I’m completely new to finger drumming. I recently got myself a midi keyboard controller, downloaded Melodics, and the plan was to try and learn some piano while stuck at home during Lockdown. I’m 41 and I don’t play any musical instruments. Anyways, so through Melodics I discover this thing called “finger drumming” and this lead me to Rob’s videos YouTube. It just looked like so much fun.
In six months I want to be still having as much fun as I’m having right now. I currently suck, but I suck decidedly less so than a week ago, which is nice. Also, I’d like to be able to play for longer periods, and I would hope that my rhythm and timing will become more consistent because at the moment my inclination is to speed up for no good reason.
As a complete newbie, in 6 months I would like to be good enough to play my drums into the backing tracks that I produce rather than putting it all in with a mouse. Whereas the mouse works and its in time, I then have to add effects to humanize everything. It would be good to play it in and play it in the correct style for the music. Some of my mouse entries I think would be quite difficult for a single drummer to achieve unless they were ‘Edward Scisser Hands’!
Haha, I can share with you that the combination of finger drumming and having drum programming experience is a very powerful one! I still use both to this day. Depends on what I need and how fast the turnaround of a project is.
You will realize that you have so much more freedom and space for creativity with the drumpads! Even if your timing is a little bit off, you can experiment with variations just by “feel”. And there is no shame in some quantization, we are still beginners.
A small tip: recording the instruments (hihat, snares, kick, ride, etc.) separately helps. Still better then just clicking the mouse (I don’t do this too much anymore, but did it a lot in the beginning). At least for me.
Thanks for the tip, its actually very interesting you say record them separately. I picked up, probably from YouTube, a tip to have them on separate tracks so that you can add different effects and separate the sends to shape the sounds. Then I’m watching an Ableton Certified Trainer, putting them all on one track, but I now have learned that you can still put different effects on them (didn’t know that before). Great tip. Just need my pads so that I can get started on learning, can’t wait.
Depends on the style of course, but usually one track per drumkit is enough if you’re using a generator (like addictive drums 2), as the notes are in midi anyways. Recording them separately to one track is no problem (“blend recording” in fl studio). Having separate tracks usually used when the different parts of the drumkit are in wav files. Or as you said, if somebody wants total control over the instruments.
Good luck!
I stopped trying to be fast. I’ve spent a fair amount of time playing slow - very slow. Trying to improve my inner clock. And its working to point. Playing 1/4s, 1/8ths, 1/8th triplets and 1/16ths using Robs time and again lessons I’m reasonably consistent. Switching between them at will not so much I tend to get a small hiccup whilst I transition to the new pattern. I’m enjoying the funk course.
So they goal for the next 6 months ? I want to be more groovy. As this is actually what I like listening to
Very wise decision! Groove is everything and will make everything you do sound better. A lot of the time all a song needs is a very simple groove, but that groove has to be played well! (and by well I mean groovy)… we all know the Billy Jean example
oof, my goals did not age well lmao. Haven’t been practicing at all, BUT, I’m about to get back on the horse. I have been enjoying my time with the MPC One though. Several interesting tracks have come out of it. Now I really want to focus in and get proficient with one of three instruments I’m trying to dabble in. Over the last decade or so I’ve bounce between guitar and learning keyboard, but I think the drum pads may be where it’s at.
@QuentinB, you and me both. The day job has been getting in the way of having fun. I’ve also got to get back on it and start practicing again. The fingers are a bit rusty now, probably left them out in the rain too long. Good luck.
Go for it guys! I’m planning on going on a fresh streak myself. By playing every morning and also cranking out regular Youtube vids again. Gotta finish that website first though…
@Robert_Mathijs Looking forward to whatever additions you make, love the content you’ve created thus far. I’ve gotta play around with my mpc sensitivity settings to see if I can make playing a we bit more enjoyable. @ivanclarke Good luck to you as well bud!
Also, I’d like to be able to play for longer periods, and I would hope that my rhythm and timing will become more consistent because at the moment my inclination is to speed up for no good reason.
