How to "Mess Around" and STILL Get Better at The Drums

[@gaddmatt]

My first drum teacher encouraged me to spend one day "goofing off." His only requirement was whatever I did, I had to keep 2&4 going on the hi-hat. To this day, I have a hard time not keeping the hats going, even when I'm playing something new.

[@Fleetato]

Matthew Self Sorry I’m a new drummer and I want to try this out, but I’m confused by where the implied downbeat would be, on 3, or also on 2 and 4? thanks

[@gaddmatt]

@@Fleetato Not entirely understanding the question, but in 4/4, in jazz, the left-foot hi hat is (almost) universally played on 2&4. The only players who can break that rule are giants and guys who don't want to get hired.

[@magohipnosis]

@@gaddmatt I respectfully disagree. You can keep the hi hat on 2&4 but also phrase using it as its own voice at times

[@gaddmatt]

@@magohipnosis I don't disagree with that, but break the rules at your own peril. Your mileage will definitely vary. Tasteful breaking of the rules is tantamount, but at your typical jazz jam, they're almost never going to be impressed.

[@helemaalnicks6215]

I don't entirely understand the 'wasting time' angle because drumming is sort of therapeutic for me.

[@paistefever]

+1 but for some academical purists playing whatever you feel like fooling around the kit is "wasting your time". always great episodes from Nate, on the other hand!

[@RD-ot6ko]

i think its kind of like the really grinding hours of time but not really learning anything/finding any catharsis that is the waste of time, most of my time spent drumming is just therapeutic for me, and being able to get a new idea into the world is a big part of that, sometimes i find i'm playing thing that are just the same old.

[@jordonwiersema2807]

I think it is coming from the perspective of someone who is trying to become a high level professional musician in a city. In a saturated market, you need to improve in order to compete.

[@VictorNickel]

​@@jordonwiersema2807 Depends on what you mean by "improving". As a LOT of super pro top notch drummers show, pro players will favor a person who is a great hang but a just good player, above someone who has enormous chops and the bad attitude that might go with it. Beyond a certain baseline level, which is already pro chops, what matters is: personality, feeling of your pulse, musical finesse (what to play, when to play it), punctuality. Once someone has pro chops, the improving will be much quicker by doing yoga, meditation, acting, dance etc. Every hour training one of those disciplines will bring more improvement than gridding flams on all the subdivisions of all paradiddles inversions. All the pro players we love and admire are super nice people (they're also high IQ), this tells something. They just love what they do also, practicing doesn't feel like a chore to them. There's also a component of boldness in the equation. Art Blakey for example was described as an absolutely fearless individual. The inner will/strength is what makes a pulse living. That's also why the host of this channel has to follow a strict regimen of reggae/african music for a couple months, then his broken-drum-machine NYC musical aesthetic approach will sound so much better

[@Drumaier]

But you must be lucid enough as to understand that you are not the center of the universe and that Nate is directing this video to people trying to improve rather than to have bloody stupid therapeutical feelings.

[@VouVouVou_music]

Love your channel Nate. Been following you for years now. You've inspired me to start my own channel. Keep up the great work.

[@hotdammusic]

Excellent! This is the gateway to developing your own "thing". This great because your letting your own tastes guide your technical development, as opposed to having your technical ability determine what you sound like.

[@KingShahede]

Probably my favorite video posted from your channel! Great video, loved it!

[@EverybodyBurts]

Your videos have always been awesome, but lately you've achieved a level of extra-awesomeness! I love it!

[@jerryfehilymusic476]

On the critical voice thing, or making a mistake, which starts it off in the first place, there's a great thing in the book Effortless Mastery. If You make a mistake, or just really hate what you just played, just say to yourself immediately, "That's the most beautiful sound I've ever heard."That really works, believe it or not, especially during a gig. It really takes you out of yourself or something.

[@Drumaier]

I have to read that book bro. Thanks for let us know.

[@3340steve]

Thank you for the message. Excellent motivational vibe, Nate.

[@samelean9752]

Helpful! I feel like I've been stuck in the same place for a while this will give me a new approach

[@ibbumpn]

I believe that's "The Cross" by Kurt Rosenwinkel at about 5:00 in case anyone's wondering.

[@zthang_]

Thank you for the video!! 🙏🏼

[@Carlo24515]

Heck yeah. I think sticking to a routine is definitely the fastest way for a beginner/intermediate player to improve, but after a while you get diminishing returns and it starts to come full circle. When I first started off, I was always just "messing around." Then once I stuck to a routine (books/rudiments/etc), I started seeing rapid improvements and I got really hungry. I thought if I just grind on that stuff for the rest of my life, then the sky's the limit. Once I saw that I wasn't improving like I used to I went back to "messing around" but with a new sense of self awareness. Sometimes I stumble upon something in my playing that points me back to the books, and the cycle repeats itself.

[@trapsdrummer890]

Me too, many plateaus, but then I think the web,KZbin gave me some knowledge to play better. But this channel makes me think.

[@williewhite1161]

Thank you..... again.

[@warren_r]

One of your best videos to date.

[@johnb2476]

This is the third time I've watched this video. I'm about to overhaul my practice routine. I play piano, organ, and bass, but still, these principles seem to be universal.

[@insanedrummer89]

Damn good vid. I don’t really practice, I play/improv/mess around, with certain goals/ motifs in mind. So true, although you do have to get to certain place in your playing before you really can do this

[@trapsdrummer890]

Me too. Just love to mess around for myself...I forget that the world exists and I have a hard time keeping time.

[@insanedrummer89]

trapsdrummer batteria well you gotta keep time bro! Free fall with a met or backing track is always a good idea.

[@3340steve]

I like to work on my two bass books (Simandl first book and the Ray Brown bass book). Practice is method plus creativity. Play the exercise all the way through, correct your issues on that material, and then play. Play that exercise then freely improvise, create something, keep playing.

[@BobSchoepenjr]

I love it to mess up constantly because then that one ‘Aha moment’ makes it all worthwhile. Grts from Belgium.

[@AngryBeerrin]

I love how you combine drums and the philosophy of drum practice. I love drums and philosophy!

[@brettlamers]

One of the best channels on KZbin in my opinion. I've learned so much about my own playing from watching your videos!

[@trapsdrummer890]

I agree. There is that Rob Brown guy too, and another guy fixated on tuning. I like watching what he does.

[@JMRSplatt]

One addition to metronome practice: Try one click per measure. This can be pretty tough, but once it feels ok you can try thinking of the click on other beats, start with beat 4. Then put the single click on the & of 4. This has dramatically improved my feel for time. Thanks for the awesome video!

[@vitoV-662]

I know you heard this before but you owe us long time watchers of your channel, ( Time for new snare head please) . Love your channel

[@petercampion9028]

If you were a longtime watcher you’d know it’s a public practice room and not his personal kit

[@vitoV-662]

Still could be his drum

[@givefit]

so stoked about the recording component. Been recording myself playing along to a metronome, pulling it into garageband where you can see each stroke against the meter.

[@bravenewface]

This video has spoken to me deeply, thank you for posting it.

[@liborjandik7369]

Awesome system. Thank you

[@levicaffrey8448]

Another great Video Nate

[@marcuszc3172]

Thanks again !

[@JamesSpeiser]

i dig the incorporation (intentionally or not) of organic and intuitive elements

[@BetterDrumming]

Great video! Really fresh and organic approach! Love your work :)

[@jarrahdrum]

I love this channel Thank you again. Greetings from Wales

[@craigfrober316]

Top video from top man

[@johnjohnothan5927]

My favorite drum philosopher! Good comedy too

[@trapsdrummer890]

It is interesting that you associate drumming and philosophy...That's what I think when I watch his channel. I can see the comedy part also a little bit.

[@OzoneDrummer22]

Love your channel man! There’s a quote from Frank Zappa that hits home with this…"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible"

[@MuddslingerPots]

I love this!

[@dustinwebster2602]

ROFL!! So much yes! Peterson is usually the butt of my favorite philosophical contributes, now my drumming! So of course I love Nate, cause Nate, is great! 80/20 for the win!!!!!

[@BokuPower]

That was a good lesson Nate! Anders Erikson also has a more recent book that he wrote called "Peak" that you may or may not be interested in.

[@t-man5196]

And the award for (by far) the most down to earth KZbin drummer goes to...

[@trapsdrummer890]

Drummers are great.

[@t-man5196]

trapsdrummer batteria ?

[@ashimotoakai9599]

Whenever I play Jazz I always keep my hats on 2 and 4... is what I'd like to say but I still struggle on the independence. I always practice my leg by changing just single stroke 8th note bass drum strokes but rather double strokes on the Bass drum. I also practice displacing the snares and bass notes to different places across the subdivision grid. Different genres always have smth that ur practicing that is if u know exactly what it is from that genre you want to take. But this ofc only applies to pretty beginner ppl like me where we can just improve by playing and learning songs. I also see the importance of just restraining myself to practice certain things. For example, i like to practice with the metronome by accenting the off beats. I also practice syncopation by counting and accenting certain off beats at the same time. There's a lot of learning happening off the kit as well to me. Like tapping my feet while playing smth on ur hands to ur chest or on a certain surface.

[@martinlentini]

Great! Creativity, a creative way of studying, practicing, etc... for me this one is the main principle, that can hold the rest. Free Play is an excellent book that explains all this process. he general issue are not the books / methods, the problem is to study (any subject) by memory, instead of understanding the CONCEPT. If you understand how and why something is done, then you can adapt the idea, and take advantage by your own and build your "vocabulary". E.g: Phily Joe Jones - -> a creative use of rudimental snare in all his playing.

[@girthBrookssss]

'Ha ha great start!' lol fckng dying duude i feel it

[@gazzabel7040]

Another great video ....Seriously why bother watching superstars doing tricks and outrageous grooves that have no practical application they should be in a circus .......this guy just makes sense....it’s an art form.... it’s about playing for the song ...👍👍👍

[@malinwj1167]

Absolutely, nice observation

[@trapsdrummer890]

Hate those guys that twirl sticks all the time and have their cymbals high. Really bad for drummers image you know.

[@bwadoom]

That Late In the Evening Paul Simon groove was so sick! Is that something you came up with or is that what Gadd plays live?

[@famitory]

a fantastic way to set ever-evolving, practical goals is to write music. I almost exclusively drum for the sake of recording myself for my music (i've played exactly two gigs), and as a result, practicing something is the result of writing a cool beat, discovering i can't play it, and doing take after take until i can. the major downside is that your skills will be limited by your tastes; you won't have any reason to play a style of beat that you don't actually like, so the skills related to that style will never get developed. I don't usually write metal-style double kick patterns, so i never practice them, and i suck at them as a consequence.

[@famitory]

this may or may not be practical for a working musician to implement. I've intentionally made my career NOT be music, so that i can keep it as a low-pressure passion and compose rather leisurely, without the constraints of monetization.

[@thijs199]

I messed around until it all started to make sense. I want you to start arranging songs.

[@jesseolsson1697]

hey man what was that song you were whistling? really liked it and can''t find anything on spotify under "the cross." thanks!

[@tdrum21]

Great content here? Any pdf for this?

[@zedskiffelin]

Gotta say the 80/20 coaching course really helped me, but it does require a pretty rigid practise routine...managed it for about 10 months, now I do pretty much whats in this video :-)

[@BillRayDrums]

Dude, this is the best video ever. Did you ever read any Dan Millman, perchance?

[@sonsauvage]

dude you look SOOOO nervous when you were talking with Nate. I guess I would be too

[@brbrdeng1977]

Hey Nate!!! What song are you whistling at 4:36? It sounds Rosenwinkel-esque PD: great video as always!

[@MarMarMedia]

The cross

[@8020drummer]

The Cross

[@legacyShredder1]

19:54 Quoting the Buddha.

[@liammccarty6225]

Hey totally out of the blue but there's no way you went to school at Lawrence is there? I just looked at that old college pic of you and I thought I recognized those doors and there aren't a ton of schools with samba cohesive samba programs. Basically if you know Dane or Spiro we're speaking the same language.

[@joshbuckwalter3293]

Peep can’t get right by ghost note at 7:00

[@Scott42]

Got a link to that Nate Wood footage from the start of the video?

[@jshvry3285]

7:03 please don’t look at me like that 🥺🥺

[@elijahbreakbee8217]

In general this is my current approach to practicing. but besides solo improvisation we have say playing along with records (that in more of a jazz context means improvising too). in this case we don't have an opportunity to create a "coordination loop" without stopping the record. should we have to memorize occurring wick moments while playing with records, or just ignore them at that time?

[@8020drummer]

Elijah Breakbee wick moments? Not sure what u mean. Agree about playing along with records tho

[@elijahbreakbee8217]

​@@8020drummer sorry, I meant to type 'weak' instead. the moments in our playing that reveal our technical weaknesses

[@elijahbreakbee8217]

Yesterday rewatched the Code of Funk by David Garibaldi where he shows how we can change the rhythm by displacing patterns in time. For example he played 8th- note ostinato on the hh with rimclick on 2 & 4 and only one stroke in the bd. Then he began to displace it at first by quarters then by 8ths then by 16ths etc. I realised that this 'permutation' concept seems like a bridge between technical exercises and music-making. Once we've learned couple of movements, we can manipulate them in logical orders to hear and feel these changes in the context of musical phrase (e.g. 1 bar or 8 bars etc.). And then we can use them more freely without thinking much. Now I'm thinking of practicing like it has few important stages (or zones) of development: movement (pattern) learning, where we concentrate on physical aspects of coordination and consistency of sound - logical stage, where we start to explore possibilities that new learned movements give to us, doing it in a very predictable way like permutating something - music, where we integrate all these things. Of course we can divide them into as many stages as we find necessary, but this is like the most basic structure of the process, as it seems to me now... Nate, I know that you are the guy, who is thinking of what he does and strive to be better (at least at playing drums), so I do. What do you think of that?

[@robertpien8708]

You are so right coordination is very important because it gives you freedom of movement and the more movement you have the more ideas will flow from it. No matter what stage are in beginner to advance drumming you can learn so much by being able to adaptive strategy to the fullest. Not get frustrated but enjoy the journey. A lot of people there aren't musicians they think you're wasting your time doing it but it's not true it opens up creativity inside you and that's what counts great lesson thank you for sharing it

[@trapsdrummer890]

Nate is fluid, that's what I like about him. He shows abandonment, I do not know how to describe it, but that is what I strive for. I see it here and there on you tube. Unrecognized talent that just loves to play drums. Usually in some darkened basement, some pros have it too.

[@benesanchez3708]

Was not expecting but was not surprised that you referenced and that you listen to Jordan Peterson

[@8020drummer]

My buddy dan does a pretty dead-on impression. "You can Clean Your Room"

[@andydimond9865]

I’m having trouble staying motivated on drums because my peers are excelling while I feel in a rut.. any advice?

[@trapsdrummer890]

I am always in a rut. You will always think you suck. That is what will make you good, but do it to please yourself. I am afraid that the moment you think you are good you will no longer be playing drums.

[@3340steve]

Just get good and stop worrying that your peers might play better....what they do doesn't matter, what matters is what you do, keep practicing, work out stuff from records, and play with more people, be OK with playing simpler. You will find you will get better...

[@rillloudmother]

idk man, the whistling seems to lack clear note attack and tone. i feel like it's better for folks to hum or sing so that the rhythms and tones have to be more definite. plus once you do it for a while you get the hang of octave jumping to keep it in your vocal range which is a good skill to have for real hearing and reproducing lines.

[@trapsdrummer890]

OK, you are at a different level.

[@rillloudmother]

@@trapsdrummer890 I'm a guitar player and I wish I played drums and piano better.

[@ricosalomar]

More interviews where the camera is on the interviewee when the interviewer is talking, and vice-versa, please. I'm soooo tired of videos where I see peoples mouths moving, I mean, c'mon, right?

[@BrunoNeureiter]

😂

[@JulianFernandez]

Man, you´re overloading the input with your voice. Slap a limiter for better results. thanks for the content.

[@albertreyes2090]

My gateway drum dope channel in Russian accent lol

[@eilampniel2962]

I really love your channel but i really trully feel that you should post a video which is 100% playing with no talking! Your ideas and subjects are really intresting but i feel that i did not get to see much of your playing/improvisations

[@JazzGuitarScrapbook]

Kolb cycle

[@JimCreatureCornelissen]

Bro just play music

[@jaedii7287]

JuSt FeEl It MaN

[@joefalchetto94]

i don like

[@christophersmay4508]

Your clickbait titles are really tiresome man, honestly. Maybe good content in this one, I don't know because I'm not watching anymore.

[@8020drummer]

Chris Smay cool. Enjoy yourself :)

[@calebcool2171]

I dont think you know how to swing

[@8020drummer]

Haha. What's your instagram?

[@robertalbiston7822]

A guy who can bring this level of skill to us is not here to just entertain himself. Cat can groove in deep pockets.

[@DavidHimmelPerforms]

Caleb tigran’s bassist disagrees

[@paulrodberg]

i do

[@trapsdrummer890]

What do you mean? He can swing if he chooses to. Sorry, that was a joke.

[@hotdammusic]

Excellent! This is the gateway to developing your own "thing". This great because your letting your own tastes guide your technical development, as opposed to having your technical ability determine what you sound like.

[@trapsdrummer890]

I think you are right.