Creating Drum Parts That Groove - Raghav Mehrotra

Faster Hands & Feet (in 10 days)
► www.Drumeo.com...
Why do some grooves make you feel good, and some just don't work at all?
Whether you like it or not, says Raghav Mehrotra, your purpose as a drummer playing with musicians is to be the backbone of the band, keep time, and make it feel great.
Here's how Raghav recommends building grooves that do just that:
- BASS DRUM -
What to do: This is the foundation of your groove, and in many styles you might want to correlate it with the bass guitar because it provides a similar function in a band setting.
First, take into account the style of music you're playing. In disco, for example (the style in the video), the drums and bass should complement each other. Place the bass drum notes where they won't clash with the bass guitar. In this particular song, Raghav keeps a solid quarter note going to ground the groove, and occasionally adds one or two extra notes to give it that extra push. The key is keeping it simple.
What not to do: Make the bass drum parts too complex or too dense where they clash with the bass guitar.
- SNARE DRUM -
What to do: In this track, there's a synth, guitar, and bass guitar. Raghav decided to use the snare to complement the guitar. He keeps it simple, hitting on 2 and 4 because when people hear disco music and want to dance, they need a solid backbeat to get them moving.
What not to do: Too much subdivision, too dense, or too many ghost notes. When the other instruments are playing a note-heavy riff, you don't want to compete.
- HI HATS -
What to do: You can afford to make the hi-hats a little busier because they'll be at a higher frequency compared to the other instruments in the track. There's really a fine line between playing whats musical - and what fits the track - and being too complex.
What not to do: Make your hi-hat part too busy or too fast.
The big takeaway here is to play musically and not step on the toes of another instrument. Your drumming can push the track forward but still have its own voice!
Follow Raghav:
►KZbin: / gaurav1267
►Instagram: / raghavdrummer
►Facebook: / drumeo
►Instagram: / drumeoofficial

[@DanBeitzelMusic]

I used to jack up the groove all the time by over complicating it and not simply being in the pocket with the rest of the band. "Dont play the drums, play the song" is the philosophy that helped me.

[@jvoss19801980]

Dan Beitzel I still do. This video is pretty enlightening. Part of the problem is wanting to use all those chops we work on. But playing what the music asks for is really what is key. I have to learn to throw those busy things in selectively...or maybe not at all, if that’s what the piece asks for.

[@cloudywood4197]

Same. I always try to overcomplicate my parts but it's nearly always unnecessary

[@michaelbalty2750]

As a bass player, nothing feels better than a drummer and bassist straight up grooving. Nothing complicated, nothing special, just a fat groove. Communication with a drummer is key. Less is more. We can dance together and be more free. Great stuff, Raghav.

[@DavidGamero]

Everybody modern drummer knows this, raghav isnt special in that way

[@crowbiker4462]

Amen brother.

[@DavidGamero]

@crummyy he said it as if raghav was unique and skilled for his age for this very reason, which isn't true

[@michaelbalty2750]

crummyy You interpreted my comment perfectly.

[@teodordl]

you should check out fieh

[@arijitgupta42]

Your maturity will always show in your playing, there's immature drumming that's completely different from amateur drumming. This is a perfect example of how to separate mature drumming from immature drumming. Kudos to you

[@hanblanke5990]

15 years old and so good! Wanna see him later

[@richardmadrid2048]

It's great to see a young man that's already learned the basic principles of playing drums and how it relates to everybody else in the band he's obviously been coached properly so all you drummers out there listen to this young man because he's right we tend to over play our drums

[@ehoc42]

Am I the only one who didn’t mind the greyed-our grooves in the beginning? Lol. Both grooves could have worked depending on the song. Not every groove has to be laid-back and relaxed to be musically valid

[@sevenorys]

ehoc42 if you’re playing a band then keep it simple if you’re grieving alone or for like a drum cover overplaying and showing off will be fine

[@ehoc42]

THE REAL SEVEN it depends on the band. For a pop band I agree. But for example tell Danny Carrey and Billy Cobham in their respective bands to keep it simple :p

[@sevenorys]

It’s also about timing if the piece is transistioning sections eg chorus to verse then you can do fills or when other instruments play less n you have a drum solo

[@sevenorys]

ehoc42 fair enough 😂

[@Jess-ht2or]

@@sevenorys "grieving alone" 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@frodowatt4272]

I feel like there's a more fine line than he is teaching, I would add just one or two ghost notes just to add some sauce to it.

[@benh1382]

yeah my man 😁👌

[@randyporter3491]

Outstanding video ! This is a topic that should be addressed more often. You did a great job showing examples and simplifying the points. You have a very mature mindset to your music and that’s rare.

[@linguisticsdrums9215]

Wow, this lesson is great! The content is important and relatable... In fact, I should watch it every day! Or at least watch it before rehearsals... Since I kind of tend to overcomplicate stuff and confuse my (remarkably patient) bandmates.

[@Cuzjudd]

I think ghost notes are a must for any funk groove

[@barad-dur9236]

They force you into dynamic. Which is what you want in almost all forms of music

[@Cuzjudd]

@@barad-dur9236 I think I get what you're saying

[@zazasdiary2010]

You are such a good teacher ♥️

[@fernandorensi]

Wooowwww!!! I love this boy!. Great video, brother!!! Congrats!!!

[@tuthienphamduc7554]

Fernando Rensi is he your brother

[@fernandorensi]

@@tuthienphamduc7554 Hahaha No, he isn't!

[@yousefabudaqar6728]

That track though!! Makes you grooooove.. Can we get a download link Drumeo ?

[@tuthienphamduc7554]

You suck

[@randyporter3491]

I see a few trolls gave this a thumbs down. I’m guessing it’s because everything he said “don’t do”, they do. Plus, they’ve bern trying to master “Wipeout” for four years !

[@benjis4098]

15 years old?!?!?! I don't care if what he said was scripted but his MINDSET AND PLAYING WHERE BETTER THAN MORE ODLER DRUMMERS I KNOW.

[@josteinv.jordet257]

I dont know if he's 15 or 50! In a good way though.

[@dobiacco]

47 actually.

[@thesadnesspath8371]

He's acually 10 years old!

[@cloudywood4197]

This was really helpful!

[@metalheadblues]

Even when he's playing what not to do it sounds pretty dam good

[@Marz5004]

Enjoyed this. Thank you. 🎄

[@sagecarter2368]

An example of the kick drum on the same accents as the bass guitar would be cool, or low notes of the bass line on kick high notes on snare...

[@jamaicandrummer_bwoy281]

#Absolutely_Right You are extremely mature 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@Soberashi]

Nice

[@throne__]

His a God

[@dkramsis9982]

You are great bro

[@DavidOakesMusic]

Mike Mangini says this sounds just as good as playing every drum with the exact same velocity and slap bang on the beat. I disagree 100%

[@langadubazana]

I hope you're being sarcastic. 😂😂😂

[@DavidOakesMusic]

@@langadubazana Me or Mangini ? Mangini thinks sounding like a drum machine sounds just as good as laying back on the beat. Obviously it doesn't. The drum intro to Led Zeppelin's When The Levee Breaks wouldn't sound anywhere near as good if every drum was played smack bang on the beat with the same velocity each time.

[@langadubazana]

@@DavidOakesMusic I thought you were disagreeing with Raghav because Mangini said you must always hit each drum at the same velocity. Hence why I thought you were being sarcistic towards Raghav.

[@HenkJanDrums]

Thanks.

[@t-man5196]

Idk the “what not to do” parts sounded pretty good too to me.

[@marecl3229]

they do sound good but only in more of a solo context; it's just too dense and gives too much of a sense of urgency to be a groove per se

[@t-man5196]

marecl i suppose, depends on what kind of a groove you’re going for though

[@DavidGamero]

That's why you suck

[@renegado4173]

Raghav is such a cool name

[@tomwilson7765]

@Drumeo why make your live feed videos private after streaming it? I would like to watch but by the time I get home from work it's private!?

[@CantaloupeEnjoyer]

Love the stank face as soon as the track starts haha

[@mikecoats489]

Yeh but, a lot of top drummers I hear on youtube are doing the complicated stuff!...now I'm confused.

[@bossbeats9988]

whats the song he playing to?

[@spiderpig4939]

Less is more! Right on dude!

[@elkko8793]

But look at the smile on his face when he overplays it, and look at it when he plays the groove "that felt good" :D

[@marktabar4013]

nice

[@user-dw1pq2of6j]

Im Japanese, and subtitles said me : boom bump bump don't don't throw don't don't dodo dodo don't dude i don't

[@jochenwagner2365]

Real y e s!!!

[@drachence8970]

Depends on the style i guess... i don‘t like songs in which the „drummer“ just plays 4 on the floor - because i listen to music and don‘t dance to it.

[@from.rishab]

hi raghav whats going on

[@itsmytool4536]

💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝

[@carlosantoniosousasantos5408]

👏

[@dypa085shaka5]

how do uu produce a drumless track

[@loganpierce3163]

You make every instrument except drums

[@dypa085shaka5]

grwat thanks...i will try

[@harsh98930]

hey...raghav are you from india?

[@dobiacco]

Mexico actually.

[@tRotoar1]

no, i am sure he is from china

[@StevenNicG]

Do you mind sharing the mp3 track that’s being played? Thanks! :)

[@astrogallotron]

16 notes on hi-hat guy, that's me :(

[@bamusalako]

ye same, feels bad to get exposed so hard, have to change my bad drumming habbits i guess

[@JeffMcCormack777]

Everything he says not to do, is exactly everything you DO do if you play in a prog band. :)

[@bassie669]

I know what you are saying. But i some cases Funk should have the crasy drumparts. Check out some old live parts of the pfunk allstars ore funkadelic. You will love it. So im not with you 100%. So i know what you are saying but you are also not 100% right. And its not disco. But funk.

[@tjblackmore7863]

He looks kinda like bruno mars

[@moisesgomes6191]

lmao I'd make it a mess according to him. What a shame of myself XD

[@marcdedouvan]

SO MANY PRECONCEIVED IDEAS: TYPICAL TOO YOUNG POINT OF VIEW. YOU WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND WHEN YOU WILL BE MORE OLD BECAUSE YOU WILL BE BORED OF ALL YOUR SIMPLISTIC PRINCIPLES HERE. ART AND TECHNIQUE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. GREAT ART AND SEDUCTION OF THE IGNORANT MASSES, TOO. THERE ARE THOUSAND DIFFERENT QUALITIES AND CRITERIAS THAT YOU CAN FIND IN A WORK OF ART WHICH OFTEN "CLASHING" EACHOTHERS LIKE YOU SAY FOR BASS GUITAR AND BASS DRUM BUT EVEN OPPOSES SOMETIMES (LIKE HARMONY AND SURPRISE, FOR EXAMPLE). IN TRADITIONAL AFRICAN, AFRO CUBAN AND ESPECIALLY AFRO BRAZILIAN MUSIC YOU CAN HAVE COUNTLESS OF VOICES CLASHING EACHOTHERS IN IMPROVISATION AND STILL GIVE AN AWESOME BEAUTIFUL "GROOVING" DANCING RESULT (THAT'S ITS PRUPOSE: IT IS CARNIVAL MUSIC!). THIS PERCEPTION CHANGES WITH EXPERIENCE IN LISTENING. WHAT YOU DESCRIBE HERE IS ONLY A NAIVE POPULAR NEO ACADEMISM OF MODERN ART. MODERN DRUMSET HIMSELF IS BASED ON CLASHING POLYRYTHMIC VOICES! THINK OF IT! FINALLY, WHY A DRUMSET PART COULDN'T ALSO INSPIRE A GUITAR PART INSTEAD ALWAYS REVERSE? GOOD DRUM TECHNIQUE, POOR PHILOSOPHY OF DRUMSET HERE. I EXCUSE YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE YOUNG BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE YOUNG YOU SHOULD ALSO BE MORE HUMBLE AND NOT JUDGE SO DARINGLY EVERYTHING. ALSO KNOW THAT VERY DIFFERENT SCENES AND TASTES EXIST IN THE WORLD, LIKE DIFERENT COLORS, SPICIES OR RECIPES, OR EVEN CULTURES, OR ONLY MOODS FOR ONE PERSON! PERSONALLY I CAN APPRECIATE IN DIFFERENT TIMES JS BACH AS METALLICA OR MILES DAVIS (AND EVEN THEM GOT VERY DIFFERENT STYLES OF MUSIC IN THEIR REPERTOIRE). BUT BE SURE THAT LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXISTING IN THE WORLD WHO CAN'T SIMPLY STAND THE ONE TWO FORTISSIMO KICK SNARE YOU SEEM ALWAYS QUOTE AS BEST CHOICE AND WHICH ARE THE MOST BRUTAL AND SIMPLE COMPOSITION YOU CAN IMAGINE (IT DOESN'T EXIST IN EUROPEAN CLASSICAL MUSIC OR AFRICAN TRADITION)! BY THE WAY, I LIKE PERSONALLY ALL YOUR COUNTER EXAMPLES, THEY DON'T CONFUSE ME AT ALL BECAUSE MY EAR AND BRAIN ARE TRAINED! NOTE THAT I AM NOT THE LESS SCHOLARED DRUMSET TEACHER, BEING AUTHOR OF AWARDED 500 HUNDRED PAGES METHODS RECOMMENDED BY SOME OF THE BEST DRUMMERS IN HISTORY. YOU REALLY SHOULD READ THEM, NOTABLY THE PHILOSOPHICAL AND HITORICAL PART. GOOD CONTINUATION.

[@rudraray2920]

INDIANS like here first!! cuz its a BOHT HARD performance!!

[@ianespineli1496]

in short.... don't be casey cooper

[@trutuhc]

Tell this to Travis Barker 🤣

[@neerajagarwal4306]

0:41.......that guy can't pronounce his own name properly.....................😆😆