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First solo performance
for my first solo performance I decided to do Take me out by Franz Ferdinand. I chose this as this is one song i am comfortable playing and is enjoyable to play. I learnt this with my drumming teacher and while doing my GCSE.
why I have chosen this song
Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out" is a great choice for a drum solo performance because it features a dramatic groove, a relatable beat, and opportunities for improvisation. The song features a dramatic tempo change that allows for dramatization and the possibility of interesting performance with seamless transitions. Its clear-cut hi-hat lines and insistent snare crashes make it strong as a foundation, and its minimalist yet push-ahead rhythm creates room for solo adornments such as ghost notes, fills, or even polymeters. Since the tune is known, then there is every reason to expect a willing crowd too, thus creating a heady and kinetic opportunity for any player to prove both technical prowess as well as performative aplomb.
Technical and Expressive Challenges
Drumming in Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand involves technical and expressive requirements that include precision and musicianship. The shift from the faster intro to the slower driving groove necessitates strict control to bring about a smooth transition. Hi-hat articulation must be clean and crisp, and kick-snare interplay must include strong limb independence and endurance. Expressively, dynamic control is crucial to well-balanced soft hi-hat playing with punctuating snare hits to keep the groove interesting. The slightly swung feel of the song helps make it danceable, so one must be careful not to play too rigidly. While the original drumline is fairly straightforward, tasteful fills and discreet ghost notes can add personal flair without overplaying the groove. Additionally, good stage presence and locked-in quality contribute to the overall performance, with the drums driving the song's infectious rhythm while keeping the audience interested.
Artistic Research
Franz Ferdinand is a Scottish indie rock group with their gritty, danceable beats and post-punk heritage. They emerged in the early 2000s, blending angular guitar riffs, driving grooves, and disco-influenced beats, drawing inspiration from bands like Gang of Four and Talking Heads. They are raw and stylish simultaneously, and their lyrics include romance, nightlife, and social commentary. Visually and lyrically, they incorporated avant-garde and Dadaist influences, which provide them with a humorous, artistic edge. Their frenetic live performances and their ability to cross over rock with danceable rhythms have made them a genre-setting band of the indie rock revival.
Program Notes – Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand
A single released in 2004 from Franz Ferdinand's self-titled debut album, Take Me Out is an archetypal anthem of early 2000s indie rock. The song can be easily identified by its melodic shift in tempo, jagged guitar chords, and dance-like rhythm. Drawing inspiration from post-punk bands like Gang of Four and Talking Heads, Take Me Out interpolates the power of rock with a rhythmic sound, making it powerful as well as engaging. Technically and expressively, the tune presents both challenge and great opportunity. The transition from frenetic intro to more subdued driving groove requires precision and control. The precise hi-hat footwork, syncopated snare playing, and hard snare-kick interplay combine to produce the song's distinctive rhythmic feel. While the original drum part is simple enough, it presents ample scope for dynamic variation, ghost notes, and creative fills. Aside from rhythmic sophistication, Take Me Out is also a dance record, requiring great stage presence and internalized groove in an effort to capture the song's propulsive energy to its fullest potential. Played to devoted precision or even customized and adapted, the song's kinetic energy and easily identifiable rhythm make up an exhilarating demonstration of technical proficiency and artistry.
rehearsal blog
To Learn this song I originally did this with my old drumming teacher and with the use of sheet music. I first did this for my GCSE and haven't played it since this. I used this video to help remind myself of how to play the song.
in my rehearsals I broke each part down. for one rehearsal I focused on the first section on hi hats then I focused on the chorus then the ending.
Final performance
second solo performance
For my second solo performance I have chosen to learn No one knows by Queens Of The Stone Age. I chose this after me and my drumming teacher looked at a range of songs that would show of a range of techniques and that I would enjoy learning.
why I have chosen this song.
"No One Knows" has a strong, driving beat that propels the song along with force. The song uses basic rock beats and syncopation, offering a chance to practice more complex coordination. The use of off-beat accents in the song and the shifting feel throughout the song present an interesting challenge. It's a high-energy song that can engage the crowd, and the drumming is mostly the main focus in this song.
Technical and Expressive Challenges
The song's rhythm features syncopation and slightly deviating time signatures, especially in the verses. Though the song is generally in 4/4, the phrasing and accentuation of the verse can be off-beat. The hi-hat is an important component in this song, especially in the verses in which you can play more involved open and closed hi-hat patterns. The challenge here is to make sure the hi-hat work is smooth and precise, especially when you’re focusing on the kicks and snare simultaneously. The bass drum in “No One Knows” plays a big role in creating the song’s driving momentum. The challenge here is developing coordination between your hands and feet to maintain consistent rhythm, especially during the faster sections where precision is key. The drumming on "No One Knows" is not merely about executing the basic beat. It's about incorporating the ghost notes and dynamic variations, particularly on the hi-hat and snare. The ghost notes add texture to the beat, so playing them at the right volume and at the right time matters. One of the largest expressive hurdles to doing this song may be maintaining high levels of energy throughout the entire song, but remaining in control and consistent at the same time. There are many build-ups and breakdowns to the song. The equilibrium of being able to switch back and forth from the most extreme, high-energy sections of the song and more mellow points requires practice and time.
In conclusion, playing "No One Knows" is an opportunity to focus on technical skills like precision, coordination, and timing, and expressive skills like dynamics, feel, and groove. It has challenged me to balance a driving rhythm section with delicate expression through ghost notes and dynamics, which will hopefully make me a more versatile drummer.
artistic research
Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA) is an American rock band formed in 1996 by the band's guitarist, Josh Homme. QOTSA is highly acclaimed for their distinctive blend of stoner rock, alternative, and hard rock, and their music entails the incorporation of heavy riffs, rhythmic grooves, and experimental tones. Homme's aspirations for the band have been fulfilled through various line-up changes, including instrumental input from members like Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) and Josh Homme's side projects with other musicians. Their breakthrough commercial album, "Songs for the Deaf" (2002), with the single "No One Knows," propelled them to mainstream success, showcasing their lively range and unique sound. Their sound has developed throughout the years, adopting a mix of post-punk, garage rock, and even electronic music. With records such as "Rated R" (2000) and ".Like Clockwork" (2013), which have received critical acclaim, QOTSA have gained the reputation of being boundary pushers with a progressive approach towards rock music, and as a result, they are a force to be reckoned with in the rock genre.
Program notes
Queens of the Stone Age's "No One Knows," included on songs for the Deaf in 2002, is a stoner rock and alternative rock classic with catchy riff, furious drumming, and contagious groove. Written by Josh Homme, the song blends elements of hard rock, grunge, and desert rock into a rhythm and structure framework that accounts for its success.
As a drummer, performing this song is all about managing intricate rhythms, range dynamics, and syncopated grooves. The challenge lies in controlling the precision timing with modulation of intensity from soft verses to blast-like choruses. The song demands endurance, dynamic control, and close coordination with the band, especially between drums and guitars.
Chosing to perform this song offers the opportunity to master complex rhythmic forms and capture the energy and emotional content of the song. It is a rewarding challenge requiring technical proficiency and a feel for the song's groove.
Rehersal blog
How I learnt this song
To learn this song I first started learning the main groove and first few fills with my drumming teacher. I picked up the main groove quite quickly and I got the jist of the first two fills. My drumming teacher recommended the video by "drums the word.com". Each video I found that it helped me learn different sections more effectively. Overall I found most effective for me was the video by DG Drums, I preferred this as it showed all the notation and didn't constantly pause between each section.
rehearsals
to help me improve more with the long I recorded it all the way through so I could watch back and analyse what I could improve on. I treated all takes like the final one so I could get used to it and to hopefully feel more comfortable and confident when it came to do the real thing. overall the main thing i needed to improve on is my dynamics, the groove before the "solo" and transitions from each section and from fills.
Final solo performance
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