What made you a better drummer?

What specific thing did you learn on drums, that you would say made you from an OK drummer to a better than average drummer? Was it a song, or a technique... etc

learn the style of music u listen to then learn the complete opposite. and get sum dvds. like thomas lang "creative control" is my personal favourite. get into afro cuban rock and latin. thats stuff really groovin and it helped me alot.

Playing with a reggae band. Totally non-rock style, it really opened me up to polyrhythm and made my playing a lot looser.

Relaxing my grip. Listening to a lot of Jeff Porcaro and Steve Gadd.

I know it's a tired cliche but...learning what NOT to do helped me more than anything I've learned TO do. In other words, just learning to play what's best for the song.

What has helped me most?

Relaxing and playing softer.

Getting rid of all my crashes and just using one crash/ride.

Playing with a click, extensively.

What helped me most?

Over all, I would have to say it was developing my ear and learning to LISTEN to the others pieces I'm playing with.

-bruce

I always challenge myself to learn things that I am currently incapable of doing.

In my younger days, it was learning songs that were beyond my then ability to play. Trying as best I could to duplicate exactly even though I knew I was falling short.

It forced me into continually doing things to improve myself instead of doing things I was comfortable with and could already play.

When I eventually learned whatever challenge I set myself, looking back I could see a huge improvement.

Coming to the realization that in general, the audience would prefer to hear a deep groove with lots of feel over a lot of technical ability done with a mechanical feel. Sure, the musicians in the audience would prefer to hear a lot of chops and see a lot of flash, but the other 99% of the people there want to hear something that's going to get them 'moving' with the song.

Hence the popularity of Disco in it's day!

top 7 things that make me better at drumming

1. playing in a band

2. rexlaxing

3. always streching my capablities

4. getting a teacher

5. learning to play several different styles and more than just 4/4 timing

6. not playing over the top when not needed

7. practecing alot!

Getting lessons

Playing with a click

Practicing slowly instead of practicing at a tempo you struggle to keep up with

Being in a band.

But most of all, when I hear something, I immediately want to be able to do it, and I will practice it until I can do it.

I my drumming started picking up a lot more when I started learning Rush songs.

NEW DRUMSTICKS

THE ONES FROM THANKSGIVING HAVE SEEN BETTER DAYS:p

I try to play things that I can't play. And eventually with enough practice I can do it. But thats just me I'm a fast learner. I've only been playing for like 7 months maybe. But I'm pretty confident I can play anything I want to.(within reason not like freaking joey jordison or anything)

When I first heard recordings of my playing, about 15 years old. It made me learn how to not overplay my cymbals and keep better time, for sure.

PLAYING WITH A CLICK!!!

Having an amazing bass player in a band. It totaly forces you to pick up the slack...

I don't know if there's any one thing I've done on the drums that have made me a better player but I believe the following things have made me a better drummer and more valuable to a band...

1. Learning how to listen and what to listen for

2. Learning how to play well with any bass player

3. Developing good meter by practising with a click OR with loops

4. Maintaining your chops through regular practice

Experience, and being able to take constructive critisicm has contiuned to improve my skills, along side touring and playing differen genre's of music.

anyone and everyone can always improve, be humble, listen to what people have to say or suggest sometimes, you'd be suprised what you may pickup or learn from just that alone.

Practicing with a click is always a plus to !

Age & experience

Jesus and sobriety.

No, wait, that was someone else. God, I'm drunk.

I'm gonna have to go with having knowledge and experience with other instruments. Pretty much ties in with knowing what to play and what not to play, along with having big ears.

Agreed.

Teaching drum lessons. My playing has improved 100 fold.

1. Drum Tuning Bible.

2. This forum - and some others.

3. Playing all other instruments (mainly bass) in various bands with good drummers.

4. Writing songs.

5. Metronomes

6. Jimmy Chamberlin.

7. Jazz

8. As LowandLoudx97 said, being able to take constructive criticsm. Keeping quiet and listening rather than waiting for my turn to speak...

9. Two pencils and a notebook when I've forgotten my sticks and practice pad.

10. The number 10!

*practice*