What is Musical Drumming?
Musical Drumming Definition
Musical drumming is…
1. Putting the song first when playing with other musicians
Using dynamics and different sonic textures to help ‘color’ the groove from section to section within a song. Also, focusing on the overall sound of the band, and making drumming choices based on the needs of the music.
2. Playing with respect for the given style of music
Having a knowledge of the history of the style of music you are playing, and, at least as a starting point, playing the drums within the stylistic guidelines laid down by the original drummers who made the music what it is.
3. Where the musical style permits, playing less rhythmically and more melodically.
This means anything from using the melodic voices on your drum kit, such as the tom toms, to rhythmically responding to rhythms or melodies played by the other instruments. This is common in more improvisational music, but examples can be found in popular music as well.
4. Improvisationally using musical ideas rather than “licks and tricks”
When doing drum solos, thinking in a musical way is about creating themes or patterns on the drums, and developing and playing off of them. We create song-like improvisation this way, rather than just executing rudiments or playing at great speeds or using flashy patterns.
NOTES
I encourage you to explore your own path by learning, playing and listening to the music you love on your own and with others. If I can be part of that journey, don’t hesitate to check out my musical drumming method or book an individual lesson.
Who is a Musical Drummer
Some great musical drummers covering many different styles of music
Max Roach
Max Roach was perhaps the first drummer in history to treat his kit like an orchestra, playing musical themes and melodic patterns he would solo with improvisationally, even creating actual “drum compositions”. He was also one of a handful of drummers in the 40s who invented the bebop jazz style, which is based on playing over a musical form, while coloring and complimenting the music using melodic ideas expressed rhythmically.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dZSRuqJ6tk&ab_channel=DRUMMERWORLD
Steve Gadd
Steve Gadd, playing in any number of musical styles from pop to jazz, is able to supply the kind of musical drumming to the extent that his beats would come to define the actual song he was playing.
Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L7Mv7p40DI&t=3s&ab_channel=drummerszone
Levon Helm
Levon Helm, who played drums while singing, and used the lyrics and the melodies he sang to direct his drumming choices. You can’t get anymore musical than that!
Steve Smith
Steve Smith, another drummer whose playing can be heard in many different kinds of music. His drumming on “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey is an example of a musical drum part that has many different subtle patterns going on, none of which distract from the overall feel and direction of the song.
Glenn Kotche
Glenn Kotche, the drummer with Wilco, who is always finding different rhythmic and sonic ways to shape their songs, using unusual sounds and inverted or altered beats.
Video: Glenn Kotche Breaks Down his Drum Parts on Wilco’s ODE TO JOY
Cindy Blackman
Cindy Blackman, whose career has spanned both decades and multiple musical styles, is an incredibly musical drummer, whether playing straight ahead jazz music in the style of Tony Williams, or straight head pop rock with Lenny Kravitz.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPG8gv3sS84&ab_channel=CindyBlackmanSantana
Terry Bozzio
Terry Bozzio, whose giant drum set is tuned to actual pitches, which he uses to create songs and melodies played only with the drums.