"Just because you can tune your toms to play "Mary Had A Little Lamb" doesn't mean a thing. We have one job-----rhythm..." Now that is priceless!

"Goin' for a fill and hoping to God that comes out on time" - you got me there.

Rob cuts a straight, no BS, laser beam path directly into the crux of the matter. Bravo.

I’m 60 an been drumming since 1978 and I can promise this man is the best teacher I’ve ever seen and I learn something from him every time I’m on his site. And I want to say thank you Mr Rob Brown. Much Respect 🙏✌️🙏 Jim. Hammond Louisiana

You know you're a good drummer when time-keeping is one of your favorite topics

Subdivisions was one of my first lessons when I got started on drums. I totally ignored it! Because I wasn't disciplined to sit down and work on fundamentals. I'm 31 y.o. now and it took me around 12 years to finally go back to the basics. It sucks when I think about all the time wasted, however better sooner than later. Fortunately I've developed a good sense of feel and melody along the years. Amazing video, Rob. Thanks!

Dude your videos have been such a huge help. Everything you present is right to the point and easy to comprehend and you embroider just enough to put your lessons into perspective. Your videos have been a huge help to me. Thanks so much for doing what you do.

I play bass, and I love this.

5:29 even his eyes keep time

I've never owned or used a metronome..... I have been drumming... All my life.... Oatmeal containers by Quaker oats and changing the pitch with sand inside of the containers...... But I have learned and figured some things out without a metronome.... But there's this internal strength that I'm working on as a drummer..... To be solid in my own beat.... My own truth..... I mean it's great to connect with the other band members.... And still be very very solid in my own....... Timing an space...... Thank you so much for sharing ... I really learned a lot today .... Master Brown all the way!!!!!

I'm 60 years old and playing since Day 1! ..these basics you hear is where it all starts..I'm still playing today and my wrist are like rubberbands!! ...go on Rob teaching the young bucks!!

"Take it or leave it"? I'll take it Rob, thanks!

Thanks Rob. I agree with you about subdivisions on the practice pad. I've been doing it a lot the last couple of months. I would consider myself a high begginer to low intermediate drummer. But without any drums at all and just the pad my timing has improved incredible 👌😁

Based on this video, I started practicing all the rudiments I can play competently in all of the subdivisions. It has greatly improved my internal clock, my time feel and my drumming. Especially my fills. Thank you Mr. Rob Brown!!! I agree that drums are more rhythmic than melodic by themselves but they're a musical instrument. Drummers can play melodically and make sound choices that support and/or enhance the music, Neil Peart was the first drummer I heard who made me aware of this. There's a video of him & the president of DW talking about tonal intervals between toms, timbre of different woods, lamination types, shell structure, etc. It's really interesting stuff. Sound is important.There's a reason why drum notes are put on a musical staff with notations for dynamics, crescendo/decrescendo and not just on a simple time grid. Each instrument produces different musical components such as pitch, timbre, attack/sustain. Melody by definition is "simply a sequence of single notes that is musically satisfying." By definition, a melody could be played on a practice pad but it sounds a lot more musical on a drum set. If you showed up for an audition with a practice pad & sticks and said I'm going to subdivide time to your songs, you're not getting the gig.

"This things got one job and that's rhythm!' Awesome line!

RB always puts me in a good mood. Always positive about everything and straightforward . He does not over complicate what he's teaching. He TRULY understands the art of drumming.

Hey Rob, this is actually my first comment on youtube ever. I've been watching your videos for a while now and it has been one "Ah-ha" moment after the other, you are an amazing drummer and especially an amazing teacher. You make me want to be a better drummer. Thank you for all the great content. God bless you, brother!

I've been playing for 5.5 years now (self-taught) and my time-keeping is based solely around feel. It's crazy to me that the way you explained playing within quarter-notes is exactly how my mind has come to understand "keeping the time". I didn't have the words for it before but now that I do, I will be sure to practice in this revised context. Thanks Rob!

This makes perfect sense Rob. Love your videos.

Great, great advise!! Always learning with you, my man. What you say just makes sense!

Found your videos on how to tune everything up and Thank you for such straightforward lessons!! I'm slowly going through vid by vid learning more and more about how to use my drum set to the best of my abilities! You are a great dude and I thank you!!

Beautifully explained. So grateful to be able to hear your wisdom. Peace brother.

Thanks your videos have been helping me get out of a plateau and a rut :) It means a lot that you spend your time on this content

Rob, as always, great. Thank you for sharing. This video and other videos you have posted have helped me tremendously.

Love it! You explain everything in a way that's very easy to digest. This one brought back memories of my old marching days.

This information was so on point. Thank you Rob. I love your content

Man, just love how simple you break things down Rob and it makes so much of sense especially in giving us beginners/intermediate drummers, hope and a life line to getting better! Keep up the awesome content and thank you so much for what you do!

Great lesson - as always! Thanks Rob for your constant high quality output in every way! Keep it up and big drummer hug from Germany! 👍🏼

Love your movements. So crisp and intentional

New to the channel, but your style is fantastic. So chill, and it feels like you're really talking to the viewer directly. Thumbs up!

Great lesson, love who you can simplify explanations of things people overly complicate!

Thank you so much! Im just starting out and this has really help me start my journey right! my timing has improving so much now especially with fills! loved your lesson on drumeo!

This is pure genius love the way you put everything, removes a lot of intimidation factor from big picture concepts

Felt the passion for how huge this truly is. I sometimes rush the first rim shot after a fill especially on very slow songs. Great lesson Rob, truly~!

Great video as always Rob. You’re a natural teacher and I always take so much from your lessons. Thanks!

You have a gift for teaching, sir. Keep up the great work! This was one of your best lessons, IMHO.

Thanks a lot. Here is my practice plan: 1. Quarters | 4 2. Quater Triplets | 6 3. 8ths | 8 4. 8th note Triplets | 12 5. 16ths | 16 6. 16th note Triplets | 24 7. 32nds | 32

Aced it! This was HUGE! Thanks for putting this out Rex. Have been teaching this concept to my students for a while now.

This is the best instructional vid I have ever seen. The way you break everything down to the sub-divisions, it all just makes so much sense when you really explain what is important rather than just beating every drum around the set as fast as you can. Thank you, Rob

I'm a beginner drummer who's been scouring the Internet looking for help with keeping time. You put it in words and in a way that has been most helpful to me. I'm going to spend tonight watching all your videos. Thank you and keep the lessons coming!!

Great video man. There was a point in my career where I had shattered my kick drum leg from the knee down. 13 breaks including four screws in the ankle. Rather than canceling gigs, my band stripped down to an acoustic presentation. I played on a wooden tool box with bundle sticks (I made them out of Oak dowels, this was 1997). Had I not understood subdivision, that could not have worked. It did, and well. If you're not subdividing, you're struggling unnecessarily. I was laying bare the subdivision that was happening in my mind and how I used it. When I finally got back on a kit, the "click of the mind" was even stronger. When I work with artists now, we have this discussion. Yeah the click.. it's what you feel in between that really matters. Obvious? Not always. Drummers live in a special place. And, the slower the tempo, the more I subdivide.

Eloquent, Rob! Your way of describing what playing time is makes it both real and useable. I refer other drummers to your site because of this approach, which is the best I've found anywhere. Cool!

Best explanation on time keeping I've ever heard! Keep up the good work👍👍👏👏

Always extremely informative. I've gotten into drumming less than a year ago, and the amount of informations I've been able to learn from watching "beatdown" videos is just insane. You keep doing what you're doing Rob. I appreciate your work greatly.

Thanks Rob, I am just getting back into playing after while off where life pulled me away, its all good. Your videos have such a relaxed, fun, style that they make me want to just pick up the sticks. I am holding off on a kit for now and taking a few months to just get my hands going on a pad. I never took the time before to develop my hands, and I am having a blast with, and with out my metronome. Thanks for taking the time to share with us. You have a new fan. Keep up the great work.

Mr. Brown, you are a fantastic teacher & of course drummer. Thank you for sharing your gifts. - All the Best!

Thank you Rob for this video, and the Left Foot videos. I've been playing for decades. The advice you've given in the videos, which I watched yesterday night and have practised today, has transformed my timekeeping in one day. I can't believe it. Thank you so much dude.

I think this might be the most important drum tutorial video I’ve ever watched. And I’ve watched loads! A great lesson, intelligently taught and explained. Thanks, Rob!

Very good Rob, very useful. Thank you!! You're nailing it brother

Spent the last year getting this into my playing. That idea at 12:01 about subdivisions. Thanks for opening my ears to it

Going for the low down as per usual! Absolute pearl of wisdom straight up. Thanks mate!

Just started learning how to make beats using a DAW. Was looking all over KZfaq for someone to clearly explain for me the relationship between beats and timing/metronome when making rhythm. Your explanation about subdivision is the the shortest and best explanation i found. Thanks for taking the time to share it. Sharing is caring!

I am so proud of you brother. You sound like a drum genius. Thank you very much. I think timing along with making good drum fills are my greatest weaknesses. I'm looking for your video on having the combination of interesting drum fills along with precise timing. Again, thank you and keep 'em coming.

Solid advice that’s exactly what I’ve been doing and Mann I’ve honestly been getting better at it especially when you go for that fill subdividing and still land on the one, it becomes a natural thing after a while.

Very well said buddy. Knowing your ability and knowing where you should add fills or not is a huge part of me keeping better time. Thanks for the vid!

...I really enjoy your drum instruction videos. I was wondering if you have another video showing more examples of how to practice further breaking down these sub-divisions. Thanks!

why are your exercises so simple yet more effective then most guys on KZfaq?!? this is so good👍🏾👍🏾

you are a great teacher.....you break things in the kit to a level where learning is achieveble....

Ive been playing forever and this has got to be the best drum lesson I've ever had in my life. Thank you

rob, thanks, this video makes so much sense, i usally have great time live, but lately bass player mentioned that i varied a tiny bit, probably being picky, yet it bothered me. ive watched a few of your vids, really gives me some re focus on tempo, thanks brother

this is exactly how i think of drumming... thanks so much for putting it eloquently into words!! it is true. fit the parts of ur drum kit any place anywhere but be intent in each of your stroke and make sure ur subdivisions fit within the base wiarter quarter notes in the right speed!

Rob, as always thanks for millions. For aaaalll the druming videos around your's are the most enjoyable and helpfull to me. I also think that Copeland is the greatest ever, it felt like I new you as a friend when you make the heroes video of him.

Great stuff as usual. No matter how creative you get, it all needs to "make sense" (music) inside the time signature "box".

great video on the concept. for the newbies, rob is talking about the table of time. excellent demonstration and rob knows his stuff about this.

Great lesson, Rob, on how to REALLY keep time. You do such a great job of keeping important, and sometimes difficult, concepts and techniques, simple and understandable. I'm not a pro but I've been playing drums a long time and what you teach and how you teach it, is not only helpful but usable. Many thanks.

Pulse centered playing? more like mind blown! Mike you bring so much into perspective! Thanks for the lesson.

Rob, you nailed it down mate, that's exactly what I think is the best approach to drumming for a beginner drummer like me. Now is time to look for exercises for improving that (thanks in advance to anyone that point me to videos/lessons). Many thanks for your video and your advice, you got my like.

Great advice, and so inspiring! Thanks, Rob!

"Going for a fill and hoping to god it comes out on time" Hahaha Guilty AF. This video is very helpful! Thank you :)

Very cool Rob. I'm gonna try this more. But I've found in my years of playing.. first as a young drummer without a click I developed great sense of time and feel. Adding the click opened up a whole new world when getting on the country circuit. At first it was hard to lock in and still play with feel, but after about a month or so I had the best of both worlds.... Feel with Rock solid timing.. It's to the point now where, I can drift in and out of the click and it's always there to keep me solid.

This is hugely important for drummers. Great stuff, Rob.

you are so right about the click.. I know so many guys who play perfectly to a click and have terrible time without it! Very good video, as always. Thanks Rob!!

Your video's are a gift to the drum community. keep up the good work!

I love it, man. Thank you very much, for your time etc. I've played a lot of gigs the last 17 years, and, I know my timing can be pretty elastic. And, I've been trying to look outside the box, to improve my internal metronome. & Without having a lot of musical knowledge, from paper, so to speak. This video really helps me out. Thank you, brother 👍🏼🎼🥁

thanks Rob, yes a big challenge, keeping time is difficult, I'll definitely work on subdivisions around the quarter note!

Just found your channel and I've been playing untrained for 10 years now, this had been confirming alot of what I've noticed and explaining the why. Thanks for the practice tips

Rob since I’ve found your drum KZfaq videos you’ve inspired me to start working on a lot of different aspects of my drumming needs, and I need a lot! I especially like your no nonsense right to the point approach without boring me to tears on how to and how not to play the DRUMS..your simplicity to tuning your drums or practicing certain rudiments or an approach to certain ideas are great and TO THE POINT! Love ya keep up the superb job you’re doin great.. Thanks a’lot I really appreciate it..✌️&❤️

ROB BROWN. You have helped me alot. From Tuning to keeping time.....you the man!!!

Another awesome lesson ! Thanks so much Rob!

Your advise here IS $$$$!!! I became too reliant on the click. I needed it. I couldn't even count off after using it too much. Metronome is very valuable, especially for practice, studio etc.... but a live show...it had me questioning if i was even cloes in time. It got scarey for a bit

Man I love your whole approach to great metering!! I was a playing musician until I had 5 back surgeries and a knee replacement. You have inspired me to try to get my chops back.. I don’t know if it’s possible by I’m thinking about dusting off my snare , kick and hat and see where I can take it. I haven’t been able to play for about 12 years now so I’ll be back at beginner level... I first fell in love with playing drums was around 11 years old and I asked my parents to let me join a drum and bugle Corp. I thought wow I’m going to be cool . They started me out on the bass drum and it was all about timing and as I graduated up from the bass drum to the snare line I didn’t realize how much it helped me in timing. It was a great experience for me and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to play drums or a horn!! I also learned latter when I played on a kit with a band a little phrase I lived by( When in doubt leave it out) and not to overplay and play drum solos throughout the entire song!! I’m also an owner of a professional Live Production Company and always give special attention to the drums and explain what I’m looking for in my mix:) I’m looking forward to seeing your videos in the future.. Thanks

Great take on Time and how to look at it

Thank you so much for sharing this.... Totally validates my feeling about it.... And adding a whole new dimension that you are sharing... Truly appreciate your knowledge and the time you are taking to share..... I studied some African dance and drum... And I absolutely love the connections.... And the feeling that the and the continuity of the drum on beat.... Is is very uplifting and spiritual...... On time and breaking up the time....... Thank you so much you're video is so cool!!!!!

Pretty cool lesson, nice perspective also. Thank you.

This is golden Rob. I came up with a couple of exercises based off of this that I practice and put all my students through. Really digging your videos.

Having this mindset is going to help my playing so much Thank you !!

Man....I've seen a lot of your vids. And just like how Peters Crane puts it, you just break it down to WHAT IT IS. So many times we, as people, can over think things waaaaaay too much. I'ts best be simple....cause this stuff really is. Thanks dude. Thank you so much.

Excellent video!! Thx for the insight

Solid advice, man. I really dig your videos. Thanks. Stay cool.

Finally the answer I was looking for. Great explanation!

Hey Rob! Your advice in this clip has likely caused the biggest improvement in my playing. I’m constantly counting now and that always “reigns” me in if I am speeding up. App you recommended tells me if I am way off base. Many tx!!!!

another great video I couldn't agree more on your thinking

Thanks,you really beat it into me how importante the subdivivions are.Going out now to practice this.Gracias.

Right at 7:35 seconds it started getting super helpful for me. thank you. I used to play in a band that was a lot heavier And louder and so it didn't seem to be as much of an issue but the band I've been playing in now is very Aware of volume on the stage. I have noticed recently that volume control and time keeping I've become more difficult than I thought it would be.

That is some great advice there Rob, that every drummer can use!

We've been playing with my band for 10 years on and off with almost no formal music education. We've been recording our first song lately and when I put my drum playing in a grid, I realized how much variation I really have even with metronome. Yeah I can edit it but that doesn't help me if we have live gigs. I don't have a kit at home but luckily a good practice pad. Thanks for the video, it really got to the core of drums.

Talk about hitting the Nail on the Head !! Perfect explanation of what our job is within an Ensemble. "The KIT just adds Color to our SUBDIVISIONS " AMEN !!!

this approach really helps...thanks for sharing

This dude is always on time. Cheers mate, your videos have led to such a great improvement in only a week

Hey kind of random but I really like your animation at the beginning of your videos. The first is dope! So strong and powerful. Simple and effective. Good job on the channel. I’m getting better and better because of people like you putting out tips and tricks for people. I’m also inspired to give back. It will be guitar stuff. Any who.. I’m super grateful for you and your content! 🤘🏾