Drum Lessons Online

Here is Clip 4 of the JoJ Mayer Drum Solo. Be sure to check all these drum solo clips out. I tried to take pieces of of the Drum solos that I felt were most musical but still had a little bit of flash to them. Sections that would showcase groove and that spicy STANK that JoJo Mayer is known for.

OK, Here is Clip 3. I’d love to hear your feedback on these clips. Anything to what you think of JoJo, to how he chooses what he plays, dynamics, etc…

I’m just going to post multiple excerpts from this show. I gave my members the ability to access to the whole thing on my site. Not downloadable of course. I don’t want to tick anyone off.

However, if you have been thinking about taking drum lessons, I highly recommend getting on board here at GrooveisKing.com. Over the next few months, some really cool things are happening, and you will want to be a part of it. I promise you!!

So enjoy this clip

About a year ago, a friend turned me on to a new DVD called Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer.  That DVD reinspired me to pick back up the drive I had a long time ago to practice and refine my craft even more.  JoJo Mayer has done the same for thousands of drummers across the world.  His DVD was voted DVD of the year by Modern Drummer magazine.  This is a huge honor.  In my opinion, it is the best DVD on technique development I have ever seen.  I highly recommend it.

I was at NAMM 2009 this year and the opportunity to see JoJo Mayer play LIVE at the Sabian Cymbal night.  IT was needless to say the most amazing display of drumming I have ever seen.  Now, I prefer more straight ahead music that is less fusion and drum n bass when it comes to my listening preferences for drumming ideas.  However, the sheer mastery with which JoJo is able to execute his techniques with a relaxed, greasy control, leaves me amazed.  I don’t particularly like drum n bass stuff, but watching him put the “STANK” on it is really cool.

I would love to see JoJo, play drums on a mainstream pop record.  I would love to see how his style would translate to that type of music. Maybe one day, but for now he still remains up there in my list of most influential drummers of all time.

I hope you enjoy this video clip of the show.

I had the fortunate opportunity to attend NAMM 2009 this year. One of the highlights was SABIAN LIVE. It was a concert with several artists representing Sabian products. The main act was Jo Jo Mayer. I recorded this on my HD handheld camera and synced audio to the video using my Zoon H2. This is why the audio is as good as it is. There are a few times when the video dances, or the audio may phase, but for the most part my arm held up for the show.

As always, I try to bring you valuable, relevant, and current content. This particular video is one that will be exciting and amazing to watch. BUT, I would like you to watch it through a different lense.

Let me explain. Jo Jo Mayer, is on top of his game, and on top of the drumming world right now with his precision chops, speed, and most of all his ability to apply finesse and groove to all of the above. He is one of the those drummers that rank up there with Vinnie Colaiuta in his ability to put the “grease” on these incredible chops.

Now as you know, at GIK, we focus on FEEL vs. FILLS. However, in this situation, it is a drum’n bass type of music, which warrants this more involved type of drumming approach.

This leads me to your homework assignment. As you watch this video, I want you to really focus in on a few things. These things I will list are the essence of allowing you, as a drummer, to progress past the status quo. They are things I have talked to you about in the lessons, and written to you about in the lesson pdfs. (I hope you are using these pdfs!!!) Some of them are:

1. How relaxed he is even in more complicated movements.
2. The dynamics he uses even in faster and higher volume situations.
3. The segmentation of beats. (One of his major strengths, the break-beat vibe.)
4. The inner dynamics inside core grooves in the song. The ghosting (soft notes in between louder ones) he uses to give the groove a lope.
5. The rising and falling action from start to finish. How throughout the song he raises intensity, and brings it down at different points to give it a musicality, instead of just a bunch of noise. (THIS IS HUGE!!)
6. His orchestration and use of his drum set. Not always landing a kick with a crash on the downbeat, or maybe playing an over the bar type of phrase, or just different placements of accents on the unexpected drum.

So, I know it’s a lot of stuff. But I suggest taking some notes on the things you see and really try to internalize the things you notice and write down. I think this will be helpful if you watch from an analytical point of view.

I hope you enjoy this!!

Ashley Appling

JJ Johnson

Artist: John Mayer, David Ryan Harris
Drums: Ludwig
Cymbals: Zildjian

JJ Johnson is one of those guys who it’s obvious by his playing practices what he preaches. When your supporting a guy like John Mayer, you’ve got to know how to put it in the pocket and let that be your statement of greatness. It takes a mature player to be disciplined enough to know when to give out the ear candy, and do it in a tasteful fashion. In this interview, JJ makes some huge remarks, that match up to my philosophy here at Grooveisking.com. He talks about the role of a drummer, and what that looks like. Watch for yourself and see why I keep hammering to you guys the concepts of simplicity and groove.