Metal Sludge Gossip Board

Busch1724 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 1:27 pm Alex could do what Tommy did, Tommy can't do what Alex did. The swing Alex has is something most drummer can't do, at least with that kind of feel.

ALMOSTsaved wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 2:44 pm

Busch1724 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 1:27 pm Alex could do what Tommy did, Tommy can't do what Alex did. The swing Alex has is something most drummer can't do, at least with that kind of feel.

As someone who knows very little about drumming techniques, I've always been intrigued by the definition of "swing." Is there a non-technical way of defining it or just some great examples of it?

Busch1724 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 1:27 pm Alex could do what Tommy did, Tommy can't do what Alex did. The swing Alex has is something most drummer can't do, at least with that kind of feel.

JamesHetfieldsAcneScars wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 4:59 pm Alex and it ain't even close, he's got way more skills than tommy. Tommy's good for the type of band he's in, but people (mostly non drummers) over rate him because he looks cool spinning sticks, playing upside down and on roller coasters and shit.

jorge wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 8:47 pm I like tommy but Alex was keeping up with one of the greatest guitar players of all time Tommy was keeping up with Mick Mars. I think tommy swings fine.

Kerry67 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:23 am Apples to oranges here.

Tommy is a KILLER drummer who happens to be in a shitty band. Bad ass as they were for the first 2 albums and the Corabi album, the rest has pretty much been crap.
the first 6 VH albums were pretty much all killer.

Bono Nettencourt wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 5:44 pm Alex is better, but neither are great. Very good/good.

Busch1724 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 1:27 pm Alex could do what Tommy did, Tommy can't do what Alex did. The swing Alex has is something most drummer can't do, at least with that kind of feel.

Ryan81 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 5:25 pm

JamesHetfieldsAcneScars wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 4:59 pm Alex and it ain't even close, he's got way more skills than tommy. Tommy's good for the type of band he's in, but people (mostly non drummers) over rate him because he looks cool spinning sticks, playing upside down and on roller coasters and shit.

I cannot believe this is a question. Tommy is a really good drummer and everything, but Alex Van Halen is one of the greats of the last 40 years period. Alex is to drums not a whole lot different to what Eddie was to guitar. Obviously not quite at that level, but not far off.

ALMOSTsaved wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 2:44 pm

Busch1724 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 1:27 pm Alex could do what Tommy did, Tommy can't do what Alex did. The swing Alex has is something most drummer can't do, at least with that kind of feel.

As someone who knows very little about drumming techniques, I've always been intrigued by the definition of "swing." Is there a non-technical way of defining it or just some great examples of it?

Michael Hotts Ghost wrote: ↑Thu Oct 31, 2024 7:42 pm Alex is great and all but hes not Peart.

Neil Diamond Dave wrote: ↑Thu Oct 31, 2024 2:52 pm

ALMOSTsaved wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 2:44 pm

Busch1724 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 1:27 pm Alex could do what Tommy did, Tommy can't do what Alex did. The swing Alex has is something most drummer can't do, at least with that kind of feel.

As someone who knows very little about drumming techniques, I've always been intrigued by the definition of "swing." Is there a non-technical way of defining it or just some great examples of it?

Hmm, it's hard to define in simple words and mathematics, but I'll attempt by using rock drummer examples. I started to understand groove and feel by the way someone tried to break down what separated Bonham from his rock drummer peers: It was not just in straight timekeeping, which he did to a 'T'. It was about the intangible movement around that given time, but still arriving at that precise beat. In Bonham's case, he actually played what was described as a 'fraction behind' the given beat. He still ultimately arrives at the original time, but it 'swings' with a feel and groove that feels 'easy, lazy, behind', that a mechanical metronome cannot do.

To go further than the Bonham example, it's a 'swing' that separates Steven Adler from say, a metronomic Matt Sorum. It's a 'swing' that separates Phil Rudd from say, a metronomic Chris Slade.

Anyway, my attempt.