Carter Anthony Beauford (born November 2, 1958, in Charlottesville, Virginia) is a drummer, percussionist, and founding member of Dave Matthews Band. He is known for his ability to mix together countless percussion styles, his ambidextrous approach to playing, and is highly-regarded for his open hand drumming style, where his left hand leads on the hi-hat and ride cymbal in a conventional right-handed drumset set-up. He plays the drums and sings backing vocals in the band. Beauford is ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as the fifteenth greatest drummer of all time.
Beauford was first exposed to drumming at the age of three. At the time, his father had bought tickets to a Buddy Rich concert and could not find someone to watch his son, so he took young Beauford along to the show. Beauford was mesmerized by Buddy Rich on stage. After that show, Beauford's father bought his son a tin drum set with paper heads, since Beauford showed so much interest in learning the instrument. Beauford began performing professionally when he was nine.
Thursday, 29 April 2010
The Importance of the Drummer
Because of the fact that the drummer is the backbone of most bands other musicians rely very heavily on him or her to provide a strong beat that will keep a song together. A drummer who is off beat, or off tempo, will lead the entire band astray. Therefore, if the drummer is weak the whole band will be weak.
Since the drummer provides the foundation for the other musicians to follow, the drummer is the anchor of the band. Being the anchor of the band, the drummer must have confidence.
Confidence is what makes a good drummer a great drummer. When you have confidence in your ability to play and confidence in your instrument, success for the band is much more likely to occur.
If you are a drummer in a band, then you are the anchor of the band. The other musicians are relying heavily on you to provide a strong beat that will keep everything together. Other musicians may be able to cover their flaws when playing their instruments as a group, but not you. Everything you do behind your set will not only be heard, but felt. There is simply no way to hide or cover up poor drumming skills!
The drummer is vital to a band, and a great drummer can make up somewhat for other musicians who may not be at the same level of expertise. The reason is because your listeners will notice more of what is in your band’s music than what is NOT in it.
For instance, let’s say your guitarist is not real creative. He may play well enough to keep up with the pace of the song, but as far as adding anything flashy, he’s just not able at his current skill level. But, there you are, with your solid sense of rhythm and timing. That’s what people are going to notice! They simply will not notice something that the guitarist does NOT do.
People who are not musically inclined just want to be moved by the music. They do not evaluate it like musicians do. Now, if the guitarist seriously flubs something up, then that’s a different story all together. Not being creative and not adding to the music is one thing, but making critical mistakes is another. Musician, or not, people know what is, or is not, pleasing to the ear.
So, as a drummer, the anchor of the band, be solid, strong and confident. Continue to practice regularly and never be satisfied with your level of progress.
Since the drummer provides the foundation for the other musicians to follow, the drummer is the anchor of the band. Being the anchor of the band, the drummer must have confidence.
Confidence is what makes a good drummer a great drummer. When you have confidence in your ability to play and confidence in your instrument, success for the band is much more likely to occur.
If you are a drummer in a band, then you are the anchor of the band. The other musicians are relying heavily on you to provide a strong beat that will keep everything together. Other musicians may be able to cover their flaws when playing their instruments as a group, but not you. Everything you do behind your set will not only be heard, but felt. There is simply no way to hide or cover up poor drumming skills!
The drummer is vital to a band, and a great drummer can make up somewhat for other musicians who may not be at the same level of expertise. The reason is because your listeners will notice more of what is in your band’s music than what is NOT in it.
For instance, let’s say your guitarist is not real creative. He may play well enough to keep up with the pace of the song, but as far as adding anything flashy, he’s just not able at his current skill level. But, there you are, with your solid sense of rhythm and timing. That’s what people are going to notice! They simply will not notice something that the guitarist does NOT do.
People who are not musically inclined just want to be moved by the music. They do not evaluate it like musicians do. Now, if the guitarist seriously flubs something up, then that’s a different story all together. Not being creative and not adding to the music is one thing, but making critical mistakes is another. Musician, or not, people know what is, or is not, pleasing to the ear.
So, as a drummer, the anchor of the band, be solid, strong and confident. Continue to practice regularly and never be satisfied with your level of progress.
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Keep Your Passion Stirred Up!
4. Keep Your Passion Stirred Up!
If you keep your dream of becoming a great drummer in front of you it will keep you on the road to where you want to go. It’s when you get sidetracked by looking at the obstacles in your path is when you get discouraged, and then eventually give up.
Work, family, and responsibilities of all kinds manage to distract you from your drum time. Just become a good manager of your time and schedule yourself. Don’t let the tail wag the dog! Stay in control.
There you have it, four tips to overcome frustration with your drumming. If you apply these four tips you can take your drumming anywhere you want to go
If you keep your dream of becoming a great drummer in front of you it will keep you on the road to where you want to go. It’s when you get sidetracked by looking at the obstacles in your path is when you get discouraged, and then eventually give up.
Work, family, and responsibilities of all kinds manage to distract you from your drum time. Just become a good manager of your time and schedule yourself. Don’t let the tail wag the dog! Stay in control.
There you have it, four tips to overcome frustration with your drumming. If you apply these four tips you can take your drumming anywhere you want to go
Friday, 23 April 2010
Don’t Compare Yourself!
3. Don’t Compare Yourself!
For some reason drummers will always compare their own weaknesses with another drummer’s strengths. There is really no way to feel good about yourself if you do that. It’s just not fair, and there’s no logic in it. So, just be aware of that.
Your style of drumming is your own, and you must develop it the best you can. You don’t need to drum like anyone else. Sure, it’s good if you can learn another drummer’s cool tricks, but there are some cool tricks of your own that may be just lying dormant. Maybe if you stop concentrating so hard on being like your favorite drummer you can bring your own cool tricks alive.
Be your own best friend and realize you have something special the world needs to hear.
For some reason drummers will always compare their own weaknesses with another drummer’s strengths. There is really no way to feel good about yourself if you do that. It’s just not fair, and there’s no logic in it. So, just be aware of that.
Your style of drumming is your own, and you must develop it the best you can. You don’t need to drum like anyone else. Sure, it’s good if you can learn another drummer’s cool tricks, but there are some cool tricks of your own that may be just lying dormant. Maybe if you stop concentrating so hard on being like your favorite drummer you can bring your own cool tricks alive.
Be your own best friend and realize you have something special the world needs to hear.
Thursday, 22 April 2010
And Patients Some More!
It isn’t realistic to expect perfection overnight. It takes time to develop drum skills. Since it’s a combination of coordination and timing, it will not come natural to you. That’s why you must develop it. Sure, it’s frustrating, but try to keep your cool. It will come with more practice.
Think about all the things you do everyday that take coordination, like walking, talking, and eating. These things were all learned. You couldn’t do any of these things very well when you were a baby. But, you developed them. Sure you got frustrated, but you still learned them because you had to. There was no choice in the matter if you were going to survive as a human being.
Do you have a choice when it comes to your drumming? Sure you do. The question is, how bad do you want to survive as a drummer?
Think about all the things you do everyday that take coordination, like walking, talking, and eating. These things were all learned. You couldn’t do any of these things very well when you were a baby. But, you developed them. Sure you got frustrated, but you still learned them because you had to. There was no choice in the matter if you were going to survive as a human being.
Do you have a choice when it comes to your drumming? Sure you do. The question is, how bad do you want to survive as a drummer?
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Be Patient!
Learning to play the drums is extremely frustrating if you have never played drums before. That’s why most newbies begin to play and then soon quit. Their attitude becomes, “What’s the point? I’m never going to learn to play drums.”
It’s true that some people take to the drums faster than others, but that is definitely no reason to quit. A person must be patient with themselves in anything new they set out to accomplish. It just isn’t realistic to expect to play drums well overnight.
Remember, frustration is a natural occurrence in anything new you set out to do. But, it’s only temporary, if you can outlast it.
It’s true that some people take to the drums faster than others, but that is definitely no reason to quit. A person must be patient with themselves in anything new they set out to accomplish. It just isn’t realistic to expect to play drums well overnight.
Remember, frustration is a natural occurrence in anything new you set out to do. But, it’s only temporary, if you can outlast it.
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Remain Humble
2. Remain Humble
If a drummer really wants to increase his or her level of playing it is critical to remain open minded.
The mind is like a parachute, it only functions when it is open. That’s why it is so important to remain humble. Arrogant drummers never grow beyond their current level of drumming because they don’t think there is any more they can learn. How foolish! There is always more to learn… and any advanced drummer can learn from an intermediate, or even a beginner!
As you continue to learn you will then be able to teach. When you begin teaching, you will be amazed at the additional things you will learn (if you are currently teaching you will understand).
It’s critical to continue to learn and grow if you want to increase your level of drumming, and remaining humble is the only avenue through which you can do this. As with anything else, you must absolutely be confident in what you’re doing and knowledge can make you confident.
Please don’t mistake confidence with arrogance. Confidence is what makes a good drummer a great drummer. Arrogance is what makes a good drummer a lonely drummer! I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to play music with some cocky jerk who thinks he or she is better than everyone else.
Conclusion
When you develop confidence in your purpose as a drummer, learn to love your drums by giving them some priority in your life, altogether with remaining humble, your level of drumming will increase considerably.
Develop Confidence
There are many ways to increase the quality of your drumming and they can all be summarized into these 3 vital steps…
1. Develop Confidence
Many wanna-be musicians will choose the drums because they are shy and want to remain in the background.
The truth is your body may be in the background, but your musical presence will definitely be noticed!
If you are going to be the drummer in a band, then you will be the anchor of the band. The other musicians will be relying on you to provide strong beats that will keep everything together. Everything you do behind your drum set will not only be heard, but felt, simply because you will be the all-important time keeper.
This notion of wanting to be a drummer so you can hide behind a drum set is ridiculous. You’re gonna hide from no one! That’s why it is imperative to develop confidence in your drumming, and the first way to do that is to forget about the notion that you are hidden. Your mind set should be to establish your place in the band. Know who you are and why you’re there. The rest will then fall into place.
Monday, 19 April 2010
Tips to be a great drummer
Do you realize many “wanna-be great” drummers allow their current level of skill on the drums dictate what they can accomplish? NEVER DO THIS!
Let me just give you 3 secret drum tips right now…
Drum Tips #1: The truth is, you can learn to play the drums, achieve your goals, become an amazing drummer and thrive in the world of music if you truly want to!
Everyone who accomplishes and achieves what they want in life does so by not allowing their emotions to get in their way… They simply do not allow themselves to ever believe that they’re not capable of achieving what they set out to do!
Drum Tips #2: The secret to learning to play the drums and becoming an amazing drummer is simply being persistent and consistent!
In fact, the secret of achieving success in anything is persistence and consistency… You just have to make sure your faith is strong enough to allow you to get past the barriers of discouragement!
If you can get past your obstacles by faith, you can learn to play the drums and be well on your way to becoming an amazing drummer!
Negative emotions such as discouragement are the greatest obstacles to overcome when trying to learn to play the drums …or to excel in anything!
When you’re not practicing drums as much as you think you should, when you’re struggling to learn a new beat, and when you have people telling you that you’re really not that good and you should give up the drums, that’s when you’re faith is tested!
Drum Tips #3: You can learn to play the drums and achieve all you have imagined and more if you truly want to… It’s not a question of whether or not you’re capable of being an amazing drummer, it’s just a question of how bad do you want it!
Do you want it at least HALF as bad as Steve Gadd wanted it? Watch this amazing drummer performing one of his most incredible drum solos…
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