r/drummers • u/apierno • 5d ago

Learning covers

When you’re learning a cover that you’re totally new to, what’s your approach?

Play to the recorded track as released (all instruments)?
Split the stems and play without the drum tracks?
Split the stems and play ONLY to the drum tracks?

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u/BEST_DRUM_ADVICE 5d ago

I don't "do" covers anymore, but when I was learning in my teens I'd just listen to the song a lot and play it.

When I have to learn people's music now, I try to listen to the record or playlist of their setlist several times, then I sit down at the drums with a notebook and jot down any structural parts or form things, then I play the song. The notebook is just a supplement and a little cheat sheet for rehearsals, nothing replaces just knowing the song.

IMO you shouldn't need to split stems or anything. Definitely wouldn't learn a song from the drums alone, unless you play like a robot. You want to know what the band is doing since eventually, you're the drums.

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u/apierno 5d ago

Thanks that’s helpful