Comments on: How To Learn Songs By Ear

By: Dean Hamilton

Dean Hamilton — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 19:40:00 +0000

Really enoyed the lesson by Jimmy. Great stuff! I’ve recently taken up the drums again and I basically learned how to play by listening however, I’m spending a lot more time with online lessons now. The only other comment I have concerns a little confusion regarding the hi-hats and kick pedal. I saw a lot of movement with Jimmy’s feet and couldn’t immediately tell if he was using a double kick pedal, and what was going on with the hi-hats. After a while it appeared he was mostly playing with closed hats and maybe only a single kick pedal. The camera angle on the base wasn’t very clear. I think it would have been helpful if Jimmy could have spent a little more time on the techniques involved to help us drummers who really are trying to improve, but are somewhat confused as to exactly what these great drummers are doing. Thanks, Dean

By: sue smith

sue smith — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 03:17:00 +0000

For beginners, why don’t you go through the song and show us with the camera and do and explain what the bass drum is doing (exactly). Then, why don’t you play it again and explain and do SLOWLY and have the camera WATCH JUST what the right hand is doing. Then, go through the song and do what the left hand is doing during the main 4/4 beat. Then, actually do a fill SLOWLY AND DEMONSTRATE AND SHOW THE FILL AND LET US DO IT SLOWLY WITH YOU. This obviously isn’t for advanced players so why don’t you break it down and do it slowly and exactly. You played the song that many times anyway but didn’t show us much. When we walk away do we even know if we did it right? Then, tell us what beat and show us what the high hat is doing and if you play the bass drum heal up, heal down and why. Beginners need exact instructions. I don’t watch these anymore because i don’t know if I am doing what you are doing or not. It is a bunch of talk. Show us exactly what is done in a slowed down manner. Tell us exactly what is being played on what beat. Tell us and show us what the bass drum is doing. Let us hear each part separately.

By: Alain Poudrier

Alain Poudrier — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 22:52:00 +0000

Good lesson Jimmy. When I was younger, that is how most musicians learned how to play. We listened and listened over and over again . To me, that taught us a very important part of being a drummer. I was gigging in clubs 4 nights a week when I was fifteen. There was no internet back then ( early 70’s) and not much access to lessons unless you had a teacher. I went back to school and got my classical degree in percussion. Most of my students don’t even listen to the piece they are working on. They learn how to read and rely on the sheet. Most kids are so busy with activities, they don’t have the time to listen to music. To me, listening is one of the most important part of being a musician. Thanks for that lesson.