Rhythmic Conversations

Hello fellow drummers,

This week we focus on improving creativity and delve into the world of comping in our feature article.

Whilst those with an interest in jazz will likely have heard of this technique, until fairly recently it was a new topic for me.

Whilst I was somewhat aware of the drummer’s capability to hold musical conversations whilst playing with a band, until I started to really study and reflect on the topic, I didn’t fully appreciate the skill and musicality required, and how working on the topic can help across all styles and genres.

It’s a fascinating subject, so check it out and be sure to follow up on the resources.

We’ve also got our usual weekly roundup from across the web, including a teaser for what looks like an amazing documentary about a major manufacturer.

Enjoy the newsletter, and have fun with your drumming,

Iain

Our weekly round up of the latest drumming content from around the web.

• As a drum geek, I got incredibly excited when a teaser for a documentary on Gretsch drums landed in my feed this week. Entitled “The Round Badge Stories”, I’m impatiently looking forward to this on May 23rd! Whether you play Gretsch drums or not, their rich history and reputation as being the go-to drums for most drummers (regardless of other endorsements 😬 ) should mean this documentary is high on your playlist.

• I feel like I am mentioning “Sounds Like a Drum” every week, but with good reason. Their videos are immensely engaging and full of incredibly valuable and practical information. I love their methodical and scientific approach. Here’s their latest video on another massively important topic - kick drum tone.

• The 80/20 drummer is covering a topic that is close to my heart - “How Loud Should You Play The Drums?”. Starting out my drumming life as a metal drummer meant that I was a heavy hitter from the outset and it took a musical maturity (and some comments about my volume from others) for me to realise that I didn’t have to be going through a block of sticks and a number of drumheads every few months. As usual, Nate’s content is well considered and insightful.

• Rob Brown has an inspiring video for sounding good by being aware of how you strike the drums - regardless of the gear you’re using! I’ve often heard people say that the best drummers can make any kit sound good (“it’s all in the hands”) so I love that Rob is tackling this subject. Check it out, and start sounding even better!

• Mike Johnston shows us an interesting 9-9-6 triplet fill. I love Mike’s videos (evidently so do many others) and it’s great how he focuses on the application of what he teaches.

Comping is a technique used by drummers, particularly in jazz music, to provide a rhythmic accompaniment to the other musicians in the band.

The term "comping" is derived from the word "accompanying," and it involves playing a mix of syncopated rhythms, accents, and ghost notes on the drums to support and interact with the soloist or the ensemble. It's a method of adding texture and depth to the music while also engaging in a musical conversation with the other performers. So, comping can be considered a technique or method used by drummers in various musical contexts, particularly in jazz.

Our feature article this week covers the topic in more depth, with an overview, examples and pointers to resources for those who wish to study the topic further.

In case you didn’t know, it’s Zildjian’s 400th anniversary this year.

To celebrate, they have released a whole bunch of limited-edition gear and merch.

I’ve got some 400th Anniversary Jazz Sticks arriving in the next week or so (I bought them - I’m not sure anyone is motivated enough to send me any review gear 🙂 ).

I’ll probably want to keep them in good shape, but I’ll maybe try them out on a pad and post up some thoughts. (In my case, I just bought them as a “nice-to-have” and got the blue sticks for the aesthetics).

This week I’ve been rehearsing for a gig at a primary school (I live in the UK) that’s happening at the end of May.

I was invited back to play at this year’s event after a show I played there last year.

The show involves the kids - and sometimes the teachers - singing along to a live band, with parents invited down to the audience for one of two sessions - a morning show or an afternoon matinee show.

Last year, between sessions, some of the kids came up on stage and had some photos taken with the instruments. I took the chance to show the kids a basic bass/snare 4/4 beat and let them have a go themselves.

I was delighted to learn that one of the kids loved the experience and was really inspired by the whole event. So much so that her parents had sent in a photograph of her to the school with a new drum kit and mentioned that she was taking lessons!

I’m so pleased that she had the opportunity to experience something that she really took a shine to - not all kids get that chance or don’t discover their “thing” until later in life.

Without sounding melodramatic, it made me think of how we, as drummers, can really act as an inspiration, potentially changing the lives of those we encounter. I’m not suggesting for one moment that it was all down to me, but just by being out there and being able to offer the chance to that kid was hugely rewarding.

We all invest emotionally in the equipment that we use, so maybe the above is worth keeping in mind the next time someone asks if they can try out on your precious drum kit that you invested so much time and money on!

Think you can guess the Beatles song from the drum part?

David Bennett was challenged to do just that - have a go and see how you compare! (Maybe I’ll post my score next week…or maybe not actually 🙂 ).

As an added bonus, far out magazine recently wrote an article on Ringo with a link to his isolated drums for “Nowhere Man”.

Until next time, have fun.