Stuff And Drumming

Evening all. Although you may have seen I've been very busy with my band's album, there is a secondary reason I've not added much recently. Last October something went 'pop' in my back. Thought nothing of it then a few weeks later I started getting severe pain in my left leg, mostly focussed on my left calf. Sitting was a problem, everything was a problem apart from laying flat. And don't start me on trying to put shoes and socks on... And drumming.

I put it down to sciatica but it persisted. I've since had an MRI which has annoyingly showed stenosis of my L4 and L5 vertebrae. I'd never heard of it. In short, some deteriorating part of my spine has decided to flop sideways and crap out on my sciatic nerve. In short, I'm a tad crippled. I'm on some painkillers called Gabapentina or something which dulls the pain but is hardly a fix. I recorded the album tracks (and did two gigs) in December tanked up to the eyeballs on Ibuprofen and paracetamol to get me through it. These long-term painkillers have settled in now and are doing their job but they're not perfect.

I sat down to do a loop today and the discomfort in my left thigh said no after five minutes. I'm having physio but it's not having much effect so far and, since December it's just got progressively more uncomfortable (but less pain), not better.

In short, I'm down but most certainly not out yet. I've had to quit my paramotoring because I'm advised not to carry 30kg of lawnmower on my back any more, plus a bad landing would not be good news. I'll post adds when I can but at the moment, it's not looking all that fab unless I tank up on short-term painkillers. I'll still be knocking around though and, hopefully, I'll get fixed but things like surgery are a last resort so it may be a while.

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All the best Martin, hope you find a solution short of surgery and I look forward to when you're able to add some great drum parts again.

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Martin, I posted a reply following your two videos but I deleted it cos the thread was about posting videos. So I'll post it here:
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Thank you for posting these. I haven't stumbled across full videos of drummers and I don't have a clue, never tried drumming, but watching you made me think drummers must have great memories. You have to know the song inside out to anticipate choruses, leads etc so you can set them up with a roll or something. And of course you've to keep perfect or near-perfect time cos you're leading the way, and everyone is following. Seeing you in action made me realize this, I hadn't thought of it before because I just follow the rhythm and only have short things to learn and insert in the right places and even if I played all the way through, I'd still have the guidance of the drums to follow. So thanks again for helping me understand something about the importance and skill of drumming, much appreciated.
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And now I read you're having physical troubles. I hope you can recover well and it can be fixed.

I mentioned everyone following your lead when drumming, so I wonder what do you follow? How do you keep time? Do you even think about it? (I imagine thinking about it stops you doing it?) In other words, are you always in some kind of trance or "in the zone" to be able to play well?

As I understand it, if you are then you are meditating in some way, focusing on a feeling, and that can bring wonderful benefits.

So, going a bit deeper into this, (if I am even just a bit right), as a drummer you are more likely to be in beautiful state than other musicians (perhaps debatable?) and you must have a great memory to know so many parts of the songs inside out.

So, are drummers the cleverest musicians? And the most peaceful (even if they make the most noise, ha ha)? And I'm thinking of drums perhaps being the first instruments played, and African drums etc etc. Lots of questions, could be some fascinating answers...:D

Here's hoping you get well soon <3

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Another thing: traditional western medical practice (ie reliance on drugs, computers and the so-called "scientific" solutions) have let me down many times (and my parents before me). So have you tried a chiropracter, osteopath, or similar? They are nearer to prevention rather than symptom relief, and can give great advice as well as free up bones and nerves. (I'm saying this from my own experience, so it might apply to you but I've never drummed :) )

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Thank you BB6, I'll answer the easier question first:

I've been going to a chiropractor since November. Sadly, he's not able to help me any further. He's a great chiro but my problem is beyond such treatments. In fact he says my back is in very, very good shape, posture and alignment-wise. I spent time studying Alexander technique, etc., when I was younger to ensure good posture at the drums. The way to describe stenosis is that the 'gel' between my vertebrae is deteriorating. This is not the same as a slipped or herniated disc although the symptoms are very similar. It won't necessarily get worse but any provocation (such as regularly lifting heavy weights, etc.) creates damage that cannot be undone. Think of it like tinnitus for the back: once the problem starts you can only control it and stop making it worse. It cannot be reversed but it won't necessarily get worse without you doing things to cause it to.

Fortunately drumming isn't going to cause me any long-term issues or damage (apart from lifting the damn gear but the band is aware and helps me on this one) but I need to get the discomfort under control in my left hip and calf as it interferes with my balance and coordination at the drums. So an operation may not fix the issue but can at least remedy the problems it's causing pressing onto my nerves.

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Thank you, BB6. I can only explain my interpretation and it probably won't be short, I'm afraid! I certainly didn't expect to be helping! It's really, really hard to answer your questions for you but I'll try.

On one side, drummers appear to have a pretty simple job playing mostly similar patterns a lot of the time - it certainly makes jamming easy! On the other, there's the dynamic, subtlety and musical expression; simple little things such as an accent here or a push there that can really embed the rhythm into the music.

So first off, the old adage: "your band is only as good as your drummer" or "a drummer can make or break a band". At risk of sounding arrogant there is total truth in those statements. A good drummer can elevate an average band, a bad drummer can hold back a talented band. It really is that simple. Why? Because, contrary to some musicians' opinions out there, the drummer is absolutely in charge. They are, ultimately, the conductor, responsible for the feel, mood and pace of the music. Even if you're just jamming, watch the drummer: if they go quiet, so will the band. If they go at it, so will the band. They are in control I'm sorry to say.

But... With that control comes a lot of responsibility and drummers interpret this to varying degrees of success depending on attitude and experience. How do you exercise that control without 'taking over'? This is where paying attention to the music you're playing is paramount. It's easy to just plough through a song with a backbeat but, if you ever witness this at, say, a jam, the song will actually sound lifeless and dull (in my experience the audience are usually too drunk to care and don't notice!). And this is where I'm going to get a bit in-depth...

I'll start with a quote from my first drum teacher: "if you do a gig and no-one notices you, you've done your job properly." I utterly agree with that statement. In the same way when you drive your car - you don't care how it works but something in the background is holding it all together. And that's the drummer's job - important yet largely in the 'background'.

And your question, "who do you follow" is an interesting one I've never been asked before. The short answer is "I'm in charge so everyone follows me" but that's only a partial truth at best. In reality, whilst my time sets the pace it's actually a more complex symbiotic relationship with the other musicians. It's almost schizophrenic because I'm 'in charge', I have to sound like I'm running the time but I'm also simultaneously responding to and feeding off the music around me. It's a kind of sixth sense, pre-empting what's coming up (more on this shortly). I'm playing to the other musicians whilst also being the one in control. It's incredibly hard to explain so that's the best I can come up with.

Do I think about it? I actually try not to think about what I'm playing but I'm always thinking about what the music is going to (or is likely to if I don't know the song) do. Usually when I suddenly become 'aware' of what I'm physically doing, I make mistakes! It happens and it's bloody annoying. Your meditation observation is actually a very good way to look at it in my opinion. If anything, going down that path, it's more a 'mindfulness' state than strictly meditation. For those that don't know, mindfulness is a state of semi-meditation where you are aware but you don't let what's happening around bother you. You absorb it, accept it, process it, but it doesn't distract you. Something I've never considered before so you've certainly got me thinking there.

Fortunately, an awful lot of modern music is pretty formulaic; they follow 4, 8, 12 or 16-bar structures. You can sense when a 'resolve' or change is happening. I don't count bars in my head, I don't count time in my head (unless it's damn complicated) - experience just gives you a feel of when changes to the music are going to happen. I'm sure many of you know what I mean. And I'm always listening to the music. I listen for accents, pushes, whatever. When jamming, if I hear them, because music is quite repetitive, I make a mental note and I'll hit it next time round. This isn't necessarily a conscious thought, just something I spot and will know when it's likely to come up again. It is this (badly described) skill that enables me to jump on a Wikiloops jam and probably get it on the second or third play through and sound like I was there all along. It's picking out the accents and changes that make a jam sound like you know what you're doing and are part of the music. For me, I get my biggest kicks from playing a good-feeling beat. Others enjoy technical challenges or just plain out showboating but me, a good groove has me in the happy zone, enjoying focusing on how good I can make the music feel.

So we're back to the two-way relationship with the other musicians. Via what I play, I can 'announce' the change in the music - that is what fills are for. A simple trick I often use (and it's there in the videos) is to just loosen up on the hi-hats a bar before, signifying a change - a subtle 'build-up' with being over-dramatic. Drum fills, in their most basic form, are cues for changes. Nothing more, nothing less. Some drummers (usually with a temptation to show off!) take these to blast through stuff and do fancy licks. Often they just interfere with the flow of the music - not always - but that's where experience, skill and restraint are needed.

A lot of my fills are simple - there's very little clever technical playing in those videos apart from a couple of sections. But even then, they're always designed to emphasise and support the rhythm of the section, not massage my ego. Yes I've learned the songs and know where the accents I need to hit are (and there are a lot of them). The rest is still winging it. I never play the same song through twice the same - I let my wits run wild with what I actually play. I've never, ever, learned a song note-for-note, even cover songs. I don't see the point because I like the 'danger' of winging and it keeps me fresh. Playing the same thing, note for note, every night would send me off to z-land.

I don't know how well I've answered your questions and, as usual, I've blabbered on for far too long. But, for me, it's been a very interesting exercise in analysing what it is I actually do. Thank you :)

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Glad to see you're not simply relying on the doctor.



That's good to hear but if you could add extra "gel" it would be even better. I've read lots of stuff but am no way an expert, but you could try taking massive doses of Vitamin D3. I take 20,000 iU a day which is massive compared with the 400 iU recommended daily dose. Been doing this about 8 years. The side effects are all beneficial, I feel "bouncy" and I walk a lot without any pain. My knees and joints used to feel stiff and "crunchy". That has all gone. Takes perhaps 3 months before it feels like it's working. I recommend it to everyone I know. I've read about people taking 50,000 iU a day. No doubt D3 isn't the "gel" in your spine but I think it perhaps helps your body produce the gel.

Doctors might say you shouldn't overdose but I don't think you can OD on Vitamin D3. Of course you should research this so you know for yourself (if you can find anything - alternative medicine is heavily censored by Google nowadays). The only negative of D is that it does something to your body's vitamin K and you should also supplement with Vitamin K2 mk7 every day too. I take 200 ug per day. Bottles of 365 tablets are readily available on Ebay, as are 365 x 10,000iU capsules of Vitamin D3, at reasonable prices.

I'm not an expert but I don't think there is any harm at all in trying it out. Get well soon :)

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Thank YOU! For going into such detail that gives a real insight into drumming that I never knew. Your videos and explanation are wonderful stuff!

Don't be sorry! I hadn't really thought about it before but I totally get that now. You're the conductor and in charge and good drummers are good conductors - they have to be!

That's why I asked what do you follow. If someone is soloing, for example, and they get carried away, they could easily go out of time, so it must take a lot of concentration or mindfulness for you to stay with the beat you have set. Whereas the rest of the band can just follow you (and blame you if you get sloppy :)

I hope I haven't made you over-think or over-analyze! Too much of that isn't natural and it certainly seems to me that you are in a mindful or meditative state as you listen to the rest of the band and all the while your sixth sense is tuned in to subtle changes and what is coming up.

:);):D:W:Y

Music is amazing. Wikiloops is amazing. You are amazing. Thank you very much for your expert insights - you could write a book, start a drum therapy course. But I hope most of all that you can overcome your physical problems and stay immersed in the good groove.
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For those coming straight into this thread, two videos are here:
https://www.wikiloops.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=2583&rowstart=160#post_26341

There's also an interesting thread about the benefits of music in old age here:
https://www.wikiloops.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=3602

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