Trading Fours Jazz Drums Soloing - What To Play

[@boomerguy9935]

I like to watch your videos repeatedly, after periods of time because I always get something new and different each time. In this case, I focused on your comments starting at 5:00 and how important they are. The drummer, like ALL of the rest of the band, has to be a TEAM player. When people come to listen to your playing, they are actually coming to listen to the band. Unless you are a featured soloist like Louis Bellson, Buddy Rich, Joe Morello or even Jon Bonham, they want to hear the entire mix. It's like eating soup, people want to experience the perfect blend of ingredients in the recipe; they don't want to pick out one item in the soup and leave the rest. I was fortunate enough to recognize this when I was a teenager playing with musicians who were much older than myself and about a thousand times greater than I was. I was very happy to be included in the mix so that I could learn. So many of them helped me over the years by lifting me up. As a drummer, never let your ego get in the way of the music. I'm in my mid-70's now and I am still learning! Enjoy the trip!

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks always for sharing. It takes a breadth of experience to write your comment. I'm sure that all of the people you play with today are satisfied musicians!

[@boomerguy9935]

@@jazzdrumschool I was fortunate enough to grow up in a rural area with a large destination resort which provided the opportunity for me to play in a rich and varied environment and different size venues. My main contact and lead musician took me aside when I was much younger during a break to reassure me that I was doing everything right. I didn't know how he knew that I was distressed, so I asked him why he said this. He kindly said, "You're a metronome and your time is perfect. The bass player is dragging and you have to keep pulling him." I responded, "Thank God! I thought it was me. I didn't know what was going on but I was in agony." He was a wonderful person and loaned me a tuxedo because I didn't own one. When I had it cleaned and tried to return it to him, he said, "No, it's yours. You earned it." These are the moments that stick with you when you respect those who can teach you and care for you. It's over 40 years later now, but it seems like yesterday.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Love the stories my friend. Have a swinging great day 🤙

[@themole2024]

Beautifully explained.. This is harder than you make it look.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Fred thanks for the comment and for watching! It is but I'll tell you singing everything you want to play is the game changer in Jazz drum soloing. Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@constantkiffer7924]

Very clear and understandable, Von ! Thxs. a lot😃👍🏻

[@jazzdrumschool]

Constant thank you so much for the kind words comment and I’m so glad it was helpful! I made this video before making my Jazz Drum Soloing Course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-solo I know you’ll love it too. As you might also know, the Brushes Mastery Course you’re enrolled in also has a big section on soloing including 4’s and 8’s. Have a swinging great day my friend 🤙

[@constantkiffer7924]

@@jazzdrumschool yes certainly. So let me first finish your ‘drum mastery course’😃🙋🏻‍♂️

[@jazzdrumschool]

@@constantkiffer7924 of course! Thanks so much ❤️

[@orodrummer]

This is sooo helpful for young drummers! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and putting all the time into making this extremely insightful video.What would be even more amazing is if (in addition to your breakdown) we can also hear the thoughts of the piano player. Since trading is all about conversing it would be great to also have the insight of the piano player as he responds to your playing.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks so much for the great comment and idea! I did a nice long interview with this pianist Phillip Strange in my Brushes Mastery Course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/brushes-mastery-course We go into to this and much more to help drummers be successful in the music business. I hope you'll check out the course. Many thanks again and keep swinging🤙

[@MichaelBrunoSpandern]

great low tuning by the way. very musical

[@jazzdrumschool]

Michael thanks for the kind comment and for watching! I actually tuned them down in my previous residence because we lived in a ground floor apartment. It seemed to control the sound a bit more. Still, I generally do tune my drums lower than most Jazz drummers. I like the fuller sound it gives me on stage and with other instruments. Keep swinging my friend🤙

[@erlandnatanaelson1929]

Thx, roliga saker att ta till sig när man övar. =)

[@jazzdrumschool]

Mitt nöje! Tack för kommentaren och eller titta. Du kan också ta en titt på min online Jazz Drum School. Många bra trumlektioner där också. Fortsätt svänga min vän 🤙 (förlåt Google översatt)

[@dexmagedan5530]

This channel is great even for a pianist such as myself

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for watching and for your kind comment! I'm so glad to hear that. Yes, we're all connected and I often ask my musician friends for insight into their instruments. I think knowing more about each other's musical world helps us play better together. Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@GAMEDOGWARRIORS]

Awesome information

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for the comment and for watching! I'm glad the video was helpful. I've also got super course called the Secrets of Jazz Drumming: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drumming-lessons It covers a lot about trading 4's and 8's with the band and many other cool things we can do in Jazz drumming. I hope to see you over there too. Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@boomerguy9935]

I have to admit that I've never liked long solos in any music, by any instrument, because they seem to be like a long commercial break during a radio or TV show which is distracting. In my opinion, trading 4-measure solo is ideal. The solo should not be a distraction which interrupts the flow of the song (See my disclaimer below). It should be the spice which highlights the feeling of the song. I love hearing any small group "trading fours". Your interpretation of solos is ideal. Disclaimer: I will admit that "Sing Sing Sing" by Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa is the hook that brought me into the world of drumming as a kid back in the mid-60's. But that song is unique and Gene Krupa was the perfect person to expose it to the world. This combination was the icing on the cake but I don't want an entire meal of just cake for every meal. Keep doin' what you're doin'! Your videos are always spot-on.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Great wisdom as always 🤙

[@cyberceil]

Nice and simply explained. Great fours. IAre there more tunes like this. all tempo tunes. So-called drumless with breaks for drum fours

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for watching and for your kind comment! I think this might be what you’re looking for www.vonbaronstore.com/products/trading-fours-and-eights-jazz-swing-practice-system-drumless-tracks I also have the complete collection with this track and other tracks in various styles and tempos. Most of these have trading fours, eights or extended soloing practice www.vonbaronstore.com/products/almost-jazz-standards-bundle-mp3s Many thanks again and keep on swinging’!

[@boomerguy9935]

I don't know if this will answer your question abut "drumless" but I usually keep my hi-hats going very softly while I play "drumless". Jeff Hamilton sometimes does this while using brushes on hoops or any other non-resonating parts of drums, just to keep the rhythm going while not distracting from the other solo instruments. I hope this makes sense.

[@半澤剛-p4k]

めちゃくちゃかっこいい👍勉強になります！歌う事が大事なんですね👍

[@jazzdrumschool]

ありがとうございます！頑張ってください！

[@martinsmith8572]

Hey thanks for the advice, I have been learning now for around 5 years give or take a few months, I started playing at 50yrs young and still many years in me yet, my teacher is stepping me up a gear to yr Bossa, Songo, Samba etc. This trading 4s is great and excellent for time keeping, anyhow I just subscribed so you may see more comments/questions from me, if ok with you? Cheers 🍻

[@jazzdrumschool]

Martin thanks so much for the kind words and for watching! Of course, please let me know if you have any other questions. It might be easier to contact me directly at vonbaron(at)jazzdrumschool.com. I'd be happy to help. I'm glad you enjoyed the video and I know if you liked that, you will LOVE my Jazz Drum Soloing course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-solo You will really get your 4's and 8's happening and play musical and enjoyable drum solos. I hope to see you at the School soon and keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@Tagger0325]

The thought going into trading fours being a supportive opportunity as apposed to all about Me getting a chance to solo . Great lesson . Your right ride cymbal is orgasmic. Talk about stick definition.. What is that ?

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for the kind comment and for watching! I’m using a 20” Zildjian Kerope on the left and a 20” Zildjian K Constantinople Flat Ride on the right. I’m also using mixed 14” hi-hats, Top: K Constantinople, Bottom: K Custom Dry

[@congamonty]

This is so helpful! Love your insights. Question on dynamics: sometimes, I will build dynamics on the last trade of a chorus, anticipating a return to the head, only to find that I’ve been given another trade chorus - so that dynamic build was kinda out-of-place. While I appreciate the vote of confidence from my fellow players, it always throws me a bit. Is there a best way to anticipate multiple trade choruses and the eventual return to head? (This is more an issue with an ensemble with horns, where the dynamic is almost always higher on the out head.)

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks Steve for your comment and for watching! I totally get you on this one. It does happen a lot. What I do is just play what I play. If the shape of my fours is a decrescendo and the soloist wants to go another chorus, I just think of it as dynamic contrast LOL! What I try to do is establish eye contact with the soloist on my last four and give them a head nod to cue I'm ready to wrap things up. If they are not looking at me and I can't get the eye contact, I just "roll" with it and continue on!

[@congamonty]

@@jazzdrumschool Thanks! Great point about making eye contact with soloist on last trade.

[@deanpetrovski9774]

awesome

[@jazzdrumschool]

Dean thanks for the kind words and for watching! I'm glad it was helpful. If you're ready to dive deeper into Jazz drum soloing, you might check out my Jazz Drum Soloing course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-solo I hope to see you over there too my friend and keep swinging 🤙

[@deanpetrovski9774]

@@jazzdrumschool yeap amazing and mind opening music showing videos, I really appreciate them, thank you! I might join the course soon who knows, best of wishes to you!

[@jazzdrumschool]

Dean I so appreciate your comments. Please let me know if I can help. You can also reach me at vonbaron (at) jazzdrumschool.com

[@elliegomulkiewicz326]

What is a good way to practice this on your own? Should I practice by playing time with myself or should I try and find a track?

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for the great question and for watching! I recommend practicing 2 ways. 1. Practice with a metronome at a slower speed (40-70 BPM) and assign the click to counts 2 and 4 or only to count 4, in your mind. Check out my video about how to use a metronome in this way: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6fCeaaVetB6d6c 2. Practice with drumless practice tracks like the one I used in this video. You can get this practice track and dozens more like it with drum charts, in my Almost Jazz Standards bundle: store.vonbaronmusic.com/product/almost-jazz-standards-super-bundle-mp3s-and-pdfs/ I hope these two suggestions get you going in the right direction. Let me know too, what specific Jazz drumming skills you want to improve and I can suggest some courses at jazzdrumschool.com that can help. Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@PMO269]

Si dice CALZONE, non CALSON… great lesson anyway

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for the correction! Keep swinging my friend 🤙