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June 24, 2008
Drum Feels (With Hi-Hat and Snare)
Tiny changes in a drummer's playing can create dramatic shifts in a song's feel. Pandora dance music analyst and session drummer Jeff Anthony gets into his trick bag to show some of the little variations he throws in to boost a song's energy going into the chorus. He also breaks down the difference between the two-handed Britpop hi-hat style and the looser, one-handed Yankee hi-hat style. The audio on the outro, by the way, is from a session Jeff played on -- an album for singer-songwriter Stephen Ashbrook. (8 mins.)MUSICAL TERMS INCLUDED IN THIS PODCAST
| Snare | Backbeat | Groove | Upbeat |
| Cymbals | Quarter notes | Open and closed hi-hat | Phrase |
| Eighth notes | The "and" of three | Grace notes | Ghost strokes |
| Hi-hat | Swing | Ride cymbal | Bell of the cymbal |
| Syncopation | Sixteenth notes | Crash cymbal | Downbeat (beat one) |
Comments
What a treat! I haven't heard anything with this amount depth and fun for a long time. Thanks so much1
Posted by: j westphal at June 25, 2008 10:30 PM
was up rocker buddy rock in roll 4 life keep on being
Posted by: chloe at June 26, 2008 12:48 AM
I love dancing! It is therapy for me. The drums make the biggest impression on me. Some people hear the guitar, some people hear the base, I always hear the drums. This is a really comprehensive lesson about drumming. Thanks
Posted by: Laurie at June 27, 2008 07:55 AM
That drummer is a old but a fresh sound that brings blues jazz rockin altogetyer in one. I think a very under rated DRUMMER for damn sure.
Posted by: Dennis Ritch at June 27, 2008 10:56 PM
Absolutely amazing. I'm a beginner drummer and guitarist and this is wonderful stuff. Please keep these series coming!
Posted by: Trey at June 28, 2008 09:45 AM
tapes not at proper speed. YESTERDAY AND NOW
Posted by: Charlie Ball at June 30, 2008 05:29 PM
The only place I disagree is the one- vs. two-handed 16ths. You can make a non-stiff beat with two hands, quite easily... it just takes a little effort. Especially at higher tempos and longer songs, it'll help your endurance using two hands.
Posted by: Jarred at July 1, 2008 12:21 PM
Interesting stuff. I liked the way that the drums were mic'd.
Jeff did some good stuff with Sheryl Crow too. Thanks!
Posted by: Drums at July 1, 2008 01:20 PM
Keep em coming!
Posted by: Joseph Reyes at July 3, 2008 11:28 AM
Love all things drums. Let's hear more! At 61, I'm learning to play finally. Oh yea howbout that!
Posted by: mary at July 4, 2008 11:41 AM
Thanks for all the great comments everyone. I am very pleased you all enjoyed this episode. I think this is my favorite one so far.
Jarred,
I agree with you for the most part. When I listened back to this podcast that particular part of the episode jumped out at me as well since it is not necessarily always the case, and the example I gave was a bit extreme, and as a result a bit unfair.
I happen to prefer the use of just one hand when I play sixteenth notes for most tracks I record since it leaves me the option to color with my left hand on the snare drum, and I like to use the natural dynamic subtly that is created between each note from playing with that technique.
However I am reminded of a particular session I did a year or so ago in which the producer insisted I use both hands for the 16ths on the high hat in the chorus and the effect made a huge difference.
I cannot find a direct link on the web to the song but the artists name is is Alex Karweit and his website is http://www.alexkarweit.com/
There is a media player on the homepage and the song I am referencing is called 'Kock Em Out'
Posted by: Jeff Anthony at July 4, 2008 07:28 PM
I really enjoyed the pattern played on the tom, rather than the ride!!! Sweet!! Now I cannot stop..
Posted by: MHRand66 at July 7, 2008 05:17 AM
Very cool. It allows guitar players a look inside a drummer's head to understand variations and options. More tutorials are welcome. Thanks a bunch!
-GS-
Posted by: Glen Schweitzer at July 18, 2008 01:40 AM
cool
Posted by: maddy at July 19, 2008 09:19 PM
This is awesome.save and give us more.
thank you
Posted by: joe at July 26, 2008 09:08 PM
why can't i get pandora music any more?
Posted by: john leash at October 28, 2008 04:33 PM
Nice tutorial! Best i have heard yet! , "Wonders if you could have added some midi files so we could see as well as hear as i only have a daw application." Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Sam at December 4, 2008 10:17 AM
Great podcast. Just wanted to be the pedantic sod here and mention that those soft notes on the snare would more accurately be described as "ghosted" notes rather than grace notes, which along with the note they are "gracing" are generally called "flams" in drumming.
Posted by: Gabriel D Vine at February 9, 2009 05:18 PM
