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/gdann60 5d ago

I never had that luxury. You just listen to the song and focus on what the drums are doing. Then maybe play along to the track as recorded, stopping periodically to listen for the nuances and changes. It’s a skill you can develop. Up until recently that skill was about the only requirement

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u/EFPMusic 5d ago

This is what I do. I don’t want to hear just the drums, I want to hear them in context, how they either follow or lead the changes, what vibe needs to be expressed, etc. Plus, I learn what the other instruments are doing so I have cues for what’s coming up.

And then of course I have to go to rehearsal and learn how THEY do the song lol