Get a practice pad, a metronome and Stick Control and practice the 1st page an hour a day.

Drums look Best as a 5 piece imho..look good.

Get out of your comfort zone.

I know that's easier said than done. I found that very hard to do when I was a guitar player, but it's the only way. If your only doing rock, than try some jazz. You may not be into jazz, but after I immersed myself in it, I began to really get it. Now I'm consumed with it and I love playing it. When I find a real swing tune, and find the groove, there's nothing like it. Find a jazz instructor, and take a lesson even once a month, or check out YouTube, there is plenty of instructional stuff there that will challenge you.

The time thing is tough, but if you want it, you'll find the time.

You just need to be up to the challenge, and that's the hard part.

I love jazz and I set up the kit completely different to get out of my comfort zone.

Here's a video of Cindy Blackman.

[ame]https://youtu.be/RyXYFtsqym4[/ame]

Yeah, she's ok I guess.;)

I know I'm the rookie here, and I should just shut up, but I often try to play faster than I'm able, or do a fill that I really can't quite pull off. I push the level that I'm at. I don't really care how it sounds, I just push my boundaries, and eventually, if I stick to it no matter how ugly it is, I'm able to pull it off and go even further. I live for those breakthroughs!

I've heard you solo on some of these videos, and you have a great groove. Just keep pushing harder and faster and don't worry how it sounds or care if your making mistakes and missing your mark. Just push.

Live for the breakthroughs!!!Keep on Pl

Thanks, I'm just very critical of myself and not just with playing the drums. This is the only thing, other than drawing, that I can do fairly well. I'm not much good at math or science or law or medicine or sky diving or skiing or playing sports or just about anything else. All I think about is drumming and music and when I can't apply my feelings into my playing, I just wanna stop, but I don't because I can't.

If it's any consolation, I turned that Cindy video off at 2:03. It's another example of the kind of drum soloing I don't like, basically a ripoff of Tony Williams, who I never liked either. She sounded like she was falling down a flight of stairs, playing a bunch of angular, disjointed crap. Yes, she's got chops, but so what?

I've given up trying to be a good soloist. It'll never happen. I don't have Buddy's chops, so I do what I do best, and that's play great time and make the songs feel good.

Play to your strengths. Do what you do best. The average listener doesn't care about how well a drummer plays solos.

Hey, I like the groove players too, the ones who play for the song and if you've ever listened to her playing with Lenny Kravitz you'd know she can do that too.

I admire these kind of players because they can do everything.

Here's to YOU getting something From the Thread Johnny!