Why Are Drum Solos Boring?

Lately I've been reading a lot of interviews and reading comments on You Tube where drummers themselves say that drum solos are boring! Why is this so? What are we doing wrong? As someone who does solo drum set performances and has done so for many years now I find this to be quite disappointing because I along with many other drummers who also solo frequently know that our instrument is capable of so much if we take the time to explore its possibilities. So, here's my take on how a drummer should approach a solo.

First off, yes you are a drummer but you are also a musician! However, many drummers in my opinion make a huge mistake when it comes to their musical upbringing by only understanding the language of rhythm. In other words, even if they read music, they know nothing about music theory. They can hum the riffs of the song but they know nothing about the key of the song, the scales & modes used in the melodic sections of the song nor do they understand a thing that the other instruments are doing. Meanwhile, we revere musicians like Frank Zappa and Steve Vai who know more about drums than most drummers do yet somehow don't think that the rest of us are capable of knowing just as much about the instruments that they play. This is utter nonsense!

I am a professional drummer with endorsements and other types of recognition and I am proud of what I have accomplished thus far in my drumming career even though I am not known on an international level. However, I am just as proud of the awards & grants that I have earned for my original compositions along with the fact that many of them have been featured on various television shows around the world. This knowledge of music came first from studying music at a local community college while also learning how to play the guitar, bass guitar & piano. I was also never afraid to ask other musicians how they did various things on their instruments, which in turn ended up being an even exchange of ideas as I was also glad to show them things they wanted to know about drumming. I am a decent guitarist and adequate on the bass guitar & piano but most importantly, I can write music without the assistance of other musicians translating what I hear in my head. Perhaps some of you say that you're not interested in writing music because you just want to drum in a band. That's fine but have you not considered what this knowledge will do for your drumming? Look at drummers like Phil Collins & Billy Cobham. Both of them have been recognized as two of the best drummers on the planet and have influenced so many drummers during their amazing careers but the one thing that is not discussed enough is that much of their brilliant drumming has actually occurred in songs they have written themselves! And why are their drumming styles so unique? They speak a musical language that most drummers don't know because they also understand music from a harmonic and melodic perspective, which is something you can actually hear in their drumming and in their drum sound.

Second, don't just focus on drumming gymnastics (yes, I stole that description from American Idol judges who criticize vocal runs). When I first considered the idea of doing solo drum set work the first thing I did was study drum solos and thanks to You Tube I now had access to tons of them. I mostly wanted to see what really caught my attention and why it stood out so much. I studied big band drummers, Latin drummers, rock drummers and drummers/percussionists from world genres playing other percussion instruments and to tell you the truth, it did get kind of boring. Single stroke rolls between the snare and toms, single strokes at high speeds between the hands and feet, groupings around the kit....after while I was like, really? Come on guys! To paraphrase Gene Simmons: it's like watching someone type. Sadly, as I watched more of the recommended videos of a particular drummer I noticed that in most cases it didn't how old the videos were because they're doing almost the same exact thing! Chops, chops and more chops. And, if it's not just chops it is usually the same licks over and over.

Now don't get me wrong. Chops are good and certainly have a place when it comes to a climactic moment of a solo but five minutes of it says nothing in terms of one's musicality. This is where song structure plays a key role in what you're doing. Create some sections that are in fact recognizable to the audience and don't be afraid to repeat them the same way a verse and chorus are repeated in a great song.

While I admittedly get bored watching all of the drumming gymnastics on You Tube I didn't get bored watching performances of some of my favorite songs whether they were renditions of what a musical group has done over the years or different performances that fans from all over the world have shared from the same tour. That is because these songs are great pieces of music that really says something to the listener. Why can't the same thing come from a drum solo? After all, do we not see the same thing in solo piano and guitar pieces?

Third, consider expanding your rhythmic repertoire. Speaking for myself, I am more than burned out on hearing a jazz drummer doing his ding-ding-a-ding groove during a solo. After all, I hear it enough in the songs that they play with the rest of the band so change it up a bit. This is your solo so take the stage! Same thing with rock drummers pounding their syncopated double bass grooves when they start their solos. Change it up man! That's why there is a difference between a rhythm guitar part and a guitar solo. We have to think about how we can take such an idea to our instrument.

Personally, I like playing around with world rhythms because many of those rhythms have melodic lines in them. However, if that's not your thing then work on ideas where you can create melodies around the kit that fit your preferred musical genre and most importantly, your drumming style. Then, record yourself doing it and start piecing things together and before you know it you are ready to take it to the stage.

One of the things that encouraged me to pursue my solo drum set work was when I was asked by a rock band I was performing with to do a drum solo during a two hour set. They needed to kill some stage time since they had a limited set list so they told me to just go for a good five to ten minutes! So I figured, here's a great chance to see if what I've been experimenting with sounds good. I played a Latin based drum solo that I had been working on and it was pretty cool to see a bunch of rivet head rocker fans go crazy hearing something that wasn't a regular part of their musical playlist. It was a solo over the 3:2 Son Clave where I did a Songo groove along with some traditional African drumming patterns that were common over what is called the Kpanlogo rhythm, which is the original name of the Son Clave. It gave the groove a different feel and since I took the Kpanlogo section down dynamically helped me kick the Songo out of the gates each time I went back to that section. Then I maintained the Clave with my feet when I did some soloing before going back to the first part of the...dare I say it...drumming song! Final crash, roar of the crowd, mission accomplished.

Once that happened I knew I had something so I continued experimenting with world rhythms and have been able to create several drum set solos that I have now performed at music festivals, clubs, in master class settings and even as a featured performer at the Music Instrument Museum in Phoenix, AZ on multiple occasions. I have a blast every time I get these opportunities not just because I have a chance to challenge myself as a solo performer but also because I get the chance to demonstrate what I call the orchestral approach to the drum set.

Of course it's a work in progress and while I've been pretty direct with my ideas on soloing please know that this is also a regular challenge for me as well. I certainly know that there have been great solo gigs and some that could've been much better. There were times when I had some really cool phrases going on over my ostinatos and times when I focused more on drumming gymnastics because the melodic ideas just weren't coming out the right way on that particular day. That's the life of the performer but that's still no excuse, which is why I try to keep various ideas on reserve in order to ensure that my performances are as musical as possible.

Finally, approach this whole soloing thing like a songwriter. Document your ideas regardless if it's from a practice session or a live performance. Try to create your ideas in different places and for a drummer, that doesn't mean that you always have to be sitting behind your drums. When you do take advantage of being in a different room. I always like to get to a gig early because I like some quiet time before it's time to perform. Since I'm usually the first one set up that allows me to take some time to jam on some new ideas. Being in a different setting allows me to feel a little different so it's amazing how that affects my playing. If it sounds good I take out my mobile device and record it. Sometimes you don't even have to be near your drums. Some of my best ideas come from sitting with my drum machine and programming various ideas to see how they sound when I add other parts. If it sounds good then I know it's something worth pursuing. 

In conclusion, I know I have some strong opinions about drum solos but that's only because I really love my instrument and want to help my drumming colleagues see more to the art of soloing.  I get great inspiration from drummers who are not afraid to break ground because they excite me about what can be done with the instrument. For me a drum solo is more than just trading fours and eights in a band setting. In most cases that's what they are giving us while we give them all the time they need to express themselves. What's up with that? I don't need someone else to create the framework for me to express myself. This is my solo so why don't you go off and have a drink or talk to that pretty lady in the front row. Then again, in their defense, maybe the other musicians have also grown tired of drumming gymnastics and prefer to see the set move forward with a better flow.

You're probably not going not going to make a living playing drum solos because our job in a group setting is to lay down the groove. That's okay because I like doing that, too because it doesn't matter what kind of music one plays as long as it's music that they enjoy. But as an artist, there are no limits. I'm always ready to create music whether it's on the drum set or on another instrument. However, nothing feels better for me than to take my instrument of choice to show the world just how amazing it really is. 

Carlos Solórzano
@csolorzano18    IG: desertdrummer
www.reverbnation.com/carlossolorzano 

Method to the Madness: Talking Drum Set Up with the Desert Drummer

Being a working musician I get the chance to speak to a lot of people. With my background and with the groups I work with it seems like I meet people with varying opinions who are a bit surprised when they see the way I set up my set. Imagine the people I get to encounter on a regular basis: country fans at a local watering hole or a casino who are there to see the Tony Corrales Band  fans of Christian music at churches and faith based events who are fans of Come Thirsty or recording engineers who are waiting to put microphones on my drums prior to rolling the tape. And this is when I'm not at my occasional jazz gig with Sonoran Sol with an audience who is already struck by the idea that I use more than a 4-piece set up.

About eight years ago I had some back problems and had grown frustrated with the long reach I had to deal with when I reached for my second rack tom. That was when I decided to study drummers and their set ups. I watched as many videos as I could and studied pictures of set ups that I would see on the internet as well as the positioning that I would see the drummers in as they were seated behind their sets. That was when I became intrigued by drummers such as Bobby Rock, Scott Rockenfield and Vinnie Appice who have been known for off setting their bass drums as if they had a two bass drum set up even though some of them used a double pedal or were just single pedal players.

One day I decided to set up my drums in that way just to see how it would feel and it was a night and day experience. Immediately I was taken back to the days of my youth when for a three year period I used an actual two bass drum set up, which allowed me to have both of my rack toms right in front of my snare. Now that I was doing a lot of solo drum set work, which included the use of lots of toms, I felt the need to bring my second rack tom closer to me.

Aside from the convenience of having my toms rearranged I also noticed how the rest of my set up was even more centered than usual. Since I was using a double pedal I was able to keep my hi hat stand as close as I had it with a single pedal set up. I also noticed that I didn't have to cross over as far to reach the hi hat, thus leaving my lead hand closer to the other parts of my kit. That and not having to reach as far to for the cymbals on the right side of my set up.

When people ask me about the set up I refrain from getting all technical and just say that I based it on the way we naturally sit. When we take a seat we don't have either of our legs facing in the direction that we face. Our midsection is in fact centered with both legs on either side of the center line. So if we sit that way when we do other things why not when we drum? Why does drumming require us to sit in a position that I observe to be unnatural?

At times sound men and recording engineers talk about the importance of the bass drum facing the front of the audience. To me that is a non-issue if the drums are going through the PA system. Further, if I actually had two bass drums in my set up they would most likely assume that I would have both drums off to the side even if I didn't play them both regularly. Why do drummers with two bass drums set up in this way? Because it is the most comfortable way of playing such a set up. Well, as far as I'm concerned drummers should set up in a way that is comfortable for them and the sound man's job is the set up the microphones, period. After all, our set ups are also part of our creativity as drummers because as long as we can mount it and reach it then it's part of our set up. And notice that I still haven't said anything about how we tune our drums.

Here's my set up from behind the stage: 

Over the years I have noticed more and more drummers doing the same as me. Back pain alone will motivate someone to try something different. For me, being centered didn't just make it more comfortable to play but also gives me the chance to see the whole audience as well as each member of the group that I am playing with. I am just sorry that I didn't think of this earlier as I originally had this dogmatic view of setting up my drums. That's why I am grateful to the drummers who dared to be different who inspired me to do the same. I would encourage other drummers to do whatever it takes to make them feel comfortable as well because after all, pain can lead us to make some drastic decisions. In my case it almost led me to give up my love for drumming. Thank God I was willing to try something different.

Carlos Solórzano 

@csolorzano18    IG: desertdrummer 

https://www.reverbnation.com/carlossolorzano 

 

In Defense of Extreme Drumming

I always find it interesting to talk to drummers from different eras and musical backgrounds. This is something I get to do quite often because I play in various bands from various musical genres such Country, Rock, Pop, Latin, World and even Christian. Of course these genres also have a fan base that extends from children to the elderly so opinions vary with some being rather ho hum and while others are rather strong.

Being in my mid 40's I find myself in the middle of the various points of view that come from either side of the discussion. I am from a more modern era than the old school jazz drummers yet not quite as eccentric as some of the younger drummers. However, I say eccentric with all due respect because this new generation of drummers is doing things that are just mind boggling even though I may not fully understand their musical vision. Nevertheless, I have great respect for drummers on both sides of the aisle.

When I talk to the old school jazz drummers one of the first things they do is criticize my drum set. That's because I have a double pedal, a foot mounted cowbell, a remote snare drum that I use for popping backbeats & timbale sounding accents when the snares are turned off. Then there is my personal favorite comment, "You have too many cymbals!" Really? I have two crashes, one China, one splash and my hi-hats. I think even the great Buddy Rich had more cymbals than me. But these guys come from a different era when most of them preferred to use simple set ups. Believe me, I understand that point of view when I have two gigs on the same day.

Such opinions of my set up don't really concern me though because I use my whole kit. I'm more of a single bass drummer but I use my double pedal for fills and fanfares at the end of songs. When I do solo drum set shows I also use it for ostinato patterns so there is certainly a musical context behind what I am doing. Either way, double bass drumming continues to bother some drummers because somehow there is a badge of honor when it comes to playing certain rhythmic figures with one foot even though most drummers would ironically play with two hands if they played that same figure say on their snare drum. That is most interesting to say the least.

I have two crash cymbals because they are on either side of the my set, which allows me to have a crash available regardless of the direction I am facing. They are the same sizes but have different sounds so they sound really cool when I hit them together. My other two cymbals are for specific sounds that one can't get out of a crash cymbal so again, I don't see the big deal. Yet, there are those purists out there that would take exception to such a thing.

I remember one time when a sound engineer tell me that, A real drummer can do any gig on a 4-piece kit. Fair enough and very true but since he played guitar I decided to see how much he wanted me to shackle his creativity. For example, I asked him, Do you only play open chords or do you also play bar chords and/or other inversions of the same chords on different parts of the fret board? Or, When you solo, do you play the same notes in the same register? No answer. Sorry my friend but a 6 inch concert tom sounds nothing like a 16 inch floor tom. And, I'm sorry, how many toms did Hal Blaine have on his studio kit? For what reason?

Then you have the younger players. So many of them have phenomenal technique and their independence abilities are mind boggling. Sometimes I see them do things that just appear to be inhuman. They tend to be less critical of my set up and seem to appreciate more of the solo drumming that I do. Of course while I respect what they are doing I do wish I'd see more of an effort to be more unique in their playing. Notice I didn't say more creative because a lot of the independence things they do can only come from having a great imagination. But when I say unique I mean having that little bit of something that I would hear in their playing that identifies them in their own unique way. Being a double bass drummer in the 200 BPM club is commendable and requires great discipline but what does that have to do with one's individual style? That's why I suggest to these drummers to go for it when it comes to achieving technical goals but don't forget to have your grooves in order because that's what pays the bills. However, please also know that your technical achievements do in fact inspire me because when I get frustrated and can't seem to nail a new idea I find great inspiration in those who are taking the instrument to the next level because it reminds me that the impossible is in fact possible.

Then you have the drumming community as a whole. Interviews in drumming magazines or discussions at your local music store, message boards... wow, there are so many opinions of those who dare to go outside of the box. Personally, I admire drummers like Thomas Lang, Marco Minneman, Mike Mangini, Virgil Donati and many others. Stylistically I can say that some of these drummers appeal to me more than others but I get excited every time I see their latest trick because frankly, I think most drummers are way too complacent. That's why when we see something new many of us find ourselves being overly critical because it's different and perhaps because it wasn't our idea. Then, in my humble opinion, I think some of us are a little envious because we can't physically do what another player has just done and may not ever be able to do it. I will even go as far as saying that this observation also applies to some of the biggest names in drumming as well.

Think about it: how many videos on You Tube are demonstrations of the famous John Bonham or Steve Gadd (depending on your hero) triplet lick? How about the "Fool in the Rain" or "Rosanna" shuffle? Yes, I see the importance of having such pieces of history demonstrated because there are beginners out there discovering how to play the instrument but seriously, how many more videos do we need of the same thing? Beyond that, how many more transcriptions of the same old fills and grooves have to be in Modern Drummer every other month? Believe me when I say that I am not advocating that we forget these masterpieces because without them we wouldn't be where we are now. But drumming has expanded so much to the point of forcing equipment makers to expand their product line to accommodate the creativity of such artists who were willing to take to do something that had not been done before? I truly admire that.

Aside from that, let's be honest about something. Many people will look at a drum solo like this masterpiece by Mike Mangini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe8XKgOuNtk and find nothing but fault with it. As far as I am concerned it is brilliant as it is full of awesome drumming and showmanship. They will counter it with something say Buddy Rich did and say that this is true drumming. Well, like many drummers I have watched several Buddy Rich solo over the years and from what I can see it's a lot of the same thing, regardless of the era and filled with chops and such that was meant to wow the crowd, which he did every time he took a solo. How is that any different than what Mangini did is the link provided? Yet, Mangini is giving us polyrhythms, independence, crossover patterns and many other incredible things to watch and listen to but that is still not good enough for some. Personally, I can really appreciate that because I didn't have to sit through more of the Bonham/Gadd triplet licks that most drummers can't seem to live without (Speaking of which, maybe if some drummers expanded their set ups a bit they would get some new ideas).

Besides, not everyone is going to approach their solos or their expanded set ups the same way as Mike Mangini. Drum solos also reveal a player's individual style and in some cases it is quite beautiful. Take the brilliance done by Horacio Hernandez during a moment at a past Modern Drummer Festival when he demonstrated how playing the drum set can be like speaking a language: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CimBeu4PWrM

Was there enough groove in that solo? Was there enough feel in that solo? 

Another thing that gets criticized are drummers who are able to make part of their living doing solo exhibitions or master classes. Many critics say it's not musical or it's just like an extreme sport where the player is showing off. Maybe that's true but if that's the case, so what?! This is the music industry and anyone making any kind of a living in this business, be it local or on the biggest stages knows that it's tough to maintain one's career as a musician. Even some of the best session drummers in the world say that they don't know if they'll work next week. Therefore, as far as I'm concerned, whether you're in a high profile rock band, a session drummer, a local drummer in a working cover band or a solo drummer who has an audience, more power to you! Keep doing what you're doing because you're lucky enough to have a demand for what you do. Further, some drummers can add Master Classes and exhibitions to their performance schedule and if that's the case, good for them.

That is why I applaud and encourage drummers (and other musicians) who are tired of doing the same old thing. If that wasn't an admirable trait then we wouldn't have new musical genres or updated versions of existing genres. That and the fact that by doing solo shows the drummer is not dependent on other musicians hiring them to play in their band in order to either make a living or have a chance to express themselves musically. And if one is not a group setting they don't have to express themselves in the midst of an already established structure, thus, being the captain of their own ship. Speaking for myself, I'm more than burned out on playing a jazz piece where I spend most of the time keeping time for everyone else's extended solo just to so I can trade 8's with someone else before heading back to the head. What if I want to change meter or tempo in the middle of those 8 bars and why would that be wrong? Train wreck? Yes, but if I was doing my own thing, say, like Ginger Baker did during on "Toad," then I am free to do what feels right to me. Look at the beauty Ginger was able to create because Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton got out of his way. What's wrong with the drummer NOT always having to be in a supportive role? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gze0PxDKgQ

I will admit that over 98% of my gigs are with a group because drummers will usually make their living playing in a group setting. I'm fine with that because I also love playing music with other musicians and prefer to do that than playing on my own. However, I have also enjoyed the challenge of creating a solo style of drumming where I adapt world rhythms the drum set, selling such an act to club owners & other event planners and then showing up and delivering the goods. It brings me great satisfaction as an artist and I am grateful to have the privilege to know that my performances have inspired others to have the confidence to try something out of the ordinary that has been weighing on their hearts as well. After all, I too was inspired by other drummers who had already done such a thing but I also made sure to do something that I was able to identify with that I also felt was a unique presentation of my own creativity.

The other reality is that not everyone is going to like what you're doing. There are genres of music I don't like, famous songwriters or bands whose music does nothing for me and even famous drummers who have inspired millions who are not a part of my music collection. Of course, this has no influence on those who find inspiration in all of these artists and that doesn't bother me because when I'm alone in my truck listening to one of my favorite drummers or some of my favorite music the rest of the world doesn't exist. I also certainly respect those who have been touched by the artists who haven't necessarily touched me. It doesn't mean that I don't respect them. It just means that maybe I just don't get what they're doing. And, I know there is music I like that some people despise and that's fine because it's not going to change my point of view on what I think of this music.

I know there are people out there who do not like my drumming style, musicians that I just couldn't connect with or other drummers out there who do not understand why I set up my drums a certain way, play a certain way or even make the time to go out and do solo drum set shows. I say, to each their own. As far as I'm concerned  artistic freedom is more than just the lyrics in a song or a singer taking off their clothes in a music video. There have been plenty of times when I'm setting up my drums in a club for a solo show when people are surprised to hear that a drummer is performing on his own. I realize that it's different and may seem a little arrogant to some but to me it's all about being true to myself as an artist. I'm sure other drummers doing something outside of the box feel the same way, therefore, I also know that we all choose to go forward with what we're doing because we don't want to look back with any regrets. And, as far as I'm concerned, pianists and guitarists shouldn't be the only instrumentalists who have the privilege of performing either in a group setting or as a solo performer.

Trust what you're feeling. Take a risk and when you're ready, put it out there. Even if one person likes what you're doing and can say so with all sincerity you've done something right. At the end of the day you are the only person that will be with you every moment of your life so be true to the artist within you and show us what you got because every artist has something to share.

Carlos Solorzano
@csolorzano18    IG: desertdrummer 
https://www.reverbnation.com/carlossolorzano