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 Back to the Tempo Dispatch Archives  

  Issue #10___\__\__\__\__\__________/__/__/__/__/ October 97
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                        TABLE OF CONTENTS
                     What is in this issue?
             Contents:
               1. Feature Article: Jamming!
               2. Bar Jokes of the Month

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                        FEATURE  ARTICLE
             Spontaeneous Improvisation * Jamming

       NOW . . . for some really important thoughts concerning
  'EXCITEMENT' and Jamming.
       There is much to be said for 'spontaeneous improvisation'.
  It is difficult to teach this stuff, but I do have a few thoughts
  that are aimed in the right direction.
       What we are talking about here is the 'creativity factor' or
  'individual imagination' and how to improve it behind the kit, while
  playing with a recording or a band.

  REMEMBER THIS, ALWAYS!

       "There is no such thing as a mistake
            if you remain 'in-time".

       That is a very BIG statement but I am not kidding!
  Theoretically you may do anything (that sounds good) when
  you are behind the drumkit.  Anything goes, most of the time!
  That is  . . . anything goes, that does not throw you out of sync
  with the timing of the music.  Or . . . result in making you
  the target of smelly objects like rotten eggs and tomatoes.
       Sometimes, you may not be playing exactly the intended
  (classic) patterns . . . maybe you will miss a lick, here and
  there. That's OK!  Just stay in time, focus on the feel of the
  beat.  Occasionally the missed licks may sound better than the
  intended licks anyway.
       So . . . that aweful 'mistake' may become a new trick . . .
  that's all. Just try to remember all the, 'good mistakes'
  when you make them, and add them to your list of best ideas . . .
  then do them again and again on purpose.  This is a fun way to
  GROW as a drummer.

      Sure . . .this is all very easy for me to say, but you
  need a starting place. Right?
      OK, there are two separate lines of thought here . . .

  PARALLEL #1:

      JAMMING WITH RECORDINGS:

      Learn to jam as you play along with recordings.
      Try to remember that the songs you hear on record are
  the exact same way everytime BECAUSE THEY ARE RECORDED. It
  is the nature of the beast! The drummers who play those songs
  in concert will often change the rhythm patterns and fills
  from night to night.
      It is just too boring to play everything the exact same
  way every time!
      As you jam with recorded songs, dare to improve on
  the original drummers ideas.  Strive to add your own touch!

  JAMMING TIPS:
       1.  Alter the beat patterns slightly, in ways that make the
  song sound better.
       2.  Add fills in places where the original drummer didn't
  play a fill.  Often it may be difficult to mimick a recorded fill
  exactly anyway!.  Don't worry about imitating to perfection while
  you are at home and learning.  Just do your own fill, your own way
  but make it fit with the timing of the song.  You will have more
  fun and it will add to your own arsenal of tricks.
       4.  Play around with dynamics.  Drive hard in places where the
  recorded drummer is playing with little or no feeling.  More on dynamics
  in a minute!

  PARALLEL #2:

       JAMMING . . .WITH A BAND:

       When jamming with the band . . . listen very, very closely
  to each individual member of the group . . . memorize their
  'best' ideas and rhythm patterns . . . anticipate where/when
  they are going to use those ideas and be there . . . with them.
  Try to compliment their ideas (in your own way).  You will
  usually get a nod of approval as soon as they realize you are
  focusing on their musical statement of improvisational
  creativity . . .

   HOLD THAT THOUGHT!!!
       Not all musicians appreciate this kind of stuff . . .
  some jerks dispise it.  We (lowly drummers) aim to please
  . . . (even the jerks) . . . so, we play according to each
  players' individual wish.  If the 'nods' are approving then
  continue to compliment the other players' ideas.  But, if what
  you see is a scowl, then back off and let that player 'suffer'
  on his own. He deserves to be alone, heheheh.  Sometimes it is
  best to just 'ask' at a convenient time off-stage.  The
  individual band members will usually be very quick to let you
  know what they like and do not like.  A GOOD drummer will
  always try to please each individual band member, if
  possible.  However, you should never compromise tempo or
  taste at someone eleses whim.

       OK!  With that understood . . .keep feeding off the other
  band members as much as possible within the music.  THEIR
  ideas can be YOUR BEST ideas!

  REMEMBER ALWAYS:  Tempo is of paramount importance!
  This is the major thing that will cause audience pandamonium
  and excitement!

  SOLID TEMPO IS HYPNOTIC! It is a fact . . .just think about
  this . . .
       How does a Hypnotist induce a trance? Tic . . .toc . . .
  tic . . . toc . . .
       Whoops, I didn't mean to hypnotize ya!, heheh.
       WAKE UP!!!!
       Do you get the idea, though?  Steady tempo can have a very
  engaging effect on a mass of people.  Rather than put them to sleep,
  it will bring them to life!
       Think voo-doo . . . it is the tempo and the drums that induce
  the mesmerizing effects.  No drums?. . . no trance!
       Perfect tempo is the thing that will make a crowd clap their
  hands, stomp their feet and scream at the top of their lungs.
  When a crowd begins to respond like that, it can be the
  drummers (secret) crowning moment of glory!  It takes time
  (perfect time) to make all this happen, so be patient and keep
  driving home that SOLID beat!

      See the online lesson, 'How to Overcome Bad Gigs, Forever'.
  I know it reads like a spam for the 'Beatbug', and it IS (in a way),
  but it is also honesty from the gut!
      Now, with all that under your belt . . .there is another very
  important factor that will set 'crowd pandamonium' or
  'excitement' into action when playing with any band.  Get
  ready for another big word . . .

       'DYNAMICS', the sizzling-hot-drummers' second most
  valuable creative tool . . .

        DYNAMICS, in a band MUST be a group effort!  It takes a
  whole band . . . thinking on the same 'wave length' . . . to play
  dynamically.  By dynamic, I mean 'volume flux' and 'energy
  flux'.  Guess who SHOULD be in charge of band dynamics?
  If you guessed 'the drummer', you are right!  The drummer
  can initiate 'dynamics' into the band much easier than anyone
  else.  Look for places in the music where you can 'drop out'
  completely!  You may only need to play a very light 'chic' on
  the hi-hat in many arrangements.  Also, learn to build
  'excitement' with gradual increases in volume and 'thundering
  roll techniques' (watch that tempo!) . . .  Go from 'soft rain' to
  a 'thundering hurricane' at every opportunity.  Watch for a
  'positive' reaction from the band members . . . and the crowd.
  They will usually LOVE you for being so 'sensitive' to the kind
  of emotion this normally evokes.

  A FEW WORDS OF OPPOSITION:
      There are instances where jamming on stage just isn't cool.
  Many 'cover bands' are forced by their crowds to imitate popular
  recordings.  It is a bread & butter thing!  If you are in a band
  playing cover tunes for a living, (many of us are) . . . and if
  you want to eat on a regular basis, (many of us do)  . . .

      Jam at home but be a copy-freak at work!
      There, I said it, but it wasn't easy, haha!

      REALITY!!!!  I hate it!
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                       BAR JOKE OF THE MONTH
      ------------------------------------------------------
      A Mushroom Walks into the bar and the bartender says:

      "We don't serve your kind here."

      And the Mushroom says,

      "WHY, I'M A FUN-GUY!"

      (fungi . . . get it?)

      Thanks to Rafiq Premji for this one.
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 THE WINNING SECRETS ARE BURIED HERE.


       END OF TEMPO DISPATCH #10  October, 1997






 





Copyright Bill Powelson 1994 all rights reserved.