DRUMS
TEMPO , DYNAMICS , AND MUSICALITY FOR DRUMMERS | Carl Albrecht
I feel that being a great drummer overall is more than a single characteristic . The three key elements that I see in all great artists are solid tempo , proper dynamics , and mature musicality . They are the pillars that every musician must build upon . These are the things that make us “ artists ” not just someone who hits the drums . OK … Let ’ s go to work .
1 . TEMPO Keeping great time is the drummer ’ s first job ! Right ? I ’ ve always heard this . But there ’ s more to it than just being the metronome for the rest of the musicians . How we use dynamics and interpret the music also comes into play . Keep that in mind as we work on these concepts . Yes , being a solid timekeeper is important , but it has to be relaxed and flowing . This is a challenge for most of my students . I can get them to play to a click , but it doesn ’ t always “ feel ” good .
The key is relaxation and breathing . Simple ! Well … not so much . I ’ m always reminding myself to stay loose , relaxed , and fluid when drumming . Even when the click is playing don ’ t tighten up . It ’ s amazing how challenging that is for most players . I ’ m constantly telling my students to relax their shoulders , arms , and wrist . Yes , keep a good solid grip , but don ’ t become physically rigid in the process . You should only grip tight enough to keep the stick in your hand . Don ’ t make a fist around the stick , let there be some breathing room in the palm of your hand .
Drumming is almost like dancing . It should look , and more importantly , feel like it ’ s flowing without hindrance . Think Fred Astaire ! Actually , Steve Gadd took tap dancing as a youngster , and Buddy Rich performed and danced in vaudeville shows . There ’ s something about the looseness or grace of a great dancer that every drummer should use as inspiration .
One of the keys to this is proper breathing . Which is simply remembering to naturally breathe in and out . Don ’ t hold your breath . A good exercise is to actually exaggerate your breathing while practicing . You won ’ t make this the focus when actually playing with a band , but it may cross your mind sometime when you ’ re feeling a little run down during a performance .
2 . DYNAMICS I know many of you maybe rolling your eyes right now . DON ’ T ! Get this aspect of your playing together . Be able to play as loudly or softly as needed to make any situation work well . Yes , the drums sound differently at different dynamic levels . But how you blend with the rest of the band is crucial . I always tell drummers to “ play the room ”. If you ’ re overpowering the rest of the band by playing too loudly that is not good . AND … if you play too soft when more volume is needed it will weaken the energy needed for that moment too . In the context of most worship gatherings , you probably have to play a wide variety of dynamics . I hope so . But if the musical or acoustic situation requires a certain level of playing , be it loud or soft , then be mature and capable enough to bring the needed result .
Also , within the context of balance between your limbs , listen carefully ! Make sure you ’ re not hitting the cymbals too hard . Or hitting one drum at a much harder or softer level than the other ones . Balancing the dynamics of the
whole drum kit is very important . I always need to remind myself to play lighter on the cymbals . I have a tendency to just bash them if I ’ m not careful . I even allow the rest of the band or the engineer to tell me how it feels . Imagine that !
3 . MUSICALITY A drummer ’ s ability to sound authentic in many styles is super important ! Even in the context of a certain style there are still so many variations to a musical idea . Music is meant to be a spiritual , emotional , and creative expression . The possibilities are endless . The only way to achieve this is to continually keep growing in your musical appreciation . You ’ ve got to listen to and learn to play a variety of music so that you can be able to reproduce a groove , a feel , and a sound as needed . Become excellent in the details of all music as much as you can . Great musicianship is in the nuances and details . Even the late great Vic Firth ( percussionist for the Boston Symphony / and stick manufacturer ) mentioned playing scored classical music over and over in this way … “ Finding the subtleties … how you color something , that ’ s what separates the pros .” All that being said , I carefully give attention to every detail of drumming within the context of the style I am playing . I always say , “ Give every song its honor . Do your due diligence .”
Keep working your craft . As a friend of mine once said , “ I don ’ t dream about it , or talk about it , I just do it !”
So … “ Just DO IT !”
Blessings , Carl
Carl Albrecht Professional drummer for 30 + years , playing with Paul Baloche , Don Moen , Ron Kenoly , Abe Laboriel , LeAnn Rimes and others . He ’ s also a clinician , author & pastor . Contact Carl for coaching , online lessons , producing , or sessions . I ’ m still growing too .. www . CarlAlbrecht . com LMAlbrecht @ aol . com