, flowing, and dynamic form that is quickly recognizable.
To put it simply, if you walk up to a drumset and see that the heads all have a small circlular mark in the center of them, you know whoever plays it is skilled.
yoo Forest and Chris are two of my favs! good video
I've recorded myself for a long time just to hear where I'm at and to correct what I hear needs work. my wife is convinced I do it because I love my own playing lol
Lol @5:20 I really don’t know why I expected the smart phone recording footage to sound any different than the normal camera angle
Failure, the greatest teacher is....
I had one of those experiences last night editing my parts for a record. It was rough as hell. I thought I played amazingly at the time. Then I heard it and had a strong "ouch" feeling
There are different levels. But first thing is to be able to keep time. Establish and maintain the grove of the song and nail the transitions. Other than that, it’s all flash and show off. Which is fine when it’s needed but what is it that makes a good drummer for the right band. Mainly it is to do your job for the music you are playing. Fancy drummers can’t be used if all the flash doesn’t go with the music. So you’re a solo artist? Either way, I find your videos informative. I enjoy them.
This is actually rlly helpful
thanks dude!
Great vid. I wish I saw it 20 years ago. I've sat with a couple pro' drummers (constantly working for big artists, bands, and studio) everyone heard of. I studied with a couple, as I grew up with a couple. When I think I'm good, and I go to do something to impress, I'd get it w/out any lipstick. I mean, completely lost in 3 bars of 4/4. When ya see pro chops up close, it freaky! Thing is, the drums can, nor ever will be mastered! It's infinite
If people are willing to pay you is a pretty good guide and in another life I was semi pro but doesn't make me John Bonham. I let others' determine how good they think I am. Musical instruments rely on motor skills so practice makes perfect. Never thought I would hear Justin Kruger and David Dunning referenced in a drum vid.
I must have been good, I’ve retired with enough money to last me the rest of my life......as long as I die a week next Tuesday, it’ll last.
You were able to find your lane, which is just as difficult. Any of us could be better than we are, but when we find the scene that works for us, which in some areas is a true challenge, we can thrive.
When toddlers start dancing. That's a good indicator that you are doing something right. At that age they don't fake it.
i really do like, how honest it is.
I know I've gotten pretty good at drumming, but the last few years have gone with little practice. Only performing. Everything but my timing as stayed solid. Something I've been working on lately.
I tend to be one who underestimates, rather than overestimates, my ability....at least from what those with whom I have played have told me.
Larry Cooper me too I think I’m not a good drummer but people say I am so there must be something to it .
Nate's teacher: Just listen to the recording... Nate: Time all over the place lol
Great video and so critical for all musicians!
I have the same "music stand"
5:01
(1) precise time, (2) then precise chops, (3) then groove, (4) then groovy chops and back to (1). Never stay stuck at any point.
Beautiful lesson :-) x
And FWIW, my friend, there might be many other better drummers than you in the world, but I've watched a lot of drum tutorial videos, and a lot of really good drummers aren't very good teachers. The Drumeo archives are chock full of them.
IMHO, you, Stephen Taylor and Rob Brown reign supreme. And what I think you do better than anyone else is explain & demonstrate complex technical stuff better than anyone else.
If I were a more advanced drummer, you'd be my go to guy. I put you up there with the likes of Bruce Becker. This is just 1 man's opinion, but I think you'd do far better or give the world better drummers if you just focused on 1 on 1 lessons on advanced music/drum topics.
There's a line in the new season of Sneaky Pete, "Take a good look in the mirror and be honest about what you see...the truth will set you free". You make some of my favorite music lessons online.
For me, the amount time away I've had away from playing makes it very humbling not being able to replicate stuff i was doing years ago..
Play slow! Kings X “Human Behavior” is a great place to start. You guys will know when it gets simple sick.
Thanks my Guru.
Thank you! Awesome video!
I did a video similar to this a month or so ago and I rated myself as closer to a beginner than to a world-class drummer. It’s a matter of perspective sometimes. If you don’t know how much better you could be, how can you estimate how good you are now? I’ve signed 2 record deals and I’ve got a music degree. I’m still reluctant to take gigs outside of my comfort genres or even go to jam sessions because I think I won’t know the tunes or I won’t understand some nuance of the music because I’m not in that specific scene. People accuse me all the time of being a “know it all” because I dare to have a yt channel about drums and people cite the DKE at me. I think there’s a difference between thinking I know everything and stating my opinion on a tiny facet that I do know about. I’m well aware that I can’t hang in certain circles. I instruct a drum line but that in no way leads me to believe I could even make the last spot on a DCI snare line. I’m definitively better than the kids I teach at literally everything... but it’s a low bar. They’re kids. There’s always a gradation of ability and almost everyone falls into the middle somewhere. If you think you’re the best, you’re wrong. There’s always someone better. Always. You’re literally Buddy Rich? Oh, ok play like Thomas Lang then... yeah that’s what I thought. How “good” you are is very specific to the task at hand. Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses is the first step in improving. It’s ok to be great at one particular skill and then admit you are inept at another. That’s how everyone is. Everyone. Nobody does it all. Or maybe 10 or 15 people on earth can do it all... but nobody in this comment section is one of them.
Good mojo, man. I enjoy your videos.
Awesome vid. Learned lots, as I always do with your vids. Thanks!!