How to Write Drum Parts

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How long have you been playing drums? Let me know at www.strawpoll.me/12159069

[@calebknott8021]

That's the most expensive computer stand I've ever seen.

[@musicman_gg]

I LOVE ORANGE AMPS!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ThistleThings]

But I'm a bassist and we're told to follow drums 😱 #CircularReference

[@weirdo66636]

what if you don’t do what you’re told 👀

[@aidensgameplay3308]

Exactly

[@dylanbaldwin7934]

As a drummer I say do what you want and we can make a part over that. Imo the melody is the song and bass is more melodic than drums. Drums are the acompinament yk. Any drummer who is stubborn that bass follows him is just an ass. Everybody should be flexible for the song. But either way the bass and drums should lock up.

[@MrPyromanwaterman]

As a guitarist and vocalist, this is really useful for me to help my drummer when we're writing his parts, thumbs up bro!

[@finleylowe1870]

Victor Lecerf ur drummer is gonna hate you!

[@flourfacegerard1019]

I as a drummer agree with Finley low, the drummer shouldn't need help

[@landonp629]

I would not be a drummer in a band where the band thinks so highly of itself that they have to 'write' the drum part for the drummer. Does the drummer write your guitar riffs?

[@MrPyromanwaterman]

@@landonp629 I never meant to say that I was the only one allowed the drum parts. And yeah, it's a common thing to see "a band leader" write the core of the song with the backbone of every part. Periphery does that (Misha writes pretty much all of the drums and hands the parts to Matt Helpern). You can see Rabea Massaad writing drum parts with him in some of Toska's VLOGs. Everyone in the band has the right to contribute to the songwriting. At the time of my initial comment, I was in a band where the drummer hadn't much experience in songwriting, so sometimes I would get on the drumkit and give him an idea of what the song sounded like in my head. That's exactly what happened with Karnivool's song "Goliath": the drum intro was written by one the guitarists. And yeah, if the drummer has a riff idea on the guitar, or something to say about what I play, I respect his opinion and listen to his ideas (I mean, Phil Collins was a drummer at first right?)

[@gnoogie]

@@landonp629 that's an ego problem. someone brings a song to their band and has a beat in mind, you shouldn't have a problem with it unless you truly don't think it fits and have a better idea rather than just "I'm the drummer so III write ALL the drums" that's not how it works unless you really have chemistry and know each other back to front as musicians. it's not about you or how much you contribute. it's about what fits the song. if I play guitar, the drummer has a sick riff they wanna write for, I'm super down. it's a group effort. everyone has a say in every part

[@andrewt248]

I would encourage musicians of all kinds to consider where you can leave empty space in your playing rather than filling every single beat of every bar. It will make the songs much more interesting for the listener.

[@BenMinal]

Truth!

[@metalfilms6660]

andrewt248 So true man!

[@drummerAVA]

Absolutely this.

[@CaseyHardman]

Thumbs up for snare toms! lol Good information man!

[@BenMinal]

SNARE TOMS ARE THE FUTURE

[@ThePoliticalSpotlight]

Ben Minal snare toms? FILL me in (pun intended).

[@ThePoliticalSpotlight]

never mind... Just got there...lol!

[@ThePoliticalSpotlight]

Ben Minal cheers

[@TheRealSandman]

The way I go about writing songs is alot by feel. Alot of the times I have done my best beats and that just by jamming it out with the band a bit and freestyling & getting a feel for what the other instruments are doing

[@natanaelkevin2025]

Ikr, and you can get instant feedback too !! But my band currently stuck because of this quarantine :((

[@soynachosonido]

Best drum lesson in less than 10 minutes. Thank you!

[@jont1305]

I had to learn groove writing by trial and error (mostly error) - I would have loved a video like this when first starting to write stuff!

[@scottbainbridge43]

4:36 Don't be the guy that plays the standard fill *cough* Lars Ulrich *cough*

[@cooltravis6945]

Sure, but some times he does unique things

[@adamh986]

Thank you for actually giving examples of what you're talking about... 🙏

[@rileyramone6231]

I'll swap you a real table for that orange cab.

[@BenMinal]

Deal

[@rolfamundsen230]

Love these kinds of videos! I'm a guitar & bass player myself, which helps me orchestrate the interaction between the two. However I'm not a drummer, so writing drums is new to me. I can bring inspiration from music I like but videos like these with tips for writing helps a lot. I hate drums that always follow 4/4 beats and try to incorporate "custom" beats into my music the same way your playing makes Dorje & Toska so energetic and fresh. I'd love more videos like these, maybe with Dave and/or Bea as well :)

[@BenMinal]

Thanks Rolf!

[@M374LM4N]

Newest addition to my kit, snare tom!

[@iamnumber4]

I don't know how I always end up on your videos as a guitarist man, still, you are amazing :D keep up the good work!

[@jackfleet6346]

brilliant tips and tricks, these videos are very helpful man!

[@deltalima5806]

This was VERY informative and very helpful! Thank you Ben!

[@robert_carpenter]

amazing video. exactly what I was searching for

[@joel6694]

Mad helpful tips, appreciate it!

[@RedRare]

Very nice tips, thank you so much sir! Great video!

[@lewistangi8004]

Thanks very practical and digestible advice

[@erikbarrett85]

Been looking for videos like this for years, figured stuff out on my own over time but, good watch. I don't have a bass player in my band so a lot of that low end is up to my idiot feet

[@erikbarrett85]

Piano, guitar, and sax. Sax does a lot of rhythm work w me tho

[@jacobbroggi60]

Very helpful, thanks!

[@isaacvandoren4733]

super good video! really helpful!

[@seanpatrickwatkins640]

Aha! Another "left-hand rider" as my old instructor use to call it. Thought I was a freak. I just thought it allowed me to keep the hats nice and low. Cool vid!

[@jam1e976]

I’m the same it’s cool to see

[@legatenaarifin]

As a bassist (and casual songwriter) I love watching your drum videos, I've learnt a lot about how the bass and drums interlock (it's common knowledge that they should, but nobody seems to explain how do it) and about how to make drums a lot more interesting than the usual alternating kick and snare. And I love the drumming on the Dorje and Toska tracks, you and the other dudes rock! \m/

[@BenMinal]

+Kieron Walker thanks man that means a lot! Appreciate you watching the videos

[@lemsdarkapprentice]

really interesting - loads of thanks, Ben.

[@AllClassicDrumCovers]

Brilliant job

[@alibardgett1493]

Love the fill variation

[@rammsonne]

That Kick drum sounds tremendous! Another great video Ben.

[@whitebaer3034]

I know right it's one of the best I've heard

[@BenMinal]

Thanks dude, it's a very quick and simple recording that turned out pretty well!

[@isaacdenton2944]

Snare tom! love it

[@Jono_Songs]

So helpful. Thanks!

[@agaphite2175]

Very useful video, thanks!

[@JMnyJohns]

Ben, this was immensely helpful - thank you. Hope to hear more from you soon (any news on a new Dorje album???) :-) Cheers.

[@MikeF031]

Solid video

[@charlottewrinch]

Nice! Thank you!

[@jakobibarker]

Some great ideas mate (including the Snare Tom) 👌🏽

[@BenMinal]

Cheers Jakobi!

[@saintmonalisa3657]

great drummer

[@marekmittelstra1700]

great video. Thumbs up!

[@ajax9836]

Never seen anyone play drums like that. Or have their ride over there. I like it!

[@brandonjeanson3235]

Legend

[@higbyprigby9648]

Great great great!

[@haymor5368]

great video make one for the bass

[@MarySaunders931]

snare tom 😂😂😂 i actually laughed out loud for that one XD ps. love you bro you're an amazing inspiration and drummer

[@BenMinal]

+Joshua Slingluff thanks dude 💪

[@blewettmark]

Yo thanks for answering my questions dude! Props!! I'm Twisted Apparel, don't use my personal insta very much. Some great tips to help my parts

[@drummerAVA]

I feel like if the song is good, the music speaks to me more than anything and the ideas start flowing a lot more naturally... that’s when it’s fun. When you almost don’t even have to think...

[@MrCarpetFarm]

Do you have any tips for non-drummers looking to understand how drum groves 'work'? I'm currently programming some drum parts, so this video came at a great time. Cheers!

[@BenMinal]

Hmm this is probably one for another video. Thanks for the question Giles

[@verwundert]

Still need the advice?

[@realykid]

@@verwundert I'll gladly take it

[@flos3328]

Nice video, some really helpful tips. Could you make a video about how the snare changes the energy of a groove? I feel like I can control how energetic the groove sounds if I change the number and placements of the snare hits.

[@BenMinal]

Cool idea man

[@TNT73BLF]

Walk this way!

[@ThistleThings]

But us bassists are told to follow the drums! 😱 #CircularReference Love the lessons Ben, awesome song writing tips 👍

[@somebodysomeone8213]

Huw Griffin rejoice, us bassists!

[@knreal]

Pat Boone Debbie Boone. My favorite fill.

[@dylanbaldwin7934]

Bucket of fish is mine.

[@dennisjohansson977]

Maybe a bit late.. But I was wondering what ride you’re using on your left? Sounds great and would like to look it up ;)

[@davemarks8832]

1 person who dislikes this. don't see why. This is one of the most helpful videos I've ever seen.

[@mattcrofts6375]

Hi Ben, how would you approach auditions? Hoping to get one for Brit School and just wondered if you had any good song suggestions and tips for making your self look as best as you can technically.

[@BenMinal]

1 - know the songs inside out. Like, really inside out. The last thing on your mind should be thinking about what your playing. 2 - film yourself playing the tracks. Watch and listen carefully. Improve. 3 - Introduce yourself by being friendly, happy and confident. Take a breath before you playing and remember that if you've prepared well, you've totally got this.

[@LuisMartinez-js2pw]

Hey Ben, great video I really love the content! The camera work is very disorientating. I'm not really one to complain about that sort of thing but it bothered enough to where it distracted me from what you were saying. The person holding the camera looked very unpredictable. There were some shots you would lose eye contact with the camera because even you didn't know where he/she was going! Just a small thing to consider, at then end of the day, what really matters is what you said in the video which as always is fantastic. Other than that I'm a huge fan of your work both on this channel and with Dorje. Keep it up man!

[@BenMinal]

Hey dude, yeah this was a really quick job and I was trying out a new fish eye lens for the iPhone which distorted the image a bit. Thanks for your thoughts on the filming

[@LuisMartinez-js2pw]

Gotcha, that makes sense. It was definitely was odd to me because I've watched 90% of your old stuff and it didn't look like this. Great video though! You had some really great advice that I'm trying to implement into my writing. A really cool addition to this video could be, (and you did touch upon this in the video) breaking down in depth how you wrote a part for Dorje. What your whole thought process was; both away from the kit, and at the kit. Did you actually notate your parts? If so, did you use software, or good old staff paper and pen? Every one does do it differently. But I'm curious as to how bands do this sort of thing. With my band, we get an idea for riff and voice record it on a phone. If the riff is compelling enough we'll write it out into Sibelius and write parts for it from there. Currently, I'm pulling my hair out over remaking parts for tunes that I wrote 3 years ago. My playing ability has changed immensely since then and I can't for the life of me figure out how to make them more "mature". Or maybe you can do a video on that. Lol Just an idea. Thanks for the response man!

[@ariesgonzales49]

what if i write a song guitar first then drums, how do you make drums without a bass? pls pls pls do a vid

[@uza3]

If Toontrack ever released a pack played by Ben Minal. I will throw my money at them. This must happen.

[@BenMinal]

YES! This would be awesome!

[@fizzyfran2886]

So i've got a song made in guitar pro but i only have a mp3 of it and idk how to break it in some parts where i will make some drum parts, can u help? :(

[@joseceraia]

Is that about "writing " ?

[@leavemealoneyouprick]

I dont actually play drums, i play guitar and synths, but to get me through dull days at work, ive found that the plastic rods from windmills that we sell in the shop make GREAT drumsticks on the counter/whatever else i can find to whack around the shop. so i tend to just stand in one place playing paradiddles. what else can i practice with two windmill sticks and a box of fudge?

[@BenMinal]

Singles to doubles to paradiddles at the same note value and tempo!

[@leavemealoneyouprick]

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

[@dylanbyleveld8862]

Hi Ben, do you keep rhythm with you left foot while you play? Do you think it is important to do that? Thanks.

[@BenMinal]

Quite a lot of the time. It helps build independence, gives the band something to latch onto if you're going a bit syncopated with your playing and also helps keep you in time.

[@BlueCrewSlackers]

How would you approach choosing and buying gear, trying different set-ups and the like?

[@teunputker]

BlueCrewSlackers Yes, very curious as well

[@BenMinal]

I've got quite a few videos on my channel comparing gear etc. Question - would a whole series on buying an entire drum kit from scratch be useful?

[@teunputker]

Yes

[@James_Farmer]

Yeah man definitely! Could you also do a series on different drum mics? like budget/mid/high end?

[@Celtica111]

hi ben, how did you mic the kit up with two channels in this vid?

[@DreamfactoryZero]

Hey, I'm not Ben. But if I had to guess, it might be a room mic and an over head mic. Let me know if I'm wrong Ben, it would be nice to know. : )

[@murfmusician1028]

Do you use the Evans hybrid for your snare?

[@BenMinal]

Yep!

[@adamalexanderray]

I have a question: how do you get blood stains off the Evans Hybrid snare drum head?

[@andrewt248]

Adam Ray Why in the world would you want to do that? #streetCred

[@BenMinal]

I haven't tried yet!

[@higbyprigby9648]

Floor snare.

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

You talk about the cymbal for going to the next part of the song. But aside from that, you don't say much about WHY something should be considered? I am trying to learn more about composition and arrangement and I hear a lot of people say "Try whatever, whatever"... But what is the purpose, what does it do to the mood, you tell us at the end to study this and study that, but that is why we are watching the video. I'm not trying to be a jerk. I think that you're a good instructor. I'm not trying to "beat you up" with these comments. I am stating specifically what I am hoping that you will adjust and "WHY" so that I can learn what effect something may have, so that I may tailor patterns, fills, tempo, etc to the song's message/story, emotional tone, etc as I am crafting it. Apologies if that came off like a rant, not my intention.

[@themegaultradude]

you have given us rules... time to break them =D

[@BenMinal]

GO!

[@rarnor7346]

Can you give me any tips to get successful on youtube with drumming videos? :) I'm going to get started anywhere in the next month :D

[@BenMinal]

Check out my video "Building a successful music KZbin channel"

[@Flubbystuff]

Best technical/warm up exercises?

[@BenMinal]

I like singles to doubles to paradiddles at the same note value, same tempo. Six stroke rolls. 16th note single with moving accents. Flams etc

[@verwundert]

Check James payne

[@dansammons271]

Not really relevant to the video but what does everyone reckon to the Hybrid vs Hydraulic bs Heavyweight heads for a phhhhhhhhat noise?

[@itslegendarytiger6924]

gotta question: how can i learn songs (on drum set) faster?

[@zanderdaniels1848]

itslegendarytiger practice like crazy.

[@conorbrereton]

itslegendarytiger listen to the song twice than play through it. work on just the mistakes play through it again the cycle continues. sometimes even record yourself then watch your mistakes some people are visual learners

[@BenMinal]

Figure out how you learn: 1 - listening to each section, pausing and trying to play it. 2 - finding a KZbin live performance and watching the drummer 3 - try writing out the parts, if you're transcription is decent 4 - find some tabs or sheet music to help you out 5 - film yourself playing it, like a drum cover

[@gsureshsuresh8102]

Orange move hallo ramanta song is bit frosit

[@fbeegle]

Do I detect a hint of Josh Eppard influence?

[@thetinyitalian2595]

I thought the bass followed the drums mostly not vise versa?

[@BenMinal]

Well it depends how you write. If a riff comes first, then a bass line to follow that riff, I will lock in with the bass. Sometimes a drum grove comes first though

[@somebodysomeone8213]

Sage adviceseseseses

[@michaeljahanian9765]

Follow the bass? Fuck that. I made my bass player follow me. 😂

[@Big_C_4205]

Travis Barker could learn from this

[@Lylslet]

do not listen to his first tip at all it is complete bullshit. literally john bonhams (who is considered one of the best drummers of all time) catch is that he followed pages guitar playing. making the drums follow the guitar can add a very nice spice to a song.

[@somebodysomeone8213]

It all depends on which instrument writes the tune. Maybe the bassline is first. Msybe drums. Maybe guitar. Regardless, you just fit em together. There is no wrong way, if you listen & groove & leave space... Or is that horseshit, too? Lmmffado

[@Lylslet]

it all just comes down to whatever sounds good.

[@nrivero50]

no views

[@Celtica111]

hi ben, how did you mic the kit up with two channels in this vid?

[@BenMinal]

D6 in the kick and SE R1 ribbon mic in the room