Click Tracks (best friend, or worst enemy)

I wanted to hit on a topic that a lot of musicians avoid, and that is playing to a click track...I know some of you are saying, "What's a click track?" or "No way, i refuse to play to a click track!" or "I don't need to play to a click track!"

In all the years I have been drumming, i have only been drumming to click tracks for about 3 years. I can honestly say that the biggest amount of growth I have made, as a drummer, has come from learning to play to clicks.

As a drummer, your biggest job is to keep the entire band in time. Whatever tempo the drummer is playing at, the rest of the band is going to follow. Practicing with click tracks is a sure fire way to improve your timing! Whether you learn to just use it at practice, live shows, or studio, being comfortable on click will be a huge help in furthering your drumming skills.

I have heard a lot of drummers say that playing to a click makes them hold back and not play as big as they usually would, and i totally understand that. When i first began playing with click tracks, i was so focused on not getting off tempo that all my fills, and beats became very simple. But, the more time i spent on the click, the more it started to feel natural, and very comfortable. If you ever plan to record with a band, or maybe even go to a music school, then click tracks will end up being your best friend!

My band is currently in the studio recording a 7 song CD, and before we even began to record, i mapped out every song to click tracks. Our music has a ton of technical parts, and tempo changes, which is new for me, on click, so now i find my self growing even more as a drummer.

I have found the best method for me, is quicker tempo songs are comfortable with a click track counting in standard fourth notes. But, slower tempo songs are more comfortable with a click track counting in eighth notes. Eighth notes just give you less empty space between counts, and don't leave you hanging in the "emptiness" to stay on tempo.

So again, whether you love them or hate them, learn to at least be comfortable playing to click tracks.

My Biggest Influences

1) My biggest influence on drums is, hands down, Aaron Gillespie. His timing is so unique. He puts all his heart into his music. Plus, on stage, the guy is a pure animal!!! He is also a drummer/vocalist, and the reason that I have worked so hard at becoming a drummer/vocalist as well!  Aaron Gillespie

2)Thomas Pridgen is next in line for my influences. He is one of the greatest offbeat players i have ever seen. He blows me away with his beats, and also his attitude. When he plays, you can tell he loves what he is doing. Thomas Pridgen

3) Benny Greb is my number 3 influence! Again, another guy who has superb timing. He has even broken drumming down in to a language! If you are looking for a great drummer to learn from, watch this guys stuff! Benny Greb

4)The last influence i will list for now is Shannon Lucas of The Black Dahlia Murder. His ability to keep all of his beats clean at the speeds they play, is so impressive! When it comes to heavy music, this guy is a big role model for me! Shannon Lucas

What Drumming Is To Me

I am 23 years old, and have been fasinated with drums, most of my life. As long as i can remember, drums have always captivated my ears, and eyes, in music. In the early stages of my drumming, I was just like most new drummers, in that I was horrible...but i remember what it was like when i nailed my first drum beat. No matter how simple, or sloppy it was, it was the first achievment I made in my drumming. I was around 11 or 12 years old when i began to really take interest in being a drummer. For the first year or so, most of my learning came from watching older, more talented drummers that i was friends with, then going home, and trying my best to copy their beats. I think my mind set, like a lot of new drummers, was "how many beats can i learn".
By the time I turned 15, i had gotten really good at "copy cat drumming", but I wanted more. I began to experiment more with technique, and more intelligent drumming. I was no longer content with just trying to  play what others played, because it sounded cool. I wanted to know why they played certain things, I wanted to know what each drum, and cymbal was capable of, and I wanted to develop my own style of drumming.
For the next few years I gained a ton of knowledge. I began experimenting with bands, and started to feel like i was becoming a real drummer. I got to where i was comfortable creating my own beats. I could pick things up just by ear. I was in a few popular Jacksonville local bands, between the ages of 16-18 (Paradigm, Tears Of Scarlet, It Comes To This).
At 18 years old I really took interest in the drummer Aaron Gillespie. What he does on drums, is just so clean, and unique. It was like he took everything i had learned up to that point, and wrecked it! He was the first drummer I ever noticed, that seemed to make drumming completely his own! At that time, i think that my mind was truly opened to the vastness of drumming! From beats, to fills, to timing...there is a never ended amount of possibilities!
Over these last 5 years, drumming has become so much more to me! I have rebuilt my drumming on 3 things:
1) Thinking outside the normal. I like to take beats, and flip them, or do a fill in a place noone expects it. Ghost Notes, triplets, offbeats, and tempo changes are big parts of my drumming!
2) Putting on a big show! I am not content with just sitting back, keeping a beat for a band! On stage, i like to go as crazy as i can, WITHOUT LOSING FOCUS ON THE BEAT! I want to be the drummer that everyone remembers at each show!
3) The biggest part of my drumming is my dedication and passion for it! from practice, to shows, to teaching lessons, to just talking about drumming, I am very passionate about it! I believe any musician should have a completely sold out dedication to their instrument. My biggest goal as a drummer is for my dedication and passion to be seen and heard through my drumming!

So, now that that long introduction to me is over, here is a list of 7 things i believe a drummer should be:
1) The backbone of the band. You are the time keeper, when you are sloppy the whole band is sloppy! Keep your skills sharp, and learn how to play the pocket of every song!
2) The "secret" leader of the band. I love the fact that i not only drum in my band, but i sing, i write lyrics, i put songs together, and i always try to push my fellow members to better themselves. Don't settle for just keeping the beat. Be a leader!
3)Always improving! practice all the time. Find drummers that influence you to be better. You can always learn more, and go further as a drummer.
4)Focused, but Fun. Learn to balance focusing on drumming, with not losing the connection to the crowd, or even other band members. I see a lot of drummers that focus so much on what they are playing, that they totally disconnect from the rest of the show. Don't be that drummer.
5)Bold. Don't be afraid to "show off", a big part of music is the attitude! When you are on stage, tear it up! Don't hold back!
6)Patient. Take time to learn new things, well! Keep quality in mind! Don't ever settle for good enough.
7)Unique. Learn from others, but don't become a copy! Find your personality, and creativity on drums!

I hope that this first post helps you other drummers in some ways, keep an eye out for more post from me!