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The Creative Drummer

by Gary Dates

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Author: Gary

Posted on March 13, 2023March 13, 2023

Drummer Reacts to Spanky Playing Fusion Express

A short time ago I made a video in which I played along with a track called “Fusion Express.” I first saw it on YouTube with George “Spanky” McCurdy playing drums, and he was simply amazing.Watch Video

Posted on January 15, 2023January 15, 2023

Cheap Vs Expensive Hi-Hats

I own an inexpensive pair of Meinl 13″ HCS Hi-Hats, I just acquired a pair of Paiste 802 14″ Hi-Hats, and I also own Zildjian Quickbeats and Sabian HH Hi-Hats…both 14″….both expensive! I thought it would be interesting to compare them.Watch Video

Posted on December 1, 2022January 15, 2023

The Problem With “The Best.”

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

Posted on June 8, 2022June 8, 2022

TD 27kv Follow-Up

After 2 months (maybe more) of using the Roland TD27kv eDrum Kit, I have some opinions, mostly good with one glaring exception.Watch Video

Posted on May 23, 2022May 23, 2022

A Drummer’s Most Important Skill=FEEL

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

Posted on May 23, 2022May 23, 2022

Roland TD-27KV Review – 1st Look

I’ve never been a big fan of electronic drum kits. They always sounded “fake”…or so I thought.Watch Video

Posted on January 22, 2022March 20, 2024

“Where Is One?” A Live Performance

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

Posted on January 13, 2022January 13, 2022

Great Steve Gadd Groove!

I’ve always loved this quintessential pattern by Steve! I first heard it back in 1975….but it is still relevant today!Watch Video

Posted on November 25, 2021November 25, 2021

Tuning Toms-My “non-method!”

Tuning toms isn’t easy. They resonate, and because they usually have 2 heads, if you don’t know how to get them to work together you can have a pretty bad-sounding drum. The key is to start out with even tension around each head. If you use my “method”, you then start tweaking.Watch Video
Posted on July 19, 2021July 19, 2021

The World Is A Ghetto

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

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