Drumming Tips And Examples From Dave Weckl

Dave Weckl is a technical master behind the drum kit. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org

Dave Weckl has received fame for his precise and technical drumming.  Weckl has performed and recorded with many of the best jazz and fusion players in the music industry, released a series of drum instructional videos, and written a few drumming books.  Weckl has inspired countless drummers around the world including myself when I was young.  I put together some videos that feature Weckl with different bands and a video lesson explaining the traditional stick grip.  I hope you enjoy these videos because I had fun picking them out for you!

The traditional grip is used by a lot of drummers, especially in the early swing era, but even by drummers today.  Buddy Rich often referred to the traditional grip as the only way to hold the sticks and looked down on anyone that used the more common match grip.  I suggest you experiment with both styles to see which one fits best.  See some exercises that Dave Weckl suggests for traditional grip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSii96zv_x0&feature=related.

Dave Weckl received a lot of recognition as the drummer for the Chick Corea Akoustic Band.  Check out Weckl play one of the coolest versions of Corea’s classic song, “Spain,” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq52nWNUrDk&feature=related.

Dave Weckl formed his own group of very talented musicians and performed at the Modern Drummer Festival in 1998.  The band plays a song called, “The Zone,” in this next video.  Weckl locks in a very cool groove at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgT82vDZIIQ.

Weckl fit very well into a jazz piano trio.  He plays with a trio led by jazz pianist, Michel Camilo, in this next video.  I chose this one specifically for Weckl’s drum solo right at the beginning of the video.  Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Loz54pl9EIY&feature=related.

Most of Dave Weckl’s performances include drum grooves beyond the “Money Beat,” but are still very groovy and locked in to the song.  Weckl is a very proficient and technically complex drummer that has found fame in the drum world.  I hope you enjoyed this feature about Dave Weckl and took something away from it for your own playing.  Remember to check back in at Play Drums By Ear for more!

Thanks,

Chris