Am I stiff or intense?

I am not sure I understand the question...Are you bitting down on your teeth?! Or did you mean to write "beating"? Please clarify this.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 04, 2005 01:14 AM: Message edited by: Suspiria ]</font>

Being aware of the problem is the first step. Now just try and breathe and relax while you play. See if you can get the band to rehearse some tunes at a slower tempo to see what happens.

It may just be a matter of practicing or time behind the kit. The more one practices anything the more second nature it becomes {the less brain power it takes to do it). The less brain power it takes, the more you can relax.

There is a 3 part drum lesson on www.tigerbill.com called "Building Monster Chops" that you should read. (See here: http://www.tigerbill.com/subjects/drumlessons.htm. scroll down for the 3 lessons). It involves the "Gladstone Method" which, simply put, is a method for maximizing the natural rebound of the stick by being totally tension free. There is no upstroke, only downstrokes. It is analogous to bouncing a ball. You throw the stick down and keep your hand wrist and arm so tension free that it bounces up naturally. This is the method that most of the WFD drummers employ and I highly recommend it. In addition to that, you should look into the "Moeller method" which involves using the entire arm to whip the stick into the drum head on the downstroke for an accented note, and then get one or more additional strokes on the upstroke. The Jim Chapin video "Speed, Power, Control, Endurance" is about the Moeller method.

These two methods are essential for anyone who wants to maximize their technique. JMHO. And they dovetale perfectly with each other. Among their common attributes are tension free playing and that there is no upstroke with the wrist on either method, only downstrokes. The upstroke with the Moeller method is with the arm (elbow) not wrist.

One last thing. The Gladstone method is much easier to master and really should be learned before you try to tackle the Moeller method which will take some time. But, it's time well spent.

Check these out. Good luck.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 04, 2005 08:03 AM: Message edited by: Henry II ]</font>

Hey guys,

I realized that I was bitting down really hard when I am playing. It was like I was bitting into a year-old piece of beef jerky. I realized that I am doing this when doing a roll or when it is the chorus of the song.

I think I am being too stiff and therefore bitting down so hard, but what can I do to relax more so I won't be so "stiff" when playing?

Thanks for responding guys. Suspiria let me clarify, I bite down on my teeth. It's like I am grinding my teeth. The funny thing is the rolls I am playing are not out of the ordinary rolls. It's stuff I normally do. I guess like Steve said I should practice more.

Thanks for responding guys. Suspiria let me clarify, I bite down on my teeth. It's like I am grinding my teeth. The funny thing is the rolls I am playing are not out of the ordinary rolls. It's stuff I normally do. I guess like Steve said I should practice more.