Inconsistent playing...
Discussion
Just wondered how many other musicians have really bad days, even though they normally can play well?
I just got my first electronic drum kit this weekend and have played it 2-3 hours every day getting used to it and getting on really well, mostly learning this week's song 'Since you've been gone' by Rainbow. Tonight I went to the local college 'rock school' and played their electronic kit (I think it's an Alesis one) and I just played like crap: Timing all over the place, couldn't get the fills right, so just ended up playing the same pattern like a drum machine instead.
I'm not normally one to blame the tools (I sometimes play my really cheap Affinity Telecaster at the same rock school and manage to knock out the tunes OK on that), but the Alesis kit is like hitting some cushions and really hurt my arms after a few runs through the song. Yet I played it OK last week (before I got my own kit), despite not having played drums for about 25 years.
I want to stick with the drum lessons (the new kit wasn't cheap). However it knocks my confidence when I play like crap there, even though I manage fine at home. I even had a jam last night with one of the other guitarists from the rock school at my place so I could play the kit with a real musician rather than CD.
Just seems weird to be good one week/minute and crap the next. Maybe I just can't handle swapping between two quite different kits, but it's not practical to take my VDrums down there.
I'm more consistent on the guitar, but I still have bad days occasionally on that (been playing 40 years, but only recently started playing really regularly again).
Thoughts, comments, ideas anyone or am I alone in my inconsistency??
I just got my first electronic drum kit this weekend and have played it 2-3 hours every day getting used to it and getting on really well, mostly learning this week's song 'Since you've been gone' by Rainbow. Tonight I went to the local college 'rock school' and played their electronic kit (I think it's an Alesis one) and I just played like crap: Timing all over the place, couldn't get the fills right, so just ended up playing the same pattern like a drum machine instead.
I'm not normally one to blame the tools (I sometimes play my really cheap Affinity Telecaster at the same rock school and manage to knock out the tunes OK on that), but the Alesis kit is like hitting some cushions and really hurt my arms after a few runs through the song. Yet I played it OK last week (before I got my own kit), despite not having played drums for about 25 years.
I want to stick with the drum lessons (the new kit wasn't cheap). However it knocks my confidence when I play like crap there, even though I manage fine at home. I even had a jam last night with one of the other guitarists from the rock school at my place so I could play the kit with a real musician rather than CD.
Just seems weird to be good one week/minute and crap the next. Maybe I just can't handle swapping between two quite different kits, but it's not practical to take my VDrums down there.
I'm more consistent on the guitar, but I still have bad days occasionally on that (been playing 40 years, but only recently started playing really regularly again).
Thoughts, comments, ideas anyone or am I alone in my inconsistency??
I reckon it depends on the mood, physical tension or stress or something. Sometimes things go well, other times it's like you're using someone else's hands.
Changing equipment is going to affect things - things will be slightly different which can be off-putting. Might be the seating position eg the angle.
Sometimes, I can get perfect runs when playing Chopin, other times, it's like I've lost a finger. http://youtu.be/m5qeuVOIbHk?t=3m13s
Changing equipment is going to affect things - things will be slightly different which can be off-putting. Might be the seating position eg the angle.
Sometimes, I can get perfect runs when playing Chopin, other times, it's like I've lost a finger. http://youtu.be/m5qeuVOIbHk?t=3m13s
This sometimes happens to me, I find doing a few minutes of stretching exercise before playing helps.
If I am stressed or wound up before a gig or rehearsal I will often make stupid errors or forget the structure of songs I have known for years, which is annoying and unprofessional.
I think most of it is in my head, I play so much better when I am relaxed.
If I am stressed or wound up before a gig or rehearsal I will often make stupid errors or forget the structure of songs I have known for years, which is annoying and unprofessional.
I think most of it is in my head, I play so much better when I am relaxed.
Thanks, some good feedback there...I know it's not a competition and we aren't robots, but it is disheartening to play it well at home then struggle at the college. It just seems like only 50% of the snare hits actually 'sound' which is off putting and kept throwing my timing, yet I managed OK the week before on the same kit.
I guess we musicians are sensitive souls.
I guess we musicians are sensitive souls.
Everyone has bad days!
I've been playing guitar for 15 years and I still get times when I pick it up and the notes just don't flow.
I've even had gigs when I'm about to start playing a song and my mind goes completely blank before the first chord! We had to play a different song and then come back to it....
I've been playing guitar for 15 years and I still get times when I pick it up and the notes just don't flow.
I've even had gigs when I'm about to start playing a song and my mind goes completely blank before the first chord! We had to play a different song and then come back to it....
Oh, even worse is when you're doing improvisation which I do more of these days, playing around a general theme. I can play for ages on my own. Then when I play for someone, there's a chance I'll go blank or it becomes very repetitive because I forget other "ways". I think I need to put together some very basic "songs" that I can play and move between them in one continuous "medley" joining them with improvisation, maybe?
Yes!
I went for an audition a little while back. Had the four songs they asked nailed. Easy job - just party or wedding middle of the road pop / indie stuff.
I sat down fur this audition and fell to bits. And I'm not inexperienced - I've played plenty of gigs, covered Zeppelin and Hendrix to a reasonable degree. Even played some jazz!
And it was Olly sodding Murs that slayed me.
I went for an audition a little while back. Had the four songs they asked nailed. Easy job - just party or wedding middle of the road pop / indie stuff.
I sat down fur this audition and fell to bits. And I'm not inexperienced - I've played plenty of gigs, covered Zeppelin and Hendrix to a reasonable degree. Even played some jazz!
And it was Olly sodding Murs that slayed me.
Had a couple of gigs back-to-back recently - a Friday and Saturday night. Friday was awesome, all of us totally on form, knocked it out of the park. Saturday first set was a mare for me - a bit tired, low energy and slow fingers. Second set was much better - the extra pint might have actually helped! I try not to get too fussed about it though - live music is rarely about being perfect it's about being entertaining and having fun.
OldSkoolRS said:
Just wondered how many other musicians have really bad days, even though they normally can play well?
I just got my first electronic drum kit this weekend and have played it 2-3 hours every day getting used to it and getting on really well, mostly learning this week's song 'Since you've been gone' by Rainbow. Tonight I went to the local college 'rock school' and played their electronic kit (I think it's an Alesis one) and I just played like crap: Timing all over the place, couldn't get the fills right, so just ended up playing the same pattern like a drum machine instead.
I'm not normally one to blame the tools (I sometimes play my really cheap Affinity Telecaster at the same rock school and manage to knock out the tunes OK on that), but the Alesis kit is like hitting some cushions and really hurt my arms after a few runs through the song. Yet I played it OK last week (before I got my own kit), despite not having played drums for about 25 years.
I want to stick with the drum lessons (the new kit wasn't cheap). However it knocks my confidence when I play like crap there, even though I manage fine at home. I even had a jam last night with one of the other guitarists from the rock school at my place so I could play the kit with a real musician rather than CD.
Just seems weird to be good one week/minute and crap the next. Maybe I just can't handle swapping between two quite different kits, but it's not practical to take my VDrums down there.
I'm more consistent on the guitar, but I still have bad days occasionally on that (been playing 40 years, but only recently started playing really regularly again).
Thoughts, comments, ideas anyone or am I alone in my inconsistency??
Sounds to me like you've been "spoiled" by the roland V drum mesh pads. They offer a completely different feel to that of "real" drums. And also those that have more solid rubber pads (Yamaha and Alesis for example)I just got my first electronic drum kit this weekend and have played it 2-3 hours every day getting used to it and getting on really well, mostly learning this week's song 'Since you've been gone' by Rainbow. Tonight I went to the local college 'rock school' and played their electronic kit (I think it's an Alesis one) and I just played like crap: Timing all over the place, couldn't get the fills right, so just ended up playing the same pattern like a drum machine instead.
I'm not normally one to blame the tools (I sometimes play my really cheap Affinity Telecaster at the same rock school and manage to knock out the tunes OK on that), but the Alesis kit is like hitting some cushions and really hurt my arms after a few runs through the song. Yet I played it OK last week (before I got my own kit), despite not having played drums for about 25 years.
I want to stick with the drum lessons (the new kit wasn't cheap). However it knocks my confidence when I play like crap there, even though I manage fine at home. I even had a jam last night with one of the other guitarists from the rock school at my place so I could play the kit with a real musician rather than CD.
Just seems weird to be good one week/minute and crap the next. Maybe I just can't handle swapping between two quite different kits, but it's not practical to take my VDrums down there.
I'm more consistent on the guitar, but I still have bad days occasionally on that (been playing 40 years, but only recently started playing really regularly again).
Thoughts, comments, ideas anyone or am I alone in my inconsistency??
They are terribly bouncy. So bouncy, its beyond what a real drum does. And sadly, you will have found this when going to the Alesis kit. Their heads are no where near as bouncy. So what you could do before, now takes a lot more work and effort.
Get some nice heavy sticks, and practice your technique on a non-rebound practice pad. It's all in the wrists. Do not rely on the head for rebound or bounce.
If you feel that the above is not the case, then it's most certainly a case of practice your timing. Most decent musicians should follow the drummer. BUt that means, if you are out of time, they just follow you in an out of time fashion. As a result, there's a bit more leeway on timing.
As soon as you introduce a CD that is bang on time, all the time, you start to notice that you aren't as precise as you think. Not to worry, consistancy takes practice. And most drummers are no where near as consistent as they may think.
I spent a good year practicing to just a click track, and even now, you still get off days
Start slowly and build up.Edited by Jazzy Jefferson on Wednesday 16th July 12:33
I always found the music you play, in every way, is influenced by so many things. There have been times when I've stopped playing after 5 minutes as I just know the mojo isn't and won't flow at that time.
One of the best gigs we ever played was early in our career on the standard toilet tour bands earning their spurs get put on by the label. We were in Some dump in Doncaster, 20 people in the crowd and a dog. f
king awesome - the stars aligned and the sound on stage was exactly the same as our rehearsal room. Man, that was electric. Speaking to the blokes in the audience afterwards, they said the power coming off stage was amazing.
Next gig? Probably the complete opposite and I couldn't get any feel into it or my timing was a bit off etc...
One of the best gigs we ever played was early in our career on the standard toilet tour bands earning their spurs get put on by the label. We were in Some dump in Doncaster, 20 people in the crowd and a dog. f
king awesome - the stars aligned and the sound on stage was exactly the same as our rehearsal room. Man, that was electric. Speaking to the blokes in the audience afterwards, they said the power coming off stage was amazing.Next gig? Probably the complete opposite and I couldn't get any feel into it or my timing was a bit off etc...
Jazzy Jefferson; I know what you mean about the heads, but that was the main reason I went for them as they seem much more like real heads than the thick rubber ones they have at the college, also their high hats and cymbals have no 'give' or movement in them (I'm not even sure it's Alesis kit now, but no matter).
I'm going to try recording some rhythm guitar parts (to a click track) and then play them back (without the click track) to see if I can then drum along accurately myself. I managed fine the other night with the guitarist friend, so it should be similar to that, but without the interaction with the guitar.
I can play along with the MP3s on my VDrums but in a way that's cheating as you hear the original song complete with drums too, though it helps to get the arrangement straight and is better than just drumming to nothing.
Thankfully I didn't mention I'd bought the TD30 to the instructor as he'd have been thinking 'all the gear, no idea'!!
We've had bad days with the covers band when I'm playing guitar, but usually just try a different song and it all comes good.
I think it's the drum God's revenge as I was saying to a guitarist friend recently how drumming is more straightforward since you don't have to worry about the chords and scales...
Off for a practice since I got back early while the house is empty.
I'm going to try recording some rhythm guitar parts (to a click track) and then play them back (without the click track) to see if I can then drum along accurately myself. I managed fine the other night with the guitarist friend, so it should be similar to that, but without the interaction with the guitar.
I can play along with the MP3s on my VDrums but in a way that's cheating as you hear the original song complete with drums too, though it helps to get the arrangement straight and is better than just drumming to nothing.
Thankfully I didn't mention I'd bought the TD30 to the instructor as he'd have been thinking 'all the gear, no idea'!!
We've had bad days with the covers band when I'm playing guitar, but usually just try a different song and it all comes good.
I think it's the drum God's revenge
as I was saying to a guitarist friend recently how drumming is more straightforward since you don't have to worry about the chords and scales...Off for a practice since I got back early while the house is empty.
I've been playing the piano for 25 of my 31 years, I've got a degree in playing the thing, and I still have days where I play like absolute s**t. And some days, I'm invincible and can play anything.
It's just like that. I've heard tell, though, that the difference between someone's best and worst playing is usually only about 5-10% and mostly imperceptible to the listener, unless it's a listener who knows the performer REALLY well.
It's just like that. I've heard tell, though, that the difference between someone's best and worst playing is usually only about 5-10% and mostly imperceptible to the listener, unless it's a listener who knows the performer REALLY well.
siovey said:
I'm great playing on my own in my little bedroom. Ac/dc , maiden, metallica ,Sabbath etc (almost) perfect - only rhythm sections though, can't play well enough for lead!!. If anyone is there though, I go to pieces. I've never bothered trying to join a band..
Im exactly the same, sometimes even with my tutor!Two best cures for stage fright are, know your material so well that you can still play it when under pressure, and the second is to deliberately subject yourself to the situations you are scared of, be it playing in front of friends, teachers, strangers. Practice being scared and coping with it.
And make sure there's a bucket or something similar nearby, or unhindered access to a toilet
And make sure there's a bucket or something similar nearby, or unhindered access to a toilet
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