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certainly true to me - i wish i was born with drummer genes.
clean steady stream of 16th notes beyond 90bpm (jaco & francis rocco prestia) become very difficult for me to execute. complicated syncopation is also not in my repertoire.
clean steady stream of 16th notes beyond 90bpm (jaco & francis rocco prestia) become very difficult for me to execute. complicated syncopation is also not in my repertoire.
I said I was a born drummer...not the case at all for me with bass (and even more so with guitar). I have worked my butt off to get to a good level on bass where I can quickly learn & absorb new songs, but I always need to practice & refresh muscle memory. On guitar if I spend even a short time away (~2-4 weeks) I am horribly sloppy.
Exactly what I was getting at in my post when I said that I was a "natural" at bass. I can barely practice bass (compared to the other instruments), and keep most of my technique. Definitely not true for everything else. And for me, it doesn't take more than a week away to get sloppy. In addition, it takes serious work to get my chops back up to speed, except on bass. On bass, a few days of playing technically challenging songs and I am there.
I disagree (sort of)...in my experience teaching students, some just learn a lot faster with very little effort, while some work twice as hard for half the results.
I do agree;however, that persistence and hard work will surpass natural talent eventually, if the "natural" doesn't practice.
I have taught siblings that were on the same practice schedule (parents timed and supervised), and yet learned at drastically different rates.
There are a lot of things involved in playing an instrument...rhythm, ear ability (able to identify relative pitch), limb dexterity, anatomical limits (reach, etc.). Everyone is different.
I do like the idea of hitting things, and being credited with musical talent at the same time. I do have a good sense of rhythm as well. But...I do like getting gigs, and I don't like the idea of being fired when someone else screws up, so I'm sticking to bass, at least for now.
Nope, I'm a born flautist. If I don't pay constant attention on my bass my timing disappears as I go into melody.
It sounds absolutely amazing to the audience. Every person I play with hates me because the guitarist ends up having to pay attention to the drums, not me.
It sounds absolutely amazing to the audience. Every person I play with hates me because the guitarist ends up having to pay attention to the drums, not me.
I'd say I am a born drummer, but also an underdeveloped drummer. When I got my first kit, I taught myself how to play, and soon was good enough to play most of the music I liked, but never went beyond. And probably developed bad technique. Now, I've seen other people try to learn drums and it's a bit strange to see how difficult it is to them, so I can only conclude it was more natural to me. I feel similarly with bass. I started only a few months ago, but I think I'm doing well, though I'm much older than when I started playing drums and don't have as much practice time as I'd like.
Guitar, on the other hand, just seems imposible. I don't know how it is one of the most popular instruments. I'm determined to learn the basics but I'm going to have to take some lessons.
Guitar, on the other hand, just seems imposible. I don't know how it is one of the most popular instruments. I'm determined to learn the basics but I'm going to have to take some lessons.
Possibly... I put 'orchestral drums' into the Google machine, and this was one of the first things it spit out... I removed the hairball.
I once read that the first step in being a good bassist is to think like a drummer.
I've played with (and given lessons to) enough people over the years to know that some people pick up instruments right away, some take longer & require much more woodshedding, while some simply don't have the focus, ear, determination or simply that elusive "something" required to become a good musician.
Those people can practice day in/day out & never get beyond the basics.
Those people can practice day in/day out & never get beyond the basics.
I believe to be really good at anything you have to have "innate ability" and the willingness to work your butt off. I play the drums, so-so, but I don't put a lot of time into it either. Having said that I could never be a Vinnie Colaiuta no matter how many hours I practice.
I've come to the conclusion over the years that either you have "it" as a drummer or you don't. Lots of people own drums and hit them with sticks but they just don't have any sort of groove or feel. A few have a great feel and groove and they're a joy to play with.
It's not just the rhythm ability and the coordination, but it appears that drumming requires a lot of physical stamina. For that reason I was not. I've always been thin, but could never do sports or play wind instruments. Bass playing requires more precision than grunt, regardless if you're playing a Precision.
