How to Stop Overthinking and "Just Make Music" on Drums
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- čas přidán 19. 02. 2020
- 3 Videos in 3 Weeks - the8020drummer.com/youtube-low
Many of us have suffered from "gig anxiety" or "stage fright".
It's one thing in the practice room, but when we get in front of people, or we want to make a good impression, that's when the nerves happen and we get up in our heads.
But for some of us, it's tough to get out of our heads *even in the practice room*.
The was the case for me.
When I first started playing, ignorance was bliss. I'd bang gleefully along with my favorite records, never knowing that "I sucked", so I had no reason to be self-conscious.
Once I went to music school - heck, once I started playing in bands - I started to grasp the height and steepness of the mountain, and then I started getting in my head.
Sure, I was improving technically. But my playing became cerebral, and I was no longer having fun.
One big "elephant in the room" is the typical advice I give on this channel: I encourage people to drill down, and root out their weaknesses, rather than living in the illusion that they're good.
So how do I reconcile this with my admonition to find the "fun" in music?
A couple of ways.
First, it's about realizing that you'll go through "cycles". To reach a new plateau is going to require some pain and frustration, but once you "level up" you can enjoy playing again.
More subeltly, we can draw a "perimeter" around the shed. When we're in the shed, we focus on rooting out our weaknesses. When we're on the gig, or in real musical situations, we have to be equally committed to getting out of our heads and making music.
But how are we supposed to practice getting out of our heads when all the popular exercises are about technique, or coordination, or time?
Via the methods in this video, hopefully;) - Hudba
"Practice like you never won, play like you never lost" - Brian Frasier Moore
Great quote !
When I’m playing along to a record, I feel like I’m the best drummer in the world. That is until I record myself and watch the video. Then I seriously start thinking about switching to gardening.
You're assuming you'd be good at gardening...:P
Hahaha yes I know the feeling
Lol... I know the feeling.
@@8020drummer At least there are no illusions or self deception involved with gardening.
You're doing fine. I've been at the drums for 30 years. It's an on again, off again thing. You're doing much better than I was at this point.
I know this is a few years old, but I thank you for this video. I’ve always struggled with drums, and it helps to know that it’s okay to not be exactly like your favorite drummers and just have fun.
Meditation is the way to stop overthinking:)
7:00 "Another drummer who can play technically and cleanly when he wants to, but who isn't afraid to go for it in service of the music, is..." actually ZACH HILL
Necromancer
zach hill is one of the goats
Dude. You are my hero. 2 things I've noticed: one, I normally 'fuck up' when I try to think of some super specific combo to play, realize I havent played it into my muscle memory, and panic as the beat goes by, then berate myself for the mistake, the audience actually noticing the fuckup at beratement period. Two: unless you're making a really egregious error, the other Instruments will pretty much cover it up. Oh, and 3: the vast majority of listeners dont play drums. They will never hear the word pataflafla, much less know how to stick it. Go out, vibe up, and jam honest. You got it.
I surely miss the days when i would run home from school to play my three piece Stewarts for no apparent reason ,for hours,no overthinking,no self consciousness,no monetary gain,no pending gig,just an overwhelming desire to play,and an inexplicable love of, drums,and after over 25 years gigging and 40 plus years of playing,this is what i try to connect with now when i play,just drumming,for no apparent reason
Can relate, still have lots of fun playing, but nothing like that young having fun and playing just because you needed it.
I like a lot of these YT drum vids, but I HATE the music they show as examples of great drumming. Yeah, great drumming, but boring, over complicated jazz fusion is not my bag. Must be a music school thing. I'm self taught and I like dance music.
His negative thinking voice sounds like dream sequence Jim Carrey in the Cable Guy
Mike Mastropierro 🤣
Good change for a novice drummer I bought a drum set to have fun, not become famous, I will begin to include " just jamming " in my practice time. Thanks man
Nate, I've watched a bunch of your videos. I think making these videos looks like a kind of therapy for you, and hope it's helping. But sometimes a person can't find their way out of the woods without a guide. I think you would benefit from reading and following "Effortless Mastery" by Kenny Werner. When I was taking jazz at the New School, the instructor pulled me aside and told me to go read that book--and it changed me, and kept me in music, and made me a happier person, too. The CD has meditations that are part of the prescription. That book, plus playing a bunch of gigs when I sucked--because I was too new on my instrument to have any business performing--plus having extraordinarily patient bandmates and, incredibly, paying clients, cured me of stage fright forever. I am physically incapable of nerves in front of any audience, it's alien to me, but it took years for that to go away. As the late, great Bob Brookmeyer said to me when he heard me play jazz at a workshop--the only criticism he gave to me--"This is supposed to be fun." So you don't need to watch any more drummers having fun, Nate, you need to become one of them. As Kenny Werner has said, and I'm paraphrasing, if you're not enjoying this why do this. The world doesn't need any more (jazz) musicians, they multiply like coat hangers in your closet. Kenny also said, I don't want to play like Miles Davis, I want to feel like Miles Davis felt when he played. Life is short, my young friend. You don't need to "work on your flaws" you have done plenty of that, probably too much of that. You need to take the inner journey to discover why you are doing this at all. Discover that, and then you will become a better drummer. My unsolicited advice to you, offered in the spirit of support and love.
thank you for mentioning the book, I'll order it tonight.
Dude I didn’t even watch the video yet, but you are the greatest when it comes to these simplicity videos. You’ve helped me so much and have really helped me grow in my playing. Thank you for everything, you are truly the 80/20 drummer
I've been mirroring Billy Martin for this layed back, non-thinking style for some time. His instagram is an endless source of musical wisdom without the overly technical stuff. His work with MMW and John Scofield is nothing short of brilliant.
I personally think Dave King, Eric Harland and of course Brian Blade play with the most thrilling sense of freedom and expression of all the guys I like, good call. Their control and release of their energy is remarkable.
Man this is exactly what I needed. I've been struggling with being stuck in my head for so long. This helps a lot! I'm a guitar player by the way. Most of your videos are applicable to all musicians. Good stuff!
This strikes a home run for me. A couple of teachers have mentioned pretty much the same thing recently too. Many, MANY orchestral percussionists could do with seeing this!
This is such a good one, I might rewatch it a few more times
This has been something I've been struggling with for a few months now. Thank you so much for this video, I'm glad to know that my realisation that it's my own overthinking that's compromising my playing is not just me being crazy... and that it's something real that musicians struggle with.
Thank you for this, you're videos are exactly what I (and many others) need right now.
Keep em coming!
Those are some very interesting and useful thoughts, thanks for taking the time!
I love your humble approach to all of this. This is an exceptional channel, thanks for sharing your wisdom
The voices in your head part was priceless!
You dont even know how much this video has helped me.
Thanks Nate! Really appreciated this one (and every other one)
This is very important subject. One of your best videos for sure. Good work man.
Awesome vid, great advice! It's gotta be fun! 🤘
I needed to hear this. Not something a teacher will tell you often, but I'm a lot more self-critical than most drummers I know and needed to hear this.
Thanks for this. Been struggling with overthinking with my playing as of recent. And this was super helpful!
Thanks man. I really haven’t been having fun because I always feel guilty for “playing” but not “practicing”. I really appreciated your take on this.
Maybe (probably?) your best video so far. Good macro diagnostic and clear drills that ring so many bells to me. thanks
Thanks for this one Nate. It's one of my favourites videos that you've posted. I was recording a drum part today for something I've written, and these were exactly the principles that I was trying to employ in order to have fun and get the most natural performance out of myself.
Regards
Dave
Man this video is very essential, thank you for making it! Been working as a full time jazz musician in my scene (Cincinnati Ohio) and have experienced some pretty awful abuse through the years. I definitely need to live in this space of self-love on the drums way more. Also, I saw a video you did that had a friend of mine, Anthony (T) Lee, in it. He’s an absolute monster!
Thanks for the wonderful page
I was at a concert the other day and the drummer of one band just took the floor tom and handed it to the crowd to hold it while he eas playing on it. He played that floor tom like a tribe's hunter that just got home with enough good for the entire month. Even though he wasn't playing quite a bit off (which was mostly because of the people holding the tom) and you could even hear hearable backing track it did not matter at all since the experience from that spectacle (ah yeah, there was also water on the tom) was absolutely amazing.
I played along with records; went to a first lesson and was told "you'll have to unlearn everything"; didn't go to other lessons; played a little more with records; and then stopped altogether because I feel fated to develop tinnitus as one of my health complaints. so why am I watching this video? I guess part of me is still addicted to the sound of a kit. but the idea of recording oneself makes sense even to me. I did that a couple of times and the playback was...a revelation of incompetence :).
Hi Nate, great topic to cover. It's often the case that over thinking or thinking ahead of the moment your in can contribute to over conscious/analytical feelings creeping into your mind and ultimately messing up. I know I'm still guilty of doing this on some gigs. Love your point about playing loose too.
Important topic, thank you for your help !
Yup. I needed this
Dude this is exactly what I needed great advice what a eye opener thankyou so much
Thank you so much Nate, time to shed the mind.
Thank you for this, you crack me up! Very great advice for sure. What causes me to be off my mojo is shifts in room sound or my in ear mix. When you struggle to hear, that changes your confidence and the game.
Awesome video!
Just as helpful to a bass player as I'd assume it is to a drummer. When I play on my own I have no problems at all, I started playing as a free improvising player, i never played along to tapes i just played until i got sounds i liked, sometimes trying to write riffs, but sometimes truly just noodling and eventually landing somewhere. But when i write full songs and try to play them along with people, I tend to get a bit more in my head. From a vocal perspective too this can be a real issue, but 've found a great defense mechanism there, which is recording or jamming a session in just a totally muppet type of voice or a danzig impression or something, and to just really belt it but in this funny way, and i find sometimes before i'm even done with the song I feel very confident and good and i might nail the back half in a real voice. After that I'm usually pretty well warmed up to singing with company. Sometimes when i was real young we'd even free improvise a simple no chorus punk song and I'd sing non-sense, or we might cover some old punk song. Its all about freeing up that part of you that self criticizes, like you're saying. I think Ambient music, sorta washy slow stuff can be a real great warm up too. something where a little clutter can find its place among the waves.
Isn't it funny how we default to the wrong mindset in practice and performance, and both mindsets are directly opposite?
This video is definitely for me, i try a lot of instruments but I always come back to the drums, , this usually start as some kindergarten feel where I can hit the drums to a record and feel that this is so cool, that’s the right feeling, but then I start trying to learn the drums and all my happy feelings about just playing around on the kit is gone, I can’t improvise and have fun as the first time, wich is sad cause i dont play to be famous but to have a lot of fun making music
Man this is kinda the video i needed. Just moved to a new town and set up my kit again and just didn't feel as good on the kit, the rhythms just weren't working you know? Gonna give this a solid go tomorrow
Thank you Nate !!
the only thoughts I ever have while playing "i shouldn't forget to grab half and half tomorrow after work" or something. I always been saying, if you really own your talent, you'll play on-point in any setting and any gig. because when you own it, it becomes part of your body or part of your conscience. I know personally lots of musicians that may not play for a while, and then play a show with a minimum rehearsal and still on point, mainly because they are being transported into a different realm when they play, it's like getting high on sonic vibes :D
great episode as always, Nate!
didn't know I needed this, thanks!
Good video. I like the way Billy Martin just throws his sh*t out there during his solos and lets the chips...I mean sticks... fall where they may...
I'm gonna knock two birds with one stone and apply this method to the practice room. I found that when I practice with a metronome, as soon as I start thinking too hard I go off it. But whenever I'm just lost in FLOW state I can't even hear the metronome anymore. So this is a good method to apply to practice too.
Great video, thanks for the tips!!
So glad to see Moon Hooch getting the respect they deserve and not being just an example of overplaying or sloppy time! I think to do so is kinda missing the point-as anyone who’s seen em live will attest to!
Lmao
?
SO TRUE! I used to hear and worry about those things
This is really important!
Best video ever thank youuuu
Love this guy. Experience talk and bullshit walks
you hit it at the 12 minute mark. You deal with anxiety by realizing that nothing that you do in a band, unless you are playing a true solo gig, is done on your own. Even when you solo, even when you are playing a break and everyone drops up, the band is still up there with you. My best memories, and the reason why I still LOVE playing music, is because of the interplay between me and the other musicians on stage. Whether it's random people at a jam or playing in the house band--there's an unspoken community on the stage that's magic to be a part of. I'm sure I've sounded like shite most of the time I've played, but it's so much fun to play with other musicians--especially those that know how to listen and interact. According to my wife, I look like I'm possessed when I play--but that's part of the fun, right?!?
I needed this I think
While I definitely lol'd during 0:53 - 1:04, I can also highly, HIGHLY relate to that exact scenario and those exact thoughts. Especially in the middle of a gig and that can be an absolute nightmare for those that already struggle with mental health. It's a great feeling to be reminded that I'm completely alone in that and it was much needed. I'm sure others will feel the same.
needed this
Great video
Dave King is the shit!!!.... I get to see him with a lot of different projects. He is just a world class human.... his playing is always on point and he is just a very gracious and humble person.... Always a treat to see him. He never disappoints! And he is just as funny in real life as he was on Rational Funk
Damn, I just came up with a warming up excercise for painting focused on having fun and getting my creative juices flowing, getting me from "ugh... painting" to "Yay! Painting!" in 10 to 15 minutes and I was thinking "what can I come up with that does the same for my drumming practice?". Thanks for giving me the answer. Also, to anyone looking for "proper avatars", I found a young drummer named Junna on youtube who isn't a world leader in technique but has an infectious happy attitude while playing that I found extremely inspiring and something I want to work towards.
Love you man ! :)
Ironically, this is almost overthinking how to not overthink. This has given me reasons to overthink that I hadn't even thought of!
Eric looks so much like the late Guru man it's crazy. I think that every time I see him rip the kit. Great video as usual bro. There was a period of YEARS where I refused to really play out at all, whether it be a jam or gig, because I was so obsessed with the notion of not being where I wanted to be yet. When I got there, THEN I'd be ready to get out there again. But it's a moving target. I was thinking so much about how much better I could or should be that I wasn't even enjoying playing my instrument, not really. And the anxiety of gigging again just kept building and building
Exactly as you said moving target.. Or tomorrow..
I try to do the same thing for my band mates as well, if they make a mistake I laugh instead of scowling or saying anything, they know they made the mistake they don’t need me being a jerk and making them feel bad about it.
Thank you!
Great vid, ive been recording myself alot more it helps and definitely dissecting my playing...also before i play or practice sometimes ill jot down my thoughts/feelings it definitely helps also from a cerebral stand point...
What I've learned after 10 years of learning this instrument is you only get better if your only obsession is Music and not your ego. You have to kill 90% of your ego. As Greg Hutchinson said once in his masterclass : "I like to have a tiny amount of controlable ego". That's it, tiny ! If you have to play very simple stuff because of the style, the musicians, the context ... never hesitate and forget that you must be mind blowing. It's just a question of the right moment. You'll have it, eventually. :)
“Is that ok?” Ok that’s very real. That’s a more relatable situation on the kit
This is helpful for all instruments! I have this problem with both drums and cello
Nice man! Most people struggle to get started on one instrument, you have been blessed to be able to play tep
"David Cola is practising more than you."
I've literally had this exact same thought :P
the point at 12:15 is huge with me. despite only having played a handful of gigs with my band (happens if you're in a slowcore/90s alternative rock act from a 20k habitants town in northern italy) i always have the best of times on stage, and i really feel in my element despite being aware of my evident technical flaws. the dark side of this is that on one hand i feel i should get better but on the other i feel fine just coasting with the skills i currently have. it goes in waves though, some periods i feel like practicing more others i just wanna "play the music"
Practice so much that not giving a fuck still sounds good. Word.
Petition to only refer to The Great and Powerful Eric Harland as The Great and Powerful Eric Harland now and forever
I have played in front and sharing the stage with a lot of international acts, and I also do small gigs and I'm still nervous all the time.
awesome! red light training
Very good one, thanks! Certainly resonates with me as a guitar player turned drummer.
New found love, new found imposter syndrome. :D
Luckily I perform with experimental music at least a few times a year. That helps me be free, in a way.
Please, Please. I love your channel theme. Make that a full song, and Release it!
I started right in there, not thinking at all and making music. My fellow band members, all professionals but me, made it possible, because also them have started the same way, and at some point they learned their instruments "properly". Whatever that means. Today, I can fit into almost any band and can replace a drummer, never having played any of their songs and even never having heard one of them. All I need is the feeling, and I can guess what comes next, as long as the band let it happen. If a drummer is missing, they can give up and leave, or try. I help them to give it a try. They help me to guess better. We make music.
I record each gig I play. Sometimes I post it, sometimes I don’t. That’s not the point... I record myself to train myself to get out of my head. It’s to the point where I am numb to the idea of having a camera on me and it helps me get out of my head playing in front of people.
I love the bad plus, could you talk more about them and their music?
Hahaha dude that David cola comment nice. That’s so true. Him and Nicky bags cause me all kinds of stress
"... and THAT'S how you get the gig."
I like your brain!
Still from The Lives of Others! Great film. Also, interesting and helpful vid I think. Notably the one about posting shit on Instagram as a proxy for an audience.
All I've gotten from this is that being a good musician is literally, actually impossible.
Helpful life lesson that can be applied to any field of work. 50% technical knowledge/skills, 99% confidence.
That'a like...149 percent :P
@@8020drummer ;) I thought drummers could only count to 4? ;)
Hahaha your voices at 1 min : excellent :D
Nice! I get self conscious all the time wondering what my neighbors think. I hate it. Sometimes I think, "man I would be so awesome if no one else was alive." Anyway, I wonder how Max Holloway gets out of his head
I've never been so unsure of my playing as I have with the advent of social media and the internet in general.
Back in the 90's, I just learned and played...at my pace. No pressure. If it took me a year or longer to nail something down, so be it. I generally picked one thing at a time to work on. Now? Holy fuck! I'm overloaded with information. So much so that I often get frustrated and just walk away from the kit. A few days later, after my head has cleared, I can just play again. I get tired of being in "technical" mode constantly. I just wanna play and groove and learn at a more natural pace. I feel like nowadays, I have to be constantly engaged in and learning, practicing all these technical chops and licks. Seems like everyone wants to be or wants ME to be Thomas Lang or JoJo. That ain't me. Sheesh.
Thank you. Your videos are extremely helpful. Especially for amateurs like myself. I definitely find myself thinking too much. Sometimes a good fill doesn't come to me until it is too late, which throws everybody's timing off. In front of people, I just usually rely on my usual 4 or 5 fills that I am comfortable with. But when I go to the clubs and watch all of these awesome drummers do so many creative fills, it makes me want to add to the few decent ones that I already have. I don't have a drum teacher, so I have to try to learn from just watching. Could you do a video on doing fills while incorporating your kick drum? That is something I struggle with, but sounds and looks great when the pros do it. Thank you.
What kind of music do you play? I started out playing a lot of Soundgarden; pretty simple compared to jazz, but it got me into the habit of using the kick in fills at an early point in my playing, because Matt Cameron (who is an _excellent_ player) does that all the time.
@@ILikeWafflz mostly r&b and funk.
Can you link to the performance course? Can't find it on your site. Thanks Nate, enjoyed the vid.
Great video. I go back and forth. Try not to analyze while playing, but that sometimes leads to over analyzing. You train Jiu jitsu don't you? I've found so many analogies between the two. BJJ has definitely taken me out of my comfort zone (by having other so earnestly in my intimate zone) more than drumming ever has. It's really been helpful with my drumming. How's your experience with learning a new art layered over another one that you're really passionate aboit?
I get the issue where the first beat I play comes with criticism. Makes that drill kinda hard to do. Especially in a public practice room.
There is a great book about enjoying playing music: Zen guitar by Philip Toshio Sudo. It changed my life and that of many other musicians I know. Not specifically about guitar playing, by the way, though the title might suggest otherwise. I highly recommend reading it to anyone!!! (it is as concise as possible!)
thx for the tipp, sounds great!
If I ever had those thoughts in my head, I’d go insane.
@the8020drummer - on this note, would love to hear what you have to say about how to drum when really tired and when it totally takes you out of performing mode. I haven’t found much material online about how to overcome that shitty feeling in the immediate/short term in order to perform (performing in general, let alone for drumming)!
When I lose myself in the music... I get really really LOUD.
Thanks nate, this is also my story.. ever heard of the book ‘effortless mastery’ by Kenny werner?
AKA in pursuit of flow.