Steve Jordan Groove Concepts | Study The Greats

[@abbdrums]

Hope you guys dig this one! Transcription is available here 👉🏼www.abbdrums.com/steve-jordan

[@EvanGtr7]

Austin Burcham hey Austin, this is awesome. You should do a segment on his groove on Something’s Missing from the John Mayer trio recording. Doing his 16th note high hat groove with killer ghost notes and the phrasing and accents on the kick is killer.

[@tryharder249]

Legal Austin. Esse aqui seria legal (2:19-2:43): kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJDckp2Op6qHeNU

[@Onamorata]

Hey Austin Could you do some Nate Smith? He’s THE man right now

[@gunnarwaage4343]

This is one way to look at it, unusual though. I would call this 6/8, subdivisions being 8th notes and swung 8ths instead of swung 16ths (in 4/4). But this depends on the given point of view. Actually I find your 4/4 version refreshing.

[@bngdrummer9008]

Man you really do a great job on all your videos. Really humbling,

[@crazy8sdrums]

You got the notes right and the technique right....but you missed a very important element here. Steve Jordan was majorly blazed in this, and that has a big effect on groove. He was way baked!

[@blackl1steddrums]

Crazy 8s Drums so Austin’s breakdown was just..half baked..?

[@ALBundy73]

🥳🍾🍾 alcohol ans drugs ....

[@johnnystickems]

while true, as a smoker myself i think smoking helps you to figure out and feel some grooves a little deeper, but i think it's possible to replicate the feel when you're sober. you just gotta be good at performing different feels regardless of smoking/drinking or not.

[@crazy8sdrums]

@@johnnystickems One need not be high to play amazing drums, for sure. I neither endorse or condemn the use of cannabis for the practicing musician. I sure love smoking out and banging on the kit though. In my experience, it has helped enormously in staying focused and working through things.

[@dhr.neuteboom4536]

@@johnnystickems Youi only have to smoke once to know te feeling and open the door in fact. To be sure I smoke daily.

[@aLby_doira]

great job.. also, his 38" hi hats help too

[@Big_C_4205]

38”? That’s huge for a hi hat!

[@richardfrequelin5482]

38cm

[@Big_C_4205]

Oh, it’s cm?

[@jmag579]

It’s just envisioned a 38” hi hat 😆😆🤣

[@christianwagenseil9621]

38 cm would be only 15 inch, I believe he uses minimum a 16 inch or maybe even bigger hi-hat

[@tdrum21]

Love this. Great spotlight here. If you get a chance do some Nate Smith👌🏽🔥🎶🥁

[@Footballar09]

Yes Nate Smith is amazing! I sort of see him as very similar to Steve.

[@JayBigDadyCy]

Or Adam Deitch

[@roromoho]

Its call study the greats not study the aliens.

[@oluwaboriogunafolabi3997]

roromoho ‘study the Nates’...see what I did there. 😂

[@markomarkovic5729]

@@Footballar09 Nate Smith is Steve Jordan on steroids

[@aussie_philosopher8079]

man I did not realise drummers were so into their sound but mainly technique, it's a breath of fresh air coming from the guitar world. Drummers deserve all the credit they get.

[@freddyt86]

“I know I can’t recreate Steve’s feel...” Truer words have never been spoken on the internet. His feel is untouchable. He doesn’t play anything that’s technically difficult, but he doesn’t have to. He embodies the line “fills are for thrills but groove pays the bills.”

[@leaveitorsinkit242]

Just what about his feel is untouchable?

[@danielclee1]

@@leaveitorsinkit242 that's like asking what was untouchable about Eddie Van Halen's feel? Some people just have something else goin' on.

[@joesantamaria5874]

@@danielclee1 ….like Bernard Purdie, or the late Melvin Parker, maybe Nikki Glaspie or Adam Deitch? Lots of great feel players.

[@Carlo24515]

@@leaveitorsinkit242 subtle placement of certain elements behind or on top of the beat, note length (for example how long the hi-hat bark stays open), playing in the cracks (somewhere between straight and swing), getting an intentional sound out of each hit by striking the drums/cymbals in a specific place and holding the stick a specific way, controlling the dynamics of each limb independently, and much more

[@schwarzermoritz]

​​​​@@leaveitorsinkit242 Most competent drummers can play what he plays note for note, but none of them will sound quite like him. His particular mix of technique and subconscious wiring means he divides time in a way that is very musical and consistent, a touch idiosyncratic, very recognizable, and impossible to recreate exactly. 1:10 I mean look at his left hand. Watch Austin's primer on traditional grip, and he'll tell you that is holding the stick way too far back. His thumb is almost at the end of the stick, about a and's breath from the balance point. "You'll get no rebound that way." But you can't argue with the results.

[@cheezruff]

Great job on this, especially how you noticed the details of spacing and feel. Not trying to be critical, but the only thing missing is the sound of Steve's gear; He has some ambient ring on his kick and snare, allowing the BD on 'e' (3rd note of 3 in a row) to sound a tad more accented than the other kick notes. Also his oversized Paiste Hi hats fatten up his sound. Steve has always been the Groovemaster, I want to mention an album he played on - Steve Khan's 'Casa Loco' , hope all you Steve Jordan fans check it out.

[@larrbrown7277]

As a 82 year old drummer I’m still learning but I can’t play that shit love it, thanks. I am trying though.

[@kilgoretrout321]

Steve Jordan is one of those guys who seems to show up everywhere. Neil Young had him play on his comeback SNL appearance of Rockin in the Free World in '89, and the song never sounded so driving and urgent. Now he's touring with The Rolling Stones following Watts' death. He seems to be one of the top 5 guys of the professional drumming world, and I think his skill is evident even to the layperson, which makes him pretty special in the musical universe.

[@ordinarypablo]

Please do a John Theodore video, that guy is very underrated and have lots of crazy grooves

[@pedroandrade7606]

ABSOLUTELY

[@travisSimon365]

I enjoyed this less technical view - good stuff. One of my favourite inbetween straight and swung grooves is by Jim Keltner on Little Village's debut: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fquXnKJnqsd3i6c. So fat

[@Bluem00n7]

You need to check out a drummer called ash soan

[@garysmith3173]

Tom Bycroft in my humble opinion Ash is currently the best pro drummer in the UK. Seems a really nice chap too.

[@Bluem00n7]

@@garysmith3173 i agree also his pocket grooves are amazing and well he is one of the greats

[@crazy8sdrums]

Im coming back to this again cus Ive been trippin on Steve Jordan all day. Y'all need to watch the James Brown '82 Letterman performance. That will blow your mind! I also want to say that you don't need weed to lay down thick AF grooves. I love to get blazed and jam, but it doesn't make me a better player...

[@CipherSerpico]

Imho, Steve Jordan is the greatest drummer since Steve Gadd. It doesn’t matter - how good your technique is, how good you are at crazy time signatures, or how fast you can play ... You simply cannot make a groove sound as good as Jordan. Mad props for including SJ in your “Study the greats” videos, Austin.

[@CipherSerpico]

Jeffrey Hyder YES YESSS YESSSSSSSS. Thank you. I’m not trying to hate on people, but that’s why it drives me crazy when I hear people talk about how good Tony Royster is. Obviously he’s super talented, but the guy overplays more than any drummer I’ve ever heard. His playing is just fast random noises without any feel or musicality. It’s the exact opposite of what Jordan does.

[@dhr.neuteboom4536]

@Jeffrey Hyder It's not only with drumming. Also with piano/instruments. When people want to show off, they should play slow. Since playing slow is the hardest thing in music.

[@vkiperman]

Jordan played with the Blues Brothers. Love him. Great vid.

[@MichaelVLang]

Steve's playing with John Scofield and even The Blues Brothers is pretty advanced. The Blues Brothers stuff grooves like crazy, and so many killer fills, just right there. I got quite a few insights into drumming playing along to the live record.

[@zacharywedge8079]

Can we just appreciate how gorgeous Steve's kit is in the clip?

[@Six3rdy]

We can't. Its too gorgeous. We don't have the capacity since we're mere mortals.

[@420protoman]

All of these reminded me of Whole Lotta love a bit from Bonham, which is a really hard drum beat to play

[@robertoricci3393]

And so did Mitch Mitchell in Hey Joe before Bonham which has more swing like Jordan's performance. Bonham isn't the drum Bible.

[@fadyrayes]

Great idea covering a groove master like Steve Jordan. Excellent job!

[@furlong337]

So difficult to illustrate “groove” but you did a great job. Thanks!

[@joelgillespie4180]

Austin, you're snare drum speaks to me.

[@nickentros]

Tasty stuff as always. Can you do a Study the Greats on Jon Fishman from Phish?

[@JayBigDadyCy]

It's like you read my mind. Really want to see him or Adam Deitch of Lettuce.

[@MichaelVLang]

Bill Kreutzmann as well, some of those grooves he came up with, along with Mickey, are very interesting, and unique.

[@AustinAto]

Love it. Such pocket feel. Also with the reverb and compression the live recording of Jordan sounds like a DJ Shadow tune lol

[@antcall6779]

Ive been waiting for a Steve Jordan video!!!

[@fatbot0]

High quality stuff man, I love your videos. With groove, it isn’t as elusive a concept to describe as you think. Groove is the consistency of spacing between notes/attack points, and consistency of the sound quality of those attack points relative to each other. Steve’s sound is immense and ultra consistent, it makes you relaxed when you listen to it. Love your stuff man, especially this video which isn’t just a chop fest.

[@Raphaeldrums]

With the modern hyper-quantized-production we lost all the beauty of DRUMMING.

[@Tommybotham]

Man stfu, your comment is as pretentious as they come. "hyper-quantized" lel. There are MANY drummers out there who are deep in the pocket whilst also blazing through musical chops that don't simply sound like hitting every sound source at the speed of light. Open your ears and listen.

[@mikepostdrums]

@@Tommybotham That was pretty unneccessary.. and your exceptions to the rule just prove the rule.

[@Tommybotham]

@@mikepostdrums It was necessary. Pretentiousness and dishonesty is what will kill music.

[@lukegregg5944]

@@Tommybotham Nah bro, just listen to the radio. Tell me where the pocket is at now.

[@PL-oc7vn]

I put two 16" crashes as hihat but my old hihat stand can't carry it... back to my 12" i guess

[@drummerboy1066]

Oh yes, I dig this. You just need two dustbin lids for hi hats and you'll be there.

[@mattycspeaks]

Nice work differentiating the “feel” or laid back swing

[@jhardycarroll]

Steve is one of those guys impossible to imitate. His way of shifting the placement of quarter notes is instinctive and superb. Hearing him all by himself is great, but it doesn't begin to capture how excellent he is. His playing with Will Lee and (especially) Pino Palladino represents exactly what I'm talking about. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5q4laNulM2ga80

[@KyleAnastasio]

Man, I sit on the edge of my seat waiting to see what your next creation will be. Absolutly love these videos, your attitude, sound of that fat kit. Ya , the whole package. Keep it coming. Still inspiring this drum student of 43 years..

[@BryceChristopherHodge]

Great one, Austin! This new segment of groove analysis--rather than licks--opens infinite possibilities for this part of your teaching. I dig it.

[@simonvidlund4077]

Really like this one! I'm more of a groove guy myself so I much rather dig into feel vs chops. Thank you.

[@mattmarkus4868]

Awesome. Can you also do a better one with Danny Carey? I know _better_ is subjective, but I feel like he has so much cool stuff that can be broken down that he deserves another round ;)

[@tdrum21]

Matt Markus perhaps the new album?! A month & a half 👌🏽

[@matyasmeszaros1904]

Austin, I love your studythegreats stuff for a long time. They were hard to me back in the days, but now I start over your videos. About this: I saw this performance long time ago, and never found it again, I tought it was Tonny Williams, so, you know... So thank you, the second is a masterpiece, like Steve Gadd in Los Angeles, where he ,,loose” the third snare beat.

[@FoliFlipper]

NICE !!!

[@hectordesosa4123]

Steve Jordan , is best the best . Funky , jazz , blues . Specialist in funky.

[@jessemoreira8642]

That last groove looks like a BAIÃO pattern, a brazilian percussive pattern, adapted for drums, with little perks. Great brazilian musicians, groups and drummers like Luiz Gonzaga, Quarteto Novo and Airto Moreira, are good representants of this gender. Spend some time checking this out really worth.

[@ethanbrunt7755]

I don’t know why you haven’t done a vid on Phil Rudd

[@portal432]

Great video Austin. Please do another video on grooves.

[@jmgreenf]

I love what you do..know that it's much appreciated...coming back to the drums after 30 some-odd years..youtube is an amazing resource..esp. from contributors such as yourself, austin..many thanks...Joe, Danbury,ct

[@devonscope6222]

He's a great drummer. But so overrated

[@giacomoalloatti2426]

I suggest you try to realese your top hat screw a bit more. It did really help me modulate those transitions between closed and open hat. I know it seems weird at first, but give it a try

[@keithcobin4721]

Good Work. Thank you. Your snare is priceless!

[@Six3rdy]

Just gotta let you know. You got a subscription off that snare sound and tasty groove alone. Lol. That was cleaner than Mr. Clean in a kitchen. Also, i respectfully disagree. That first unswung groove sounded BUSSIN'! Whatchu mean lame?!??? The only thing that was lame was the fact that you came at your own impeccable groove like that! Why you out here hitting yourself for doing a great job? Lol. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 But jokes aside, that was amazing. You did great work here.

[@andrewsandoz8005]

Steve's ability to groove and play what's needed is incredible. He's not a solo player like Gadd, Coliuta or others, but damn he lays it down!

[@Carlo24515]

He can also solo his ass of though

[@adeKramadibrata]

Groove always got the job, I think your drum sound got more compressed, Great job by the way. Thank you.

[@Dsullivann]

So many good moments in that Steve Jordan video I personally love the floor tom groove he plays about a minute in. For anyone whos never seen that whole video you gotta go watch it.

[@selvanegrra]

PLEASE do some Justin Brown. Pretty hardcore! Also love the channel!

[@Morganstudios]

So much sustain on his kick. Makes a big difference in sound.

[@brianphillips9152]

All about the ONE with funk grooves.

[@christophegragnic8681]

«It's swang but it's hard to quantify how much.» Very nice joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@BeTheDrum]

what an awesome breakdown Austin, thanks so much! I also think the consistency in volume and tone when SJ hits the snare/HH/kick makes a huge difference in creating groove. I have the impression groove has a lot to do with creating predictability of what comes next, and consistency in sound is very important for that. I see a similar thing in Dennis Chambers, Ash Soan, etc

[@RogerBergqvist]

Steve Jordan is a good drummer with nice rhythms. Although I still think that Jeff Porcaro is a bit bigger on grooves. He had an intangible feeling, but you could tell right away that it was him. Like "99" or "I keep forgetting".

[@JulianFernandez]

Go check his early stuff with the Blues Brothers. KILLER!

[@ZwitZhn]

Amazing content as always Austin!!

[@polikaization]

Make one Naty Smith. Anyone .Peace and love. Marvellous

[@Tyler_Durden987]

The panning camera shot at 1:56... nice dude. Glad to see you back doing what you do best!

[@souldeep808]

Not really a Steve Jordan fan. I really enjoy saying that, because he has a fanatic base of followers who are quick to let me know I am an idiot!! LOL He is an awesome drummer just not my cup of tea. It's like a dynamic rhythm guitarist who's famous AF for nice grooves!! But I will say I did enjoy this video. FTR I am a drummer!!

[@TheIllynow]

Forgive me, but SJ is not playing to a click, as this guy is........ Surely that makes this whole vid pointless? Asking for a friend 😉

[@ReneAlexisPenalozaMunoz]

Great work. Steve Jordan is one of my favorite drummers. A very difficult job trying to emulate his style and groove. hats off to you.

[@luisfernando-mm3jt]

Nice feel

[@emb2302]

Jordan is unquestionably one of the greatest masters of the groove ever. That man’s pocket is so deep, if the authorities ever bothered to look, they’d find Jimmy Hoffa.

[@briansrensen8204]

This is basically the legendary James Gadson groove from Kissing my Love kzbin.info/www/bejne/fny7oIywlJ1sZ6M

[@gourdlord2112]

Steve is the man. Glad to see you’re still making these after I took a 2 year hiatus from drumming. Got a little catching up to do

[@KONAMAN100]

What a great sound you have there Austin. Steve less-is-more Jordan. Hard to recreate that crushing heavy sound of SJ though. How to get the brutality.

[@dominicneeson1613]

This is my favorite video you have done (and that's saying alot!) love how thorough you are, as you really get every detail. Nate Smith grooves would also be really good, maybe breakdown some of his keeping time exercise

[@jamesstevenson1065]

Keep these coming Austin! Always enjoyable studying along with these videos. Use them a lot these days when I'm not gigging or trying to improve technique!

[@kentforde6350]

Nice try Austin you white boy... Keep them coming and thanks for the Funk...

[@scottmoyer1357]

His 16 or 17 " hi hat adds to his sound. His lack of muffling his drums...The Yamaha resonance on these drums, his using rim shots as an East coaster would usually do and his influence by Bernard Purdie all contribute to his stay and sound. When drummers play music they are modeling the style of someone else in their heads.....the way they groove, hit, sound, play, the sticks they use, how they strike their bass drum and live time between it and the backbeats as well as all the well felt dynamics and subtle nuances of the grooves few understand until many years of playing lots of musical styles happens.

[@nickentros]

Back here after Charlie Watts has passed away and Steve Jordan is going to be filling in for the Stones. Obviously Charlie is one of a kind and will be missed, but I think Steve is a fantastic choice for the Stones moving forward

[@jamessullenriot]

A lot of times my kick lags behind as well. It does so because I'm not a great drummer. From now on, I'm going to just tell people its part of my groove. Funny thing is, if I tried to do it purpose I would fail

[@jeraldcuccurullo2497]

T.y just gave this 2 my beginner level student to be played but not swung! Too early for him

[@The_Caesar6186]

thanks

[@santiamato4005]

Are you studying with Louie Palmer? Fantastic video anyway

[@FunkadelicPancho]

Nate Smith next!

[@blackl1steddrums]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5jJmoywac-ibqs Heres the original of Steve playing btw

[@rep2keep22446]

He also flams off the hi hat(right hand) on to the snare(left hand) on the 2&4 of every bar he grooves. The right hand starts the flam on the hats and left finishes on the snare. Its the Dennis Chambers pocket. You have to be very carful with it because if the timing of the flam is off the groove will be bad for the band, also the snare has to be hit quite hard to disguise the flam. It helps for a cleaner groove. Rim shots help.

[@bodhi9464]

Mate; really enjoy these videos. Thank you 🙏🏼 🥁🇦🇺

[@Sonybaez]

gracias!!!

[@christiandejongh1525]

Really great stuff man. Love the more lucid lessons.

[@devindaniell]

Steve Jordan has never played to a metronome, but a metronome has played to Steve Jordan.

[@tramquangpho]

My drumstick keep rotating abit when I hit it, did it suppose to happen, not slide or slip , just rotating by circle a little bit, I dont know why it happen though, did the drumstick suppose to rotate a bit when you hit it

[@jakewilliams5733]

Hey Austin or anyone. I'd love to know what snare you are using could you please tell me?

[@paulcope834]

Are you alright? He's way off after his fills. Get a grip lad. Charlie Watts rip.

[@jaykroska3845]

So ppl still can’t play the difference between straight and shuffle?

[@JonBonZombie]

Bro I love this channel its given me alot of ideas on how to improve my playing

[@visiongia]

I think his approach is also connected with the high seat position... i really play on top of the drum...

[@thebluecollardrummer9032]

What is that pure evil of a snare drum you are cracking?

[@drumkick2315]

These are really good grooves. But it take so much to sound so good. I have to practice more.

[@DDandrums]

Those Steve Jordan hats you're using there?

[@MonacoRocha]

Love your videos.. DO SOME NATE SMITH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@shaneryan9076]

I would just love some guy in the guitar centre to do this instead, lay down something fat and stanky

[@KinoHaitsma]

Awesome. And your kit sounds great, very funky

[@petehilario3292]

That is one of the most STANKIEST BEATS EVER.

[@TheStudioDrummer]

Great video as always Austin! I believe that 16th HH tech in the 2nd groove is a "shank tip" tech. Sucherman has a pretty good breakdown of it on YT. BTW, I use your videos all the time with my students and today - I'm watching this one for my own, personal enjoyment. 🙂 Keep up the fantastic work.

[@donnycofer7860]

Anyone have any idea how he gets the kick drum sound he gets both in the studio and live?

[@Big_C_4205]

Your hi hat sounds really good. You’ve got some good mics.

[@hotwheelz20072]

So good bro! One of my favorite drummers for sure!

[@levonatkinson]

Possibly one of the fattest grooves ever captured.