I don't know how many times I've told people they don't need beat the crap out of the drums and cymbals. You get more different sounds and range of sounds playing like a normal person.
I remember in the early-mid-70s, a drum instructor said just what you mentioned. He used Peter Chris as an example. Having more drums doesn't make you a better drummer. It makes you a better showman but not a better drummer. His point being the massive kits are for show. It's cool for the audience to look at
A friend of mine has a big kit... sort of. When I first met him his kit was Tama Imperial Star, 16" front tom and two 18" floor toms. Bass drum was 24". Sitting at his kit, this 16 inch big ass tom right in front of me was just nuts. He changed it later to an 18" tom and the floor toms went up to 20" not to mention the bass drum who stepped up to 28"... specially made for him, on top of that there are 5 crashes 18", and of course, a 24" ride. The only "normal" thing is the snare, everything else is supersized. Oh, he did ask me if it was possible to change the front tom to a 20" but I didn´t support that considering the weight of it all, and the special construction that has to be made in order to have a "small" bass drum as a tom... the floor toms would then be 22" and I was then completely out of words, how do you respond to that?? Go to the optician? Funny guy...
Here's a myth ... You have to start young to become a great drummer! That better be just a myth, because I'm taking a stab at proving it wrong in my 50's!!
I've been playing for about 15 years now, but I've been pretty lazy about it. Im pretty sure with a little talent and some dedicated practice, someone who really wanted to play could be at least as good as me in a couple of years. Good enough to get gigs.
Depends. You can't really do Hotel California without some small, high tuned toms of some kind (2). Don't really need more than a ride, an 18 crash or so and an old, corroded half a high-hat for a small China/crash.
I'm 63, I started when I was 8, and what you said, took me a life time to learn. Man I wish there were these types of videos when I was a youth. I still love to play drums and I don't feel crusty but I do feel wiser about the instrument. Love it, Mr.Todd.👍👍👍👍👍
I started at 63 and I really suck but everything Todd says is true. I find that his wisdom and guidelines would be true of my profession of 42 years which had nothing to do with music. You get smarter and more efficient with age. Flair gives way to flavor...
@@BiggieTrismegistus When I listen to music that's come out in the past 10 years, I don't hear much groove at all. The drum parts sound like they were played by emotionless, sterile robots.
@@beatlesrgear Judging from your name I'm guessing you're a Beatles fan. I get so pissed when I read people slag off Ringo Starr. Was he the best technical drummer? Of course not but that doesn't mean he wasn't great. Sometimes it's not about how fast your double bass work is and more about how well you groove and enhance the song. Give me "basic" drummers like Ringo, Charlie Watts, Doug "Cosmo" Clifford, Al Jackson, etc. over all the technical wankery I hear too often nowadays. That's not to say that technique is a bad thing, of course, but sometimes it seems that technical playing overshadows tasteful playing in my opinion.
I went to a Terry Bozzio drum clinic/concert. He must have had the biggest kit in the world. So amazing technical. But boring as shit. I like good songs. Play in the pocket, what the song needs. I auditioned for a band once, and the guy before me was a way better drummer than me, but I new the songs. I showed up prepared...and got the gig. Those guys were better musicians than me, but I had a great attitude, was easy to work with, and we had lots of fun gigging.
You definitely are on the same page as me. I've been playing drums since I was 16 . I'm 70 now. I've got a Ludwig 4 piece. Same kit Ringo used on the Ed Sullivan show back in 64. Still rocking.
"If you can't make it on a four piece kit, more drums isn't going to help you." Write that down. Remember it. It's sage advice from a top tier professional drummer.
I always think of Matt Helders from the Arctic Monkeys and his tiny kit, definitely an inspiration, playing for a little more than a year now and almost all the songs I've learned was AM's because of Matt's creativity, almost all of the rock songs now feel boring, like I could play it with no problem, so now I'm also starting to learn some QotSA stuff, and It's so much fun
But more drums is fun and everyone loves to have fun, don't they? Errr...maybe not everyone I guess? I started on one drum and now I have 3. It is so much more fun.
@@terrencenbanbury5220 That is my sole motivation Terrance-fun. I always say, "If your not having fun, your doing something wrong." You can borrow that quote if you like.
My main influence as a drummer has always been Jeff Porcaro and what he said at the time "plays everything in all possible ways and stay with what works best and if what works best is the simplest, stay with the simplest" Words are still present in my head every time I sit down to the drums.
I love Jeff. Didya notice he describes the Purdie half shuffle/Rosanna beat one way, then plays it differently? I was charmed. And pretty pleased I caught that :)
The third point is what most drummers do not understand. Just leave crazy fills and complex rythms for the music that requires them, like Rush's progressive rock, but if you use them in music that requires a stable and strong rythmic base, they suck. Thanks for the video, I really like this kind of content.
Depends my favorite drummer is Kakashi from Toe if you never heard them its worth a listen the band does odd meter post rock stuff but very barebones with the bass playing on sparse beats. But the drummer is phenomenal and is very melodic in a sense even when the beat is a simple boom chak hes adding subtle ghost notes and rolls on the hats. The song 8.6 by Toe Id recommend as the perfect balance of absurd chops and a deep groove
You're very right! I'm a big fan of Simon Phillips and his Protocol albums (fusion / jazz rock) and I love the crazy songs and its odd meters. However, my favorite song from protocol is based upon a simple 4/4 groove, without any chops at all, named Moments of Fortune.
Rush is my favorite band, and that's one of the biggest reasons why, they figured out a way to show their incredible talent by playing music that calls for it.
It works both ways. I have heard drummers trying to force minimalistic Steve Jordan type parts over syncopated, ornate, eclectic rock. That sucks just as bad as people trying to turn the Dixie Chicks into Virgil Donati.
I agree with you 100 % , I’m 71 and I have been playing since I was 16 . I play with a small 60’s and 70’s rock band and I love it . I kinda wish I would have pursued my drumming career a lot earlier in life but my family was not that wealthy to do this . At 71 I still love playing.
Dear Drumeo people, i would like to ask if it is possible to get Nicko McBrain to your studio. He plays a unique style and he is a gratuated drummer too. So it would be nice to hear as long as it is possible what he is telling us drummers. You can not denie, that he is playing for one of the greatest metal bands in history. He is currently living in Florida, so he is quite near to you :) Sincerely S.
I have to agree with him about smashing drums like all hell. I don’t have that luxury due to certain circumstances but even so when I’m off my td30 and on an acoustic set I have no issue getting volume off my instruments just by playing at a regular velocity.
Check out Mario Duplantier. Plays hard as hell. Sounds good. Super talanted. It depends on the sound you're looking for. Sometimes gorilla-style fits the music. Myth nr1in my opinion: there is a right and a wrong way to play drums. Myth nr 2 there is a right and a wrong sound in drumming.
@@Lazergirlz WHAT A POLITICALLY CORRECT STUPID USUAL CONTEMPORARY ANSWER! LMAO! YOU MUST BE LEFTIST. GOOD AND BAD EXIST: ONLY THE DEVIL AND DEVIL'S WORSHIPERS PRETEND THE OPPOSITE. IF ALL IS GOOD, WHY EVEN TRAIN ON SOMETHING OR LEARN SOMETHING? YOU PERVERTED MY SPEECH: WHO TALKED ABOUT HARD DRUMMING? ME? I TALKED ONLY ABOUT LACK OF INTELLIGENCE (THE THING THAT YOU JUST PROVED TWICE HERE IN PUBLIC ON THE TOPEST LEVEL)! QED SAY SOMETHING OBVIOUS, YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND AN ANONYMOUS PROUD OF HIMSELF FOR NOTHING TROLL ON INTERNET TO CONTRADICT IT! HA! HA!
@@marcdedouvan You clearly don't understand music..... Some musicians/musical genres are meant to sound "gorilla style". What sounds good in your ears sounds like shit to other people, and vice versa. It's as stupid as to say there is good and bad food. Or good or bad movies. People like different food. Different music, different ways of playing music and on and on. It's really not that hard to understand. If your definition of a leftist is someone who understands that people have different taste in music, then I feel bad for you. As for the devil. What the hell does that have to do with taste in music? Or leftism? Get of the internet for a couple of days, and lower your aggression levels a bit. It's not healthy for you. Cheers!
I'm really glad to hear that first one, because I've never been able to hit very "hard", and I spent a lot of time wondering if it was an ineptitude of mine after seeing many top players reaching to the ceiling on the arm swinging: during the highest volume of playing, my forearms max out at a roughly 45° angle, and my hand only travels about 8 inches during a crash stroke; it doesn't don't _look_ like I'm hitting hard, but I actually think it sounds just fine
Drumeo is the best and you guys have inspired me to create my channel and to pursue my love and passion for Music so thank you guys for the support in advance 🔥
About 6 years ago, my son and I attended a drum clinic in NH with Todd as the special guest (we both love STYX and have seen them many times). After his talk, he did autographs and while they wrapped up the clinic we were standing next to Todd and got a chance to talk with him. One of the nicest guys I ever met, friendly, humble and engaging, that night will be a lifelong memory. During the clinic, Todd shared these "rules" for behavior regarding gigs in particular but they really apply to any situation (I hope I got them right). 1) Be on time (or even better, early) 2) Be prepared (know and practice the music you’re going to play) 3) Make sure you have all the equipment you need 4) Complete the job 5) Make them happy you were there (for instance, be the guy who helps the guitarist move an amp) My son tries to apply those rules every time he starts a job.
Todd Sucherman is really a great drummer!!! Also he´s a great drumming teacher!!!!!! I try to listen to every advice that he give us. Thanks a lot Mr Sucherman!!!!!
I'm 70 years old. Been playing drums (rock primarily) for about 60 of those years. In the early days I was obsessed with developing my chops and with playing those chops as fast as possible on the most humungous kit I could afford. Leap ahead say 50 years - I now gig on a 5 piece kit and keep everything as simple as possible while enhancing the music I am supporting. I don't think I have ever sounded better or had more fun play drums in my life - and my band and studio colleagues also appreciate it . Yes - sometimes getting older (even for us drummers) can bring wisdom and clarity! Thanks Todd!
Myth - being told from other musicians (in particular when sitting in or a guest appearance or even session work) that you are a good "in the pocket drummer". I have heard other drummers not take that comment well. Where in actuality that is exactly what makes you valuable; delivering what the song calls for, what the band calls for, great timing and not overplaying the tune.
damn right. It was one of the greatest compliments when a girl sax player said she liked my pocket when I was a newer drummer (best way to get better is go play and make mistakes :). Second, was when I'd made so much progress my own original coach didn't entirely recognize my playing :)
I both agree and disagree. If the music calls for more equipment, a 4-piece obviously won't do it. Example: Neil Peart back in the classic days or even the most recent days. You think he could do all that is required on a 4-piece? NO. The first album with Rutsey, yes, but not after that. Even Sucherman himself said he needs the bigger kit to play what Panozzo created in the first place. (Rest in peace my friend John). So you get my point. Everything depends on the music and band you are in at the moment. Someone please tell me that Simon Phillips could have recorded the 'Sin After Sin' album by Judas Priest...on a tiny 4-piece. I laugh. lol! Cheers everyone! Just my opinion. Don't kill me for it. lol!
Don't play drums like this please: th-cam.com/video/B7UmUX68KtE/w-d-xo.html or like that: th-cam.com/video/b_IpgKzy75E/w-d-xo.html Respect the shrimpees!
Bottom line I believe the drumming style has to fit the music you’re playing in. So I wouldn’t necessarily dismiss a hard hitting drummer if that style of play fits the music. It’s all relative.
I have an opinion on what I consider to be a myth but some might find it to be controversial.... And that myth is "less is always more". That phrase is something I very often read on drumming forums, TH-cam comments etc. and in my opinion, that attitude amongst rock musicians is a big reason as to why the genre has lost so much momentum over the last 10 years. Mainstream rock music along with a lot of the drumming for me has become so overly safe at this point. Don't get me wrong, I adore Ringo, love Dave Grohl. But I also love players like Ian Paice and Jimmy Chamberlin - if players like those were starting out today a lot of people (producers in particular) would probably accuse them of overplaying. I enjoy simple and complex playing equally and of course it completely depends on the context. But I think for mainstream rock to become genuinely fresh again, it needs someone to inject some adventurousness back into it like Mitchell did in the 60s, Paice and Moon did in the 70s, Peart did in the 80s and Chamberlin did in the 90s. Sure, less is definitely more a lot of the time but not all the time. This is no dig on Sucherman btw, his playing is always spot on for me!
I couldn't agree more! Most producers tend to worry more about the drummer's rimshots than their creativity. Of course having a clean sound is important, but it looks like producers, at some point, stopped aknowledging drummers as musicians. I'm really lucky to have had a drummer as a producer for my band's first album. He knew exactly what I intended with my playing and translated it perfectly to the mix.
I disagree with the point "drum parts habe lost alot of the momentum" Drum parts have only gotten more complex The only area its gotten "watered down" has been mainstream music But thats to be expected The majority of mainstream music is mass produced, bare bones, easily accessible jams That was true even in the "good ol days" However: look at bands like tesseract, dream theater (which has been in the top ten billboard 200 multiple times), Karnivool, August burns red, Travis orbin; there's still plenty of modern drummers who are insanely complex incorporating numerous styles and patterns into their music
@@TOAOM123 I totally agee. Pop music production has tried to turn live drummers into click track bitches. I consider myself a musician, but I detest being forced into being a drum robot. It's not just drummers btw, that are forced into this creative restriction. I understand music changes, but pop music in particularly changes in ways that takes away the creative process from the artist and gives it to "technicians". There's absolutely nothing wrong with objectivism from someone outside the songwriting process, but it should be on behalf of the artist creating the subject matter; MUSIC! Marketing is so vital, I also get, but without a viable product their is no need for marketing. Suffice it to say: I do believe we need each other's disciplines. I just don't like it when business superceeds art. Doesn't mean I won't listen to the man behind the glass.
They aren´t. Queen, Rush, The Beatles, The Zombies are all better than Tool. I will never understand how they can write such complex music and still put me to sleep anyway...
@@ivangushkov3651 well fist off it was a joke. any real admire of music does not childishly say band x is better then band y. but personally i rather listen to tool then any of the bands you listed even though i also like all of those bands. and Tool doesn't put me to sleep at all, so its all subjective.
@@xImBeaST12321x nah man childish arguments about the music we love are awesome, don´t worry I don´t take it seriously. Also yea, Tool make objectively good music that just never fails to bore me more than the last time I listen to it. It´s weird cause I love super technical experimental music, my favourite band is Voivod, but Tool just does not connect...
Yeah, volume is a product of the velocity of your hit not of how hard you hit the drum. If you want to be loud think whip, not club. Dave Grohl knew when to back off on the quieter sections but most people just think about him thumping. Dave Grohl and many of the punk guys sort of showed everyone a huge drum kit wasn't necessary for rock. Not sure anyone has believed that myth for a couple decades now.
Great points and agree with everything you said. One myth is " expensive drums sound better " . A good drummer can make a cheap kit sound great. Good tuning and setup is paramount.
Customwinder 1 totally agree after all a drum shell is just a cylinder with lugs on it ,with some variences (material its made of, depth, bearing edge etc.)and are not so different from drum maker to drum maker.Its in the tuning and the touch the rest is personal preference and marketing
I’m 22 and I’ve been a drummer for about 10 years now. I would argue that the drums don’t necessarily matter as much as the heads do! The difference between a head that’s been bashed on for months and a brand new one is undeniably noticeable.
Everything you guys are saying is spot on. Never had a truly expensive kit but new heads is a must. Being budget minded , I've recently bought a Mapex Storm Rock Drum Kit. 10" ,12",14"and 16" toms. 22" × 18" Bass and it sounds great. Playing my old beast and then the new one is a noticeable difference. Even my mrs commented on how good she sounds. This kit hss black hoops and lugs , and am currently buying all the black stands to match. Already have the black snare stand , hi hat stand and a couple of boom cymbal stands. Two more boom stsnds should be here in the next couple of days and a couple more in the next few weeks. Love it all. I have a combination of ZBTs and ZHTs and an old meinl 16" cymbal that still sounds great. Eventually will get some Zildjian K or A series cymbals. We're going on holidays to the US in a couple of years , and the plan is visiting the Zildjian factory and buying thrm direct from those guys. After personally trying them of course. My kit has the original heads still on her but am looking to buy new heads very soon. Emad is the way to go for the Bass Drum i think. Not sure what I'll get for yje Toms yet. I was thinking Emperor Coated, but am looking at some Evans heads too. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'll be doing a vid on her after new heads. Thanks fellas. Rock on. ✊
Customwinder 1 Remo heads all the way! Coated emperor or pinstripes if you want them to last a bit longer. I’ve always been a fan of Evans on my kick emad or eq7’s. With cymbals, unfortunately, you will hear a significant difference when you get higher up in quality and price. Have fun, experiment. Not sure where you are from, but cymbals are gonna cost you a lot less if you buy them in the states and bring them back home, same with heads and sticks etc. bring an empty suitcase!!
Myth's.... Mine would be 1. Anyone can play drum's. Not true. I see a lot of guy's out their who think they are great drummer's and can't even hold a meaningful, heart felt, passionate beat. 2. Drummer's are the dumb one's in the band. False!!! Should go without saying...anyone can be the dummy in a band. 3. Drummer's don't have to read music. False. Although their are exceptions.... Buddy Rich, being one, drummer's should learn how to read music... Not tab!!!....notation. I've learned more from reading music, in a less amount of time, then all my youth, playing by ear. Get called more often too, if you read. Can probably think of more...but, I'll quit while I'm ahead.
Don't agree with the reading music bit. Lionel Ritchie, Michael Jackson, Dave Grohl, Eric Clapton, Dave Gilmour, The Beatles, Benny Andersson to name a few musicians of a wide range of instruments who just managed to get by without being able to read and write music. It all comes down to what you want to do with it.
@@rogerhigginson7803 majority of the artists you mentioned, did eventually learn to Read music to a degree. Even Buddy Rich, before he pasted, was learning to read music. I thought the same thing, years ago, until I started to learn. I started reading drum chart's, score's, comps, military beat's, etc....and I was floored by what I didn't know. I was a egotistical punk kid, thought I knew it all. It's one of those things, I think, where you have to walk in the water in order to know it's wet. Ask Todd yourself. He went to Berklee. Best music school on the Boston mass. Won't graduate out of there...without reading. What's your take Todd?????
I think, Todd is a hundred percent right ....the biggest myth for me was, when teachers told me, you got to have heavy sticks for Rock playing...to get the right sound....heavy sticks and pounding the drums equals Rock sound. .... Then I came across drummers like Dennis Chambers & Jeff Porcaro e.g...their signature sticks are far away from being heavy.... and listen what proper sound they pull out the drums.....
There is no rule that says you can’t change sticks for the way you want to play a song. I find some songs would lose articulation using a bigger stick, but equally a lot of drive and weight is just there with denser wood/bigger gauge sticks. Some players have a comfortable set of ‘cutlery’ and it makes their playing consistent and digestible too.
@Scott Snyder Huge fan of maple. I called Vic Firth's halfway between tears and panic at the discontinuation of my beloved HS1 Highlander pipe band sticks. Enormous in size, very light in weight. High gloss finish so they don't chafe. And maple handles vibration REALLY well. Hickory is like playing with two crowbars on a rock in comparison, lol. Vibes right up your arm. Not the fastest sticks on the block, but I have "toothpicks" for that other stuff. :)
One question I ask all my students is..."Which can you eat more of, just plain cake or just frosting?".....Not one of them ever said "frosting"! They typically get it right away. but the right amount frosting atop a cupcake can be just right!
regarding "You need a big set to rock" I have one Name for you guys: JP Gaster from Clutch, I dare you to show me a drummer with more feel, groove and pure rock n roll on a small kit like his...
I play hard when I´m pissed... which almost never happens... It´s like you trying to make funny stunts with a Harley, you can do it but it´s gonna cost ya if you crash... same goes with having an over priced drumkit such as DW, banging on it like crazy is expensive if it breaks.
@@toddsucherman I actually learned that from watching Dave Grohl in his Nirvana days. You could hear his snare drum choking terribly when he would lay into it with a 2 foot high stroke (like he did on just about every song). I often think the 80's and 90's drummers did drumming a huge disservice with all the excessive arm movement. Especially for those of us who went on to play extreme metal. I basically had to relearn how to play to do my new passion properly. Anyway, great video! Thanks for all the great music over the years!
Agree 100% Todd. I saw a super heavy hitter talking about how much he loved his thin Zildjian crashes. They sounded exactly like ripping newspaper. No tone and you could hear them maxing out anx sounded like splashes. Also, I can't hear people's hats or rides because they play the fricking snare too damn hard. This really bugs me when someone is demoing their great new ride that you can't hear.
Some great tips here. Yes, playing like King Kong might look cool but it's not musical. Chops? In 2019? Sure, if you want a career playing to 60 musicians at the Baked Potato.
@@TOAOM123 wym? The video is about rock drumming, not jazz. Buddy was a jazz drummer. When the guy said John Bonham, it made more sense to the video. It just looked out of place.
Great point about "choking" drums by hitting them too hard. Dynamics are everything. Also, great wisdom from Todd: inability to play well on a four piece kit can't be overcome by more drums and cymbals while recognizing the opportunities and possibilities that come from a larger set. So much truth to Todd's observations that complex, fusion-style drumming would have ruined Beatles' and Rolling Stones' songs. I think that simplicity and complexity need to be balanced and intermeshed because, inasmuch as a mash of sixteenth notes played on a 6" tom and 20" china would have spoiled some classic songs, "Tom Sawyer" and, say, "Seconds Out" by Genesis (can a live album be your favourite album of all time?) would not be done justice without larger sets (played masterfully, of course).
drummers are composers...needed technique is of course required, but control and dynamics (touch and feel) must govern all technique. creative parts that propel the song, not your resume! study Lee Sklar and you will gain wisdom! on less is best, agree, but take the nashville producers view of drums...it is still very narrow. they box in drummers that play to songs...there is room for less radio hit minimalism as well. key is to not think like a drummer...when we do, we play for other drummers (ego) and that rarely works out well.
"If you can´t drive a stick, forget an automatic"...use a bicycle...🤣🤣🤣🤣...he is so right.....The Music is the lead...the Drums are a support..just like the rest of the instruments.....
Deep stack of comments. Great session - Todd's insight connected with viewers. I especially enjoyed the mature musician perspective. I would have disagreed as a teenager but his perspective about intent and tasteful choices for the music resonate most with me today. I still love Rush but I also love the simplicity of the perfect accompanying part. As I grow older I slowly realize drums don't need to be showcased in every song.
Great insights and yes age does make you a smarter drummer. I'm of the mindset as a drummer to be an accompanist who can enhance a song through skill and percussive musicality.
Finally... I have thought about this a long time. Now i got the answer. Hitting harder doesen´t make it sound better or more. Thx!! And play less can be more.
I love how he's even able to express the drum beats and sound with his one-piece-drum-kit: His voice: drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-boom-cacack-da-doomoooom-tchack!
Love your wisdom, my approach simple too,keep solid time, be dynamic ,minimal flash,you have great way of communicating with drumming community, thanks
All i have to say is that , everybody is different and we all have different prospectives. Its ok to play hard if u feel its the way to go. Look KENNY ARONOFF, one of the best session and touring guys in the biz and hits harder than a lot of people and the sound is still great. ITS IMPORTANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY LOUD like it is IMPORTANT to play SOFT . IF YOU GONNA HIT HARDER YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO DO IT. In studio is a different story at least 4 me.
Myth #4: You need very expensive drums to sound good. NOPE! To be clear though, I have a nice kit and I enjoy it but, I've also had 'cheap' kits as well that very admirably gave what was needed and got the job done very well. Probly the biggest thing going in favor of expensive drums and hardware is they simply wear better so, yeah, if you need gear that can take a lot of abuse and wear & tear, you'll probly need to shell out the bucks. Beyond that, if you have an inexpensive kit, don't fret too much and just enjoy playing. With a little bit of learning and skill, you can generally get them to sound very good and, yer bandmates and audience will still think yer terriffic!
Check any videos you can find of the world famous drummers from the 30's until today. You had drummers who could do a lot on a few drums as opposed to a lot of drummers today who can do only a little on a lot of drums. Also, "less is more" applies here. Watch Big Sid Catlett, Papa Jo Jones and Joe Morello. Just like you said, it's like a recipe for a good soup or sauce and you only need the correct ingredients. Watch Jeff Hamilton who is my favorite living drummer. I started out in a garage band playing rock in the 60's. I was horrible, ignorant and loud. Then I found a jazz drummer. Just like Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid, he made me start out doing the bare basics with rudiments and control before he would allow me to advance, one step at a time. He wasn't a teacher, he was a professional drummer who hated teaching but I wore him down. Thanks to him, I was hired on my first gig playing jazz with an acoustic quartet playing violin, upright bass and piano in a very small and posh dinner club for two weeks. The leader hired me within 5 minutes of my audition, saying "You keep perfect time, you are quiet and I can hear myself play my violin." Now I'm 74 and I still remember it like yesterday. I still moonlight playing jazz on my 4-piece kit.
Man I saw you playing with Styx 3 times and man I loved how you played ! You looked like tearing the drums apart, but now I understand that is just for show ! Amazing drumming by the way !
Drum (or all music in general) myth, tell me what y’all think: A cheap chunk of equipment is 10x better than a $30,000 thing - a crusty, op-shop snare that sounds good will always beat a super expensive one that doesn’t sound great for the mix. Thoughts?
Rock myth (..and not just for drummers, but every other musician and even producers)... "Every space between notes MUST be filled!!!...There MUST be sound and/or at least noise!!!"
Regarding Myth #2: As a "cover tune" bass player, all I ask is to consider the venue. If its a festival with a huge stage and it can be set up quickly, removed for the next act to set up, bring the biggest monster kit you have. If you're in the corner of a local Bar & Grill and you have maybe a 12' X 20' space to fit a four piece....PLEASE LEAVE SOME ROOM!!!!!
Mostly its true. Exepct the "less is more part". Thats relative. Like there would be a "standard" way of playing. What is the goal here? To become famous? To produce hits ? To please the audience? To please bandmembers? What about Keith Moon....(the usual answer would be: He knew when to hold himself back......) well....no. Drumfill during the verse? Why not? Who says it wont work? Make it work! Innovate! Create new methods.... be brave to twist things. If a bandmember cannot connect - it maybe its due to his lack of will. .... less is more.....pfff.
Great subject and excellently delivered, thank you. I manage volume with a combination of sensibilities gained from gigging and choosing the right gear, the latter all being small (10" hats, 12" snare, 8" main tom, 18" ride etc.). That gear is chosen for tone and cut (birch shells, small cymbals), not volume. Cut works in smaller venues, while there is typically mic'ing via a sound system for larger ones. Too often players mistake volume for intensity, and therein lies a critical misperception. It is possible to be super intense and excitingly dynamic between 0 and 1 on the volume scale. And the result is much more exciting because there is tension as well as headroom for release. I've seen Harvey Mason with bassist Jimmy Earle and keyboardist Freddie Ravel do that in a small booth at NAMM. And Art Rodriguez (RIP) do similar with Nathan East on bass, Lee Ritenour on guitar and a keyboardist in a large room. What revelations they were - ripping between 0 and 1. That was 'louder' because it sucked the listener into the music, didn't blow them away (literally) and out the door with volume. I was at dinner with a group of drummers when John Molo (Bruce Hornsby, Phil Lesh, John Fogerty...) strolled over and engaged Walfredo Reyes Jr. in a chat. "When I saw you with Traffic, Jim Capaldi's drums sound incredible...so big and massive, yet it looked like he was barely hitting them." Walfredo, current drummer with Chicago, had played percussion with Traffic, taking over drums when Capaldi moved up front to sing, responded with this (I paraphrase): "Yes, Jim is a really light player. So the soundman cranks his volume way up and that captures all the air and tone of the drum. That's how his sound is so huge and amazing and we get a great mix." As you note with your recording anecdote, Todd, focus on getting the best sound, then let the microphones do their work. Play too loud and those mics close up. Play more reasonably and they open up and let the sound 'bloom'. In live settings, play too loud and the soundman turns those drums down out front, which means the band is coming through the sound system but the drum volume is from the stage, which makes it impossible to get a great sound in the room. Also, when drums are too loud on stage, the other players turn up, which further contributes to driving people out of the venue. The fact that people wear earplugs when attending gigs is a sure sign things are simply too loud. There are still too many drummers who would also benefit from understanding that the space between quiet and loud is only one dimension of dynamics. Others include tension and release, tight and loose etc. With your experience, more videos like this - three points to consider - addressing various topics would be great (e.g., how all that scary technique is merely singles, doubles and flams). Cheers!
Here is a myth that stifles many a drummer. "I can never be as good as ____________( fill in any great drummer's name). Always remember, before Neal Peart, Alex Van Halen, Billy Cobham, Phill Collins, Nick Mason, and Bernard Purdie were drum heroes, they were beginners struggling to tap out a beat. :-) Anyone who will spend the time practicing drum exercises, rudiments and grooves at a slow tempo and work to improve their skills in daily diligent tiny steps, will see their drumming improve. And just like the drum heroes that we love and learn from, we too can be great drummers who inspire others as those drummers have inspired us. Thank you Todd for this great video. PS, I love your drumming on Styx's stuff. John Panozzo was a talented and skillful drummer who would not be an easy act to follow.
I just saw you last Saturday at Charlotte PNC pavilion are you are simply the best !!!!! Also saw you in 2016 at the Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake Minnesota, which was two miles from my home. I truly love listening to your tutorials and I have switched all of equipment to Pearl and Sabian !!! Keep rocking !!!
Three chords and the truth is a common saying when referring to music the reached people. Drummers have to be able to play that way as well. Everything else is cake.................or icing whichever you like best. You get the message.
I don't know if this is a rock drumming myth, or just for a gigging drummer. The myth; "It's no big deal, the place is a dive, I'm only playing for 5/10/100 people, I'm used to playing for 50/100/1000 people." Wrong. Every time you sit behind your drums, a practice or especially a gig, you should be giving your bandmates and the audience the best you've got. First off (with all deference to my wife) there is no place I'd rather be than sitting at my drum kit and playing. Doesn't matter if I'm woodshedding new songs by myself, rehearsing, or gigging. Second, particularly when you gig, if only a few people show up, why punish them with a substandard performance? If they came to see the band, then they are die hards and deserve to be rewarded. If they just happen to be in the bar, you can make a new fan of the band by playing as if there's no tomorrow. Apathy makes you stink, and people will smell it a mile away. If the last two plus years have taught us anything, it is not to take live music for granted. So go for it, every single time. Peace Out!
"Grant me the groove to play the simple parts, the chops to play the complex parts, and the wisdom to know the difference"
Well said, Steve! You're spot on! :)
I am so stealing this. Thank you.
I'd rather hear Kenny Jones play Rush, than Neil Peart play The Who.
Kudos Steve, I copied down your quote based on the 12 step serenity prayer. I may repeat it each time I sit down to play. Thank you!
Nice
"If you can't make it on a 4 piece kit, getting more is not gonna help"
Amen
I'm not sure about thaaat.
Let's not be too hasty here...lol
Yep- buying a Ferrari isn't gonna make a shitty driver a good one
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 yeah.. shut up.. mediocre
I don't know how many times I've told people they don't need beat the crap out of the drums and cymbals. You get more different sounds and range of sounds playing like a normal person.
I remember in the early-mid-70s, a drum instructor said just what you mentioned. He used Peter Chris as an example. Having more drums doesn't make you a better drummer. It makes you a better showman but not a better drummer. His point being the massive kits are for show. It's cool for the audience to look at
"I don't need a big kit. I want a big kit."
:)
A friend of mine has a big kit... sort of. When I first met him his kit was Tama Imperial Star, 16" front tom and two 18" floor toms. Bass drum was 24". Sitting at his kit, this 16 inch big ass tom right in front of me was just nuts. He changed it later to an 18" tom and the floor toms went up to 20" not to mention the bass drum who stepped up to 28"... specially made for him, on top of that there are 5 crashes 18", and of course, a 24" ride. The only "normal" thing is the snare, everything else is supersized.
Oh, he did ask me if it was possible to change the front tom to a 20" but I didn´t support that considering the weight of it all, and the special construction that has to be made in order to have a "small" bass drum as a tom... the floor toms would then be 22" and I was then completely out of words, how do you respond to that?? Go to the optician?
Funny guy...
@arthur kitchen I strongly disagree with this statement
arthur kitchen's musical theory comes from his dedicated study of Nickelback.
Honestly, small kits in rock just get SO boring. Same sounds, all the time, every song. Look at Warped Tour lol... God awful
@arthur kitchen sure, whatever you say, pal. Pathetic, uh, sure....
Here's a myth ... You have to start young to become a great drummer! That better be just a myth, because I'm taking a stab at proving it wrong in my 50's!!
Hell Yeah!!!
I started 3 years ago at 56 👍
Just keep learning, no matter whether you’re a “beginner” or “expert”! Have fun with the journey, or it will be a short one.
Steven Forde distorts I started at 59. Learned a lot and always pushing forward. Todd’s truly a fantastic person.👍✌️
I've been playing for about 15 years now, but I've been pretty lazy about it. Im pretty sure with a little talent and some dedicated practice, someone who really wanted to play could be at least as good as me in a couple of years. Good enough to get gigs.
"You don't need a big kit". I'd say adding a few more cymbals before adding more toms is more useful and practical.
Depends. You can't really do Hotel California without some small, high tuned toms of some kind (2). Don't really need more than a ride, an 18 crash or so and an old, corroded half a high-hat for a small China/crash.
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 I play Hotel California regularly on a 4 piece kit and nobody has ever complained.
"DRUM-NASTICS"!
The best term I've ever heard.
I'm 63, I started when I was 8, and what you said, took me a life time to learn. Man I wish there were these types of videos when I was a youth. I still love to play drums and I don't feel crusty but I do feel wiser about the instrument. Love it, Mr.Todd.👍👍👍👍👍
I started at 63 and I really suck but everything Todd says is true. I find that his wisdom and guidelines would be true of my profession of 42 years which had nothing to do with music. You get smarter and more efficient with age. Flair gives way to flavor...
I’ve seen so many drummers that were technically good, but had no “feel”. People that play crazy fills and flare that don’t belong. He nailed it.
Groove is seriously underrated by some people.
@@BiggieTrismegistus When I listen to music that's come out in the past 10 years, I don't hear much groove at all. The drum parts sound like they were played by emotionless, sterile robots.
@@beatlesrgear Judging from your name I'm guessing you're a Beatles fan. I get so pissed when I read people slag off Ringo Starr. Was he the best technical drummer? Of course not but that doesn't mean he wasn't great. Sometimes it's not about how fast your double bass work is and more about how well you groove and enhance the song. Give me "basic" drummers like Ringo, Charlie Watts, Doug "Cosmo" Clifford, Al Jackson, etc. over all the technical wankery I hear too often nowadays. That's not to say that technique is a bad thing, of course, but sometimes it seems that technical playing overshadows tasteful playing in my opinion.
I was always more concerned with doing the best job for the song, than trying to impress anybody.
I went to a Terry Bozzio drum clinic/concert. He must have had the biggest kit in the world. So amazing technical. But boring as shit. I like good songs. Play in the pocket, what the song needs. I auditioned for a band once, and the guy before me was a way better drummer than me, but I new the songs. I showed up prepared...and got the gig. Those guys were better musicians than me, but I had a great attitude, was easy to work with, and we had lots of fun gigging.
Thank you for tip #1. My older brother, geez, made my kit sound like it cost 50 bucks and just about always broke something. The meathead.
You definitely are on the same page as me. I've been playing drums since I was 16 . I'm 70 now. I've got a Ludwig 4 piece. Same kit Ringo used on the Ed Sullivan show back in 64. Still rocking.
At 2:25 you can see him spitting fire. Pun intended....
No...he's spitting spit!
*zooms in on his face* "YOU WANT FRUIT."
"If you can't make it on a four piece kit, more drums isn't going to help you."
Write that down. Remember it. It's sage advice from a top tier professional drummer.
I always think of Matt Helders from the Arctic Monkeys and his tiny kit, definitely an inspiration, playing for a little more than a year now and almost all the songs I've learned was AM's because of Matt's creativity, almost all of the rock songs now feel boring, like I could play it with no problem, so now I'm also starting to learn some QotSA stuff, and It's so much fun
But more drums is fun and everyone loves to have fun, don't they? Errr...maybe not everyone I guess? I started on one drum and now I have 3. It is so much more fun.
@@EarthtonesCymbals are you bandmates having fun with you? That's more important.
@@terrencenbanbury5220 That is my sole motivation Terrance-fun. I always say, "If your not having fun, your doing something wrong." You can borrow that quote if you like.
My main influence as a drummer has always been Jeff Porcaro and what he said at the time "plays everything in all possible ways and stay with what works best and if what works best is the simplest, stay with the simplest" Words are still present in my head every time I sit down to the drums.
I love Jeff.
Didya notice he describes the Purdie half shuffle/Rosanna beat one way, then plays it differently?
I was charmed. And pretty pleased I caught that :)
The third point is what most drummers do not understand. Just leave crazy fills and complex rythms for the music that requires them, like Rush's progressive rock, but if you use them in music that requires a stable and strong rythmic base, they suck.
Thanks for the video, I really like this kind of content.
Take notes RAY LUZIER
Depends my favorite drummer is Kakashi from Toe if you never heard them its worth a listen the band does odd meter post rock stuff but very barebones with the bass playing on sparse beats. But the drummer is phenomenal and is very melodic in a sense even when the beat is a simple boom chak hes adding subtle ghost notes and rolls on the hats. The song 8.6 by Toe Id recommend as the perfect balance of absurd chops and a deep groove
You're very right! I'm a big fan of Simon Phillips and his Protocol albums (fusion / jazz rock) and I love the crazy songs and its odd meters. However, my favorite song from protocol is based upon a simple 4/4 groove, without any chops at all, named Moments of Fortune.
Rush is my favorite band, and that's one of the biggest reasons why, they figured out a way to show their incredible talent by playing music that calls for it.
It works both ways. I have heard drummers trying to force minimalistic Steve Jordan type parts over syncopated, ornate, eclectic rock. That sucks just as bad as people trying to turn the Dixie Chicks into Virgil Donati.
I agree with you 100 % , I’m 71 and I have been playing since I was 16 . I play with a small 60’s and 70’s rock band and I love it . I kinda wish I would have pursued my drumming career a lot earlier in life but my family was not that wealthy to do this . At 71 I still love playing.
Dear Drumeo people,
i would like to ask if it is possible to get Nicko McBrain to your studio. He plays a unique style and he is a gratuated drummer too. So it would be nice to hear as long as it is possible what he is telling us drummers. You can not denie, that he is playing for one of the greatest metal bands in history. He is currently living in Florida, so he is quite near to you :) Sincerely S.
I am working on it. Cross your fingers that the stars align in 2019. - JF
@@DrumeoOfficial, best of luck, Jared. Hope you will make it 👍
@@DrumeoOfficial Let him be the 1m subs reward. He'd love that! :)
Sideoutside that would be awesome, as well as Vinnie C. as a 1m surprise!!
Yes. The only single bass drummer in HM, that I know of.
"Look at Ringo." - -Can I please just listen to him. 😭
I love the way Todd articulates his concepts so clearing. Nothing left to interpretation.
I have to agree with him about smashing drums like all hell. I don’t have that luxury due to certain circumstances but even so when I’m off my td30 and on an acoustic set I have no issue getting volume off my instruments just by playing at a regular velocity.
So true everything you said
But everything that came out of his mouth was not pleasant.
Thumbnail = Steve Carell
"NNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"
Peter Gabriel ;)
he is steve carell and alice cooper's love child
YES! THANK YOU!
In other words:
There are two categories of rock drummers:
1: gorillas
2: musicians
Guess who plays the best music?
Check out Mario Duplantier. Plays hard as hell. Sounds good. Super talanted. It depends on the sound you're looking for. Sometimes gorilla-style fits the music.
Myth nr1in my opinion: there is a right and a wrong way to play drums.
Myth nr 2 there is a right and a wrong sound in drumming.
Musicians
"I know! I know!" Lol
@@Lazergirlz WHAT A POLITICALLY CORRECT STUPID USUAL CONTEMPORARY ANSWER! LMAO! YOU MUST BE LEFTIST. GOOD AND BAD EXIST: ONLY THE DEVIL AND DEVIL'S WORSHIPERS PRETEND THE OPPOSITE. IF ALL IS GOOD, WHY EVEN TRAIN ON SOMETHING OR LEARN SOMETHING?
YOU PERVERTED MY SPEECH: WHO TALKED ABOUT HARD DRUMMING? ME? I TALKED ONLY ABOUT LACK OF INTELLIGENCE (THE THING THAT YOU JUST PROVED TWICE HERE IN PUBLIC ON THE TOPEST LEVEL)! QED
SAY SOMETHING OBVIOUS, YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND AN ANONYMOUS PROUD OF HIMSELF FOR NOTHING TROLL ON INTERNET TO CONTRADICT IT! HA! HA!
@@marcdedouvan You clearly don't understand music.....
Some musicians/musical genres are meant to sound "gorilla style".
What sounds good in your ears sounds like shit to other people, and vice versa.
It's as stupid as to say there is good and bad food. Or good or bad movies. People like different food. Different music, different ways of playing music and on and on.
It's really not that hard to understand. If your definition of a leftist is someone who understands that people have different taste in music, then I feel bad for you.
As for the devil. What the hell does that have to do with taste in music?
Or leftism?
Get of the internet for a couple of days, and lower your aggression levels a bit. It's not healthy for you.
Cheers!
I'm really glad to hear that first one, because I've never been able to hit very "hard", and I spent a lot of time wondering if it was an ineptitude of mine after seeing many top players reaching to the ceiling on the arm swinging: during the highest volume of playing, my forearms max out at a roughly 45° angle, and my hand only travels about 8 inches during a crash stroke; it doesn't don't _look_ like I'm hitting hard, but I actually think it sounds just fine
Drumeo is the best and you guys have inspired me to create my channel and to pursue my love and passion for Music so thank you guys for the support in advance 🔥
Todd thank you for this! Your honesty is appreciated
The intro song is Genie in a Bottle by Taylor Mills, if anyone cares.
Thanks
Dave Grohl is one of the hardest hitting drummers I've ever heard, yet... he's amazingly talented and we love Todd's drumming too :)
Lots of young drummers need to watch these videos!!!
The old guy once said.
About 6 years ago, my son and I attended a drum clinic in NH with Todd as the special guest (we both love STYX and have seen them many times). After his talk, he did autographs and while they wrapped up the clinic we were standing next to Todd and got a chance to talk with him. One of the nicest guys I ever met, friendly, humble and engaging, that night will be a lifelong memory.
During the clinic, Todd shared these "rules" for behavior regarding gigs in particular but they really apply to any situation (I hope I got them right).
1) Be on time (or even better, early)
2) Be prepared (know and practice the music you’re going to play)
3) Make sure you have all the equipment you need
4) Complete the job
5) Make them happy you were there (for instance, be the guy who helps the guitarist move an amp)
My son tries to apply those rules every time he starts a job.
Todd Sucherman is really a great drummer!!! Also he´s a great drumming teacher!!!!!! I try to listen to every advice that he give us. Thanks a lot Mr Sucherman!!!!!
I'm 70 years old. Been playing drums (rock primarily) for about 60 of those years. In the early days I was obsessed with developing my chops and with playing those chops as fast as possible on the most humungous kit I could afford. Leap ahead say 50 years - I now gig on a 5 piece kit and keep everything as simple as possible while enhancing the music I am supporting. I don't think I have ever sounded better or had more fun play drums in my life - and my band and studio colleagues also appreciate it . Yes - sometimes getting older (even for us drummers) can bring wisdom and clarity! Thanks Todd!
Myth - being told from other musicians (in particular when sitting in or a guest appearance or even session work) that you are a good "in the pocket drummer". I have heard other drummers not take that comment well. Where in actuality that is exactly what makes you valuable; delivering what the song calls for, what the band calls for, great timing and not overplaying the tune.
damn right.
It was one of the greatest compliments when a girl sax player said she liked my pocket when I was a newer drummer (best way to get better is go play and make mistakes :).
Second, was when I'd made so much progress my own original coach didn't entirely recognize my playing :)
That is the highest compliment you can pay a drummer!
I both agree and disagree. If the music calls for more equipment, a 4-piece obviously won't do it. Example: Neil Peart back in the classic days or even the most recent days. You think he could do all that is required on a 4-piece? NO. The first album with Rutsey, yes, but not after that. Even Sucherman himself said he needs the bigger kit to play what Panozzo created in the first place. (Rest in peace my friend John). So you get my point. Everything depends on the music and band you are in at the moment. Someone please tell me that Simon Phillips could have recorded the 'Sin After Sin' album by Judas Priest...on a tiny 4-piece. I laugh. lol! Cheers everyone! Just my opinion. Don't kill me for it. lol!
He's always been one of my favorite drummers. Such a nice and genuine guy
Don't play drums like this please:
th-cam.com/video/B7UmUX68KtE/w-d-xo.html
or like that:
th-cam.com/video/b_IpgKzy75E/w-d-xo.html
Respect the shrimpees!
I recorded Kenny Aronoff... the same phylosophy about the cake in the song.
Great video. Thanks
Bottom line I believe the drumming style has to fit the music you’re playing in. So I wouldn’t necessarily dismiss a hard hitting drummer if that style of play fits the music. It’s all relative.
I have an opinion on what I consider to be a myth but some might find it to be controversial.... And that myth is "less is always more". That phrase is something I very often read on drumming forums, TH-cam comments etc. and in my opinion, that attitude amongst rock musicians is a big reason as to why the genre has lost so much momentum over the last 10 years. Mainstream rock music along with a lot of the drumming for me has become so overly safe at this point. Don't get me wrong, I adore Ringo, love Dave Grohl. But I also love players like Ian Paice and Jimmy Chamberlin - if players like those were starting out today a lot of people (producers in particular) would probably accuse them of overplaying. I enjoy simple and complex playing equally and of course it completely depends on the context. But I think for mainstream rock to become genuinely fresh again, it needs someone to inject some adventurousness back into it like Mitchell did in the 60s, Paice and Moon did in the 70s, Peart did in the 80s and Chamberlin did in the 90s. Sure, less is definitely more a lot of the time but not all the time. This is no dig on Sucherman btw, his playing is always spot on for me!
I couldn't agree more! Most producers tend to worry more about the drummer's rimshots than their creativity. Of course having a clean sound is important, but it looks like producers, at some point, stopped aknowledging drummers as musicians. I'm really lucky to have had a drummer as a producer for my band's first album. He knew exactly what I intended with my playing and translated it perfectly to the mix.
I disagree with the point "drum parts habe lost alot of the momentum"
Drum parts have only gotten more complex
The only area its gotten "watered down" has been mainstream music
But thats to be expected
The majority of mainstream music is mass produced, bare bones, easily accessible jams
That was true even in the "good ol days"
However: look at bands like tesseract, dream theater (which has been in the top ten billboard 200 multiple times), Karnivool, August burns red, Travis orbin; there's still plenty of modern drummers who are insanely complex incorporating numerous styles and patterns into their music
@@TOAOM123 I totally agee. Pop music production has tried to turn live drummers into click track bitches. I consider myself a musician, but I detest being forced into being a drum robot. It's not just drummers btw, that are forced into this creative restriction. I understand music changes, but pop music in particularly changes in ways that takes away the creative process from the artist and gives it to "technicians". There's absolutely nothing wrong with objectivism from someone outside the songwriting process, but it should be on behalf of the artist creating the subject matter; MUSIC! Marketing is so vital, I also get, but without a viable product their is no need for marketing. Suffice it to say: I do believe we need each other's disciplines. I just don't like it when business superceeds art. Doesn't mean I won't listen to the man behind the glass.
@@renatoloureiro9103 Rim shots are a spice that tastes best when used sparingly.
@@TS-gn2wy Well said, T S. I agree wholeheartedly!
Thanks Todd... thats a great influence for me how to be a smart & wise rock drummer.... cheers 😉👌
True words of Wisdom.... thanks Todd! If only all musicians understood the problems of smash-crash Drumming.
But they have cymbals that are called "crash". Is that a problem?
@@EarthtonesCymbals it can be if the crash is cracked!
@@tmaddrummer We must advocate to everyone... "Say No To Crack".
@@EarthtonesCymbals always!
That's why Charlie Watts is so good. No drumnastics for him. He lays down the beat and it's perfect every time.
Drumming myth........ "TooL is NOT the greatest rock band of all time"
What the actual fuck what about primus or fuckn Frank zappa they blow tool out of the water
They aren´t. Queen, Rush, The Beatles, The Zombies are all better than Tool. I will never understand how they can write such complex music and still put me to sleep anyway...
@@ivangushkov3651 well fist off it was a joke. any real admire of music does not childishly say band x is better then band y. but personally i rather listen to tool then any of the bands you listed even though i also like all of those bands. and Tool doesn't put me to sleep at all, so its all subjective.
@@xImBeaST12321x nah man childish arguments about the music we love are awesome, don´t worry I don´t take it seriously. Also yea, Tool make objectively good music that just never fails to bore me more than the last time I listen to it. It´s weird cause I love super technical experimental music, my favourite band is Voivod, but Tool just does not connect...
@@ivangushkov3651 Zombies best by far.
Yeah, volume is a product of the velocity of your hit not of how hard you hit the drum. If you want to be loud think whip, not club.
Dave Grohl knew when to back off on the quieter sections but most people just think about him thumping.
Dave Grohl and many of the punk guys sort of showed everyone a huge drum kit wasn't necessary for rock. Not sure anyone has believed that myth for a couple decades now.
Great points and agree with everything you said.
One myth is " expensive drums sound better " . A good drummer can make a cheap kit sound great. Good tuning and setup is paramount.
Customwinder 1 totally agree after all a drum shell is just a cylinder with lugs on it ,with some variences (material its made of, depth, bearing edge etc.)and are not so different from drum maker to drum maker.Its in the tuning and the touch the rest is personal preference and marketing
Customwinder 1 agree !! I even find that certain expensive drums has less dynamic ranges.
I’m 22 and I’ve been a drummer for about 10 years now. I would argue that the drums don’t necessarily matter as much as the heads do! The difference between a head that’s been bashed on for months and a brand new one is undeniably noticeable.
Everything you guys are saying is spot on.
Never had a truly expensive kit but new heads is a must.
Being budget minded , I've recently bought a Mapex Storm Rock Drum Kit. 10" ,12",14"and 16" toms. 22" × 18" Bass and it sounds great. Playing my old beast and then the new one is a noticeable difference. Even my mrs commented on how good she sounds.
This kit hss black hoops and lugs , and am currently buying all the black stands to match. Already have the black snare stand , hi hat stand and a couple of boom cymbal stands. Two more boom stsnds should be here in the next couple of days and a couple more in the next few weeks. Love it all.
I have a combination of ZBTs and ZHTs and an old meinl 16" cymbal that still sounds great. Eventually will get some Zildjian K or A series cymbals.
We're going on holidays to the US in a couple of years , and the plan is visiting the Zildjian factory and buying thrm direct from those guys. After personally trying them of course.
My kit has the original heads still on her but am looking to buy new heads very soon. Emad is the way to go for the Bass Drum i think.
Not sure what I'll get for yje Toms yet. I was thinking Emperor Coated, but am looking at some Evans heads too. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I'll be doing a vid on her after new heads.
Thanks fellas. Rock on. ✊
Customwinder 1 Remo heads all the way! Coated emperor or pinstripes if you want them to last a bit longer. I’ve always been a fan of Evans on my kick emad or eq7’s. With cymbals, unfortunately, you will hear a significant difference when you get higher up in quality and price. Have fun, experiment. Not sure where you are from, but cymbals are gonna cost you a lot less if you buy them in the states and bring them back home, same with heads and sticks etc. bring an empty suitcase!!
BIll Bruford put out the thing about playing with less volume in the studio at a clinic I attended about 10 years ago. Made sense to me.
Bill is one of my favorite drummers.
Myth's.... Mine would be 1. Anyone can play drum's. Not true. I see a lot of guy's out their who think they are great drummer's and can't even hold a meaningful, heart felt, passionate beat. 2. Drummer's are the dumb one's in the band. False!!! Should go without saying...anyone can be the dummy in a band. 3. Drummer's don't have to read music. False. Although their are exceptions.... Buddy Rich, being one, drummer's should learn how to read music... Not tab!!!....notation. I've learned more from reading music, in a less amount of time, then all my youth, playing by ear. Get called more often too, if you read. Can probably think of more...but, I'll quit while I'm ahead.
Don't agree with the reading music bit. Lionel Ritchie, Michael Jackson, Dave Grohl, Eric Clapton, Dave Gilmour, The Beatles, Benny Andersson to name a few musicians of a wide range of instruments who just managed to get by without being able to read and write music. It all comes down to what you want to do with it.
@@rogerhigginson7803 majority of the artists you mentioned, did eventually learn to Read music to a degree. Even Buddy Rich, before he pasted, was learning to read music. I thought the same thing, years ago, until I started to learn. I started reading drum chart's, score's, comps, military beat's, etc....and I was floored by what I didn't know. I was a egotistical punk kid, thought I knew it all. It's one of those things, I think, where you have to walk in the water in order to know it's wet. Ask Todd yourself. He went to Berklee. Best music school on the Boston mass. Won't graduate out of there...without reading. What's your take Todd?????
Well, I think anyone can _learn_ to play drums, but not everyone is as good as they think they are.
Agree totally with your number 1. Drums are the "easiest" to create a "sound", but perhaps the most difficult to to play musically.
@@russ6541 Exactly and some drummers do not work on their timing. They play the drums not the music
Glad drumeo didn't interrupt, thanks for your time.
I think, Todd is a hundred percent right ....the biggest myth for me was, when teachers told me, you got to have heavy sticks for Rock playing...to get the right sound....heavy sticks and pounding the drums equals Rock sound. .... Then I came across drummers like Dennis Chambers & Jeff Porcaro e.g...their signature sticks are far away from being heavy.... and listen what proper sound they pull out the drums.....
I play rock with jazzsticks. Nobody complained all those years. ;-)
There is no rule that says you can’t change sticks for the way you want to play a song. I find some songs would lose articulation using a bigger stick, but equally a lot of drive and weight is just there with denser wood/bigger gauge sticks. Some players have a comfortable set of ‘cutlery’ and it makes their playing consistent and digestible too.
@Scott Snyder Huge fan of maple.
I called Vic Firth's halfway between tears and panic at the discontinuation of my beloved HS1 Highlander pipe band sticks.
Enormous in size, very light in weight. High gloss finish so they don't chafe. And maple handles vibration REALLY well.
Hickory is like playing with two crowbars on a rock in comparison, lol. Vibes right up your arm.
Not the fastest sticks on the block, but I have "toothpicks" for that other stuff. :)
One question I ask all my students is..."Which can you eat more of, just plain cake or just frosting?".....Not one of them ever said "frosting"! They typically get it right away. but the right amount frosting atop a cupcake can be just right!
regarding "You need a big set to rock" I have one Name for you guys: JP Gaster from Clutch, I dare you to show me a drummer with more feel, groove and pure rock n roll on a small kit like his...
The Bonham of our generation. JP ftw!
Early Def Leppard. Rick Allen had feel and chops, all while on a 5 pc.
Ringo Starr. Dave Grohl. Bill Ward.
That snare can’t sound good any way you hit it...
Need more of this dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was some really Insightful lessons .... Never to old to learn .. Thanks Brother appreciated the whole video ...
5:54 Sir you earned those sweet gold plated double kick peddles. I have Much respect for you, a great teacher. I got a lot out of this, Thanks!
even at 55 years young I can have a new mentor and I just found one!
Very good lesson!
Thank you Todd and Drumeo!
*"If you cant make it on a 4 piece kit, getting more is not gonna help"*
Drummer of epicardiectomy: hold my beer
It should be required they all come with a metronome.
What a great wealth of information!
What happened at 2:25 is something I may never recover from.
Like 😍
What song is he playing in the video?
What song ?😁
everything you say is true... you are great guy and great drummer
I use every thing in my kit. But you are right. Icing.. myth. Speed is all you need.. truth. Feel and correct tempo.
When it comes to drumming wisdom I trust Todd implicitly.
Who's Todd?
@@EarthtonesCymbals are you joking?
really enjoy the kick sound. especially with the crashes.
Myth #0: Forget jazz
I can't stop laughing...!!!
So true. Its crucial for being able to master so many techniques and other genres
@@eliasfigueroa3324 jazz =memorizing a bunch of crap and playing it.
After watching this,i all never bought my choices again,i was correct and certain individuals need to shut up.
"But playing super hard is soooooo much fun"!
I know! Took me a long time to realize it doesn't sound as good.
I play hard when I´m pissed... which almost never happens...
It´s like you trying to make funny stunts with a Harley, you can do it but it´s gonna cost ya if you crash... same goes with having an over priced drumkit such as DW, banging on it like crazy is expensive if it breaks.
Not for an entire show it isn't.
Haha I liked the hard playing sound more than the "good sound"
But I'm a metal drummer so I'm probably wrong.
@@toddsucherman I actually learned that from watching Dave Grohl in his Nirvana days. You could hear his snare drum choking terribly when he would lay into it with a 2 foot high stroke (like he did on just about every song). I often think the 80's and 90's drummers did drumming a huge disservice with all the excessive arm movement. Especially for those of us who went on to play extreme metal. I basically had to relearn how to play to do my new passion properly.
Anyway, great video! Thanks for all the great music over the years!
Agree 100% Todd. I saw a super heavy hitter talking about how much he loved his thin Zildjian crashes. They sounded exactly like ripping newspaper. No tone and you could hear them maxing out anx sounded like splashes.
Also, I can't hear people's hats or rides because they play the fricking snare too damn hard. This really bugs me when someone is demoing their great new ride that you can't hear.
I would love to see Jimmy Chamberlain in the studio. Something about listening to JC play is just memorizing ...
He's also an astute communicator.
Jonas Merk, did u mean mesmerizing?
He is not only a very good drummer, but also a great teacher and a smart guy !
That "tail sound" of the snare SUCKS
-_-
Some great tips here. Yes, playing like King Kong might look cool but it's not musical. Chops? In 2019? Sure, if you want a career playing to 60 musicians at the Baked Potato.
There's really no such thing as the best but that would have to go to Buddy Rich
John Bonham
Panda Potato Naw mate, Buddy was the master.
Rock drumming. Not jazz
@@zacharywilliams2 wasnt stipulated by the op
@@TOAOM123 wym? The video is about rock drumming, not jazz. Buddy was a jazz drummer. When the guy said John Bonham, it made more sense to the video. It just looked out of place.
Todd is the man !! What a complete gentlemen and monster player!
Great point about "choking" drums by hitting them too hard. Dynamics are everything.
Also, great wisdom from Todd: inability to play well on a four piece kit can't be overcome by more drums and cymbals while recognizing the opportunities and possibilities that come from a larger set. So much truth to Todd's observations that complex, fusion-style drumming would have ruined Beatles' and Rolling Stones' songs. I think that simplicity and complexity need to be balanced and intermeshed because, inasmuch as a mash of sixteenth notes played on a 6" tom and 20" china would have spoiled some classic songs, "Tom Sawyer" and, say, "Seconds Out" by Genesis (can a live album be your favourite album of all time?) would not be done justice without larger sets (played masterfully, of course).
Don't play the instrument. Play the tune.
drummers are composers...needed technique is of course required, but control and dynamics (touch and feel) must govern all technique. creative parts that propel the song, not your resume! study Lee Sklar and you will gain wisdom! on less is best, agree, but take the nashville producers view of drums...it is still very narrow. they box in drummers that play to songs...there is room for less radio hit minimalism as well. key is to not think like a drummer...when we do, we play for other drummers (ego) and that rarely works out well.
Older and smarter! Damn right!
"If you can´t drive a stick, forget an automatic"...use a bicycle...🤣🤣🤣🤣...he is so right.....The Music is the lead...the Drums are a support..just like the rest of the instruments.....
Deep stack of comments. Great session - Todd's insight connected with viewers. I especially enjoyed the mature musician perspective. I would have disagreed as a teenager but his perspective about intent and tasteful choices for the music resonate most with me today. I still love Rush but I also love the simplicity of the perfect accompanying part. As I grow older I slowly realize drums don't need to be showcased in every song.
Great insights and yes age does make you a smarter drummer. I'm of the mindset as a drummer to be an accompanist who can enhance a song through skill and percussive musicality.
Finally... I have thought about this a long time. Now i got the answer. Hitting harder doesen´t make it sound better or more. Thx!! And play less can be more.
I love how he's even able to express the drum beats and sound with his one-piece-drum-kit: His voice: drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-boom-cacack-da-doomoooom-tchack!
Love your wisdom, my approach simple too,keep solid time, be dynamic ,minimal flash,you have great way of communicating with drumming community, thanks
My favorite drummers are you sir, Todd Sucherman, (Styx), Mark Herndon (Alabama), Bill Marshall (The Bama Band ) Eric Singer (KISS).
All i have to say is that , everybody is different and we all have different prospectives. Its ok to play hard if u feel its the way to go. Look KENNY ARONOFF, one of the best session and touring guys in the biz and hits harder than a lot of people and the sound is still great. ITS IMPORTANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY LOUD like it is IMPORTANT to play SOFT . IF YOU GONNA HIT HARDER YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO DO IT. In studio is a different story at least 4 me.
Myth #4: You need very expensive drums to sound good. NOPE! To be clear though, I have a nice kit and I enjoy it but, I've also had 'cheap' kits as well that very admirably gave what was needed and got the job done very well. Probly the biggest thing going in favor of expensive drums and hardware is they simply wear better so, yeah, if you need gear that can take a lot of abuse and wear & tear, you'll probly need to shell out the bucks. Beyond that, if you have an inexpensive kit, don't fret too much and just enjoy playing. With a little bit of learning and skill, you can generally get them to sound very good and, yer bandmates and audience will still think yer terriffic!
Check any videos you can find of the world famous drummers from the 30's until today. You had drummers who could do a lot on a few drums as opposed to a lot of drummers today who can do only a little on a lot of drums. Also, "less is more" applies here. Watch Big Sid Catlett, Papa Jo Jones and Joe Morello. Just like you said, it's like a recipe for a good soup or sauce and you only need the correct ingredients. Watch Jeff Hamilton who is my favorite living drummer.
I started out in a garage band playing rock in the 60's. I was horrible, ignorant and loud. Then I found a jazz drummer. Just like Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid, he made me start out doing the bare basics with rudiments and control before he would allow me to advance, one step at a time. He wasn't a teacher, he was a professional drummer who hated teaching but I wore him down. Thanks to him, I was hired on my first gig playing jazz with an acoustic quartet playing violin, upright bass and piano in a very small and posh dinner club for two weeks. The leader hired me within 5 minutes of my audition, saying "You keep perfect time, you are quiet and I can hear myself play my violin." Now I'm 74 and I still remember it like yesterday. I still moonlight playing jazz on my 4-piece kit.
Man I saw you playing with Styx 3 times and man I loved how you played ! You looked like tearing the drums apart, but now I understand that is just for show ! Amazing drumming by the way !
Drum (or all music in general) myth, tell me what y’all think: A cheap chunk of equipment is 10x better than a $30,000 thing - a crusty, op-shop snare that sounds good will always beat a super expensive one that doesn’t sound great for the mix. Thoughts?
Rock myth (..and not just for drummers, but every other musician and even producers)... "Every space between notes MUST be filled!!!...There MUST be sound and/or at least noise!!!"
Regarding Myth #2: As a "cover tune" bass player, all I ask is to consider the venue. If its a festival with a huge stage and it can be set up quickly, removed for the next act to set up, bring the biggest monster kit you have. If you're in the corner of a local Bar & Grill and you have maybe a 12' X 20' space to fit a four piece....PLEASE LEAVE SOME ROOM!!!!!
Mostly its true. Exepct the "less is more part". Thats relative. Like there would be a "standard" way of playing. What is the goal here? To become famous? To produce hits ? To please the audience? To please bandmembers? What about Keith Moon....(the usual answer would be: He knew when to hold himself back......) well....no. Drumfill during the verse? Why not? Who says it wont work? Make it work! Innovate! Create new methods.... be brave to twist things. If a bandmember cannot connect - it maybe its due to his lack of will. .... less is more.....pfff.
Great subject and excellently delivered, thank you.
I manage volume with a combination of sensibilities gained from gigging and choosing the right gear, the latter all being small (10" hats, 12" snare, 8" main tom, 18" ride etc.). That gear is chosen for tone and cut (birch shells, small cymbals), not volume. Cut works in smaller venues, while there is typically mic'ing via a sound system for larger ones. Too often players mistake volume for intensity, and therein lies a critical misperception. It is possible to be super intense and excitingly dynamic between 0 and 1 on the volume scale. And the result is much more exciting because there is tension as well as headroom for release. I've seen Harvey Mason with bassist Jimmy Earle and keyboardist Freddie Ravel do that in a small booth at NAMM. And Art Rodriguez (RIP) do similar with Nathan East on bass, Lee Ritenour on guitar and a keyboardist in a large room. What revelations they were - ripping between 0 and 1. That was 'louder' because it sucked the listener into the music, didn't blow them away (literally) and out the door with volume.
I was at dinner with a group of drummers when John Molo (Bruce Hornsby, Phil Lesh, John Fogerty...) strolled over and engaged Walfredo Reyes Jr. in a chat. "When I saw you with Traffic, Jim Capaldi's drums sound incredible...so big and massive, yet it looked like he was barely hitting them." Walfredo, current drummer with Chicago, had played percussion with Traffic, taking over drums when Capaldi moved up front to sing, responded with this (I paraphrase): "Yes, Jim is a really light player. So the soundman cranks his volume way up and that captures all the air and tone of the drum. That's how his sound is so huge and amazing and we get a great mix."
As you note with your recording anecdote, Todd, focus on getting the best sound, then let the microphones do their work. Play too loud and those mics close up. Play more reasonably and they open up and let the sound 'bloom'. In live settings, play too loud and the soundman turns those drums down out front, which means the band is coming through the sound system but the drum volume is from the stage, which makes it impossible to get a great sound in the room. Also, when drums are too loud on stage, the other players turn up, which further contributes to driving people out of the venue.
The fact that people wear earplugs when attending gigs is a sure sign things are simply too loud.
There are still too many drummers who would also benefit from understanding that the space between quiet and loud is only one dimension of dynamics. Others include tension and release, tight and loose etc.
With your experience, more videos like this - three points to consider - addressing various topics would be great (e.g., how all that scary technique is merely singles, doubles and flams).
Cheers!
Here is a myth that stifles many a drummer. "I can never be as good as ____________( fill in any great drummer's name). Always remember, before Neal Peart, Alex Van Halen, Billy Cobham, Phill Collins, Nick Mason, and Bernard Purdie were drum heroes, they were beginners struggling to tap out a beat. :-) Anyone who will spend the time practicing drum exercises, rudiments and grooves at a slow tempo and work to improve their skills in daily diligent tiny steps, will see their drumming improve. And just like the drum heroes that we love and learn from, we too can be great drummers who inspire others as those drummers have inspired us. Thank you Todd for this great video. PS, I love your drumming on Styx's stuff. John Panozzo was a talented and skillful drummer who would not be an easy act to follow.
I just saw you last Saturday at Charlotte PNC pavilion are you are simply the best !!!!! Also saw you in 2016 at the Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake Minnesota, which was two miles from my home. I truly love listening to your tutorials and I have switched all of equipment to Pearl and Sabian !!! Keep rocking !!!
Three chords and the truth is a common saying when referring to music the reached people. Drummers have to be able to play that way as well. Everything else is cake.................or icing whichever you like best. You get the message.
I don't know if this is a rock drumming myth, or just for a gigging drummer. The myth; "It's no big deal, the place is a dive, I'm only playing for 5/10/100 people, I'm used to playing for 50/100/1000 people." Wrong. Every time you sit behind your drums, a practice or especially a gig, you should be giving your bandmates and the audience the best you've got. First off (with all deference to my wife) there is no place I'd rather be than sitting at my drum kit and playing. Doesn't matter if I'm woodshedding new songs by myself, rehearsing, or gigging. Second, particularly when you gig, if only a few people show up, why punish them with a substandard performance? If they came to see the band, then they are die hards and deserve to be rewarded. If they just happen to be in the bar, you can make a new fan of the band by playing as if there's no tomorrow. Apathy makes you stink, and people will smell it a mile away. If the last two plus years have taught us anything, it is not to take live music for granted. So go for it, every single time. Peace Out!