Developing Good Drumming Dynamics
First let’s start by defining what dynamics is as it applies to music. Dynamics is basically the volume that a given note is played at. Dynamics are notated in music with a few different markings as shown below.
Common Dynamics
Even as a drummer, one should be able to exercise good dynamics. Anything you can play very loud, you should also be able to play very soft with the same amount of control, and at the same tempo. Many drummers have the misconception that playing faster means playing louder, but this is not so. Playing latin or jazz, and studying the concepts that apply to those styles is a great study in dynamics.
There are a few easy ways that any drummer can achieve a sense of dynamics, and it comes down to technique. One thing that every drummer should incorporate into their playing is called a “rim shot”. To “rim shot” simply means to hit the head of the drum and the rim of the drum at the same time. This mostly applies to snare drum technique, but some drummers even use this on toms. This maneuver creates a much louder crack, and will cut much better than by just hitting the middle of the head. Another way to achieve good dynamics is to get control of your ghost notes. Ghost notes are very quiet notes in between backbeats that give a groove motion. Ghost notes can really open up a drummers playing, and make a groove happen. Below I have written out a couple of grooves that incorporate ghost notes that are great for developing this technique. The ghost notes are the ones in parentheses.
Ghost Note Grooves
These are just a few basic methods you can use to help develop an understanding of dynamics. I also suggest going on youtube and watching a few drumming legends demonstrate these concepts. Watch Steve Gadd play his famous paradiddle grooves, pretty much anything Dave Weckl does, and Tony Williams play swing. These guys have all developed an outstanding understanding of dynamics.
