I previously posted an article entitled “What Should I Play”? This covered the basics of playing a new song, particularly when you have no previous recording to guide you. This time we’ll look at another aspect of playing drums to a song – how should I play? How you play is more about the stylistic approach you might take to playing.

If you’ve ever heard a song on an album and then heard the same band play it live you may have noticed a distinct difference in the drummer’s approach to each situation. What you will find in many cases is that the drummer will play more aggressively and busier (i.e. more notes) in the live situation. The reason for this is usually that when the album was recorded the emphasis was purely on supporting the song and allowing it to be carried by its own melody, harmony and mood or spirit. When it comes to playing the same song live there are often other factors that prescribe a different approach to playing. For starters, at concerts, including many Christian gatherings, there is a need to ‘pump it up’ to suit the mood of the occasion. You only have to look at any of the Hillsong live DVD’s to see the high-energy approach that I’m talking about. However this is only one aspect to the question “How should I play”?

If you are prone to hanging out at drum shops, reading drum mags, attending drum clinics or listening to bands that have an emphasis on musical technicality then you will have been bombarded with a side to drumming that bears little resemblance to what you require in order to play simple choruses at church. The temptation as you increase your technique can be to look at a song wondering where you are going to fit in that inverted paradidle that you just developed. But have you noticed that there are many truly great drummers in the world who are quite prepared to leave their ‘chops’ (technique) alone and just play simply as is required for the song?

These players always put the song first; their technique is just a means to an end, to enable them to play exactly what their musical creativity inspires in them. It is true that some players like to play with a lot of technique and that is fine so long as it is appropriate to the situation. Some drummers are natural ‘side-men’ which means they are comfortable just supporting the rest of the band whereas others are natural technicians, soloists and front-line artists.

How does all of this relate to my playing in church? Firstly, you need to be aware of the tone or feel of your church and the particular meeting. Some churches have youth meetings where it may be appropriate to be more aggressive in your playing. What sort of mood is the writer or worship leader looking for in the song? I suggest you listen carefully to each person’s part, including the guitar, keyboards, bass, vocals and any horn lines or other parts. Match your playing to the desired mood, provide the rhythm and support the other musicians and singers. As an exercise, try playing the song with no fills at all. If the song has any particular figures or phrases, incorporate them into your beat rather than playing them as a drum fill so that the rhythm flows continuously. Accent where the song accents; phrase where the song phrases; let the song play you. In other words, let the song prescribe what should be played rather than approaching it with your bag of tricks that you’re determined to use. If you can master this you will be well on the way to playing purely for the song.

© Mick Hogan 2008

Some drummers, and for that matter, some bands, thrive on having every detail of what they will play in a song worked out in advance so they can just repeat it every time. That’s OK, but I suggest that ideally we want to be creative and spontaneous at least to some degree. After all, this is how some of the most exciting playing happens, when musicians communicate, in the moment, within the framework of a song. This has been the essence of jazz and its derivatives for one hundred years. I have also noted that in church services where the Spirit of God is given room to have His way, that it is rarely the same thing twice. This also aligns with what we read in the gospels where in each instance that Jesus performs a miracle, led by the Holy Spirit, it is done in a unique way and is not repeated. God is creative (well duh! He did create everything!). Continue reading »

I am very pleased to welcome Mick Hogan aboard as an official contributor to The Christian Drummer site. Mick’s first article is available on the ‘Contributors’ page.

Mick hails from Adelaide in Australia. He moved to Sydney in 1997 as part of a church plant with NCMI. He currently plays drums at Christian City Church Ryde where he has also played on several albums. Mick has taught at a specialist music school for 10 years in Adelaide, including private tuition at home as well as other centres.

Mick says he is very passionate about God and loves to worship our Saviour. He is also really enthusiastic about teaching and helping others to bring out the best in their drumming. Mick says, “I’m becoming even more passionate about my playing now and it is my dream to play in a worshipful band, travelling the world and leading people to Christ!”

His setup consists of:
1960’s “round-badge” Gretsch kit, 12″, 13″, 16″, 20″ with a 14″ x 5 1/2″ brass snare.

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Welcome Mick, it’s really great to have you on board! I know I am looking forward at what else you can share with Christian drummers all over the world!

A common question I hear from young drummers, especially when faced with coming up with a part for an original song is, “What should I play”? For the sake of drummers tackling this for the first time I will approach this from the ground up. Continue reading »