Motivic Drum Soloing

[Hunted By a Freak]

...

[billdrum]

You're on a roll tonite, Cam. The development of a musical idea is a basic component of musical composition, and thus lends itself well to the development of a drum solo. Thats exactly how I work with my students toward solo development......take a basic rhythmic idea and develop it. You have to be careful to not get too repetitive with it. I always encourage the use of at least two ideas, so that you have something for contrast.

[Hunted By a Freak]

Any thoughts on the video, Bill?

[billdrum]

Yeah....sorry, hadn't watched at first. You're very musical.....nice use of dynamics and feel, push and pull with tempo, etc. Liked it!

[Undisco Kidd]

Great video and ideas, although I thought the hihats were a little too crashy. Maybe close them about 1/2 a CM more to make it a little quicker. I really liked the use of the cymbals, although some choking and stuff would have spiced it up. Much more entertaining than the standard 'Here I am playing a beat. Now I am going to fill for 3 bars and DUBBLEEEE BASSSSSSS, now back to a beat' solos.

[Hunted By a Freak]

Thanks, guys

some ideas I have been playing around with have been applying standard composition variation practices to drum solos... these include:

1. Repetition (needs no explanation)
2. Sequence (moving a melody diatonically or intervallically... could be just taking a motif on the drum set and changing what pitch toms you play it on, or similar orchestration changes)
3. Inversion (changing the phrase on the 'x-axis')
4. Retrograde (backwards)
5. Retrograde Inversion (backward inversion)
6. Rhythmic Expansion (changing the note values to make a motif longer, i.e. changing 8ths to quarters or dotted quarters)
7. Rhythmic Contraction (making the motif have shorter note values)
8. Intervalic Expansion (could be applied to drums by keeping the base note of a phrase or motif and changing how high it goes intervallically on the toms)
9. Intervalic Contraction (opposite of above)

[Josiah]

Cam, studied Max Roach's - 'The Drum Also Waltzes'?


The irony of this disccusion, not to make more or less light of it. Is it's absurdity when speaking with a melodic soloist, such as a horn player, or even guitar/pianist player. To musicians the idea of 'motivic' soloing, is automatically implied in most melodic soloing.


A good solo. However, such things would be seen better in musical context. Such a light touch you have Cam!! Reminds me of weckl

[Hunted By a Freak]

Yeah, I studied a transcription of that solo about a year ago, he was one of the first guys I got into when I started studying jazz drumming about 5 or 6 years ago

[Josiah]

Great, have you studied that solo? It's really a great example of what you are discovering for yourself now.

[Hunted By a Freak]

Yeah, for sure. I have been aware of the concept for quite a while, I guess the point of this thread was to put it into practice more, and advance it rather than me discovering it. Max of course was a pioneer of this, but tons of drummers have used it. Joe Morello really started stretching the phrasing a lot, and guys like Bill Stewart are using all sorts of superimposed odd note phrases and polyrthmic ideas in musical ways.

[some jive turkey]

Hmmmmmmmmm

were those "blushdas" I heard around 42 seconds into it?

[Hunted By a Freak]

Yup, I feel they were somewhat justified, though, given the subdivision my motif was in; they are just a variation on that. ;)

[Josiah]

Indeed...hmmm...


The irony of this disccusion, not to make more or less light of it. Is it's absurdity when speaking with a melodic soloist, such as a horn player, or even guitar/pianist player. To musicians the idea of 'motivic' soloing, is automatically implied in most melodic soloing.


EG: Learn to play, or learn the stylings of melodic instruments/solos.

[Hunted By a Freak]

I'd like to hear anyone else's ideas... doesn't seem like other people post much audio or put themselves out there that much :-/

[DrummingBen]

More videos please:)

[Hunted By a Freak]

Alright, I'll try to get something up soon.

[Iron Caterpillar]

I'd like to hear anyone else's ideas... doesn't seem like other people post much audio or put themselves out there that much :-/

I'll definitally whip out recordings up the wazzoo when I get my microphones. Should have some by the end of the week.

[Hunted By a Freak]

cool

who are you? :confused:

[Iron Caterpillar]

Seafroggys :thumb:

[MyShrimpDied]

Once I have the money for an M-Box or my friend lets me borrow his, I'll put some stuff up.

[some jive turkey]

Yup, I feel they were somewhat justified, though, given the subdivision my motif was in; they are just a variation on that. ;)


you neg repped me with an insult for making a comment about blushdas? :lol:

It wasn't like a judgemental statement or anything,...I think you misinterpreted. I happen to like blushdas. Get the sand out of your clit.

[poopoogaypoonn]

That has been one of my favorite solos Ive heard from you Cam. And the differnet dynamic ranges were spot on tbh. And alot of diff. ideas being played.


P.S- Your "skills" as a concert percussionist really shine in this vid. Good Job

[Hunted By a Freak]

Thanks man! :)

[Det_Nosnip]

Honestly, that was easily one of the better solos that has been put up here. Great stuff! I can definetly hear some of your orchestral background in the arrangements+sequence, and you really fleshed out those ideas well.

[Stickman Sam]

Yep, fair play, I enjoyed that solo quite a bit.

I use a fair bit of intervalic contraction/expansion and sequences when I solo over an ostinato. Works well alternated/synchronised with metric modulations.

~~

[Det_Nosnip]

I like to hit the drums. :p

[Hunted By a Freak]

http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/jefftainwattssolo.html

pretty sweet motif he starts out with and develops

[MyShrimpDied]

That was sick.

His facial expressions/mannerisms are priceless, completely zoned out.