Drums are one of the core instruments when it comes to producing music. These make music more interesting and engaging to listen to and making others tap their feet as soon as the music reaches their eardrums. However, while you are learning jazz drumming, it is important to avoid various mistakes in order to pound your way to glory. The following tips can be useful for you in this regard.
Try various drum sticks
Many drummers, especially the beginners, make the simple mistake of imitating the examples of experts and trying their styles. However, every individual is different and his style and level of convenience and comfort with drum playing is supposed to differ as well. Thus, it is important to purchase a wide variety of drum stick sizes. Play with different types until you can come across the type that matches your playing style, personal comfort and preferences.
Top Drummer Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Hold the stick well
Good drum playing also depends a lot on how you use your fingers, arms, wrist and hand. If you hold the stick well, you can easily produce the sound that you need. Hold the stick gently, so as to avoid producing off or flat sounds. Do not catch the stick in a grip, as this needs a lot of strength and you would end up producing stronger and thicker percussion sounds that are so unlike of jazz.
Follow cymbals with hi-hats
This involves bringing the top cymbal in contact with the lower cymbal, a process that is generally known by the term “rocking the hi-hats”. You have to follow the heel-toe approach while using the hi-hits pedal, where the heel remains static on the floor and the toe hits the pedal. Repeat your beat once more, combining the hi-hats with the cymbals. Accent your pattern in two and four beats, and you can even lift the sticks higher to accent the beats. Choose in the 1 – 4 ranges to accent the beats. This can be done with the help of a snare drum and a bass drum.
Experiment on tempo
Try to conduct experiments on your tempo. Attempt a triple on the 8th note at medium tempos. Else, each time you should have a quarter note pulse played. This will accentuate the music that is produced, as well as ensure fluidity. You have to keep a steady pulse and rhythm and determine the note placements to create a mix of notes.
