by Gary Dates
Striving to be “The Best” is so pervasive in our hyper-competitive culture. Indeed, now that the year is coming to a close it’s time for “The Best (insert whatever) in 2022”. I submit this kind of thinking is unhealthy and self-defeating.Watch Video
After 2 months (maybe more) of using the Roland TD27kv eDrum Kit, I have some opinions, mostly good with one glaring exception.Watch Video
There is nothing more important if you want to get gigs than knowing how to make music “feel” good. But what do we actually MEAN when we say “feel”?Watch Video
I’ve never been a big fan of electronic drum kits. They always sounded “fake”…or so I thought.Watch Video
I was practicing this thing…displacing a rhythmic figure if you must know. As usual, I created a musical loop in Logic to play along to. Long-story-short it grew into a complete musical composition!Watch Video
I’ve always loved this quintessential pattern by Steve! I first heard it back in 1975….but it is still relevant today!Watch Video
This is a cover of an old tune by a band called War, from the early 70s. It features Layonne Holmes on vocals, Mike Hogan on guitar, Cody McCorry on bass, and well, me.Watch Video
If you like a challenge, this video is for you! I show you how to take any pattern and play it over several grids like the previous video. But I added quintuplet and septuplet grids for an extra challenge.Watch Video
This is one of those exercises that’s totally open-ended. You can use ANY pattern or lick and come up with something that sounds totally different, simply by playing that pattern on a different grid.Watch Video