8 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR SWING FEEL

[@drumqtips]

DOWNLOAD DRUMLESS PLAY ALONG TRACKS HERE: Qsdigitaldownloads.sellfy.store/ --Lesson Time Stamps-- 00:00 - Playing Intro 00:31 - Intro to the lesson 01:06 - #1 way to improve your swing feel 05:31 - #2 way to improve your swing feel 08:28 - #3 way to improve your swing feel 10:42 - #4 way to improve your swing feel 12:27 - #5 way to improve your swing feel 13:58 - #6 way to improve your swing feel 15:01 - #7 way to improve your swing feel 16:12 - #8 way to improve your swing feel 18:13 - Closing Remarks

[@GeoPatter]

Finally. A natural warm talent. Massive respect.

[@drumqtips]

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@benvanzanten379]

Gerry Brown was relaxed swingin' in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, but also tensed on his playing, very impressing!

[@drumqtips]

Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching Benny!

[@ThatJazzKat]

The 8th tip that you said was very well said! Play what comes from your heart and soul, but not just for the “motions”.

[@drumqtips]

Right on Jazz Kat!

[@manuelgchapajr2000]

GREAT LESSON I HAVE MY STUDENTS SCAT OVER THERE ON GROVE ON EVERY STANDARD THAT THE JAZZ BAND CLASS IS LEARNING. TO INCLUDE THE HORN AND RHYTHM PLAYERS, I HEAR SOME AWESOME SCATTING AND RAP!!! LOTS OF LAUGHS AND CREATIVITY!!!

[@drumqtips]

I sing literally ALL DAY. Great that you have your students singing so much Manuael!

[@drummermikeclark]

I’m give lots of lessons on Swingin’ and the ride cymbal quarter note and I loved this one !!

[@jukesjointOG]

Great lesson Q! That scope-of-tempo/triplet vs. 16th note swing is gold. I’m a drummer that became a front man/lead vocalist. When I have shown other drummers backing me the difference between the two shuffle feels at moderate tempos, and how much it can effect the groove, I have seen minds blown. Essential knowledge. Thanks again for such well-thought out, presented, and edited lessons.

[@drumqtips]

Right on man! Those subtle changes can make a world of difference for sure. Cheers!

[@victormarshall9765]

Great analogy on playing with feel. Nice work as always.

[@mistermael2008]

Love this holistic approach really helpful and a warm human delivery really gets you on side to do the nesercary work, 🙏🏽👍🏽🕊️ Gracias

[@GuillermoGonzalez-vf7wq]

Dear Mr. Davis: Thank you!!! 🥁

[@drumqtips]

Thank YOU Gelmo!

[@tuffguy007]

Wow, one of the best shuffle lessons I have seen. Thanks so much for posting.

[@drumqtips]

Glad it was helpful W!

[@tomcarr4630]

So much fun I viewed it twice! I love drummers who can swing quarter notes so well that you don't miss the skip beats...or you think you heard skip beats where none were played.

[@drumqtips]

Thanks brother Carr!

[@kellenboersma6156]

Quincy Davis rules! Helped me conceptualize time in the most helpful way ever in a masterclass about 8 years ago! REEEEspect

[@drumqtips]

I appreciate that Kellen! Glad I could help you out a bit so long ago.

[@ivanpetrov4206]

I've been studying swing and jazz drumming since 2015 and I had to comprehend all these aspects on my own. But Quincy revealed all the secrets and told about all important things in 20 minutes. Appreciate his generosity!

[@drumqtips]

Glad my lessons helped Ivan!

[@maleklakhoua3927]

Strong feet for strong beat ✌😊 Beautiful the body awarness of the swing feel and the melodic approach of the ride cymbal !

[@drumqtips]

Merci Maleky! Definitely important to be aware of our bodies when we play:)

[@mikeanscombe9883]

The idea of honesty, commitment and confidence while we’re playing is so important! If we’re not having fun, why should we expect the audience and indeed our fellow musicians to dig it? You always come up with the goods, Q…😎

[@drumqtips]

That's right Mike. Thanks as always for watching sir!

[@JoelCarbonellGonell]

Wise words from a master 🙏🙏🙏 thank you!

[@jeffottaviano8678]

Fantastic lesson. So helpful and very well delivered.

[@joshlambert4920]

It’s always the simple things that make greatest gains. So good. Thank you!

[@drumqtips]

You're so welcome Josh!

[@onehumanband]

You had me at slipper cam.. 🔥lessons and channel. Thank you 🙏

[@drumqtips]

Ha! Thanks for watching Sandi:-)

[@ritabrooks9059]

Fabulous Intro Quincy! Groove Master Davis! Thank you as always! Rita

[@drumqtips]

Thank you sister Rita!

[@ralphkolarik4115]

I wanted to get a hold of Que but since i can't i will tell my little blib here. I found a long time ago that if you took a book like Louie Belson book or Syncopation or really whatever is written in eighth notes quarters etc. you can play triplets and the notes you see notated on the page you could play as accents. probably not clear but its pretty easy to do. Such as if you have a bar of eighth notes each eighth note would be like 1 Le, 2 Le, 3 Le 4 le. But all of the triplets are played such as 1 la le, 2 la le, 3 la le, 4 la le, so all the rests etc. are ghosted triplets and all the notated notes are accented. It's super fun to read stuff this way. You can do it with standards or anything your working on. Also, like Que says you can sing while you do this stuff. So like you can take Sentimental Journey or whatever standard and sing it while you read the page down while doing these Triplets and accents on all the noated notes. An idea worth Sharing. It's also a great way to come up with melodic solos for reading a chart down. You read the melody and then on the first chorus you get play the tune this way voicing wherever on your kit that sounds good. Super fun, and make your slot more solid. A zillion things you can do with this little exercise, it can also be done with sixteenths or whatever it is your reading. Enjoy!!

[@bobalmighty2925]

Great lesson. I'm just getting back into drums now that I'm retired and I really connect with you philosophies and techniques.

[@Ryo7_7]

That's so slick. Love the mechanics in that zone. 👍🏽

[@drumqtips]

Thanks so much!

[@tmaddrummer]

Quincy, when you were talking about playing relaxed, almost immediately I saw Grady Tate..... I love watching him at The Blue Note. Always dressed well, and so super relaxed as he swung like crazy! I sure miss him..... Rest in Peace Grady. As always, Thanks and Blessings Quincy, and please don't ever stop singin' and swingin'!

[@drumqtips]

Grady is my hero!!! Here's to singin' and swingin'!!

[@tmaddrummer]

@@drumqtips after I thought about Grady, I had to watch him in a video. He was a Kool Kat for sure. Can you tell me a bit about your Ride cymbal and your Signature sticks. I've only liked one pair of nylon tip sticks, they were Dennis Chambers/Zildjian, but they're not made anymore, so I've not tried any other nylon tip sticks in a long time. Did you install rivets in your Ride? I have a cymbal that I think might improve with rivets, but I'm concerned about ruining the cymbal..... thanks again Quincy!

[@FlorianScharnofske]

Amazing. Man!! You got it. I am a piano player but a young drummer recently asked me for jazz lessons after he met me at a jazz session. We played, I tought him concepts and tried to teach him swing feel. Since I never was drumming myself, after all I wondered, what to do to improve his swing feel as a drummer. I already was singing ride cymbal possibilities to him the way you did in this video. But I could not play the rest of the drums. 😀 Finally I found your video. This is it! Excactly. You explain and demonstrate everything just perfect. Finally the last point is so important for every musician and at this moment for me. Though or maybe even because of being a professional freelance musician for 20 years I have to hold on for a moment and to make this clear to me again.

[@drumqtips]

So glad you enjoyed this lesson so much Florian. Happy to help! Thanks for sharing your words.

[@robertharding8394]

Been a rock drummer for years quit playing in the late 90s just picked it up again you explained in few min I been trying to learn from watching players great teaching ty

[@drumqtips]

Glad to help Rob!

[@kofthebaskervilles]

Great lesson and great work when you played with Leslie Odom Jr. You take it to another level.

[@drumqtips]

I appreciate that!

[@themole2024]

Best explanation on where to drop the left hand while the right hand spang a langs. Just mix it up a bit and you, my friend, are comping nicely. Thanks Quincy. Your teaching style is really appreciated.

[@drumqtips]

Glad you enjoyed the lesson Fred! Thanks for the kind words.

[@jphifer2848]

Quincy - last Saturday’s online sessions were incredible! These videos are so useful in showing exactly the details of the concepts you covering. Showing how that third triplet partial can move closer or further away is really helpful. Thank you for what you are doing to bring more folks into the world of jazz drumming.

[@drumqtips]

Had a great time on Saturday John and I'm glad you're enjoying the lessons!

[@alexs.5410]

Thanks for this great lesson. Maybe you can explain some more what it means to you to play with heart and soul, telling a real story etc, because this is important whatever technical level one is at. Keep on singing!

[@drumqtips]

I’ll try to go in more depth next lesson. Thnx!

[@maleklakhoua3927]

Heart ans Soul ! Amen Dr Davis 🙏

[@drumqtips]

Merci sir!

[@thomasweiss7792]

You’re the man, Q! Always love watching you play.

[@drumqtips]

I appreciate that Thomas!

[@A.ChristopherJohnson]

Yes Prof. !!!

[@drumqtips]

Thanks AJ!

[@nirakarbrahm8107]

I promise I will keep improving my swing prof. 🙏🏼

[@drumqtips]

Right on Nirakar!

[@tabataca]

It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing). Thanks for another Great lesson.

[@drumqtips]

Amen to that Gustavo!!

[@richspicer7818]

Thanks for yet another great swing lesson Q !

[@drumqtips]

My pleasure Richie Rich!

[@MJSmith541]

Hey Quincy another great lesson. One way I was taught to improve my swing feel was to think I was playing the bass so every strike of the cymbal was a bass note. The bass play was to think he/she was playing the ride cymbal. It really help the bass and drum get into the pocket.

[@drumqtips]

That's a cool way of thinking about playing the ride and bass. Thanks for sharing Mike!

[@IsaacWale2004]

I want to be able to play "what goes on" by The Beatles - I hope this helps. Edit: I'd say it was mostly helpful, thanks :)

[@abcancado]

Great lesson, as always!!! Thank you to share your art and technique!

[@drumqtips]

You are very welcome Alvaro!

[@robvriens8812]

Great tips. Thank you

[@drumqtips]

You are so welcome Rob!

[@AndreasHalvardsson]

Very useful info, thanks!

[@drumqtips]

You are very welcome Andreas!

[@raitoxote]

Currently trying to enter Music School for next semester. Your videos are helping a lot!

[@drumqtips]

So glad the lessons are helping!

[@zvensabri2533]

Great lessons

[@drumqtips]

I appreciate that Zven!

[@Gian.h.c_drummer]

Nice lesson! I'm very exciting to try it!

[@mattfrancis4560]

Nice! Thank you Sir

[@drumqtips]

Most welcome Matt!

[@dividedwords]

Excellent as always, Quincy. Question. Around 06:55 you spin your hats. I've seen lots of drummers do this, mostly jazz drummers; and I think I know why, but could you explain?

[@jc3drums916]

To relieve "air lock" - when the cymbals close flat, resulting in too much air resistance to get a good chick sound.

[@dividedwords]

@@jc3drums916 Thanks for the reply. That's actually *not* what I thought the reason was. I believed it was to get the underhang of the lower hat away from the stick's point of contact.

[@drumqtips]

They nailed it!

[@alanfurlong-drummer4419]

Fantastic thank you

[@drumqtips]

Most welcome Alan!

[@najidrum]

THANK YOU!!!!!

[@drumqtips]

Thanks for watching Naji!

[@mykemitchell3876]

Love it !!

[@drumqtips]

Thanks Myke!

[@joellee7862]

Maybe a non drum lesson on how you work on the intangibles would be great!

[@drumqtips]

Good idea Joel!

[@akshaym4444]

Thanks for the great lesson as always! I noticed that you often crash on the 1 with the snare instead of the bass and that sounds really cool. In a similar note, I think a lesson on how to end and transition between phrases would be really helpful. Especially with the how to keep the momentum going if it's the same soloist and also how to reset between different soloist.

[@drumqtips]

Thanks for watching Akshay and thanks for the lesson idea. I did a lesson about a year ago called Jazz Fills that you might find helpful. Cheers!

[@akshaym4444]

@@drumqtips I must have missed that one. Will be sure to check it out. Thank you!

[@flamencolo]

Thanks!!🥁

[@drumqtips]

No problem!!

[@marcogolinelli6612]

Wow...Grande

[@drumqtips]

Grazie Marco!

[@gregmcdermott3285]

I like this guy

[@drumqtips]

I appreciate that Greg!

[@aymanfadel7770]

Nice nice..so gladly..thanks🌹🌹🌹❤❤❤👍👍👍👍

[@drumqtips]

Thank you Ayman!

[@Joethedrummer]

Keep singing 😀

[@drumqtips]

Will do Joey!

[@A.ChristopherJohnson]

Dope !!!

[@drumqtips]

I appreciate that man🙏🏾

[@webstercat]

When your arms hands fingers are fluid in motion the mechanism is swinging…. Nice lesson, much appreciated….

[@drumqtips]

Glad it was helpful Billy!

[@jackfalco5351]

What’s the ride cymbal thanks again

[@drumqtips]

All equipment is listed in the description. Thanks for watching Jack.

[@TheUzimis]

thank you for this video! About feathering: what do you do when the tempo gets faster (240, 260, 280, 300, 320...)? Do you still feather the bass drum? Thanks!!

[@drumqtips]

Good question. I can but I generally don't feather at blazing fast tempos.

[@scoopgh4572]

@Quincy Davis It is safe to say per your previous statement, from the videoHow to improve your jazz drumming instantly,on taking the swing away by making the phrases more legato that you would pay more attention to the third triplet partial when only playing the ride and comping?

[@drumqtips]

First focus on the quarter note and make that feel good and consistent. Then focus your attention on the third triplet.

[@remyzsacka8670]

Hey Q, little beginner question, do you strictly comp with your hands when you’re feathering the bass drum or do you quit it the time of a phrase and resume it ? Better worded, do you feather in context where you’re gonna extensively use the bass drum as part of the comping ?

[@drumqtips]

Good and common question about feathering. When I want to comp with the bd, I simply comp with the bass drum and return to feathering whenever I'm not comping. Try not to over think it and it will start to feel natural.

[@remyzsacka8670]

@@drumqtips understood. Thank you so much for your teaching 😊

[@thesoleman123]

Love your content! If you haven't already, would you talk about the importance of feathering? When I was learning Jazz drumming, feathering was never mentioned to me. (Or if it was, I didn't listen to that part. 😂😂Since it's a felt thing, not a heard thing, it's nearly impossible to pick that up on records when studying those. If you are feeling good and swinging, is feathering necessary? Especially when you've developed the muscle memory of not doing it for so long.

[@ivanpetrov4206]

sorry for the comment.. I think it's just atavism from a big band drumming. Previously, many drummers played loud quarter notes in the bass drum, because no amplifiers existed and the brass section could not hear the bass player. Therefore, the drummer sort of "broadcasted" the beat. Bass player could synchronize his game with a loud bass drum and thus make the entire band swing.

[@drumqtips]

I will talk more about feathering in another video. Feathering will help you feel more grounded in the time and give your beat more of a foundation. Thanks for the question and for watching!

[@c.l.4895]

In the introduction, your left heel seems to switch between a straight up and down motion and a more circular motion. Is that something intentional?

[@drumqtips]

Completely not intentional. LOL

[@lucamantoani8624]

04:52 don't play it there 😅 thank you again for the "wrong" examples, i think they worth as much as the correct notes

[@drumqtips]

I'll keep that in mind Luca. I'll try to include more "wrong" examples:) Playing wrong actually reminds me what not to do. Thanks for watching!

[@spork1125]

@7:10 jazz drummers love fat chicks. dig?