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Writing for the drums
I had some time off during the holidays, and spent a good bit of it listening to a lot of MLT music. I focused on the drumming, and was rather struck by the originality. For many covers you seem to take your cue from the original version as with “White Room”, or not, as with “Paint It Black”. Turning to original songs, I know you compose the drum parts with service to the song, and wonder where in the process the drum part is written; does it come at a standard point during the composition, or is it a song-by-song thing? Also, are there any drummers that you find particularly inspiring or influential?
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3 Replies
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Hi Dale!
Thanks a lot, I’m happy you decided to explore some of the drum parts in our music!
As you mentioned, all of us very much share the “serving the song” mentality when it comes to drums. I’m not a fan of flashy drumming, especially in recorded music, but I love innovative approaches to patterns and fills.
I feel that with drums, more than any other instrument, it’s sometimes difficult to stray away from the “expected” without throwing off the listener, but those who get this balance right go down in history.
Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, Steve Gadd, … and of course Ringo! They all used the drums as a songwriting and song sculpting tool, not simply a timekeeping and beat device 🙂
I try to take the same approach before recording any drum or percussion parts, and we have our own way of getting there.
Many times Lisa, Dad and I would sit together with a guitar or two before tackling the drum recording and we’d go through the song while I “sang” the drum parts loosely. That gives us way more freedom to try patterns and rhythms and leaves creative doors open that might shut down if I tried to already play along to the song straight away.
By “singing” them I’m not necessarily restricted by my own skill level or practised beats. Once we agree on something I’m off to practise and record it 🙂
Obviously, with some covers for which we decide to take much more direct inspiration from the original this step isn’t necessary. But especially with our original music, we first sing everything in our heads before trying to replicate it on the drums.
Hope that answers your question!
Enjoy your week,
Mona -
That answers my question beautifully, thanks. I had a notion that you had your own method of coming up with the drum parts of your songs because I could not recognize any others’ style in your drumming. None of the “Oh, that sounds like (pick a drummer)”, so I sort of think any influence you might have gotten from other drummers is more in attitude and application of the drum part rather than the actual playing of the drums. Your likening the drums to sculpture reminds me of Jim Gordon on Derek & The Dominos “In Concert” album “Got To Get Better In A Little While”, Jim Capaldi from Traffic’s “The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys” album, the “Light Up Or Leave Me Alone” track, or pretty much any of Danny Seraphine’s early Chicago tracks, for instance the first track on the first album “Introduction” from Chicago Transit Authority. Incidentally, all these guys played minimum kits of a bass, snare, 2 piece hanging toms, a floor tom, high hat, ride, and maybe a couple different crash cymbals so I think they share your non-fandom of the flashy drummer!
Enjoy your week, too!
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Really love hearing the creative process when it comes to your original music. I never thought about how the drum parts get thought out and put in, but you really explained wonderfully in great detail Mona. Thanks for that!
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