What NOT to Do to Keep That "Jazz Sound"

learnjazzdrums.co/2019/08/27/popvsjazz/
learnjazzdrums.co/
Today’s lesson is about a topic that was requested. What NOT to do to keep that Jazz sound.
So this person was likely referencing fact that Jazz drummers have a very unique sound. You can hear the difference between Jazz and other styles on the drums, in regards to touch, volume, feel and so much more. When a drummer learns Jazz and then plays other styles for a long time without consciously keeping up on the intricacies of Jazz, it can be easy to lose some fundamental things in the Jazz drum sound.
You can check out my full article on Jazz vs. pop drumming here.
Number 1. Do not play the drums too loud. In Pop drumming, the snare drum and bass drum are the priority, whereas, in Jazz, the ride cymbal and hi-hat are the priority.
So whatever style you’re playing, be sure that you keep the limbs in balance for what’s appropriate to that music.
Playing Jazz? Ride cymbal priority.
Number 2. Do not play too many rim shots. Like so
A well-placed rim shot can go a long way, but comping is never played primarily as rim shots. So don’t do it!
Number 3. Do not comp too much.
Often it’s easy to transition from playing music with less spontaneity, and play Jazz, and overplay. The most important part of Jazz drumming is the ride cymbal and the GROOVE. Sure, improvisation is essential, but make sure you don’t overplay in an attempt to sound Jazzy.
Number 4. Don’t play comping that sounds like a backbeat groove.
If you’re playing a lot of backbeat driven music, it can be difficult to ditch this feel. When playing swing, the pulse is the quarter note, but it’s often easy to feel this as somewhat of a weird half time backbeat groove. Make sure that your comping doesn’t sound like a backbeat.
Number 5. Don’t crash too much.
In other styles of music, it can be very common to crash every 16, 12, 8, or even 4 bars on beat 1. In Jazz, this can vary quite a bit but rarely do we hear a drummer crashing on beat one of every 8 bars. This locks in the overall fluidity of the music and resets this ongoing story every 4 or 8 bars.
First off, playing on beat one every time gridlocks the groove. Secondly, a loud crash is too much stylistically. We could accent beat one every 4 bars, while note crashing, and it would already sound quite a bit better.
So those are my 5 things NOT to do when playing Jazz.
For review, that’s:
Don’t play the drums too loud.
Do not play too many rim shots
Do not comp too much
Don’t play comping that sounds like a backbeat groove
Don’t crash too much
So keep those in mind when playing Jazz, and especially when playing Jazz after switching from other styles. I hope these tips were helpful!

[@boomerguy9935]

Excellent advice! I started out in rock in the 1960's. Then I discovered jazz. I found a professional jazz drummer who played in small acoustic trios and large swing bands. His first words were, "Keep the time steady and keep the volume low." My first jazz gig was with a violin, piano and upright acoustic bass in a dinner club. I was hired within five minutes of my audition. My hard work at playing less instead of more had literally paid off. This video is a great example of "Less is more." I quiet drummer can still be great. Check out Jeff Hamilton, Joe Morello (Take 5) and Jerry Granelli (Charlie Brown's Christmas). Louder is not better. Focus on the correct areas, as explained at the beginning of this video. Also, explore the wonderful world of brushes!

[@boomerguy9935]

So many drummers with a rock background seem to have a "look at me" attitude and try to be in the spotlight. The best drummers (particularly jazz drummers) are true team players who want the balance of the band, large or small, to sound perfect and musical. At 1:00, you show how much more the drums blend into the music instead of trying to overpower it. This is what truly distinguishes jazz from rock.

[@68Bards]

Some great points made/reminders given about Jazz vs Pop dynamics. All important. Problem is, you’re so good you’re demo’s of What Not To Do I’d blow myself away with 🤣

[@BusyLizzy575]

F sake, this is great. I am a jazz pianist and i know only a couple of jazz drummers that don’t drown out the piano. most just smack the shit out the drums. it’s frustrating. like back in the day no amps and presumably audiences could still hear duke or whoever. anyway goid video

[@boomerguy9935]

My first job as a teenager back in the 60's - after intensive jazz lessons from a professional drummer - was with a piano, violin and acoustic bass fiddle in a dinner club at a 5-star resort. (No pressure there!) When I auditioned, the leader/violinist said, "I can hear myself, you keep perfect time, you're hired." The drummer should PLAY the instrument and be a part of the whole unit. Out of all the gigs I've played, I still prefer the small venue at low volume.

[@Jayys_Karat3]

I'll keep this in mind as an up and comer.

[@stenduginski2306]

Man. Theres sooo many drummers I know who need to see this video. This needs way more views.

[@einsteinalexander7187]

I gonna say this is a fancy jazz drum channel, but it has been 3 years since you upload the last video, what a shame. Hope you can continue making video for jazz drummers, best wishes to you.

[@johnjamatia9188]

You are very good teacher. Very essential musical needs

[@learnjazzdrums4624]

Thanks fot the kind words!

[@thibodaux3424]

Hey great information! My teacher always said to never play the 1 in jazz. Play 1+ or the 4+ instead otherwise you sound too stiff and the music doesn't keep that momentum. Opposite to funk and Rock.

[@GeraldoMueller]

Perfekt! Thanks a lot!

[@osianjones3694]

What cymbals are you using?

[@filipkasprzyk9564]

This was awesome

[@mr.vinramos88]

great lessons dude

[@jazzdrum77]

Thank you very much for these ideas. 🙏

[@SifuEricKHermansen]

Thanks for the lessons well done!

[@jorymil]

I could see the louder comping working in a big band.

[@boomerguy9935]

Even in a big band playing swing, you have let the ride cymbal sing. It's still jazz. Check out Count Basie or Duke Ellington or Louis Armstrong. Also check out his video on "Playing Jazz Big Band Figures".

[@danroth7260]

I have the inverse problem for number 5: I’ve spent so much time playing jazz that I don’t crash enough when I’m playing rock

[@boomerguy9935]

Likewise. I got together with some old friends just for fun. They didn't graduate to jazz or light rock and still cranked up the volume on everything and then complained that they couldn't hear me. I didn't say anything. I just didn't do a repeat performance. Nice guys and I didn't want to hurt their feelings. They were still in the 60's in their minds.

[@bubinga_basher]

He's good 👍

[@terrydavis5915]

Basic and sooooo good

[@anichkov.zagrebin]

What's wrong with me? I prefer the opposite options in the section with dynamics

[@Strangeadio]

i like your recommendations but what about Art Blakey or Elvin Jones? both are everything you say that is not good for jazz, but they are very musical while comping a lot, using backbeat, crashing and loud bass & snare

[@treycross5618]

I don't want to speak for this guy but I think ultimately the reason they can do those things and we can't is because...well, we aren't them, and we aren't playing with John Coltrane! A lot of rules can be broken on certain levels of playing... the album Four and More rushes a lot but that isn't a license for us to rush just because Tony did! He was Tony!

[@stenduginski2306]

They certainly dont use too much of a backbeat, their crashing is in the context of comping accents (not a rock crash at the end of a fill) and the "loud" bass and snare arent every note- if you listen more closely, theres lots of quiet bass and snare notes with louder ones popping out for accents. They align with all of the guidelines this video has laid out. Most importantly, its the origin and evolution of their playing. They dont sound like rock drummers because thats not the lineage they come from.

[@terrydrums]

You could have made this video a lot easier by just showing a clip of Greyson Nekrutman. 😁

[@snakey8095]

🧢