Monday Drum Day: Hot Blooded Foreigner

Yes, it is Monday again, but for me that mean more drumming. On the Drumeo forum someone shared this video yesterday.

I am not sure I have seen this guy Tim Ferriss before, but he sets himself challenges of learning a skill in a short period. In this case he had to learn to play the drums well enough to perform with Foreigner at one of their shows. That is no easy task. Mind you, he had Police drummer Stewart Copeland to help coach him. The song he picked, Hot Blooded, is not an easy one. it has three distinct sections and the rhythms are not basic. He actually did quite well in the end and his video is worth a watch.

Of course I had to give this a try too. I have been playing for a while, but I am still getting to grips with drumming. I have only played this song a few times over yesterday evening and about an hour tonight. I think Tim used a simplified arrangement, but I based mine on the transcription that Drumeo provide. I did find it hard and I could not play it exactly. In fact I actually slowed the song down to 80% so I could keep up. The rapid bass notes on the chorus are hard to do, especially with a single pedal. Tim played them on the floor tom, which would be easier.

I did make it though the song, but it needs a lot more work. I was a little confused as my video recording only had the drums and not the backing track. I did not realise that the app was recording from the drum kit USB audio rather than the headphone output. I had to record the backing from my tablet in Audacity and then match the two tracks up in Kdenlive. It is near enough.

This is really just another log of my drumming progress rather than a polished performance, so I do not expect you to listen to it all.

I rearranged my study a little at the weekend. As I bought a new monitor recently I had a spare, so I have positioned that near the drum kit so I can more easily follow the videos and notation in the lessons. My computer can run three screens at once. I use my practice pad for the mouse so I can control things. I am tempted to swap the two smaller screens around as a widescreen would be better for videos.

Rock on!