After having discussed ‘Why Versatility is Important‘, the next step is to analyze what it means for a contemporary drummer to play a style of music in a convincing and credible way.
Whether we prefer to specialize in a single style and make it our form of expression, or we believe it’s essential to have variety in the things we are able to play, there is an important consideration to be made.
In order to play a style with authenticity, consistency, and balance between tradition and innovation, it’s necessary to devote oneself to that genre of music for a long time.
Even possibly experiencing it in the place where such way of playing was born and developed, to fully understand not only the timing, phrasing, and dynamics involved, but also the sensations associated with that world.
In fact, it’s not just about playing specific rhythms: there is a whole philosophy of life behind every way of understanding music.
Whether we realize it or not we are programmed by the culture around us, and as a consequence the most direct way to learn a genre would be to absorb that music and that approach to playing directly on site, immersing ourselves for a period of time in all aspects of that environment.
Fortunately, although for most of us this is not feasible, there is the alternative of diving into the virtual versions of what we cannot directly experience first-hand.
Let’s say we want to learn to play Jazz. We definitely need a good deal of Ride cymbal independence and the ability to phrase fluently, but even before that we need a precise understanding of how the swing pulse is conceived, what’s the appropriate sound for the context, who are the top past and contemporary drummers and what is the culture underlying that way of making music.
Authenticity is not achieved by studying note-for-note transcriptions from a book. Of course it’s part of the necessary background, but the essence of what it takes to play a music genre can’t be found there.
The reason is that there is an important distinction between the what and the how. And if we want to play a style authentically, we cannot stop at the what (rhythms and fills), but we must also figure out and internalize the how (feel, mood, culture).
To this end, it would be perfect to have a mentor, someone who has already walked the same path, an expert guide with whom to listen and understand the masterpieces and geniuses of different eras (past and present), someone who can recommend the right records, the concerts to see, the books to read.
Then we should ideally surround ourselves with musicians, possibly passionate and experienced, with whom to play the genre in question, experiment and test, until we feel perfectly comfortable with it.
In the absence of even these means, the most valid and easily practicable alternative lies in records. Great records are snapshots of a perfect moment, a synthesis that contains everything it takes to learn how to make music.
Listening to the masterpieces until they are worn out, playing along with them, studying the songs, delving into each nuance, trying to copy the ideas, the grooves, the sound, and then processing everything according to our own sensibility, is an infallible way of internalizing any musical genre.
Records, in the absence of in person guidance, or the chance to experience a certain culture directly, can be our best teacher.
We just have to respect them by giving them the time they deserve rather than distracted listenings.
It’s clear how much investigation, in-depth analysis, and prolonged immersion in the entire universe of those who live and breathe a musical style is necessary.
As if that wasn’t enough, the same thing must then be repeated for any musical genre one wishes to internalize.
This is definitely a very long journey, which can take years. But as always, being devoted to music, drums and the art of playing an instrument can be compared to a mission.
The authenticity of a style also passes, as mentioned before, through its sound. Getting the typical sound of a certain genre depends on a combination of instrumentation, tuning, and musical approach, which, besides being nourished by listening to the classics, requires large doses of experimentation, to develop one’s voice while capturing the authentic nature of the genre played.
Another additional component concerns how to develop one’s own personality within a genre, which once we have studied a lot is not only possible but also desirable, to create our own approach to playing a certain style.
As a matter of fact, authenticity can be conceived both in terms of playing a style properly and also in the sense of incorporating one’s uniqueness and character into that style.
After understanding the language, the flavors, the structures and forms, and the technical aspects to achieve mastery and perform everything in an authentic way, taking things to the next level involves integrating what has been learned and transcending it, by letting it emerge in one’s own personal way of playing.
The more we know, the more we can transcend, and even innovate.
To do this, all it takes is to combine a good amount of instinct, sensitivity and even courage, so as to dare taking new paths, saying different things and taking risks.
Over time, by recognizing, filtering and separating what works from what is less convincing or receives negative feedback, we will develop our own solutions that will consolidate and emerge as our trademark.
Related resources:
‘Essential Styles – Expanding Your Versatility On The Drums’
Improvisation – 1 Minute Drum Solos in 11 Different Styles
Why Versatility is Important
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