Expanding Your Influences As a Drummer

It’s quite common for drummers to be heavily influenced by a single drummer. Most drummers I know have a major itch to start drumming from their love of one particular band. For example, I was heavily inspired to pick up drums after playing Metallica’s S&M on repeat.

While watching Metallica’s S&M DVD at the time, I was absolutely glued to what Metallica’s drummer (Lars Ulrich) was doing behind the kit. I know that his drumming certainly wasn’t the most technical, and in fact, it was quite inconsistent across many of their shows. Drummers often don’t like to admit that Lars Ulrich was their inspiration to pick up the sticks, as he gets quite a bit of criticism from the drumming community, but I’ll admit it!

Whatever the case, expanding your influences will only be beneficial to you and your playing in the long run.

At a Glance

• Reaching out of your comfort zone and listening to other genres (aside from your main one) will help you develop your own style and sound.
• Listening and learning from the greats is another way to open your horizons. Learn from the likes of John Bonham, Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, Neil Peart, and Buddy Rich.
• Even if you’re a rock drummer, try listening to jazz or Latin music. This can help you come up with new ways to play or things you haven’t even thought about incorporating.
• If you’re a metal drummer, try more subtle and mellow genres to learn different techniques. Remember, oftentimes less is more!
• Modifying your drum kit (expanding) will also help you explore new sounds. Try adding more cymbals, a double bass pedal, or a drum machine.
• Don’t be afraid to improvise. Set aside a few minutes per session for improv material and see where your creativity takes you.
• I highly recommend you record your practice sessions. This way, you can see which areas need improving and which new sounds and techniques/patterns stick well with your own style.

Be Inspired by Other Drummers and Genres

After picking up drums and following along with his drumming for quite a while, I realized that I really needed to expand my horizons quite a lot and start learning from other drummers and other songs.

While it’s totally cool to have one major influence as a drummer, you also really need to expand your influences and listen to other drummers as well, preferably outside the main genres you listen to. This will help you develop your own unique style and sound on the drums.

Who should you listen to? It is that’s totally up to you. You could start with our list of the best drummers to get some inspiration. Some of the most influential drummers in history are John Bonham, Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, Neil Peart, Buddy Rich, and many more. There are, of course, many other great drummers out there, and it’s really up to you to explore and find other drummers that suit your particular style.

Why You Need to Expand Your Influences

Following one particular drummer too closely can result in you sounding like a second-grade clone of that particular drummer. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as many drummers want to sound like their favorite drummer. However, it’s still important to find your own voice on the drums and not be afraid to experiment with other styles and sounds.

Listening to other genres of music can also help you come up with new and creative ideas for your own playing. If you are a rock drummer then listening to jazz or Latin music can help you come up with new ways to play.

Expanding your influences will help you become a more well-rounded drummer, and help you develop your own unique playing style. So get out there and start listening to other drummers, and don’t be afraid to experiment with other genres of music while you’re at it!

Try Different Techniques and Styles

Expanding your horizons is not just about listening to other drummers but also trying different techniques and styles that you normally would not do. If you’re glued to metal drumming that does not mean that you can’t listen to and try some softer genres like swing or blues. Subtlety goes a long way, even in metal music, at least subtle techniques that you can pick up.

We all know that metal drumming has its double bass and fills, but if you take a step back, you might just learn a thing or two. My personal favorite is a full pause. Many songs incorporate this, especially metalcore songs. Right before a massive drop, instead of trying to fill the hole, try a full pause on the snare to give way to a more massive jump in expectation.

One such example is “Gates Of Ivory” by Dayseeker. Right after the 4 bars of the intro, there’s a full pause before the verse jumps in, and it makes the whole song just propel further.

Modify Your Drum Kit

In addition to learning new things, expanding your drum kit will also open the door to new sounds. Try adding more cymbals like a splash or china, a drum machine for added versatility and electronic sounds, and a double bass pedal if you’re only using a single pedal.

Each new addition to your drum kit will only motivate you to experiment and try out new things. A drum machine can help you substitute your normal tom hits with some electronic samples, new cymbals with add more depth to your fills and overall presence, and a double bass pedal will add more depth.

Don’t Be Afraid to Improvise

A lot of beginner drummers are afraid to improvise, however, improvisation will only lead to new things which is what you want. Don’t feel down if you don’t exactly find the right groove or hit the perfect fill. Try out new things and experiment which will help you push the boundaries of your drumming knowledge.

Try different rhythms, tempos, and patterns to eventually find your own individual style of drumming. My advice is to set aside at least 15-20 minutes per session for improv material. Set up a metronome so you can learn to follow tempo and see where you’re inspiration takes you.

Record Your Practice Sessions

Whenever you get a chance, I advise you to record your practice sessions and watch them later on. This way you can learn from your mistakes or find out which new technique, rhythm, or even sound sticks well with you and your style.

Be objective and even a bit critical when it comes to judging your performance. Mistakes are what make us good and if you don’t make mistakes, you will never learn. Keep that in mind. Analyzing your playing will give you a new approach to drumming as well as point out what areas you need to improve.

Summary

Expanding your influences as a performer is not a bad thing. Opening the door to new techniques, artists, patterns, and more will only better your drumming in the long run. Don’t stay glued to one idea or one style of playing because you will only go in a circle. There are many ways to expand your influences like listening to other genres, learning and mastering different techniques, expanding your drum kit, improvising whenever possible, and more!