“You gotta chop responsibly and love what you do more than anything else.”

Aaron Spears is one of the most requested drummers we’ve had at Drumeo. And what an experience it was!

With huge gigs under his belt (like Ariana Grande, Usher and Backstreet Boys, the GRAMMYs with James Brown and American Idol tours), Aaron knows what it takes to play in the big leagues. Much of that is the careful balance between chops and groove.

Before his 2006 Modern Drummer Festival appearance thrust him into the spotlight, Aaron honed his chops by shedding in his basement, trading licks with other drummers every Tuesday. This casual gathering eventually grew into a “fight club but with drums” where 40-60 drummers – including some big names – would get together to share ideas and ‘battle’ for fun.

It helped him develop his skills while building on ideas he heard from other drummers.

In this lesson, Aaron talks about how to express yourself on the drums and be creative without taking away from the music. He cautions drummers to respect the instrument and respect the other musicians you’re playing with, and talks about musical styles where there’s more space to play around.

If you’re a Drumeo member, you have access to Aaron’s complete video course called “The Building Blocks Of Drum Chops”, a masterclass on how to approach chops musically and tastefully. If you aren’t a member yet, get a free 7-day trial to Drumeo here!

Lesson Index:
0:00 – SONG: “Caught Up” by Usher
3:55 – Introduction
6:30 – Finding the balance of chops and groove
9:50 – SONG: “Give The Lord A Praise” by Gideon Band
14:14 – How to approach chops in different musical styles
17:45 – How Aaron got into playing chops
21:00 – SONG: “No Tears Left To Cry” by Ariana Grande
24:35 – Tips for playing pop music
27:10 – Jamming to a click vs. a song
29:50 – SONG: “Gasoline Dreams” by Outkast
35:00 – Why you should chop responsibly
38:02 – The biggest differences between the Usher and Ariana gigs
40:30 – SONG: “Love Me Harder” by Ariana Grande
42:49 – Keeping the backbeat during fills
44:27 – Aaron’s advice to drummers
46:46 – SONG: “Dangerous Woman” by Ariana Grande

Aaron Plays:
Sonor Drums
Zildjian Cymbals
Remo Drumheads
Zildjian Drumsticks

Follow Aaron:
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In this quick video, Aaron Spears teaches you 5 chops to take your drum fills from ‘meh’ to ‘wow’.

It’s easy to beat yourself up over ‘chops.’ Amazing drummers make it look so effortless – and they do it so fast that it’s almost impossible to figure out what they’re playing.

But here’s the thing: chops are simple patterns broken up around the kit. And you can play them too – even if you’re a beginner – as long as you know the pattern.

So in today’s lesson, Aaron Spears himself is going to break down a few of his go-to chop patterns so you can start playing them at your own pace and work your way up to his tempo. Check it out!

If you can’t get enough of Aaron Spears’ drumming, check out this video where he revisits the song that changed his life.

For more tips on practicing chops, check out this lesson, too.

He had undeniable pocket, wicked groove, and killer chops. You even voted him ‘Pop Drummer Of The Year’ in the 2021 Drumeo Awards.

With the news of Aaron Spears’ untimely passing at just 47 years old, we want to honor his memory by highlighting some of the pop drummer’s top moments from his Drumeo visit.

How to balance chops and groove

“You gotta chop responsibly and love what you do more than anything else.”

Aaron Spears was genuinely invested in making music sound good. Even though he was capable of playing at an incredibly technical level, he knew when to support the song.

In this hour-long lesson, he shares his best advice for drummers looking to take their playing (and career) to the next level.

The Usher song that changed Aaron Spears’ life

Spears found himself thrust into the spotlight – a name in his own right – after he played “Caught Up” by Usher at the 2006 Modern Drummer Festival.

Keep in mind that this isn’t how he would typically play the song with Usher – he had more freedom here than he would in front of a general audience, where it’s more about serving the music than entertaining drummers.

After the song ends, Aaron talks about how “Caught Up” impacted him and his career, and offers one more piece of advice for drummers (especially those who like to show off and shred).

5 chops to improve your fills

While Aaron was an incredible technician with gospel chops for days, he knew when to hold back – and that’s one reason he got so many top pop gigs.

In this lesson, he shares 5 chops to improve your drum fills – and if you play them slowly enough, even a beginner can learn them.

In honor of Aaron Spears, take some time to learn his chops and listen to his advice. When you can, share with someone else. The best way to keep a drummer’s legacy alive is to hold onto their creations and pay it forward.