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Has anyonr picked up his new book entitled "Brushworks"? I have been wanting to crack down on playing with brushes.I picked up a video copy of Clayton in clinic at PAS from '95.
My question is this.Is it more important to get down the hand motions(sweeping,circular motions)before I start worrying about RLRL etc...?
Mark:
If I may offer my observations on brushes, since that's the area I've made the largest strides in the past year, playing in an acoustic jazz ensemble:
First off, I LOVE playing with brushes. Talk about volume headroom! To play that softly with sticks can be near impossible. I find playing with brushes gives me alot of freedom in a soft, low volume situation.
I learned brushes by watching an awesome brush player that came to sit in on my gig. What I found is that the times when the music feels best is when my hand/arm motion is most in synch with the swing pulse, such that the swells/brush strokes are filling in alot of space, and are locked in with the bass player. I typically play a dotted eighth swing pattern with my right hand, while sweeping my left hand back and forth across the head, at an eighth-note tempo.
I've not seen Clayton's video, but I learned alot by watching the Jeff Hamilton videos on DrummerWorld website.
Also, I found that playing brushes works great for latin feels, since you can fill up so much more space with a comparatively small effort.
Great post Dave,
There really is nothing like going to see a good brush teacher/player to get brush chops down. There is just so many millions of sounds you can get out of a brush, it is truely inspiring!
I have Clayton's video, it is a little 80's (there is even a brush solo on an electric snare drum - whioch sounds terrible) but the volume of information ios undeniably there and Clayton is a true wizz...
Well worth the dough...
MP
I got Clayton's book and it's very good. It comes with a CD demonstrating some of the exercises.
I echo the importance of getting your stirring motion together. Practice making circles and ovals in clockwise and counterclockwise motions. Go for a smooth sound without any noticeable hesitations. Vary your pressure and brush angle to get used to some of the sounds available to you.
I just finished a feature article on Basic Brush Playing for Drum!. It's very basic and certainly not as detailed as CC's book, but it should help beginners.
Peace all,
Brad
Yeah Groove, but the clothes he has on look like he raided Elton John's closet. Like the fog machine affects and was waiting for the lazer show to start. But it is a good brush video.
Cool post BennyAndTheSkins.
Clearly the most ignored part of my playing. I'm embarrassed to share this, but I am child-like when it comes to brush playing. I guess I rarely play music that require brush work, but am still in awe of those who have mastered this art form.