Jeff, its never a bad thing to want to improve your skills. Very few will ever truely master the instrument,but you can still push yourself to learn something new everyday and have fun with it. Its a hobby, enjoy it.

Heaps of good advice here... Hope this spurs you on.. you do such a great job on your resto's .. you should keep it going and get the enjoyment out of playing the kits.

Always have a set of sticks with you, pick them up when ever you can & tap out some rudiments.. I spend 2 hours a day on the motorway & much of the time is bumper to bumper going nowhere.. like Backbeat Keeper I belt out on the Passenger seat during these stops. Helps familiarize your hands to those sticks.. Pick your favorite songs & forget what the drummer is doing... just play paradiddles or triplets in time, from the start to the finish.. and always keep that BD foot pumping away..

Cheers

(I got sick of losing sticks at roundabouts.. I put a velcro loop next to the gear shift ... sticks are now always close at hand)..

Amazing how this thread how this thread has taken off. Thanks again everyone.

robyn64, I am a lot like you, I don’t read music either, anymore. I did back in middle school when I was in band but kind of lost it. I also like to play along with a cd but maybe I’m being to much of a perfectionist because I’m trying to play the exact same thing the drummer in the cd is playing. I just need to relax and just play along my own way. I appreciate you chiming in and giving your advice.

Jeff C

you are welcome jeff, relaxing n havin' fun is the most important part. play along with the song long enuf and you'll find yourself doing what that drummer is doing, it will come natural. don't worry bout being perfect cause that won't happen, no disrespect. be natural not perfect.

hi Jeff

first off don't give up ! What i find to b true is if you've been playing all your life with time off here and there for what ever reason (cleaning up is a good one and drying out )as long as u don't stay away too long its like ridding a bike u may fall a few times but eventually you get going, maybe not like you were at 25 but a good deal of practice will bring back some shape.if you've never been in groups and have been dry a long time this can b a deal breaker its very hard to get rolling, but I can attest no dry spell is too long....(from closing bars to church playing that's me ) now jazz bands and a girl singer are interested who knows i mite be back if i can do it you can too !

but every time I get behind a kit its therapy to me and I feel 17 again..

Jeff, I used to stress about playing every little piece exactly like the drummer on the track played it. I still try to play a good bit of songs close to the way the original drummer did. But, I don't stress about doing exactly what they did, because a lot of times I just don't have the technical ability. But, I can do it my way and make it sound good. Don't get hung up on being a clone of every drummer, just stay with the tempo and have fun with it.

Keep on Pl

Lynn

It is pretty simple for me. Yeah, we could post some vids and most of these guys would be too nice to tell the truth that my drumming sounds like someone picked up a pair of work boots in a pile of laundry and threw it in the dryer..... Some would be honest and be polite enough to suggest lessons or something like that. I ask my biggest critics (wife and kids) this question when they are particularly harsh. "Who the hell made it a law that says you have to sound good to like to bang on drums?" That is a rule I live by!

Sure, it would be nice to show up somewhere and kill some licks, but that isn't in the cards for me so I stick to what I am good at. Keeping the IPOD loud enough to not be able to hear my drums that good.......LOL

I say screw it, just quit and give me your drums... :DLaughing H

Oh, gee thanks, great advice,,let me think on that one.lol

drumhack, I hear ya. I have fun with my drums, Im not stressed over being the next Buddy Rich or anything, just would like to know what these totaly awsome drummers are doing and try it myself. My wife will always tell me I sound good,thats the way she is. I plan on using bits of all the advice posted little at a time. Especialy getting back to putting on the head phones and just playing along with the song as best as I can. And I am close to getting a couple guys to jam with. But in the middle of it all I want to be working on the grip and experimenting with different fills and such. I did order that DVD that John recomended. I will get it this Saturday and will let everyone know what I think of it. If John (Purdie Shuffle) recomends it, then I am sure it will be a great help. I have learned more from him than any one member in the two years I have been here.

Again, to everyone responding, thank you. You guys, and gals are like a big brother, or sister that is always there to lean on.

Jeff C

Jeff, no problem on the wraps. Whenever you find the time is fine... no hurry. Yes the carple tunnel (I call it tunnelram as a joke DOH) does suck and played a big part in me not playing for so long. The infared gloves help a bit and after extended use I don't need them as often. Wearing gloves while playing is awkward for me but it better than hands going numb. Indeed John has been a great influence on my playing too, Lots of the tips and vids have really helped my playing.