How to Drum Like Mitch Mitchell | Jimi Hendrix Drummer

Рет қаралды 41,792

4 жыл бұрын

You can grab the free sheet music at
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Here we are looking at how to drum like Mitch Mitchell. This drum lesson breaks down some of Mitch's best loved fills and drum beats.
Mitch Mitchell had such a cool style which came from jazz but was at the forefront of emerging rock music.
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Пікірлер: 94

@TotalDrummer 3 жыл бұрын

Grab the sheet music for free at www.courses.totaldrummer.com/courses/how-to-drum-like-mitch-mitchell

@clarkewi 4 жыл бұрын

People forget that the "jam" format came out of jazz. Ginger Baker called Cream a "Jazz" band. Both Cream and the Experience were essential "Jazz" bands.

@RSMGsndchannel 3 жыл бұрын

Clarkewi, right on!

@terminatorx2545 3 жыл бұрын

It’s more like heavy metal than jazz

@FraLoddo98 3 жыл бұрын

Metal? Don't think so.. More similar to Jazz

@jeffreymendez3207 2 жыл бұрын

it’s heavy jazz

@standbytogo123 2 жыл бұрын

I bought the 'Are You Experienced' album in the UK at its release in May 1967. I could not believe what I was hearing, it was just jaw dropping. The only drumming in modern popular music that came anywhere near what Mitch was doing up to that point was Keith Moon in the Who. This Album changed rock music forever. For me it overshadowed and still does SGT Pepper by the Beatles that was released in June 1967, one month later. Come August 1967 Pink Floyd released the 'Piper at the Gates of Dawn' album an other jaw dropper. Then of course Cream the same year released 'Disraeli Gears' 1967 what a year. Mitch was only 19 when he auditioned for Hendrix. He beat a well known blues drummer for the job. He reckons his best work with Hendrix was 'Manic Depression'. Would have liked you to take apart and play 'Fire' I do not think that Mitch ever played it the same as on the record in any live performances. Was lucky enough to see the Jimi Hendrix Experience live in November 1967.

@TotalDrummer Жыл бұрын

Thanks fort sharing. Jealous that you got to see them Norman. And yes Fire is a great tune too. 🔥

@MrCherryJuice Жыл бұрын

Yes, Mitch beat out Aynsley Dunbar, though only by the flip of a coin. In fact, according the Hendrix's girlfriend Kathy Etchingham's book, that flip happened in a cab one night, with Chas Chandler dropping the coin on the floor, so doing a second flip. Initially, Hendrix did not like Mitch's attitude and wasn't particularly keen on his drumming, considering him to be too crash-y on the cymbals (his previous boss, Georgie Fame had the same complaint, telling him to stick to the hi-hat). Interestingly, Jimi and Chas Chandler, dis-satisfied with Mitch, gave Dunbar a second audition. Then there was another drummer that Jimi really wanted (name escapes me; he was an unknown player from outside the London scene), but that chap didn't want to travel. The idea for Hendrix's band was originally a soul review with horns. Then that was reduced to a quartet that included organ. But with Cream's success, Jimi and Chas went with the trio concept. With just the three players, Mitch had plenty of room to fill, which he most certainly did. But Etchingham noted that Jimi would occasionally hit Mitch's cymbals with the headstock of his guitar as a signal for him to lay back. Eventually, of course, Hendrix started to appreciate the freedom Mitch's playing gave him to stretch out on guitar. And even though Buddy Miles gave him a great r & b groove with the Band of Gypsies - the sort of thing Jimi was more accustomed to from earlier times - that only lasted a few gigs before he went back to Mitch. It is interesting that the first three Hendrix singles - 'Hey Joe', 'Purple Haze', 'The Wind Cries Mary' - were hits in the UK but failed to crack the Top 50 in America. The British version of 'Are You Experience', which I had, did not contain those singles, though in an effort to gain traction for the album the American one did. It dropped a couple tunes found on the UK one and added the singles, essentially giving them a second shot at creating a stir. The American album also had a different cover image - a fish-eye image of the band and a psychedelic graphic treatment. I have always felt that debut album, understandably, was a bit of a hit-and-miss affair. Tunes including 'Manic Depression', 'Love Or Confusion', 'I Don't Live Today', and 'Third Stone From The Sun' were sensational, though the bulk of the rest were disposable to the point where Hendrix essentially disowned them by never playing them live. Mitch was in the right place at the right time. The transformation from pop to rock, Cream shifting the focus from pop star to serious player, and the psych scene coupled with the British blues explosion ensured there was, thanks largely to Cream, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, the Spencer Davis Group the experimental side of the Beatles with 'Strawberry Fields' and 'Tomorrow Never Knows', and the Jeff Beck-era Yardbirds with 'Shapes of Things', 'Over Under Sideways Down' and 'Happenings Ten Years Time Ago', a more aware, accepting and supportive audience for new music. Indeed, after the arrival of the Beatles in '62 ('64 in America), Cream hitting the charts with 'I Feel Free' signalled the arrival of a whole new movement. And thankfully for us, that provided the platform for Mitch to do his thing.

@standbytogo123 Жыл бұрын

@@MrCherryJuice Yeh, I thought it may have been Aynsley Dunbar but don't trust my memory so much these days. Not sure about your comment that Mitch was too crash-y on the cymbals, the ride or the crash? or both? The further comment re Georgie Fame telling him to stick to the Hi-Hat would infer the ride as Mitch had a Jazz background. Maybe he thought as they were a Trio he should play up like Keith Moon who almost never used the High Hat and was rumoured to play Ride on the Crash cymbals at one point in the Who's career. The American version of Are you Experienced dropped 'Red House' as it was considered unsuitable material wise for the USA. Hendrix did play 'Foxey lady', 'Are you Experienced' 'Fire and of course 'Red House' live of which there are several live versions. The throw away tracks from the album would be 'Can you see me' and 'Remember'. I would not include 'May this be Love' in that category though, nice Guitar and Mitch on the Toms before Mr. Baker did it on 'Wer'e going wrong'. However could reconsider that comment as I do recall that in 1967 my Mother commented that she liked that track?

@MrCherryJuice Жыл бұрын

@@standbytogo123 Crash-y as in just a lot of cymbal sound. During the 1960s, cymbals were still all thinner and thus trashier sounding because they were designed for jazz players. Rock cymbals - heavier for cleaner stick response, bigger bells for increase volume, and higher profiles for higher, more cutting pitch - didn't happen until the 70s. Also, as you note, Mitch was a jazzer, that couple with Elvin Jones being on of his heroes surely informed his sonic aesthetic. Here is Mitch with Fame. He is sticking to the hi-hat on this one. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fr6FiNN-u9Cdop8.html

@standbytogo123 Жыл бұрын

@@MrCherryJuice Thanks for that, not sure about the Link, it took me to a vid on DJ John peel and underground bands.

@ivanterekhov5369 6 ай бұрын

Mitch Mitchell is one of the best drummers ever.

@alexdavidson2327 3 жыл бұрын

This has been an incredible resource for me, someone who wanted to learn drums and to sound like the drummers I listen to.

@TotalDrummer 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment Alex. I'm really happy that it is helping you.

@retromograph3893 2 жыл бұрын

Right! ....... that's what makes the great rock drummers of this period so special .......... they were basically jazz drummers who played rock, so they had that looseness and fluiditiy ......... i miss that in modern drummers TBH!

@hauntedhose 8 ай бұрын

I think it’s crucial to have an appreciation/understanding of Mitchell’s tuning and choice of kit…. It’s what inspired me to buy an old sparkly Ludwig kit …the feel and sound were virtually built in 😀

@antoinepaine8097 4 жыл бұрын

Mad respect sir he has such a hard style to grasp so this break down of fills and ideas is a huge blessing 🔥🔥🔥🔥

@TotalDrummer 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Antoine. Glad you enjoyed it. I love his approach to fills.

@roadrocket7 Жыл бұрын

If it were not for Mitch Mitchell and his total Jazz feel on the 1st two Hendix albums, I wouldn't have discovered Elvin Jones and "modern" progressive Jazz in general. I have to include John Densmore as well. He played Jazz gigs before forming The Doors w/Robbie & Ray, adding Jim as their singer/songwriter.

@roboi2241 Жыл бұрын

Who would have thought Bez was hiding this much talent during his Happy Mondays days. Seriously though, good video, great to see younger people appreciating and keeping genuine music alive.

@bdn8161 6 ай бұрын

Just found this channel… awesome job breaking this down. Thank You!

@TotalDrummer 6 ай бұрын

Thanks you. Glad it was useful.

@drumbyte 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your easy to follow breakdown!

@spydaaa14 9 ай бұрын

Love Mitch, my favourite drummer as a young lad.. great video thanks

@realbigdipper 3 жыл бұрын

Your toms sound absolutely beautiful.

@TotalDrummer 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you realbigdipper

@simonamerica1 3 жыл бұрын

They have to be property-tuned and many drummers don't really know how to tune a drum set. See my note on my brother, Kevin John Simon who's also an expert in drum set tuning and the hardware.

@solsinclair1909 4 жыл бұрын

Great job man. Thanks for the lesson! Guitarist and drummer who was inspired by both Jimi and Mitchell growing up, always wanted to tackle his more rudiment like fills, really useful!

@TotalDrummer 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Sol. I'm a big Jimi fan too. Glad you found the lesson useful.

@solsinclair1909 4 жыл бұрын

@@TotalDrummer yes, its like a small dream to have these fills broken down so simply. Thanks again 😁

@nicholasrozman6027 2 жыл бұрын

same!

@MOstix13 Жыл бұрын

Thanks much for the excellent break down on Little Wing. It helped me understand what was being done in those fills. Very nicely explained!

@TotalDrummer Жыл бұрын

Thanks Andrew. Glad it helped.

@paulklee 3 жыл бұрын

GREAT lesson

@TotalDrummer 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Michael.

@abbeyroad9529 4 жыл бұрын

Great lesson!

@TotalDrummer 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the message Abbey Road

@stevenjazz6959 Жыл бұрын

a good and useful demonstration of Manic Depression

@TotalDrummer Жыл бұрын

Glad it was useful Steven.

@Jacktors 6 ай бұрын

Wow you break it down so I can understand it

@cihssen Жыл бұрын

Great video!!! Thank you!

@TotalDrummer Жыл бұрын

Thanks Christian.

@ivannio5836 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah! You are rolling ;) Great lesson. Thanks :)

@TotalDrummer 3 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

@roadrocket7 Жыл бұрын

Mitch Mitchell played both traditional grip and a "modified" matched grip, that I was told it was referred to as "French grip" or "tympani grip". Watch Mitch in the Monterey Pop Festival documentary to see what I'm talking about.

@santaellamedia7077 2 жыл бұрын

Always wondered about how some of these were played. Thanks for the breakdowns!!!!

@TotalDrummer 2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure.

@kenmarshall3221 Жыл бұрын

Thank you thanks Thanks plus infinity plus One ❤️on your lesson so much educational and fulfilling for all us drummers for to be able to find digest and exercise this wealth of your findings on the some of the best drummers of our time

@Jacktors 6 ай бұрын

Thanks

@brentchadwell8101 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I really like Mitchell. subbed

@TotalDrummer 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Brent. Me too (....Like Mitch that is....)

@Gazic 3 жыл бұрын

Great video man, thanks! I could never work out exactly what Mitch was playing on those fast fills. I'm going to drill those over the next few weeks, as I have a gig in August (fingers crossed). I'll also be checking out some of your other vids and hoping for some more jazz-inspired 60s flavours...

@TotalDrummer 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Gaztronaut. I'm really glad it was useful. There are some tricky fills in there but they are cool.

@ramonalfaro3252 3 жыл бұрын

Great info. Thanks!

@TotalDrummer 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Ramon. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

@ramonalfaro3252 3 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed is an understatement. You've obviously put a lot of work in to learning this frustratingly difficult to learn style. Unpacking this information and breaking it down is Herculean. You've saved me and other drummers years of frustration. I can't thank you enough.

@TotalDrummer 3 жыл бұрын

Wow, well thank you Ramon. That certainly makes it worth producing when you hear feedback like that! It is effort but it's not really work (well maybe a little bit😉). I've loved Mitch's drumming for many years and I enjoy the process of deconstructing it to see how it's all working. And then if I can share that to help other people then it's a double whammy!

@ramonalfaro3252 3 жыл бұрын

@@TotalDrummer I look forward to seeing more of your content. Great stuff. BTW... Do you have any tips on Third Stone? I've played it live but I'm playing my version of what I think it is and it's passable to most people. Any ideas would be much appreciated. Well thanks again and I hope you have good rest of your day Sir.

@TotalDrummer 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you @@ramonalfaro3252 I' don't have specific tips on that tune (you mean Third Stone From the Sun by Jimi right?). Other than it's very jazzy at the start and I would be looking to catch the vibe rather than worrying about note for noite accuracy. And then when it goes into the more funky part, I would have the same approach. Just get the Mitch vibe without spending days trying to be 100% precise. it's a very flowing, improvised jam type track anyway so it's much more fun to approach it as Mitch most likely did.

@terrencewright8868 2 жыл бұрын

Please play Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band!!!!

@MrEmanuelw 4 жыл бұрын

i always play that second sentence as a parradiddle like figure.

@ramrecords1 Жыл бұрын

Falta una pista de música. Para entender mejor. Saludos from chile... Great drumer you..

@redpanic2 5 ай бұрын

There is something i am missing or don't get...isn't the second sextplutet beginning with the tom?

@simonamerica1 3 жыл бұрын

Very instructive video! That said, I would say that you will NEVER play in the total Mitch Mitchell style by that matched grip we see in your video. I implore you to learn and develop "traditional grip" on the drum set, and for distinct reasons. Although matched grip people will say, "No, you can do EVERY-thing by matched grip that traditional grip does." this is only partially true. Also, I recommend that you look up the "Moeller Style" US Civil War Drumming SNAP whip-motion style preserved by Sanford Moeller from discussions with a former Civil War drummer boys that he saw in the 1940s at a Civil War Reenactment and which is played by a number of well-known traditional grip drummers such as Vincent "Vinnie" Colaiuta and Dave Weckle. The plain and simple fact is that any traditional grip drummer (such as Mitch) can play matched grip, but NOT visa-versa. Mitch freely switched back-and-forth as needed. Jazz drummers played in the "traditional" mode for a reason, because they could do such things as a shot-buzz that is relatively easy for traditional drummer like Joe Morello, Buddy Rich and Louis Belson, Gene Krupa, Joe "Pappa" Jones and others but takes more effort for matched grip. I strongly suggest that IF you want to teach the Mitch Mitchell style that you learn the traditional grip and, over time, you CAN become comfortable with it. My brother, Kevin John Simon, who started the Mitch Mitchell Fan Club on Facebook can discuss the details with you. HE's a drummer's drummer with also a degree in percussion and he can score anything he plays and play off any chart put before him. BTW, Kevin is completing his "perfect duplicate" of Mitchell's 1967 kit. He's also combining all non-Ludwig hardware used by Mitch including Rogers stands as Ludwigs were horrible in the 1960s and Mitch knew that quite well. Every component is duplicated right down to the hoops and lugs. You will see it discussed along with Mitch's style on Rick Beato's KZfaq channel as soon as we get back to normal travel. We hope to have our friend, Mitch's daughter also talk about the influence of her father's earlier dance career on his drumming. She explained to us that you hear Mitch's dance background, for example, in his playing in the opening seconds of "Little Wing." It's right out of a tap dance move. As for the Ludwig Hardware proficiency, Kevin Simon used to work weekly in Chicago with the Ludwig Drum factory, while at the famous "Franks Drum Shop" in downtown Chicago. The ownwe, Bill Crauden had married Bill Jr's daughter. While at Franks, Kevin got to know Bill Ludwig Junior when Ludwig was in a major war with Slingerland, Gretch and other brands. Kevin really pushed Ludwig and this wasn't lost to Mr. Ludwig Jr. In fact, when asked for a "good bye present" when Kevin moved to Miami by Bill, Jr. asked him, " Kevin, I'd like to give you a drum as a memento for pushing our drums. Which one do you want, Kevin?" Kevin replied, "Well Bill, I'd like a 15 x 15 factory-built floor tom." Bill Jr. replied, "Well, Kevin, we don't make that size model." "Well, Bill, that's exactly why I'd like one," replied Kevin. "OK, Kevin, we'll get your a 15 x 15 factory-built floor tom by cutting a custom 15 x 15 drum and attached 6 lugs." Its NOT a concert drum with 10 lugs, its a real one-off. Kevin also got a personal tour of the North Carolina Ludwig factory at the request of the Ludwig family which is now out in Texas. I urge you to contact Kevin John Simon for more details. For the doubters that think that Kevin can only "talk about Mitch Mitchell in a historical context but can't play in the Mitch Mitchell style." - Not so. If you want to see Kevin discuss the Mitch Mitchell style and play in in Mitch's traditional grip style - here's 1 minute that I posted on Instagram - instagram.com/p/B51st42nhTN/ It speaks for itself.

@jeremiahspears7304 3 жыл бұрын

Blessings upon you for showing us the light, Sensei.

@bassinblue 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the essay.

@marksvideochannel3592 2 жыл бұрын

I appreciate the things you describe here, thank you.

@kenmarshall3221 Жыл бұрын

How do I get the Mike's sheet music

@TotalDrummer Жыл бұрын

You can grab it here Ken www.courses.totaldrummer.com/courses/how-to-drum-like-mitch-mitchell

@silentbow0 6 ай бұрын

And left hand/sticking work ???

@TotalDrummer 6 ай бұрын

Yes. This is just a break down of the pattens because they are really fun to learn and very useable in lots on contexts. But you can adapt them to the way you play, mess around with them and turn them into something of your own. I love studying other drummer's parts but they are always a step in the journey to discovering where I can take them myself.

@peterhoward7521 2 ай бұрын

Wouldn’t you rather sound like yourself !

@TotalDrummer 2 ай бұрын

100% Yes Peter. However, it is really fun to break down drum parts from our favourite drummers so we can understand how they approach a song and so we can jam along with it. And fun is the reason we all play. But also we learn a lot from the process. So yes, if we only studied and listened to Mitch then we'd be a bad copy of Mitch. But if we listen and study a broad range of musicians then a diverse array of techniques and musical choices go into the melting pot which ends up being your unique sound.

@akdrumster Жыл бұрын

Manic Depression.....IMO the challenge is not so much maintaining the main beat (as you demonstrated) as is "throwing in" triplet solos / fills around the kit; then returning to the main beat. I practice with Roland V Drums and find it difficult "lining up" the module click to the track. Setting the click to ~150 w/o music I can solo around effortlessly.

@TotalDrummer 11 ай бұрын

Hey @akdrumster. Yes that can be tricky. Interesting that you can do it at 150bpm with the click but not with music but that often happens. I would normally recommend people start slow and just on a pad/snare play triplets into 8ths and back. Loop that until comfortable. Then take it to the kit and use an 8 beat into triplet fills looped slowly until comfortable. Then gradually increase speed and/or complexity of the groove and fills. That is usually a good way to build the foundation. But the Mitch stuff does often start on a beat that isn't beat 1 so that can easily throw people.

@akdrumster 11 ай бұрын

@@TotalDrummer ..good stuff Matt, thx for the tips!

@TotalDrummer 11 ай бұрын

No problem @@akdrumster

@macpakinga1271 Жыл бұрын

No Thanks 🥁 im Good 😎🤗🥁

@kevinsimon5391 Жыл бұрын

Very Interesting, but to Play “Like” Mitch, I would Highly Recommend Traditional Grip. Matched Grip just does NOT have the Feel of a Swinging Jazz Drummer like Mitch Mitchell.