Create a well organiozed drum solo?

Question

How do I make a drum solo will enough variation to stay interesting? I am good at the drums, just I don't know how to put my skills together? Your help appreciated! =]

Answer 1

GREAT Question Peace, thanks for asking this. Listen, listen listen. Listen to everyone you can. Get a feel of how they solo first. Neil Pert, Peter Erskine, Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Dave Weckl, Gregg Bissonett, Gene Krupa, check out them all.



What you are really talking about is a skill called improvisation. Developing this skill takes many many years of practice, but the more you do it, the more comfortable you become, and you also get more proficient at it as well. Are you taking lessons? My suggestion is to get into lessons with a good, JAZZ drummer. A jazz drummer will make you much more versitile, and you will have better success.



Things to keep in mind as you develop your own style of solo. Never lose track of the tempo, always keep that tempo in mind. You can deviate a little once in a while, but don't lose track of it until you are really comfortable. Create your own "melodies" on the drums. This will help you keep the tempo as well. Lastly, make sure your solo has flow. It flows nicely from one pattern or idea, or set of ideas to the next. There are videos available that you can watch of the drummers above as well. Kevin Mahogany has a great set of educational videos geared toward the drum set player. I highly recommend you check those out at well. Maybe you can talk to your school band director and see if s/he has anything available to you as well. Most of us are willing to help anyone out. Good Luck!!

Answer 2

dont do the same beat over again Cuz then it sounds repetitive. if you have a large drum set then use at least 3/4 of it on the solo but dint focus on hitting a certain amount of hits, just focus on the sound of the solo. on a solo that is about a min, try to go really fast but on those longer solos you will get tired so try to go around the drum set (like from left to right). never lose confidence.



as for organization, if you are like in a band, then the ending should mix into the rest of the band playing. repetitiveness plays another part in this. my advise to you is to make it completely original so that it doesn't sound like any other solo. make it stand out.



how u put ur skills together is by using you strengths and not your weaknesses because in music, solos are looked highly on. if you can go really fast, then do a fast, short solo, if you arnt that fast, then do a slower, but longer solo. all it is is variation. just try to make a 20 second solo, and then 3 other 20 second solos and just put them together. each focusing on a different skill that you have. again, if your good and listen to me, your solo will be really good, but remember, DO NOT LOSE CONFIDENCE!!!!!

Answer 3

I delight in the occasional drum solo all carefully however i do in contrast to a drum solo on each song on an album yet i actually dig a great solid one via a great drummer like Danny Carey or Carl Palmer or Mike Portnoy on an album it has to extra healthful with the song however i don't like it whilst bands merely stick one in for shits and giggles

Answer 4

Great answers above. Learning is the key, never stop learning. Watch the greats on YouTube, learn and create new beats. You might find this interesting: http://www.rolzeystudios.com/top10tips_how_to_drum_solo_like_a_pro.html