Relaxation issues

[Mike Goes Numb]

I'm normally a really relaxed player but I've recently been noting some problems with my playing. I'm a pretty tall guy so in turn I have pretty lanky arms. If I'm ever playing an open roll or whatever on my snare for a while I can't seem to relax my arms as they feel too close to my body. Pulling my throne farther back does help in solving this issue, but then I feel too far away from my toms and cymbals and all that, as well as feeling less comfortable on my pedals. Anyone have any other suggestions that I may have not thought of? I've pushed my snare away from my body as much as physically possible with my kick/rack tom being nearby, but I just still can't seem to relax entirely.

[We_Love_Lime]

I missed you

[slim_jim147]

I had the same problem. You have to play with different kind of setup.
e.g. (if you have 2 rack an a floor tom) One up, 2 down. 2 up but on the left side, one down etc...

What is your kit?

[Mike Goes Numb]

Oops, I just realized this is in G&M.

I'm playing a traditional 4 piece. One rack tom set up off my cymbal stand and a floor tom.

[Surtr]

Here it goes man, best bit of advice as a Percussionist I've ever come across.

Go to your snare, and just do a plain ol' open roll and keep it going.

Now don't focus on your tightness, DON'T. Instead, keep all thoughts away from that and just observe your playing. In your head work out on a scale of 1-10 how tight your arms are, 1 being looooose and 10 being unreal tight. And just keep playing and never check back on your tightness just continue evaluating how it is. Or just watch your arms as you play and notice your tendons and how tight they are, but again DON'T try to adjust or focus on it.

You'll do it all by yourself. You'll slowly begin to become less and less tight. It can work for anything, for all your playing if you're focusing on not being tight, suddenly you've gone from 100% focused on the music, to 50% focussed on the music and 50% focussed on your tightness. Of course the percentages vary as you come in and out of that thought but you get the idea. So instead of focusing on doing specific things, observe specific things and just let it happen.

[OzzyTheDoggy]

Work the 40 on the snare. You just need to spend time doing snare work, various hand motions and so forth. It's just a time and consciously attempting to mentally understand the task at hand.

The above advice is great as well.

[Mike Goes Numb]

Thanks Surtr. So what you're saying is that it's somewhat a psychological thing. So just notice and observe that I'm tight, but not think about how it's affecting me?

[Surtr]

More or less just don't TRY to change it and fix it, because then you'll be tensing up trying to stop tensing up. Just observe and let your body relax itself. Because if you stop trying at something, its going to loosen up. And then from there you can still play and have it not sound like ****, but you can feel mildly outa' control so it takes a bit of getting used to.

Really I suggest you go out and check The Inner Game of Music (Or Tennis, and you can apply it all to Music). Its really helpful and a worthy investment. :thumb:

[Obelisk]

Thanks Surtr. So what you're saying is that it's somewhat a psychological thing. So just notice and observe that I'm tight, but not think about how it's affecting me?

Decent advice given for sure.

Mind over matter, really. I find myself doing this often - I'll be midway through a song and realize I'm feeling tense, simply being aware that I'm tensing up allows me to ease up.

[The Mites]

Check snare height too.

[Damo]

Perhaps a strange question, but have you thought about your shoulders? Many people dont let their shoulders relax, instead keeping them 'lifted' or 'hunched' slightly when they play. It could be contributing to the problems youre having.

[The Mites]

Shoulders are the first thing I thought of. A lot of the time, it's only one shoulder as well.

[Mike Goes Numb]

Next time I hop on the set I will have to note all these things. I've been busy with classwork unfortunately recently. I will see how my shoulders feel next time I do play though.

[Aaron]

Seat height?
Snare height?
Snare tilt?
Tom height?
Tom tilt?

Take us a picture then we can help more.

[Surtr]

Another trick I've got is actually amazingly effective.

Get something to record your playing, play once just normally. Then go and play the same song but with all your imaginiation power, pretend you're one of your favourite drummers playing a gig in front of a **** load of people.

Go back and listen to each one, and you'll notice in the second you're a lot more relaxed and you'll be able to play somewhat better.

:thumb:

[pathlessvman]

thats good info!!!