Vinnie Colaiuta: How to build speed on the bass drum

[@davidnelson1129]

If you truly want to understand Vinnie get Gary Chaffee's Pattern's books. Everything that Vinnie plays on this recording can be traced back to Gary's material. I had the good fortune to study with Gary (mind blowing lessons, just checkout any of the videos of Gary on youtube) in the early 80's while I attended Berklee College of Music. Vinnie, Steve Smith, John Robinson and Casey Scheuerell had the good fortune of studying with Alan Dawson and/or Gary Chaffee when they attended Berklee. Those two instructors along with the entire Berklee drumming department produced/influenced so many incredibly talented musicians!!!

[@jaimesorli2436]

jonathan mover studied with gary too and you can see how much amazing he is...

[@drummer375]

I've watched a few of Gary Chaffee's things here on KZbin concerning 5 and 7 note groupings and they are just unbelievably useful.

[@a142294b]

Yeah interesting. Sticking patterns gets talked about a lot but my theory is Chaffee's book Rhythm and Meter is what made Vinnie. The metric modulation, polyrhythm studies and odd time in that book go so deep it's Comical.

[@BeTheDrum]

I'm pinning @David Nelson's comment because it's spot on. Gary Chaffee's books are essential to understand Vinnie's playing. It's reasonable to speculate that after Vinnie's one-year stint at Berklee College-and moved to LA-he spent many years working on Gary's (and others) materials to develop his own vocabulary. There are numerous examples of Vinnie using Gary's stickings/phrasings in solos. The first step is to patiently study Gary's stuff (any book from the collection) and then incorporate it into your playing. It's transformative. Last thing: Gary himself stated (I can't remember the source) that Vinnie and Steve Smith were the "guinea pigs" for his early books, and he would pass along the exercises to them to see how things worked out. Vinnie and Steve would often do their lessons with Gary together, as a group lesson.

[@RICHARDSANDSTROM]

If you take a listen to Vinnie’s podcast (Breakfast with Vinnie) - he has a brand new episode with Gary Chaffee that goes deeper to their story. Gary said that Vinnie already had an incredible rhythmic knowledge when he began at Berklee. Gary said that he honestly thought that Vinnie could sit down at his lessons, without practicing the material, and play Gary’s pieces. Point being; Vinnie created Vinnie. With a lot of studying on his own and of course with the help of great teachers and musicians. But of course Gary’s material is great. It’s an amazing episode. Highly recommended!

[@ernieadams1184]

No need to hope, Vinnie. You do. Like Tony, no matter how dense and intricate your playing is, it is still musical and filled with emotion. It takes a special cat to achieve that kind of playing. Thank you. -pEAce

[@Joesfosterdogs]

excellent use of graphics to time with audio...well done sir

[@TonchBiik]

the shit he does when he demonstrates doubles within a groove is sick

[@thevibemusic1270]

This is a one of kind channel...great concept...Keep it rolling guys..Godspeed

[@arleco12]

"and after a while I can feel it in my foot". And out of nowhere he plays some solid and impossible super groovy shit.

[@mikenicora6701]

Did Vinnie really say I can’t dazzle you? That’s funny.....thanks for this. It’s pure VC gold.

[@toddwalkerdrumstudio]

No such thing as "Gettin' to much of Vinnie C."!!!....This is a great, great, GREAT Vinnie upload! Thanks

[@ickysticky3672]

This is a great channel. Really insightful little bits of information like this and the others on your channel combined with the text and graphics are impossible to stop watching. Bravo!

[@lucaroveran9551]

Guys please upload something. This is one of the best drum channel ever

[@BeTheDrum]

working on it @Luca... thanks for your feedback and patience...

[@lucaroveran9551]

@@BeTheDrum awesome 🔥

[@KONAMAN100]

What a great demo on this topic, so groovesome. Its why he got those gigs like with Sting or Chaka.

[@vincenzoamodei2759]

3:36 best fill ever

[@sz-ll9iq]

Drummers have dealt with ‘automation’ longer than most....drummers are still here

[@davidcurtis4478]

Great advice from Vinnie! Love ya Vin! DC

[@snareaddict]

GOAT

[@benfrank8649]

That don’t mean it’s going to groove! Great words

[@tryharder249]

Um groove de respeito.

[@truthfirst1893]

I wish more drummers in 2021 would remember the importance of the "human feel', rather than glorifying the overuse of chops and grid alignment. Without groove, what good are chops?

[@oscara.garcia5136]

Amen

[@jonasandezekiel1109]

They don't even have chops anymore either. I'm not hearing it from the young cats.

[@borgullet3376]

This is FU#KING GOLD... Thank you !

[@paulkennedy4920]

So basically he's always had that beautiful rim click tone.

[@jones2720]

Thank you

[@billyg.7032]

Play tight like a machine but make it feel better than a machine🤯 . The secret just right there

[@gonzalodominguez229]

yes you do music!! Thanks

[@lvvry1855]

" but I can make music on the drums." I wish the speed freaks would listen.

[@ShellyRann]

"I Hope".....Pfff ! Little did he know back in 1989 (this interview) that he would dominate in making music on the drums.

[@andersdo2925]

He needs to bring the stache back

[@Jeroenvrolijk]

Nice!

[@bmillerdrums]

Funny his heel down technique part went from simple... and w/in a minute he’s doing 16th note triplets w a pretty crazy groove. I wonder what year he went to double pedal Because his single was pretty fucking fast

[@josephgiarraffa6379]

He’s the best there is

[@trevormcmanis]

Is there video of this interview? This is great stuff!!!

[@BeTheDrum]

unfortunately, unlikely... this was back in the 80s and there aren't many videos of Vinnie doing clinics anyway. The full audio is posted in the description.

[@sethcashman1011]

This is great!

[@DrumsTheWord]

Such a fast mind. Muscle memory means shit after a few beats of the bar.

[@EmanuelaPescatore]

Wow!

[@JCarlosOrtiz1]

Wow and thank you.

[@Hiramjo90]

You deserve more subs!

[@bobbycampbell3097]

Are there transcriptions of what he's playing here?

[@sticktrik]

Why don’t you just transcribe them!!

[@waltonbrown]

I think the question is ‘what has bass drum speed got to do with groove?’.

[@josephmunden4480]

Wow man

[@markpmar0356]

"I hope."??

[@StompL7]

He probably didn't want to sound presomptuous

[@pacmanlp8876]

The only mistake Vinne does in music: not doing a little more teaching or clinics.

[@pedroahets]

❤👑🙌

[@antkn33]

My wife think Vinnie looks like Weird Al in that pic.

[@bmillerdrums]

antkn33 I thought like Chick Korea or bizarro John Oates or some shit

[@francescotoni26]

in conclusione................speed Isn't everything