Chad Smith

[isp_of_doom]

I've heard a lot about this guy, and after seeing his drum duel with Ian Paice I feel the need to start learning some Chilli's songs.

Anyone got any suggestions for a beginner intermediate advanced Chad Smith songs?
any album recommendations?

[beaker_747]

Best of RHCP would be a good start. Great album to play along to, no matter how experienced you are.

[RushHourSoul]

Definatly get Blood Sugar Sex Magik, that has tons of great songs to play along to. One Hot Minute is also a good one although its not as popular. You should get californication too and by the way. But if you have to get one album, get Blood Sugar Sex Magik.

Some good songs to download or whatever:
Walkabout
Around the World
Purple Stain
Funky Monks
My Lovely Man
The Greeting Song
Sir Psycho Sexy

Or yeah you could just get the Greatest Hits ^ but you miss a lot of great songs.

[beaker_747]

Yeah, Purple Stain in Hyde Park sounds badass:D

[Stubbsy]

Amazing, makes the drums fit every song perfectly. Listen ot any and every Chili Peppers songs you can get your hands on. There not necesarrily hard but they are AWESOME.

[statdat]

i think chad smith is a horrible drummer. even though for some songs he makes the drums sound creative, they get old really fast, like on otherside and this is the place. with a band with as much emotion as RCPH i think the drummer is really standard. i guess a song thatd be fun to learn would be around the world.

[Wizz]

No doubt he is a good drummer , but he doesn't really have the most interesting beats imo. I love his work though! Californication should be an easy to start

[spirit]

i think chad smith is a horrible drummer. even though for some songs he makes the drums sound creative, they get old really fast, like on otherside and this is the place. with a band with as much emotion as RCPH i think the drummer is really standard. i guess a song thatd be fun to learn would be around the world.

I don't think he's done anything truly hard since BSSM, but you laft hand has to be pretty good to keep up with his ghosting, for anyone that's seen hs video, you know what I'm talking about.

That aside, although some of his stuff isn't necessarily particularly challenging, you can't deny it always fits the song pretty much to a tee. Give It Away, By The Way, Californication - all the stuff he plays slots right in with the other instruments.

I don't really like what I've heard of One Hot Minute though. Pretty poor album in my view.

[Perroquet Magique]

I find that Blood Sugar Sex Magik (the album) is great to drum to, some easy and some hard songs and the drumming sounds much clearer than some of the newer albums.
Some easy songs:
I Could Have Lied
Give It Away
Funky Monks
Intermediate:
Breaking The Girl (Four limbs constantly)
If You Have To Ask
Suck My Kiss
Power Of Equality
My Lovely Man
Apache Rose Peacock
And Some Harder Ones (In my opinion):
Mellowship Slinky In B Major
The Greeting Song (A LOT of bass drum work)
They're Red Hot

Hope I helped :thumb:

[Loyton]

i think chad smith is a horrible drummer. even though for some songs he makes the drums sound creative, they get old really fast, like on otherside and this is the place. with a band with as much emotion as RCPH i think the drummer is really standard. i guess a song thatd be fun to learn would be around the world.

I would bet money you couldnt play his EASYIST song correctly. Not even close.

idiot.

[RushHourSoul]

Its hard to get the feel he puts in his playing anyway. Hes all about feel.. feel and funk.. ...and rock. One of my fav drummers.

[Merlin]

Where can i get a version of Chad's drum duel with Ian Paice?? cheers:thumb:

[Panopticon]

i think chad smith is a horrible drummer. even though for some songs he makes the drums sound creative, they get old really fast, like on otherside and this is the place. with a band with as much emotion as RCPH i think the drummer is really standard. i guess a song thatd be fun to learn would be around the world.
I guarantee if you picked ANY drummer to replace Chad smith, it would not sound NEARLY as good. Chad is basically what seperated the chili's from other bands. It's his seemingly simplistic beats with so much emotion, that it makes you wanna cry. all his little accents, and every little technical detail he puts into the song requires so much thought to even comprehend. It's amazing, HE'S amazing.

Oh yeah, to Perroquet Magique, They're red hot isnt a hard song, it's an IMPOSSIBLE song...he plays the entire song with his hands, i don't know how he thought that up...but it's great.
(member.php?u=200229)

[your_mum]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1234513755225657627&q=chad+smith

[RushHourSoul]

Flea makes me laugh though.. hes a really nice guy. But you can tell he doesn't know what he's playing. He even admitted he doesn't know any theory, and it shows, he still rocks though.

[Panopticon]

you don't need theory to have groove. Flea takes his inspiration from genre's all across the board from funk to punk (actually those are the main too) then he blended em, and made his own style, but it works...

[Panopticon]

as a side note, does anyone know where i could get Chad's DVD?...what's it called? Red Hot Rhythm? I haven't been able to find it at any music stores and i really wanna see it.

[isp_of_doom]

I found the vid on http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/chadsmithianpaicemd2005.html

[Jomofo]

Just curious, anyone know what hes using for a bass pedal?

[Ill Mitch]

RHCP's early stuff is the best. Freaky Styley, Uplift Mofo Party Plan, One Hot Minute and Blood Sugar Sex Magik.

[rockindrummer]

Breaking the girl is a really cool song. I would try that out.

[BetweenTheEchoes]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1234513755225657627&q=chad+smith

I've got that video downloaded. The bass is amazing, but the drums don't seem to be anything special. I don't see what all the fuss is about him.

If anyone would like to prove me wrong, send some tabs or videos or something.

BTW-The thing that most bothered me is watching him play, he looks like he's tense as hell and about to pop a ****ing vein in his head or something. It's funny how a lot of guys on here talk about playing relaxed and whore it out like it's part of God's master plan or something, yet still praise a guy when he plays like this.

[Panopticon]

I've got that video downloaded. The bass is amazing, but the drums don't seem to be anything special. I don't see what all the fuss is about him.

If anyone would like to prove me wrong, send some tabs or videos or something.

BTW-The thing that most bothered me is watching him play, he looks like he's tense as hell and about to pop a ****ing vein in his head or something. It's funny how a lot of guys on here talk about playing relaxed and whore it out like it's part of God's master plan or something, yet still praise a guy when he plays like this.

I've bolded the keyword here...look at the faces bozzio makes when he plays...just because he looks tense, doesn't mean he is tense...

Also, i would love to watch you play that exact thing that chad is playing note for note...if you can do that, your good, but not as good as him, he made it up off the top of his head (at least the beginning jam part)

:wave:

[BetweenTheEchoes]

I've bolded the keyword here...look at the faces bozzio makes when he plays...just because he looks tense, doesn't mean he is tense...

Also, i would love to watch you play that exact thing that chad is playing note for note...if you can do that, your good, but not as good as him, he made it up off the top of his head (at least the beginning jam part)

:wave:

Sure, at some point, I'll send you a sound clip of me and my bassist jamming.

Also, being able to play what someone else is playing note for note doesn't make you a good drummer, I'm pretty sure I could throw down some random *** beat that Chad would have a pretty hard time playing note for note just by listening to it.

I will admit though, his right foot is pretty nice. He gets props on that. But besides the right foot nothing special seems to be happening.

[Double Bass Jim]

Chad can lay it down.

He's a good player

[BetweenTheEchoes]

Chad can lay it down.

He's a good player

Hah hah. It seems that Jim has spoken, and I have thus been humbled. :lol:

[Double Bass Jim]

I mean he's no incredible player by any means but he can play, he's not horrible or subpar.

[beaker_747]

But besides the right foot nothing special seems to be happening.
Except for his amazing feel and groove.

[isp_of_doom]

yea.
and his speed and consitency between a multiple bounce roll and other drums/cymbals appears to me (who is the first to admit he cant play it that smooth) to be up on par with weckl.... from what i've seen, and i am also no weckl devotee/stalker.... just from what i've seen

[nzrocker]

That video on drummerworld of the duet with Ian Paice is so much fun to watch. I love the part when he does the cymbal chokes and hitting the front of the bass drum.

[isp_of_doom]

I love all of it... It's just genius... and very accessible.

[statdat]

I would bet money you couldnt play his EASYIST song correctly. Not even close.

idiot.

i bet you i could. universally speaking off the by the way album! maybe chad smith has emotion, but i think that he could do better.

[RushHourSoul]

Well its called playing what the song needs. Chad has sort of calmed down in his playing when he records albums now, which is cool. He just doesn't go as nuts as he did before just keeps it simple.

BTW, lets hear a recording of it then..

[statdat]

Well its called playing what the song needs. Chad has sort of calmed down in his playing when he records albums now, which is cool. He just doesn't go as nuts as he did before just keeps it simple.

BTW, lets hear a recording of it then..

ok, give me a few days and ill post in this thread or ill make a new.

[RushHourSoul]

Ok, i'll hold you to that. :)

[rockindrummer]

Me to, as I don't think you can play it note for note with the same feel that chad has in his playing.

[Panopticon]

i think this is what should happen...you have 5 days to do this...either, you can play note-for-note exactly what chad is playing in the beginning of that video all the way until naked in the rain starts...or...we could all pick a song and you have to play it note for note...

[statdat]

i think this is what should happen...you have 5 days to do this...either, you can play note-for-note exactly what chad is playing in the beginning of that video all the way until naked in the rain starts...or...we could all pick a song and you have to play it note for note...

thats a cool idea. i call universally speaking.

[Panopticon]

*enemy calls salute to kareem*

[isp_of_doom]

whos kareem...

[CombatWombat3]

The thing that separates Chad Smith from other players is his subtlety. When you really dig into his work, there are so many nuances,a dn eh realy gets grooving.

[isp_of_doom]

i'd like to see anyone play They're Red Hot

[fatcow2000]

trust me, if you got the dude alone in a room with just him and a drumset he would rip... reasons being, he's been playing for so long, everyday, professionally, and im sure he's had time to hone his skill.

hes a good player, im thinking about getting a snare of his, gotta try it out tomorrow.

[rockindrummer]

His snare is really nice. Someone here is selling theres on ebay, I forget who though.

[rohbit]

In that google vid, am I the only one who doesn't hear the "four" bass hits(which he talks about at the the end) in the fast version?

He's a funny guy and I like his playing... really groovy...

Some of you put way too much emphasis on chops and not enough on groove... I think the latter is equally if not more important.

[BetweenTheEchoes]

In that google vid, am I the only one who doesn't hear the "four" bass hits(which he talks about at the the end) in the fast version?

He's a funny guy and I like his playing... really groovy...

Some of you put way too much emphasis on chops and not enough on groove... I think the latter is equally if not more important.

It's all about the style you play. If it's the more extreme types of metal, chops are far more important. If it's...anything else, groove tends to matter more.

[Mellowship]

Just curious, anyone know what hes using for a bass pedal?


Pearl Eliminator, bought one not that long ago and its :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

i love it. interchangeable cams makes it even more diverse.


Chad Smith is a great drummer, probably my favorite. He mentions in many of his interviews that he doesn't play fancy because the songs dont require it. He plays for what the song needs, not what fancy fills and tricks he can add it (which he can definately add in). Complication doesn't always equal talent, Chad is a perfect example of this.

[Parradiddle Pete]

Yea, Chad uses a SINGLE elim with an old fasioned felt beater. I think that you have to hear chad live to hear his full potential. Especially on universally speaking and give it away (they have parts which one would expect to be played on double using his single) He has one fast foot. He's a nice guy
I think that all of his drumming is awesome, he is probably my biggest drumming influence

[Panopticon]

whos kareem...

I'm not too sure but i know it's a REALLY funky song with crazy bass and..well...everything...i'll upload it if i can...

[EdBanger]

I like playing to "Throw Away Your Televison" because of his cool tom beat that runs through it.

[EdBanger]

He was over here in England at Music Live at the birmingham NIA doing a clinic I wish I could've gone.
ahhhh...the dreams.

[ChrisD]

I like Chad Smith.BBSM had some cool grooves on it.The rest of the albums didn't match up drum wise I think.

[HeLLmO]

i finally just picked up the album BSSM, and wow. i've always liked chad smith, but now that i've picked up the CD, he just really blows my mind. it's all just so great. the drumming is amazing, and the song Sir Physco Sexy always makes me laugh. the groove on The Greeting Song is definatly one of my all time favorites, and Suck My Kiss just rocks. Power of the Equality is really fun too

[Brokensticks]

Chad Smith is the most fitting playing RHCP could ever have, he if definitely a great player that fits the music perfectly.

[dcasey71]

the little drum solo at the end of Purple Stain on the Live at Slane Castle DVD is my favorite thing to jam to, its awesome

[Brokensticks]

I love all the ghost notes in californications.

[fatcow2000]

i finally just picked up the album BSSM, and wow. i've always liked chad smith, but now that i've picked up the CD, he just really blows my mind. it's all just so great. the drumming is amazing, and the song Sir Physco Sexy always makes me laugh. the groove on The Greeting Song is definatly one of my all time favorites, and Suck My Kiss just rocks. Power of the Equality is really fun too

yea dude... i actually really like sir psycho sexy, and the other song after it... track 19... its soooooo new orleans, lol. i love it.:thumb:

im getting his snare for xmas.

[Loyton]

ok, give me a few days and ill post in this thread or ill make a new.

Its been a few days. Its ok, we know im right, you dont have to run away for me to prove it.

[Massik Kretal]

His snare is really nice. Someone here is selling theres on ebay, I forget who though.

Me.

Chad Smith is awesome. He is one of the best drummers that ever lived, he just doesnt show it.

[beaker_747]

Yea, Chad uses a SINGLE elim with an old fasioned felt beater.
He's using a DW 5000 in that video.

[davo_guitarman]

i think chad smith is a horrible drummer. even though for some songs he makes the drums sound creative, they get old really fast, like on otherside and this is the place. with a band with as much emotion as RCPH i think the drummer is really standard. i guess a song thatd be fun to learn would be around the world.
originality is the key here, and simplicity, this guy is a musical genius, have a look at ACDC or the ramones, they won people over the simplicity of their music..

the simplicity of music, makes it easier to listen to, the complexity of other pieces may not interest you as much as this, therefore winning people over, man you cant just pass judgement like that, i think that you would have the least experience here, chad smith is a very highly respected drummer, and his simplicity is the key, so have the guts to have a valid statement next time knob head

[Parradiddle Pete]

I think he used to use DW5000 pedals but im 90% sure he has switched bac to the Elims now

[HeLLmO]

^yea, i think he uses elims now, seeing as he is endorsed by pearl, but i am just assuming that since i know guys like Joey swithced to elims from IC's when he started using pearls

[HeLLmO]

yea dude... i actually really like sir psycho sexy, and the other song after it... track 19... its soooooo new orleans, lol. i love it.:thumb:

im getting his snare for xmas.


i'm pretty sure they're red hot is right after Sir Psycho, and that is an awsome song too, but i'm also gettin' into Apache Rose Peacock, his feel and groove in that song is just unbeliveable

[RushHourSoul]

I've always loved the funky groove from funky monks, infact the whole song has great drumming, wait, whole album. :P

[HeLLmO]

yea, it really does. btw, what snare does he use on the Blood Sugar Sex Magik album, is it his sig snare? or was BSSM before he had a sig snare?

[RushHourSoul]

I'm pretty sure it was before his sig snare.. I think he was using Gretsch at the time kit wise, not sure about the snare. Probably had a few to choose from anyway.

[HeLLmO]

yea, in the give it away vid it looks like it may even be a steel snare

[Vespa]

Chad Smith is an amazing player, he came into college a month back and was superb, played with a live band, and was just entertaining He played some new chilis stuff being released in 06 and 07 and it was amazing, very much like BSSM.

Brilliant brilliant player with feel coming out of his nose, he shouldnt be knocked in any way, because no one could do a better job than him for the chilis.

He "eats drums for breakfast",

["5150"]

I think he used to use DW5000 pedals but im 90% sure he has switched bac to the Elims now

I saw him at a clinic not long ago and he was using a DW5000 pedal then.

He "eats drums for breakfast"

I'm not sure about that, but he's a solid as hell drummer with some cool grooves.

It was more of a show than a clinic with a bit of drumming inbetween each joke and a few Deep Purple songs with the Deep Purple bass player (whose name escapes me at this moment). That was great an all, but this was supposed to be a drum clinic, not a Deep Purple jam and stand up comedy. What made it worse was the fact that there were loads of gromits who would have absoutely no interest in the clinic apart from seeing Chad Smith himself.

[Vespa]

Anothony Kiedis was told before Chad came to audition for the chilis that he "Ate drums for Breakfast".

:)

[Parradiddle Pete]

Yea :lol:^^^ Chad was told that if he wanted to be in the band he had to shave his head. He had the balls to show up with his hair still there and they let him in, later they found out he had a problem which meant that his hair wouldnt have grown back or something.

I think I like chad so much because he is such a great performer. Not many people perform 'socks on cocks' or dressed as a lightbulb, or even while wearing a flaming hat. Chad pulls off those things so well

[alexmonty12]

I like some of the funky beats that just go so well with the bass in Blood Sugar Sex Magik. And "They're Red Hot", what a track :lol:

[HeLLmO]

Yea :lol:^^^ Chad was told that if he wanted to be in the band he had to shave his head. He had the balls to show up with his hair still there and they let him in, later they found out he had a problem which meant that his hair wouldnt have grown back or something.

I think I like chad so much because he is such a great performer. Not many people perform 'socks on cocks' or dressed as a lightbulb, or even while wearing a flaming hat. Chad pulls off those things so well

yea, that lightbulb thing was amazing. the lightbulbs actually worked, so he couldn't head bang or anything like that, i would assume the same for the flaming hat

[Parradiddle Pete]

On the dvd that sabian released recently (the one with the vault and paragon stuff) there is some footage of him trying to light a stick in the flaming hat...Just causeI have the pics and for anybody who don't know what I'm on about:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b26/one_beat/chad68.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b26/one_beat/chad22.jpg

[HeLLmO]

hahaha, chad is the man

[Mellowship]

RHCP's early stuff is the best. Freaky Styley, Uplift Mofo Party Plan, One Hot Minute and Blood Sugar Sex Magik.


Chad isn't the drummer on freaky styley or uplift mofo party plan :D. both are Jack Irons, their former drummer who quit after thier former guitarist Hillel Slovak died. RHCP would be in a much different place now days if they hadn't have split at that point.

Chad is no doubt an amazing drummer. The reason he doesn't show it is because his whole philosophy is "play what the song needs, not what you think it deserves".

As for the 'new orleans' feel of "They're Red Hot", its a cover of a new orleans band so that probably explains why :D

[RushHourSoul]

I thought Robert Johnson did They're Red Hot originally.

[Parradiddle Pete]

I heard Eric clapton wrote it, or was that funky monks?

[RushHourSoul]

Eric Clapton covered a lot Robert Johnson's songs, like crossroads for example.

Ok I just looked in the booklet, it was written by R J, and all other tracks where written by RHCP.

[fatcow2000]

i think my parents got me his snare for xmas, i love the thing. cracks like a... cocaine binger?