Often I get the music for a gig or rehearsal with only a day or two away so many songs need to be learned within a short period of time. Instead of writing them out in a traditional musical chart or playing the songs over and over until memorized, I’ve found it easier to use a drum chart shorthand using a spreadsheet program. Usually, just writing each chart will help get each song about 80% memorized. After a couple run-throughs with the recorded material while reading the chart gets me to about 90% ready. Once in rehearsals with the band I can just take a quick glance at each chart before starting the song. If necessary, or in time crunch, I’ll bring the chart to the gig. The neat thing about this format is that I can get 7-8 songs on one page.
Sometimes I’m asked to record or perform song only after one or NO rehearsal. In this case I’ll pull out the pencil and paper and make a simplified handwritten version of this chart.
On the live gig, I find that matching song titles to songs to be one of the hardest parts about preparing for a gig. Often a tune will remind me of another popular song, so I will note something like “slow Moondance” if the song reminds me of a slow version of Van Morrison’s song Moondance or “Bonham” if the song has a big, heavy beat. Usually that’s enough to get the tune in my head. Ironically, the new drummer is usually called upon to remember the tempos for the person who wrote the song so you need to be prepared to get the tune in your head quickly! When in doubt don’t be too proud to catch the attention of a bandmate and say, “Pssst… how does this song start?” It’s much better to set your ego aside and start the song with the correct tempo.
I find that most good bands arrange songs so that one particular instrument starts, so a count off by the drummer isn’t always necessary. There is the dramatic approach too: Bruce Springsteen and the Dee Dee Ramone made an art of counting off songs! I try to save the drummer count offs for songs that really need the band to start all together. Instead of stick clicks or shouting, “one two three four” I find a drum fill that matches the intensity of the introduction to be musically more pleasing.
What I like about my drumming shorthand is that the song form is laid out in bold on the bottom row. I can quickly get “Intro, verse, chorus, break, verse, chorus, bridge, break, verse, chorus, chorus.” It may seem like a lot, but it’s actually easy to memorize.
One of the most important things to note are song breaks. It’s usually easy to fake your way through a verse, but if the whole band stops and you don’t, well…the mistake will be obvious. Good bandmates who know that the material is new to you will usually give you a cue for changes so keep your head up, not buried in the chart. Don’t forget to do the same for a new member of your group! Marking the changes of song sections with an obvious drum fill, nod, and/or eye contact can go long way in preventing train wrecks!
I like to note the number of measures in each section. What I try to notice on the gig or rehearsal isn’t usually the exact number of measures, but rather if something is odd like a group of 5 measures or an extra 2 measure tag. Groups of 4, 8, 12, 16 measures can usually just be felt internally without any counting.
In the top row I note what’s being featured in each section. I can quickly keep track of the landmarks in each song by using the lyrics. Remember, your lead singer is always “right”! If the singer accidentally skips or repeats a section, you need to quickly find your place. I find that just a couple words of lyrics is enough to get back on track. Lyric cues also help me remember the new song because many times the song title isn’t the catchiest part of the tune.
Below is the first song off the drum chart I used when I play with Robert Bradley’s Blackwater Surprise.
Here’s the full page version:
Since arriving in the Chicagoland area several months ago I’ve been learning to wear many new hats. The first hat is that of a gigging drummer. I’ve auditioned for a handful of groups and have found myself in the drummer seat for a few groups in Chicago area. First is an experimental art-rock group named Wilshire. We will be performing downtown Chicago at the Whistler on April 13. Here’s the write up I just discovered on the Whistler’s site:
WILSHIRE awakens from its WELL DESERVED hiatus—(8 years, grandpa!)— and is dusting off the ol’ TASCAM 4-track, re-learning how to TUNE its guitar, & frantically running SCALES for a reunion gig at the WHISTLER on April 13th. CRICKETS, do-wop pop-noise, MULTIPLE drummers, HARMONIES parts 1, 2 & 3 (!!), plus saxes, TRUMPETS!!! & their ilk… what don’t this ALL-STAR BOY BAND do!? Featuring REID COKER (The Judy Green), Chris Sherman (FRUIT BATS), Nathaniel BRADDOCK (Occidental Brothers DANCE BAND International), CHRIS!! Warland (Ancient Greeks) & BRAD FRANK (Pillar to Post). Let’s not be STOOPID. Let it be, at the WHISTLER!!!
I’m excited to have the opportunity to play with such talented people!
I’ve also landed a gig with an indie rock band named Pretty Side Down. The band’s web site currently contains only demos (pre-me) and needs updating. We’ve been in the process of completing our 6 person line up and should be ready with a demo CD and live performances somewhere around June. Honestly, I think our singer mentioned that a low profile gig has been booked for June but I haven’t confirmed the date yet. I’ll definitely post the dates when I get them.
I’ve also landed a gig with a straight-up classic rock cover band. This group is still in the process of landing the right bass player. We keep auditioning people, but we decided to wait for just the right person. It’s fun playing with these guys since they like to play songs that are classic rock, but a little off the well-beaten path of the Brown Eyed Girl type songs. I’ll post when we get our group ready to perform. There is a potential name-dropping-worthy prospect who may play with us, but I’ll confirm that with you when it happens.
I have an audition with a jazzy pop singer named Victoria Fuller this Thursday. Owen Cooper, the guitarist from Pretty Side Down hooked me up with this opportunity. I just received the music today so I’m going to have to woodshed between now and Thursday night! Wish me luck!
So that other new hats I mentioned earlier, besides drummer, have now included: audio engineer, videographer, web designer, and marketer. Between preparing for auditions and rehearsing with new groups I’ve been working on my first four part video series based on re-interpreting the snare drum rudiment called The Drag. The final video is uploading on YouTube as I type this. I’ve spent the winter months huddled down in my basement relearning (and learning) audio engineering techniques. I took a couple recording engineering classes in college and have spent enough time in different recording studios to kind of know what I’m doing! It’s definitely an art and I’m still learning the tricks of the trade (thanks to my brother too) but I think the drums sound pretty decent so far on this video series.
Presenting on video is much different than teaching a private lesson or drum clinic! I’ve spent a lot of time researching cameras (the Flip is great) and lighting techniques as well as public speaking techniques. It’s painful to watch yourself say “umm”, “soooo”, or “ahh”. I think I’m getting better at my public presentation and each time I shoot a video it’s better than the last. My brother, Harry J Frank is a graphic motion designer and well-versed at video tutorials. Check his site graymachine.com. He’s pretty well known in his graphic design circles. His video tutorials are very popular. With his tips on equipment, eq settings (he used to be a pro sound engineer), lighting, and speaking on camera, not to mention even giving me a copy of the video editing software Final Cut (thanks!) my next drum videos will look a little slicker, though I am proud of what I’ve put together so far!
As far as being a web designer, if you’re reading this, you can see what I’ve done with my website. I composed it in Wordpress. That was a steep learning curve! I think I got it looking pretty good though. I’m always in the process of tweaking it but my main focus now is filling BradFrankDrums.com with CONTENT. Please check back often, or RSS the site, as I plan to post many more lessons, transcriptions, and videos. Don’t be afraid to email me a question or post comments on what you see.
I think the video is uploaded, in HD too, so better get back to work. Please drop me a line if you have any questions or comments about this site, my drum lessons, the bands I play with, or anything else.
Brad
Sound files from my former band The Undercats:
Sound files from my former band One Step Beyond:
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