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| Image Credit: pixabay.com |
May be a little less focused than the lead, but a drummer certainly is one of the most important pieces of the band. While the lead and vocalist are always the centre of attention, and no doubt the most recognisable when you think of a particular musical group, the drummer takes a back seat and quietly (or not so quietly) holds everything together.
But this role is usually more difficult than it seems and crucial in just about any music genre. Drumming is classed into a number of different styles, and the way the drums are played depends greatly on the genre of music that is being played. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular styles and why it’s beneficial to be fluent in all of them.
Jazz Drumming
Playing drums in a jazz band takes arguably the most skill of any drumming style out there. It is characterised by the tendency of the drummer to mix up the beat and almost play off the beat in some respects, all the while keeping the rhythm and holding it all together. Swing-time and complex arrangements make jazz drumming one of the toughest drumming gigs going around.
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R&B Drumming
R&B and even funk drumming is much more relaxed and slower than other styles, with the main focus of the drumming being to keep the rhythm and groove. R&B is focused less on the fast paced, head banging style of modern genre, more on the music and the groove itself. Chris Columbo, Bernard Purdie, Nat Kendrick, Al Jackson Jr., Roger Hawkins, Earl Palmer, if one listens to these greats from the soul era, he will clearly see the difference between R&B and other drumming styles. This style has arguably the least variety of any of the others and can be frustrating at times for drummers who used to play rock or jazz, mainly due to the slower pace and decreased difficulty.
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| Image Credit: www.drummerworld.com |
Rock Drumming
The influence of rock n’ roll is enormous and has genres of music within itself, so you can imagine that there are also a wide variety of drumming styles under this umbrella term. By and large, rock and punk employ a more aggressive, louder style with the drummer keeping the rhythm and adding in fills between beats. Heavy metal turns this up a notch and along with heavy guitar the drums are important characteristics of the genre.
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| Image Credit: www.drummerworld.com |
Latin Drumming
Latin music is heavy on percussion and is known for utilising additional instruments to the conventional drum kit. Listen to this genre of music and you’re likely to hear everything from claves and bongo drums to cowbells and just about everything in between. In terms of the style, it borrows a lot from those already mentioned with energetic, complicated rhythms, meaning a talented drummer is generally required.
Like with all instruments, it’s a sign of true skill if you’re able to turn your hand to any drumming playing style. Practiing as many as possible will develop more skills on your part, so keep that in mind if you’re currently getting into the drums! Also, if you need a new drum kit, check out Drummers Paradise’s amazing range of drum kits online today or pop into our Richmond store.
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