How do you write drum parts?

Dustin07 · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:45 am Post subject: How do you write drum parts?

Do you just sit there and play to what the rest of the band has already written and hope to remember it? Or do you keep pen and paper next to you the whole time and write the drum part down? I was thinking about getting some blank sheet music paper so I could write the drum parts down as we go. I thought then I could dissect it a bit better, follow the bassists parts more, etc.

what do you guys do?

styles2281 · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:53 am Post subject:

Depends,

You could:

1- Take the bassist/guitar written music, and mentally devise a drum part (written) and then learn how to play it.

2- record the jam/practice and transcribe what you played.
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earthquake · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:54 am Post subject:

In all honesty I usually just make it up as we go the first few times through and eventualy stick to something....Never written things down, I usually am able to keep it in my head...But then again (and they hate me for it) I'm always changing things a bit because i'm never satisfied. I try to keep the main rythm the same though so Everyone else has something to play to.
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Dustin07 · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:57 am Post subject:

Sounds like I'm not too far from the norm then.

It just finally occurred to me that I'm so visual it would be helpful to have some tabs or something to follow, and that I could probably get more creative if I saw it on paper and how the whole song came together.

S.O. · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:39 am Post subject:

I'm with earthquake on this one, I think I make minor changes to old songs every time we play them; and with making new stuff, I change it up everytime until I come up with something I like and the rest of the band likes.
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007david · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 12:30 pm Post subject:

I literally make it up as we go along. Nicely enough I tend to always make up the same thing.

Now, I also do record every practice session so if there is something a bit more difficult I'll listen to the recording over and over until I can just feel it. If that doesn't work, or I don't have that kind of time, I'll transcribe it then sight read what I need.
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UBP · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 12:38 pm Post subject:

it's all in my head, and like it was mentioned... change a few things here and there, but I never write stuff down... if I have a good drum tab creator, I probably would. but I don't Sad

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TRIB · Lion King Joined: 18 Jan 2004 Posts: 1242 Location: AZ

We don't write a whole lot... In my room (our "studio"), we have a whiteboard on which we occasionally write basic song structure, and the rest is jamming. Only two of our songs have an actual defined time limit. Most of it is improvised on the spot. It keeps things interesting Very Happy

I do have very specific drum parts that I play for certain frequent jams, though.

If I'm writing a song on my own, however, a lot of times I'll use a MIDI editor, like Anvil Studio. That way, I have a record of what to play (for all the instruments) and can hear it in context. Often times, it forces me to push the limits of my playing forward; Every once in a while (if it suits the song), I'll end up writing a drum part that I can't play yet, which forces me to learn something new and continually improve and expand upon my base of playing. In other words, it can be a lot easier to think outside of the box while not behind the kit.

TheLegace · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:37 pm Post subject:

No writing for me, well since I have no musical ability in that sense.

It's in my head, but my tracks never stay consistent, since I like to keep them complicated with the toms an stuff.
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icanplaydrums · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 11:17 pm Post subject: Writing...

Well, in my personal process after I hear the riff(guitar, piano, bass, etc...), I just start moving around on my kit... and experiement as MUCH as possible.. You never know if a mistake or a random idea is going to be the best result. As for writing the parts down, I feel that I am more creative when I go with the flow for the first few times of playing the song, until I start noticing that I use a certain beat or riff each time we play the song. Then I know that I have something that I can remember and do time and time again. Then you just build on to that and add your flavors....

Writing, by no means, limits you. However, you can fall into a trap, if your not carefull, that you ONLY play whats written instead of letting your ideas roll. I actually write all my stuff on Sibelius after the song is done and has been played for a long time, that way I know that the parts are solid.

A drummers work is never done, but you have to learn when to walk away...
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Dustin07 · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 1:34 pm Post subject:

Well, I met with a group of guys and played on Sunday. it was the first time in years that I had played with people other than the radio/cd's. Had a great time and made it through a couple songs. The only part I had a rough time with was coming up with interesting fills.

It seems like when I'm at home I just go nuts but I was playing really conservatively, afraid to mess things up. Maybe after a few sessions I'll lighten up a little and play differently. In the mean time I'm going to start practicing some fills.

icanplaydrums · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:07 pm Post subject: Fills

Well, I think the most important things about a standard fill is a) Relax and have fun with it, its ok to mess up. Hey some of the best inventions were accidents.. b) Keep the feel of the song, in some cases this is more important than what drums/cymbals that you are actually hitting. One way, if you are not sure about a fill, to keep the fill from being a disaster is to just move your hands to the rhythms of whats being played. Feel the fill so to speak. If you are playing like a swing type beat and now it's time for your fill, just keep the feel in your body and just start hitting what you "think" might sound good. Sometimes it sounds great and other times not so great, but at least you didnt lose the feel.

The rest of the band is looking to you as there tempo guide. So just make sure you don't start changing the feel on them so that they get confused and can't find the time.

Newho, I hope this helped a little, keep in mind this is a guide mainly for begginer to "I've been playing a little while" players. As you get more advanced and can create a language on your drums, you will know a bit more a bout each sound and can preevaluate the situation (ie. know what you are gunna do before you do it"

Cheers..
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"A piece of art is never finished, it is just abonded" -Some dude...

"The Apprentace takes something easy and makes it look hard, the Master takes something hard and makes it look easy" - Another dude!

Dustin07 · Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:32 pm Post subject: Re: Fills

styles2281 · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 5:19 am Post subject:

TRIB · Lion King Joined: 18 Jan 2004 Posts: 1242 Location: AZ