I must prove him wrong!!!

Hello all,

I am playing drums for a friends VCE music performance (assessed school music subject) group and one of the songs that we are doing is 'spain' by return to forever (i believe?). This friend of mine who is also a drummer (and i guess you could say a bit of a rival because of this) recently said to my friend doing the music performance class that he felt sorry for him because i was playing drums on this song and i can't play latin. Now i know for a fact that he was only saying this because a) he wants to be playing for this group and is jealous i was chosen for this group, and b) he of course believes he can play latin styles better than i can. Now i can admit i've never been taught latin drumming and don't know much about it, but i also know for a fact that he isn't much of a latin drummer either (infact all he knows about latin drumming is that dave weckl plays some latin). Now as you can probably tell by this thread i'm not exactly happy with his comments about my playing (he's always been a bit up his ass about his playing and believed he is better than me, whereas i can at least admit that we both have our strengths and weaknesses in comparison.)

So the point of this thread is pretty much that i need to be able to play spain unbelievably awesomely! and maybe also just some latin beats that will piss him off when he hears me play them =P please help!

It's a Chick Corea tune, which he led Return to Forever. Dave Weckl has definitely played it a lot. Latin is one of those things you can't get great at over night, very much like swinging your limbs have to feel relaxed in the groove. Watch a bunch of youtube stuff.

This video is a helpful intro.

[YOUTUBE]FNyQEMlxSnY[/YOUTUBE]

i can image dave weckl had played it seeing as he has played with chick corea a lot, but i meant to say that he thinks that it would of been him on the recording, when it was airto moreira. Anyways i know its not something that can be learnt over night, i do have until the end of the year when the exam is. Thanks for your advice, and thanks for the vid, i had looked at this and was planning on learning this.

I have nothing pertaining to Latin drumming to add....but, no offense, you both sound like you're 12 years old. Having a rivalry with your friend just because you both play drums sounds pretty silly. If anything I'd think it should probably make you better friends. Just a thought.

yes, learn this exactly. It's the basic foundation. The ostinato with your bass and hats is the most important part, you have that solid and you can do almost anything over the top.

thanks heaps cearleywine, that should help a lot...

and yes i know it is childish lol, to be honest i actually don't have that much of a problem with him or go parading around claiming to be better. but after what he said for my own personal satisfaction i want to prove him wrong.

And other than this it has made us better friends, he just has a bit of a big head.

1.) Stop focusing on your friend's ability to play Latin music. It's YOUR ability that counts here.

2.) There are some great intro books and links out there for basic Latin patterns, and I'd be thinking you'll want to get VERY, very familiar with the feel and textures involved.

3.) Make it feel good. Don't worry about crowding what you do with accents and big hits -- Latin music makes people want to dance, not watch the drummer.

4.) Good luck! Sounds like you've got homework to do.

Go out and get Groove essentials play along.....big world section with MANY latin beats. You'll kick his ass in no time.

I love the bossa rhythm. Just thought I'd share . I play the {censored}e out of some bossas.

I have got groove essentials, but haven't really looked through it much yet so i will do. thanks for the help all.

It is certainly childish to have rivalries with other musicians but certain rivalries (as long as their friendly or unspoken) can be very positive things.

This one has certainly given you a very focused goal and has inspired (well maybe inspired isn't quite the right word) but I think you know what I mean. Sometimes it is very difficult to remain focused on a goal and then achieve it. I've got a feeling you'll achieve this one eventually and you'll be a better drummer when you do.

Thank you. Yes it is a little childish, however i had been over this 'rivalry' for a long time till i heard he was saying that stuff. But so far its motivating me heaps!

I've been learning the son clave and am going to try learn some variations soon. Then i'm going to learn some other latin beats and variations and hopefully buy a book on latin drum soon, i didn't realize how fun it can be.

And on top of that I've also begun to look for a new drum teacher.

By the way does anyone have a transcription of spain??

I'd hookup with a good teacher and have him help you with your all around playing as well as learning some latin grooves.

I'm trying to find a teacher at the moment except no1 lives close (although i am willing to travel) and its hard to find a good teacher who does weekdays.

hey tom

i used to get lessons bout a year n a bit ago at this place called "MR MUSIC"

the only real reason i stayed was cause i had an awesome teacher, but yeah it was pretty cool there

its opposite monash uni

i couldnt find the website but u mite be able to look it up in the yellow pages.

eneway theres an option but u mite not find the best teacher there like they may not not anything but then u mite get lucky

eneway goodluck

if u find a good teacher....could u let me no

cheers dude

Yes he has...but I gotta tell ya...the original way I heard Spain was in a Samba type feel...not hip jazz feel. And it flowed much better...

If you want to bone up on the latin feels and grooves, the perfect book for you is by Umberto Morales...it's called:

How to play Latin American Instruments...it's out of print but you can still find it...It has virtually every latin american style in it that you can imagine...check this out...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1576238318/ref=sib_dp_pop_toc/184-5763165-5269208?ie=UTF8&p=S006#reader-link

Wonderful book...

Hey man, yeah i saw an add for them and was thinking of it but i'm not to keen on it because you don't know who'll you'll get and i don't really like the idea of that type pf place, but i may check it out. I'm going to get in contact with this guy who comes to your house to teach, he has a pretty impressive resume and teaches what i'm interested in. I'll let you know how that goes.

But if your keen on getting lessons i've got a friend who teaches in beronia (i think thats where he said) and hes an amazing player.

hey dude yeah ill just wait for ur review of this guy

hope he is good

do u no the pricing for him yet?

goodluck man

hey man just realised ive got a card in my wallet called "Monstrous Music" is that the one ur talkin bout

otherwise theres another option for u

heres the details:

0408 564 248

9723 7759

hey tom

just wanted to see if u had found a teacher yet?

let me know how it went if u did

milo

Hey mate, i thought i had pm'd you about it??

Anyways i have and hes awesome! lol. pm me and i'll reply with his number.

you know what they say about rivalries?

"a little friendly competition never hurt anybody, but unfriendly competition hurts like a bitch!

fair point..this thread died a while ago now so no need for added advice lol..

I'm quite over it all, except he continues to bitch to my band mates saying that i "suck. can't play latin. and that he feels sorry for them having to play with me" but hes just jealous because they chose me over him.

But anyways i like to take him saying this things as further motivation for my playing development.

WTF, the bossa nova is almost the exact same as a bunch of samba rhythms I know.