DRUMMER CAFE

50 Ways.......

Has this been posted before?
I've never seen it before.
Notice how quiet he plays:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/sZZLLYEzKE8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/sZZLLYEzKE8</a>

After watching it in solo, I think I might actually be able to play that groove.
Of course I would never have come up with it in a million years.
That's where the genius is!

Yes, that's a very important point to make.
Scary stuff.

I wonder what we would come of with if we only had the guitar and vocal track to listen to...I don't know how they wrote the tune originally, but for us, if we only had those tracks, what beat would we use?
Probably playing a HH rimclick beat, or play 16th on the HH with some BD and then into the funky part. Who knows...but it is so inventive what he played and on other Simon and Garfunkel tunes, like "Late in the Evening". Very cool.

Thanks for putting this on here, its always good to see the correct way of doing it, its important, after seeing it butchered so many times by those who don't know the uniqueness of the strokes and left foot. And even his hitting both floor toms, I always forget that part.

I don't suppose anyone would be inclined to write it out here?   

I can't see the video yet - at work - but actually, with Bart's clear audio clip, I think I'll be able to work that out.

You know, it would be kinda fun to take gems like these and have threads where everyone posts an MP3 of their performance of it.

forget 50ways  , his 4 stick mozambique is what really kills on "up close" if you ask me.  I would buy that video again with the transcription just so I can finally play it correctly!

seems to me you could probably devote an entire drum forum to "Gadd-isms", no? 

There's that very cool fill he does in "Chucky's in Love", or the one-take solo in "Aja", or  anything Paul Simon, or the stuff he's done w/ Chick Corea, or, or, or...

elliot

The isolation of the parts that Gadd demonstrated was the breakthrough for me.
Listening to the audio rather scared me, as would seeing a transcription. But I admit that's my fault, not the fault of the educators.

You make good points, but have you looked around Drummer Cafe for past threads?

In fact Ringo has been discussed at length here quite a few times, and the overwhelming attitude has been positive towards him and his drumming legacy.
Of course Steve Gadd gets discussed here a lot too, but I thought this old clip was worth posting anyway.

Okay kids, I took the time to write it out for you ... with all the stickings.




I'll probably go ahead and make a lesson out of this and post it in my 5-Minute Lessons soon.

It is kind of funny to me that this thread came up because I have been trying and trying to come up with a groove for the community solo that is Gadd like, specifically something along the lines of 50 Ways. I didn't want it exactly but something unique that just blows it out the water. So far, I have absolutely nothing. It really makes you appreciate just how great Gadd really is. Playing is one thing, which he obviously does well, but creating like he does is just unbelievable. I play nothing like him, in reality, but I sure do like his stuff.

I originally learned the correct sticking/footwork from a transcription, but like Chris I tend to learn a lot from watching things done. Seeing them done provides an insight into some of the subtleties of the part that can't be expressed as well in notation. Things like small dynamic changes through the bar, internal dynamics (sound levels), the emotional mood, and even sometimes the body language of the player reveal so much about the part.

For instance, you pointed out the volume Steve played at. That's something that can be expressed by dynamic markings to some degree, but those are often relative. Really important elements like the articulation of the two BD 16th notes on the "a" of 2 and on 3 aren't usually notated. Those are played bi-BOOM. Play them as BOOM-BOOM and the pattern loses its swing. In this video we don't get to see his feet, but elsewhere we can see the technique he uses on the foot pedal to get that "bi-Boom" articulation. Those small details are the real nitty-gritty of Gadd's style.

Watch how his body sways into 3 - perfectly expressing the rise and fall/tension and release of the groove. It's like we breathe in on 4...1...2...and out on 3. Rest and breathe in again. Beautiful.

Anyway, here's another video of Gadd recently added to Youtube. Part way through there is another example of Gadd playing open-handed linear parts and generating a killer funk groove.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/jSssS67uXOQ" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/jSssS67uXOQ</a>

Youtube can be a really great thing.

My friend just bought a super cherry set of Black Yamaha Rc's for 500 bucks.  DAWG.

There is like no way I'll ever play like Gadd.  We are stylistcally too far apart, but it's cool to watch these videos.  That left hand of his just kills!  I mean I can fake it but there is NO WAY LOL.

Is that Will Lee on bass?  Whatta classic.

Coupla  echoes of recent posts:

1. Yeah - the left hand is amazing.  Just about anyone can probably
    learn from watching how he applies his left hand.

2. He plays with his entire body.  Every muscle and breath is tied to the play.
   Very cool.

I may never fully recover from this exploration. 

I have spent a Great Deal of time playing this today.   Having a Ton of Fun with it.
Technically, it's rather simple.  Any of the unduplicatable secret sauce comes from Steve's heart.        You just can't fake the secret sauce.        I doubt I'm copping any of that. 

I'm going to have to pursue meeting Steve.  I have a sorta kinda connection to a key member of the Paul Simon band - via a colleague of my wife.    When I asked my wife - so, tell me, what drummer does so-and-so play with these days,  I got the dopey answer: "Oh, some Steve somebody.  Steve Gadd or something like that."   

I'm gonna have to find a way to shake his hand someday, before I have to check out myself.

If you are looking for more Gadd stuff ... I've added more videos to the Drummer Cafe including footage from the recent Steve Gadd - Master Series. The footage was shot during Steve's "Mission From Gadd" clinic tour.