How to Handle a BAD DAY on the Drums

We’ve all had those days where we sit down to play, and nothing feels right. The groove we practiced the other day just won’t come together, and the fills we practiced end up sloppy. Nothing FEELS right, and we’re not comfortable playing for some reason. Something’s clearly wrong…but what is it? Let’s dig into this a little more and see if we can find some possible solutions.

• #1: You may have just set up your kit weird. What I mean by this is that maybe your snare is too low, or your hats are too high. Maybe your kick drum is too close…or too far away. Maybe you’re having to lean in too far because the snare and hihat are too far away. Any number of weird little setup issues can cause enough discomfort to give you a bad day at the drums. Take the time to evaluate your setup, and video yourself playing if possible. Play around with adjusting different elements of your kit, because you might suddenly stumble upon a much more comfortable setup!

• #2: You’re distracted, and you’re not really listening. Playing music WELL requires being really engaged with what’s going on. Whether you’re practicing or playing a gig with a band, you have to be locked into what’s going on around you at all times. Your listening has to be laser-focused so that you’re always adjusting to what you’re hearing (from yourself and other musicians). I’ve found this to happen when I’m tired, when the emotional thrill of playing music starts to die off. If I start to get even the slightest bit lazy, my playing will become less musical and won’t feel so great. My reaction to that then becomes “why am I not playing really well?” “what’s going on?” “why does nothing feel right?” - It’s safe to say that listening well is a big solution to this problem.

• #3: You haven’t played in a while. I’ve noticed this one many times. Say I just got back from vacation, and I went straight to a gig. Most likely it will take me about 15 minutes to “warm back up to the kit” so that I feel “at home” again. Depending on how long you’re away from your kit, you might feel very awkward when you come back to it. This all depends on how long you’ve been playing or what kind of skill level you’ve reached on the instrument. I actually posted a video a while back about this very topic, so check it out if you want to learn more!

How Long Does It Take to LOSE Your Skill as a Drummer?

I think the best solution to the skill-loss-over-time issue is to be aware that it’s going to happen. Prepare accordingly, and be hyper-focused on your playing to make sure that you’re paying careful attention to your time and cleanliness of your playing. We all have to take breaks from the drums every so often, but don’t let absence from the instrument cause you frustration. This is where patience is the name of the game.

So to sum up, here are three possible solutions and key points to take away:

• #1: Always be in a constant state of evaluating your setup. Make sure your kit feels totally comfortable for YOUR body and YOUR playing style.

• #2: Always be hyper-focused on listening when you’re playing, whether you’re practicing or playing live. Listening is the key to playing solid, musical time. At a minimum, just pay attention to what’s going on around you. Keep your head in the game, and you’ll play better as a result.

• #3: Be patient with yourself when you’ve taken time off from the drums. Know that your brain will require a little bit of “warming up,” and don’t let that discourage you. When in doubt, follow steps #1 and #2. Those will help you deal with #3 most easily. :)

I hope these tips help you guys out! Have a great week.

Stephen