I want to get that smooth Vinnie sound

[cjbdrm]

I believe you're talking about 'touch' and 'feel' on the drumset.

Here's my suggestion:

Play the first page of Stick Control.

Play each exercise for at least 45 minutes. This is most easily done by playing along to a favorite CD. Tempos should vary from slow to medium to fast. Music should be as metronomic as possible.

Keep switching playing surfaces while playing each exercise. Snare...hi-hat, floor tom, ride, etc. This will make you adjust your technique to the playing surface(and keep you from getting bored).

Play kick drum on 1/4 notes.

The results will amaze you.

This will improve your time, technique, and 'touch' on the drums.

Good Luck!

[Jean-Paul]

Maybe a stupid question, but is somebody practicing with a mirror next to him / her, like Steve Smith does? Does it really helps, as also keeping your head straight? But hey how can you look into the mirror that way? [img]graemlins/thinking.gif[/img]

[troutbrooke]

Originally posted by AnnD:
...try to meet Mr Colaiuta. Mr Colaiuta is a wonderful wonderful gentleman. Mr Collins and Mr Starky are also wonderful English gentleman. These wonderful percussive gentlemen can help your poor percussive performances.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">A. How is he supposed to 'meet' these guys?
B. What will this meeting do to help his drumming skills?

[frankw]

Francis? Who is this posting Queen Elizabeth or a English friggin school marm. what is meeting Vinnie going to do? hello how are ya and gone probably. is Starky and Collins Phil and Ringo or what?

[Avi_drums]

My dear wonderful sweet Mr Francis W.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What a wacko! Lay off the crack pipe there buddy!

[DeSeipel]

Here's my two cents:

Vinnie studied with Gary Chaffee and Alan Dawson, to name a few, so Does it not make sense to get their books?

I have all but one of the Chaffee books and if you ask me, it's the "Dead Sea Scrolls" of Vinnie's technique.

I part of Alan Dawson's book and believe me, it's no walk in the park.

I'm surprised no one here has mentioned singing while playing. Many of the greats sing the song as they play it. This is also touched on in Gary Chester's book, The New Breed, which Weckl studied from. If you can sing a bass line or the melody to a tune and groove underneath it, you're at what I'd call level 3.

[Tom Hipskind]

Frank,

I'm having a hard time understanding exactly what you're getting at--if it's a general "feel" or "smoothness" thing or a more specific technical idea on the drums. But, if I may put my 2 cents in, it seems to me that what you're trying to achieve can really only come through experience. You simply need slow, focused repetition to gain greater comfortability on the instrument (and ultimately, in the music).

You need to improve your musicianship basically three ways: personal practice, listening to recordings, and playing with other people. Sufficient work in all three areas will vastly improve your musicianship, and THAT is where your sound comes from.

Some more specific exercises I'd recommend to improve your facility would certainly be all of the rudiments, to start with, and also G.L. Stone's "Stick Control". Just give yourself slow, steady repetition and your facility will improve over time. There's no secret; you just have to keep working at it. For some more ideas, check out my website and click on "Practice Ideas".

Best of luck!
-Tom