Window Seat – Erykah Badu (Analyse)

Drum Lesson: Window Seat Grade Five Rock School

Hello, everyone, and welcome to our drum lesson on Window Seat Grade Five Rock School. This is a cool track with a kind of neo soul vibe. It's set at 81 beats per minute, which is at the slightly upper end of what we expect for a Grade Five student.

Key Points:

• Practice: Make sure you're practicing your stick control exercises to be comfortable at that tempo.
• Groove: You need to play a relatively complex groove with a relaxed feeling.

Tips for Playing:

1. Volume Control:

   • Don't play too loud. Keep everything close to the drum and cymbals for a more relaxed sound with a consistent volume.

2. Grip Technique:

   • I used traditional grip in my left hand and played in the middle of the drum.
   • Use flat foot on the bass drum for a softer attack.

3. Dynamic Playing:

   • Here's a quick demonstration. You might be tempted to play it physically like this:
     • (Example demonstration)
   • Instead, aim for a quieter volume with more dynamics.

   Example Dynamics:

   • 1, 2, a 3, a 4.
   • You can hear that the beat breathes more, allowing for better control.

Musical Context:

• If you're playing in a rock band, you might approach it differently, but for this neo soul track, keep it relaxed.

Practicing the Pattern:

• Two-Bar Repeat: Familiarize yourself with the symbol. It means to repeat the musical information from the previous two bars.
• Stay Patient: If you struggle, break it down:
  • Practice under tempo.
  • Take it one bar, then a beat at a time.
  • Gradually piece everything together.

Journey of Improvement:

• Remember, being good at an instrument is a lifetime's journey. Don't be disheartened if you find certain aspects challenging at first.

Section Analysis:

• Bar 10: Two-bar repeat for familiarity.
• Bar 15: Look for time slashes and the word "develop." Playing the same groove with subtleties and variations can enhance the feel:
  • Open hi-hat in various places.
  • Accents on the edge of the cymbal.
  • Adapt the bass drum.
  • Sometimes, developing means simplifying or withdrawing elements.

Example Ideas for Development:

• Add a ride cymbal at times or create a relaxed vibe with subtle variations.

Drum Techniques:

• Some techniques involve:
  • Closed Roll (Buzzed Notes): Using pressure on the stick for a buzz sound.
  • Double Strokes: Specific quantities for rhythm.
  • Experimentation: Let your sticks rest on the drum for effect.

Recording Practice:

• Record yourself with a metronome for 15 minutes. Analyze what compositional ideas worked and refine your approach.

Rehearsal Letter E:

• In bar 26 of the Rock School books, you'll find three quarter notes on the bass drum:
  • Left foot on 2 and 4.
  • A cross stick and rim click combination.

Dynamic Playing:

• In rehearsal letter F, maintain a forte dynamic. The subtlety in dynamics is essential for keeping the groove intact.

Additional Insights:

• An anacrusis at the beginning introduces the piece.
• Look out for a mixed subdivision snare drum fill in bar one with a hip-hop swing element.

Conclusion:

Listen to the original recording for reference, and enjoy working through this backing track. Take these lessons into other areas of music as well.

Thanks for watching!