Drummer Cafe Community Forum

ive recently started to get into latin stuff, and there is a dave matthews song called "say goodbye" that ive recently shedded. anyways my question is this a typical latin type of thing going on in the song (drum-wise) and is that groove hard (chops-wise) in general, and for the others on the board to play? wow thats a long question. carter rocks.

Cool intro on that tune...love that flurry of 32nd notes around the toms at the end of the instrumental intro....

Personally, I wouldn't attach anything in the tune to a particular latin style.   It seems to me to be typical of Carter's style -fusing funk with many diverse influences -latin feels abundant but never too obvious in a purist sense.  I remember hearing the drum part as a laid back percussive rock style more than anything.  I'll have to give it a spin and see if I remember correctly.

I think Carter is busy and knowledgable...so I don't feel his stuff is all that easily copped.   Check out linear funk studies in odd time signatures to get closer to a couple main elements of Carter's style.    

There's a free video resource you should check out....there's a study on Carter included somewhere there and it's extremely helpful....go to www.digevent.com   -go to the drop down menu in the middle and click the 'drum beat' tab.

Hi Dave, hope all is well! I have not listen to the tune you mention. Let me know in which Cd it appears, and I'll check it out. If you want to listen some great latin drumset playing check out anything by:

Alex Acuña
Ignacio Berroa
Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez
Raul Pineda from Chucho Valdes Quartet
Julio Barreto
Jimmy Branly
Bobby Sanabria
Dafnis Prieto
Robby Ameen

Hope this helps!

Saludos, Jorge Ginorio  

ah thank you both. im definately going to study those drummer you mentioned. i didnt want it to come across as disrespect to carter or singing my own praises, so please dont think that (not saying you did but just in case). but i guess i meant that i was able to get the main groove down easliy (boom t-t-ta ta boom ta b-b-boom pa) and just did my own fills and things. i dont really want to copy carter but its very cool to get concepts and ideas.

Dave, I just listened to the track. It is not a typical latin
track. It does has some latin inflections in it, but coming from the guitar and the other instruments. Don't get me wrong! Carter is an excellent drummer, but if you want to get seriosly into different latin drumming styles, you should check out those guys from the list. Remember that latin drumming in itself covers many different styles:

Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Afro-Puertorrican, etc.,

Hope this helps!

Saludos, Jorge Ginorio
       

For sure Dave!   8)   The great thing about Carter is that his playing typically CAN be understood!   That makes him a great resource for many of us.   You can start with his fundamental approach and build on it with your own style----or add his nuances and subtleties as you learn them.  

I have a fiddle/violinist player in my band and we have a blast playing Ant's Marching now and then...I don't think I've ever played it note for note...but it's ok to just have fun with it, too.

Some big-time drummers simply have their style and it's not always so easily transcribed or copped....or even understand in some cases.  Carter, though, is a very methodical drummer and although quite technical in his approach to pop music, he still CAN be understood.    Weckl stuff (older stuff in particular) was like this as well.   For different reasons, I like both these guys a lot...so no 'slighting' of their styles  intended whatsoever.  

Carter also has the advantage of natural amidexterity.  His kit is set up similar to the way Gary Chester recommends in "The New Breed".  Check this book out if you really want to develop independence.