Play Along CD's: How Top Drummers Are Rehearsing Without a Band
Most people learn how to play the drums and can play a basic beat, or a few common fills. But how can you take your drumming to the next level?
You're a beginning drum student. Or maybe you're an experienced drummer hitting the clubs and working the scene. But no matter what level you're at, one thing is a constant: practice.
Practice typically requires playing with other band members. But maybe their schedule doesn't work with yours. Or, maybe the musicians you can find to work with aren't good enough to push you and you're no longer challenged.
Worse, you can get stuck in a particular genre, or style, of music and no one takes you seriously in any other form. You're a Jazz player that wants to play Hip-Hop. A Funk player that wants to rock. Or even a country player that dreams of playing on Broadway. But because you've been labeled as a certain form, you find it difficult to break into the field. Look at Garth Brooks, for instance. The guy could write his own ticket in country music, but when he tried to come out with a rock album he was nearly booed off the stage.
But what choice do you have? Well, the only other real option until now was to practice playing drums on your own. And as you know, this can be tedious or even downright boring. (Think about it... how many times can you play Wipeout or Zeppelin's Rock & Roll without finally wanting to stick a drumstick in your eye?)
It's a new tool called a play along CD. Lets discuss what it is as well as how to get the best results from using it.
A play along CD is nothing more than a set of tracks with your particular instrument taken out of the mix. Think of it like a non-cheesy version of a Karaoke recording, but for instruments instead of vocals missing. Removing your particular track allows you to play along and practice in style.
Here's an example: You're a drummer, so you grab a drum play along CD. All you have to do is throw the CD on, jump behind your kit, and play away. Its like having the whole band in the room with you. And, best of all, you can get creative with the part. You may even come up with something better than the original.
Every drummer has to practice. Sure, you could get some in with a metronome and a set of sticks, but whats the fun in that? To be a great drummer, you have to be able to do more than just keep the beat. Professionals are masters of timing, meter, and feel. And to master these things, you have to play with a band, either live or with a play along CD. Do that, and you'll be the one getting all the calls for the next gig. - 23815
You're a beginning drum student. Or maybe you're an experienced drummer hitting the clubs and working the scene. But no matter what level you're at, one thing is a constant: practice.
Practice typically requires playing with other band members. But maybe their schedule doesn't work with yours. Or, maybe the musicians you can find to work with aren't good enough to push you and you're no longer challenged.
Worse, you can get stuck in a particular genre, or style, of music and no one takes you seriously in any other form. You're a Jazz player that wants to play Hip-Hop. A Funk player that wants to rock. Or even a country player that dreams of playing on Broadway. But because you've been labeled as a certain form, you find it difficult to break into the field. Look at Garth Brooks, for instance. The guy could write his own ticket in country music, but when he tried to come out with a rock album he was nearly booed off the stage.
But what choice do you have? Well, the only other real option until now was to practice playing drums on your own. And as you know, this can be tedious or even downright boring. (Think about it... how many times can you play Wipeout or Zeppelin's Rock & Roll without finally wanting to stick a drumstick in your eye?)
It's a new tool called a play along CD. Lets discuss what it is as well as how to get the best results from using it.
A play along CD is nothing more than a set of tracks with your particular instrument taken out of the mix. Think of it like a non-cheesy version of a Karaoke recording, but for instruments instead of vocals missing. Removing your particular track allows you to play along and practice in style.
Here's an example: You're a drummer, so you grab a drum play along CD. All you have to do is throw the CD on, jump behind your kit, and play away. Its like having the whole band in the room with you. And, best of all, you can get creative with the part. You may even come up with something better than the original.
Every drummer has to practice. Sure, you could get some in with a metronome and a set of sticks, but whats the fun in that? To be a great drummer, you have to be able to do more than just keep the beat. Professionals are masters of timing, meter, and feel. And to master these things, you have to play with a band, either live or with a play along CD. Do that, and you'll be the one getting all the calls for the next gig. - 23815
About the Author:
Spencer (Spence) Strand is a performing drummer and drum teacher working in Nashville, Tennessee. To get your free sample tracks from his Berklee recommended CD series, "Turn It Up and Lay It Down", please go to his site at DrumFun.com.
posted by X - Men at
12:47 AM
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