You may have heard someone use the phrase "they've got great drumming chops". But what does it actually mean?
When someone refers to drumming chops, they usually mean somebody that has great technical ability and musicality on the instrument.
Recently, people have started to use the term to refer to a drummer that can execute fast fills around the kit. This is actually not quite correct. Fills can be a ‘part’ of having great chops, but you also need to master fundamental drumming techniques such as rudiments, sticking patterns, dynamics, and accents.
But it's more than just technical ability. A robotic drum machine can be technically proficient but will not sound pleasant, because it lacks emotion and soul. You should be aiming to add a musical element that makes the audience sit and think “Damn, that’s good!”
A great example is John Bonham from Led Zeppelin. He was one of the best rock drummers in history, he had amazing technique and could play anything you threw at him. But he didn't just throw in complex drum patterns to show off. He brought life and subtle nuances to the songs he played. That's why people say he had great drumming chops.
The best way to improve your drumming chops
Now, I'm assuming you already know some basic grooves and fills around the kit. Let's start building on what you already know.
A great starting point would be linear drumming. This is defined as a drum pattern where no two drums or cymbals are played at the same time. Often, when drumming chops are broken down, they actually consist of linear drumming patterns that are played between the hands and the feet.
Playing these linear patterns can sound really interesting and technically advanced but are also very easy to learn. As with anything, start off playing slow and gradually increase speed until you reach comfortable levels.
A simple linear pattern would be the following:
RLRK RLRK RLRK RLRL
Once you have mastered the pattern, you can start playing it around the kit. The video below shows several examples of this.
Should you learn drum chops or concentrate on the groove?
Being able to play great chops will get you attention... but being able to play grooves will get a job in band.
Ideally you want to be learning how to play both. But what if you only have limited time to practice, what should be your priorities?
If your goal is to play in a band, think what your bandmates want from a drummer. Most guitarists and bandleaders that I've played with want a drummer who can lay down a solid beat and also add light and shade to their music.
So, focus on developing your skills that will support the band. This includes the ability to play solid grooves and maintain great timing throughout a song. For instance, it's critical that you can go from verse to chorus and play fills without altering the tempo of the song.
Once you've started to master these basics, you can then quickly move onto developing your chops! You'll find the technical requirements make learning more interesting and gives you a sense of satisfaction once you've accomplished a task. It's also just great fun to show off your chops to friends and family.
Drummers with great chops
There are many examples of great drummers but let's namecheck a few with fantastic chops.
John Bonham - Led Zeppelin
This guy has been called "the greatest drummer ever" by Jimmy Page himself. His style was unique and his skill level was incredible. If you're looking for someone to emulate, look up videos of him live. They're awesome.
Neil Peart - Rush
Another legend. Neil is well known for his fast melodic grooves with Rush, and also his epic drum fills and solos . Watch a breakdown of his work here.
Travis Barker - Blink-182
A great technician and wonderful showman, Travis has elevated the drums to being more than just a background instrument. Being comfortable playing punk, country or hip hop has brought his flamboyant style to a wide range of music lovers.
This video shows how to emulate the chops of this drum legend.
Using your drumming chops in a musical setting
The goal of a drummer is to serve the song, not show off their chops. Drummers are responsible for making sure that all aspects of the music and lyrics come together harmoniously, so as to create an enjoyable experience for listeners.
They can use techniques such as syncopation, polyrhythms, and cross-sticking in order to emphasize certain sections of songs while maintaining rhythm at all times. This means drumming with complexity may sometimes be impractical on some tracks because it can get in the way of "the story" being told by vocals and other instruments.
Depending on the song, using your chops may entail playing a subtle syncopated beat on the hi-hat. On the other hand it may really allow you to rock out and play extravagant runs down the toms. Ultimately you will have to decide what is right for the song and style of music you’re playing.
If you’ve learned fundamental drumming techniques, you’ll be a much better position to decide what chops will fit into which songs.