If you move ... you have tension ... you can't move without tension; scientifically speaking.

The phrase about staying relaxed is more about "tension and release" than trying to imply that you're nothing but a jellyfish the entire time you play.

With that said, there are different levels of tension; good and bad. The "bad tension" is when you tighten up which actually restricts, making it harder to play. Short bursts of tension, as seen in the Vinnie photo, is not what I would consider "bad tension" ... but if that kind of tension was maintained it would actually hinder, not help, and would be physically unhealthy.

I think appearances are deceiving somewhat, especially when analyzing someone else's playing tension or lack thereof.

Music itself is about tension and release; consonance and dissonance.

I'm a huge patron of playing relaxed 99% of the time, but sometimes you have to play something that is beyond the relaxation threshold, like a particular drum lick. My philosophy, for what it's worth, is that it's okay to have short-term or short bursts of tension. You have to have tension in your arm when throwing a ball, but when you release the ball you release the tension. If you didn't apply tension in your hand, you couldn't hold on to the drumstick! But like I said, it depends on the level of tension.

I think "good tension" is when you apply the minimum amount of tension to execute the task or function, then immediately relax. "Bad tension" is when you are putting WAY too much tension for the task/function at hand ... or when you never release the tension once the task/function is complete.

The whole "stage show" is a different matter where players intentionally look tense or actually tense up in order to entertain the audience. If you take two drummers both playing the exact same drum lick, one looks fluid and completely relaxed while the other is making a face and making it look hard ... which does the audience typically go "wow" about? The one with tension or who makes it look hard. I should say that the uneducated audience tends to approve the tension and making it look hard ... and prefer that over the totally relaxed performer with a blank stare on their face.

I really hate it, but I'm learning to be more "entertaining" in how I look when I play. Making it look harder than it is plus trying to appear like I have tension when my body is actually completely relaxed. Not easy for me to do, but clearly many players have it down. 

Well, this is some excellent info to chew on!   Thanks, Bart, for the thoughtful and helpful response.  I can't wait to hear others chime in.

Vinnie is 'mugging' for the camera.  Take a look at his hands...wide open and relaxed. 

I need to pay attention to tension. Alot of times i hold my breath during fills. When you do this regularly it can make you overly tired after a gig. Tension is something i have to consciously think about while playing or ill go right back into my old habits. This is something ive been concentrating on as of late.

I've been a victim of holding my breathe, especially during fills.  I am now very "vocal" when I play but that's OK since nobody will ever actually hear me.  It makes me breathe this way.  I typically breathe out on my fills and always on the longer ones.

It has helped me become more relaxed as well but minimal tension is something I'm still working on.

That makes me think of Matt Abts of Govt Mule. I listened to him long before I ever saw him and to just listen, you'd think he was whaling on those drums. Then I saw him on a DVD and he's the most fluid, relaxed drummer I think I've ever seen. Blew me away.

A majority of the time that I screw up is when I tense up.  I play my best when I am relaxed and let it flow.  The problem is I tend to tense when the speed of the song goes way up.  If I'm playing 16ths on the high hat for a high energy song, I have to remember to relax my upper back, shoulders and arms.

....on fire.

I don't know how it works out for anyone else, but I play BETTER and I can do MORE cool stuff (chops related)  when I'm not tense. When I'm tense, for WHATEVER reason, I have to play much more simply, stay in the "safe zone" so to speak. I think the feel is better when I'm loose too, tension makes me play a bit sluggish.

I find that some shedding does wonders to get you loose. If you've had the chance to teach the muscle patterns how to do things right it'll be easier and more effortless on a gig. Trying things cold leads to playing tentatively. I HATE playing tentatively!!

Unfortunately it has literally been years since I've been able to practice at home on a KIT. Living in small non-drum friendly apartments and such has taken it's toll on my playing. I have FINALLY gotten into a house where I can build myself a drum room and set up a kit to shed on. It's going to be GLORIOUS!!!

I'd say there are different types of tension. One type is from trying to do stuff you are not comfortable with. The reason (or one of them) you practice a part at fast tempos would be so that you can play it comfortably, relaxed and with good feel at the normal tempo.   Performing something difficult/fast that I haven't got nailed down will create all kinds of tension, in my mind, in my body, in the rest of the band, etc..  So in one sense and there may be debate on this, you should never perform something faster than you practice it.

On the other hand, we want to build tension in the music at points and expressing that tension visually is often done, e.g., Clenched teeth, wild expressions, dramatic flailing, physically straining to do something faster than we've ever done it before….   Do some drummers get carried away in the emotion and moment? Absolutely!  A great drummer can do that and always get right back into the groove, relaxed and controlled.