To good, or too bad?

[skin snapper]

I seem to have a problem, I'm 13 I've been drumming for 2 years and every band i get in I get kick out of, not because i suck but because i don't want to do a standar 4/4 backbeat if i try and spice things up so far 3/5 times the guitarist gets angry 'cause he can't keep with me or he can't play a complex riff.
God damnit, i'm a drummer and i can write guitar riffs for my own music, but the guitarists can't.
I'm playing with 14 - 16 year olds.
Should i give in and become a human metrenome or should i insist apon actually having some fun behind a kit.

btw all these more complex beats i' m talking about normally involve a tinsey bit of double kick, but i keep it in time and even if no double kick, the bass work is normally fair right foot looking like a f1 piston, just non stop speed.

[mauricio]

I went through a similar phase when I was 13 or 14 - I´m 23 now. It took me a few years and some recording to know exactly where to PLACE the notes without making them feel rushed or dragged. Your bandmates won´t complain if things are really "in the pocket". I´m assuming you´re a tasty drummer - that you don´t play crazy stuff ALL the time.
Any style of music needs to breathe a little. Discovering the magic in SPACE really made my drumming experience a much happier and rewarding one.

Anyway, let´s get a little more pratical:
1 - record yourself playing to a metronome and listen back.
2 - RECORD YOURSELF AND LISTEN BACK. I CAN´T STRESS HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.
3 - try OVERDUBBING, drums on drums. This is where stuff becomes a little harder. This can really make your sense of timing more precise.
4 - try playing THE SAME groove at 80bpm playing it behind the beat, on top of the beat and dead center. Try delaying the backbeat - When starting this, you can play a flam between your hi-hat and snare on 2 and 4.
5 - Try this with your complex riffs.
6 - Practice not playing some notes, leaving space - try this with and without a metronome. In my case, there were some problems here.

I´m sorry if I said things you already know.

[skin snapper]

K, I've been planning to get in to a studio by myself with metrenome.

I also do respect the fact that not everything calls for double bass, i play alot of non db beats i just prefer to ad a triplet here and there to make it a bit more interesting.

[scott h]

talk to Pino B. if you haven't already. Or try and find some players that are like you on their instrument, but i know how difficult THAT is.

[skin snapper]

Yeh, i'm thinking i probably thing is though all of the double kick style stuff i s the things i've taught myself, listened to stuff, got out the sticks and metronome and done until i like the way it sounds.
The thing that really gets me is the fact that although i would call my self a drummer in the sense it's my main instrument, i can seem to write my own riffs + beats but not many of the drummers have beats that suit my riffs or that can keep up with some of them and then when i'm being a drummer i find it hard to get a guitarist that can either play my riffs or that can write any good ones, just to make it extra wierd the bassist's and me always get along good and i've written full drum + bass solo's that i can write guitar riffs for but the guitarists can't seem to play.
I would play with older guys but i feel like a real dwarf when you're hanging out with 18-22 yr olds that can legally drink and smoke and that's one thing that makes me feel like i'm not part of it then the fact i'm 5 to 9 years younger and then when they start talking about things that i couldn't care less.
I'm at a stage where i'm not sure if i should just kinda be a bit more of a boring drummer and ask for 15 minutes to do some double kick stuff and really "kick out the jams" or if i should keep looking for a good band that suits me.
So i came here for advice, lol.

[morgenthaler]

Hi Skin Snapper

What kind of music is it that your bands play?
If it is pretty much straight ahead 4/4, it probably WILL be out of context to through in loads of displayed beats and doublebassdrum.
If you feel more adventurous, hook up with guys that feel the same way!
Find some guys who feel like taking it to another level with you.

To give a good example, Virgil has been playing alot (ALOT!) of straight ahead pop and rock without showing his full technical arsenal, simply applying what the music calls for. When he feels more adventurous he hooks up with guys like T.J. Helmerich and Ricc Fierabracci (to name 2) who both feel an urge to take music further. See my point?
Best of luck to you.
Regards,

[skin snapper]

I'm yet to find any that's all.
Well, i got the steve vai live in london dvd and you watch virgil drumming there he almost looks bored, like i always wonder if he doesn't play with some people, simply because they can't accomodate for someone with his just amazing skill.
I don't feel like that, but i find straight 4/4 beats boring and i can make something more interesting still sound ok and not sound out of place, but then the guitarist has to learn that there's more then 1 type of chord.
Still looking for anyone a bit more adventurous in my area, i got this 1 bass player who's feeling similair at my new school (just moved schools and meetin everyone) and all i need is a good guitarist that can play some of the riffs i've written and then a vocalist to put words to it.

[SonorForce]

Sounds like u know what you want and how to get it Skinsnapper, Keep your chin up and your eyes open bud, im without a doubt that you will find your guys;)....rock on little drummer man..
"Live long and drum hard"......Jonny

[SonorForce]

oops!, or girls for that matter...lol:D sorry Ladies, BRING ON THE CHIX WITH THE STIX;).....hehe.
"live long and drum hard".....Jonny

[skin snapper]

EEEWWWW CHIX WIF STICKS !!!!

Yeh, still looking aorund.

I went to a clinic with damien corniola and alex deegan and i was like, i thought i was good, those guys are just amazing!