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What's up all!

leschdoit - Sun, 03/21/2010 - 11:31 | 68 views

Hey everyone! Cool site! It's so awesome to find a place where drummers can share their knowledge and ideas!

I'm an old school, self taught drummer from the 70's. Never had a formal lesson. I'm sure you'll be able to tell from my lack of technical skills. I don't try to do too much technically, mainly because I can't, but really enjoy keepng a solid, steady goove. I've always tried to be more of an artistic drummer than an over-powering drummer. I started playing when I was about 6 and have been loving it ever since! I'll never forget sitting behind the first kit I ever played. It was a beautiful white Pearl set that looked just like Peter Chris's set from Kiss....minus a few pieces of course. It was my best friend's older brother's kit and he wouldn't let us come anywhere near it unless he was playing it...that is unless he was gone. Then it was our turn! Thank God he never came home and caught us!

I've been playing off and on professionally for over 20 years and played with several groups throughout the midwest. I prefer rock or funk/jazz genres and just love playing to stuff with a funky undertone! Anything with a good solid beat will do really. Some of my main influences through the years have been, Neil Peart, Steve Gadd, James Bradley Jr., Steve White, Alex Vanhalen, and so many more I can't even think of right now. I basically learned to play drums to side 1 of Moving Pictures/Rush. My style is kind of a mix between Neil Pert and Steve Gadd. Now if I could just solo like either of them! lol!

Anyway, it's really cool to find this community and I am looking forward to leaning some new tricks and making some new friends! Thanks for the website and to all the people who have contibuted to it.

Rock on my friends! Steve

Ben2k Drummer

Drummer Comments (3)

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ringochris Says Re: What's up all!

Submitted On: Thursday, Mar 25, 2010 - 7:52 PM

Welcome Steve. As I'm sure you already know, you've found a great site in drummer connection. I too am self taught, and I think I'm pretty much like you - never been a technical drummer, just playing for the song. I found this site when I started teaching, and it's inspired me to work on a lot of the stuff I shyed away from for years. I've been dedicating about 2 hours a day to working on my rudiments just on a practice pad for the last 4 or 5 months, and still loving every minute of it. I should have done it years ago! Anyway, it's nice to have yet another experienced drummer onboard! I'm sure you have much knowledge to share!

All the best,
Chris

cowboyplayindrummer Says Re: What's up all!

Submitted On: Thursday, Mar 25, 2010 - 9:11 AM

Welcome Ben, Although we've talked already lol. I am a self-taught musician myself and that includes guitars and keys. You can hear my feeble attempts at music/composition on my main page. I look forward to hearing things from you and takling with you about all things drumming.

~ cowboy

leschdoit Says Re: Re: What's up all!

Submitted On: Thursday, Mar 25, 2010 - 10:42 AM

Hey cowboy! Good to hear from you again. Ben2k is the name of my band...I'm actually Steve. Kind of confusing there sorry! I checked out some of your stuff...very nice! Always wanted to learn guitar but never happened. I took some lessons when I was 5 but lost interest when I saw the drums that were set up at the place that I took lessons. I also had 5 years of piano and actually ended up playing trumpet all through school. When I went out for drums in 5th grade, all we played were the stand up snare and concert bass drum and I wanted to play the whole set! So, I quit and took up the trumpet, not realizing that I would miss out on any formal drum lessons and all those rudiments, Ahhhhh! Wish I could do that over! My band director was always confused because when I would go to the band room to practice, instead of practicing my trumpet, I would go into the drum room and bang away! I guess he didn't care because I some how managed to keep first chair trumpet held down and ended up winning many performance awards in jazz band through the years. I ended up playing lead trumpet for Jazz II and was an alternate drummer for Jazz III at the Universtity of Northern Iowa! Go Panthers! But, drums were always my true love! I think it's very beneficial to have some other musical training as well. Rock on Bro!

cowboyplayindrummer Says Re: Re: Re: What's up all!

Submitted On: Thursday, Mar 25, 2010 - 2:32 PM

Hey Steve (lol),

Northern Iowa rocks and made Kansas look like St. Mary's School For The Inept.

Thanks for listening to my stuff. I appreciate the feedback. I have been known as a drummist for many years and I wanted to shake that image so I worked very hard (and still do) to learn and play other instruments. I'm lucky that people respect my abilities enough to allow me to play their vintage stuff when other guys who play better than I can only drool at that opportunity. I played stand-up snare in school to and actually fell in ove with tympani but it's not a practical rock instrument.

~ cowboy

Titch Davidson Says Re: What's up all!

Submitted On: Thursday, Mar 25, 2010 - 8:46 AM

Hi Ben2k.
Welcome to the site, am very fresh on here too much like your self. This does seem a nice place to meet and chat with fellow drummers, so i hope we get a chance to chat spoon. Kepp it funky and gives a killer grove man!!!! hahaha. Old school is the best place to start by the way. All the greats were from the old school ;)

Cheers,Titch.

leschdoit Says Re: Re: What's up all!

Submitted On: Thursday, Mar 25, 2010 - 10:49 AM

Hey Titch! What's up? Good to hear from you. Yeah, this is definately a cool site and I have enjoyed it quite a bit so far. Always trying to keep the funk bro! Old school rocks!