DRUM with Mike & Eddy

Preparing to Track a Song

Mike Johnston & Eddy Thrower Season 6 Episode 210

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0:00 | 44:59

In this episode, we get into what it really takes to prepare to record, and why “jamming to a song” and tracking a song for an artist are two totally different worlds. Eddy shares how he practices and preps parts (often without writing anything down), why e-kits can be a secret weapon for learning technical material, and how to identify the non-negotiables in a drum part when a demo already has programmed drums.

We also talk about fighting muscle memory, why simple pop parts can be harder than complex chops, the “less is more” mindset, listening back with ruthless honesty, and the ultimate litmus test: did your drumming make the song better, or did it pull the listener out of it? Plus: the courage to “dare to suck” during the process… because that’s where the magic shows up.


Enjoy - Mike J

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