Tracy Graham's Page
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Hi Jessica, that sounds great! I've always liked that song and you did a really good job! I liked watching the figure skater Kurt Browning skate to that song. Keep up the good work! Tracy
Great jon Tracy!!! I agree with Jessica..super fast high hat!!!! Great groove too!
Lisa
Hi Tracy!-You have a seriously fast hi hat hand! Sounded really good, great song to play along with.-Jessica G.
It's not perfect but I always have fun playing along to this song!
Nice job Tracy.
Your drumming sounds great!!
Kim :)
Profile Information
- Country:
- United States
- City:
- Springfield
- How long have you been drumming?
- 2 Years
- What is your drumming history:
- I have been playing guitar for several years and have always wanted to learn to play drums too, so i finally decided to a couple years ago.
- Describe Your Drum Kit:
- Black Tama Imperialstar, 5 piece, with ride, crash and hi hats
- Favorite Drummer(s):
- Taylor Hawkins, Neil Peart, Torry Castellano
- Favourite Bands/Musicians:
- Foo Fighters, Rush, Heart, The Presidents of the USA
Tracy Graham's Videos
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My version of Traveling Band
Added by Tracy Graham
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Comment Wall (23 comments)
- At 11:09pm on December 1, 2009,
Jessica G. said…
- Hi Tracy!-thanks for the comments. I wasn't sure about doing this song, because I wasn't sure that I could put enough feeling into it. Someone figure skated to this song? Wow, now that's something I'd like to see! Take Care-Jessica G.
- At 2:22pm on November 19, 2009,
Jessica G. said…
- Hi Tracy!-I watched your video again on this site, then went onto YouTube and found the video of you and your husband's home concert. I really liked your guitar playing! You sound great, and were doing a bit of lead, which impresses me a lot. I played some guitar as a child, and all I really know are about three chords-enough to make a punk song, I guess! You two looked like you were so relaxed, like you were unwinding after a long day. Sounds strange, but I felt myself relaxing as I listened. Which instrument do you prefer, if either? You sound great on both. Hope all is well with you. Take Care!-Jessica G.
- At 3:35pm on November 18, 2009,
Gwen Frederick said…
- Thanks Tracy. You Too!
- At 7:07pm on November 5, 2009,
Jessica G. said…
- Hi Tracy!-Yes, there's something at the end of the sticks. I use hot rods, and in order to keep the bundles of wood tight, I use a rubber band to keep them together, so the sticks provide more of an attack. If the bundles are left loose, the rods sound more like brushes. I do this so that they aren't as loud as wooden sticks, but aren't as soft as brushes. I was lazy that day, and didn't want to bother with the toms, though it would've sounded better to use them during the intro. Thanks for the comments, too. Take Care!-Jessica G.
- At 10:23pm on October 25, 2009,
Jessica G. said…
- Hi Tracy!-it's always good to play along with other players, so those CDs are great, you can get really creative. The more I hear about that drum dial, the more I think I should splurge and get one! We played a gig yesterday, and my floor tom sounded awful. I'd taken the dampening from the bass drum, and it rang, rang, rang, and didn't help with the sound projection at all! So much for tuning by ear! I hope you keep having fun with the new practice CD. I haven't really been practicing at all, but I try to play everyday, even for just a little bit. I hope you can load another video soon-I really enjoyed the last one! Take Care-Jessica G.
- At 10:35am on October 5, 2009,
Gwen Frederick said…
- Hello Tracy and thanks for reaching out. Yes, been in this music game a long time, playing lots of instruments and music. I have finally settled on being a good drummer, after taking turns as a guitarist, keyboardist, bassists, and singer songwriter. Keep in touch
- At 10:54pm on September 26, 2009,
Jessica G. said…
- Hi Tracy! Sixteenth notes with one hand is intense! My playing is just going along. I was taking lessons for a while; I took about a handful of lessons, focusing on rudiments and stick control, but I stopped the lessons a while back. I didn't feel it was the right path to what I was looking to do, even though those things are so important. I'll just do what I can on my own. That drum dial is sounding better and better; it sounds like it makes tuning much easier. I figured out a groove from the Steve Jordan DVD that I have, one that really puzzled me, but for some reason, I was able to get it. That's what makes me learn-I hear something, and I just have to play it. Sometimes it comes, sometimes not. I just have to give it time. Please keep posting more videos; you're doing great!-Jessica G.
- At 8:39pm on August 14, 2009,
Jessica G. said…
- Hi Tracy-I got into my band by going to their open mic some time back. They have a great percussionist, and she let me sit in on her congas. They asked me to come back the next month, this time with my kit, and I've been doing it ever since. I didn't start to rehearse with them until late January, so I spent some open mics just totally winging it, not knowing their set list. There were some songs I didn't knowa at all. I just had to really listen to the music and improvise. It was a great challenge for me, and I still like to be put into those situations, to be challenged, though hopefully not too much! As for being nervous, I still get nervous, but it's getting less so. We play at a coffee house, so the audience is very close, which at times can be a bit unnerving, but since this is the only venue I've really had experience with, I know nothing else! Believe me, I've done my little thing of missing the cymbals, dropping sticks, things like that, that every drummer must endure at one point or another. Right now, I'll be honest with you, I'm feeling a bit discouraged with my drumming. I hope it will pass. I realize that I don't practice enough. There are days when I just can't. I quit my lessons, too. I was supposed to go today, but let the teacher know I wasn't returning. I think I'd rather learn on my own. I still intend to work on rudiments, speed, independence, using the metronome, so although it's not the same as working with an instructor, I'll do what I can on my own. My things are fills. I guess I envision myself doing those wingding drummy fills-I watch too much YouTube, you can tell!-and want to work up my speed and technique, but sometimes I'm just clueless as to how. There are online sites that can help, though. Right now, I come up with my own. I'd encourage you to get into a playing situation with other people. I just jumped into a band without really having had the benefit of just jamming casually with others. Either one is probably a great learning experience. Take Care!-Jessica G.
- At 11:16pm on August 12, 2009,
Jessica G. said…
- Hi Tracy-It sounds like you and Annette had a nice visit. It's great that you two are nearby, so you can share your drumming. No, our percussionist doesn't play a kit, but she does play guitar and has a lovely singing voice. They played as a trio for years without a drummer, so having me is sort of unneccesary, but they enjoy having the kit added to the mix. I hear you about the cymbals. After a while, a got the ones I have now, and I'm very happy with them. I never realized it when I first started, but it's important to be satisfied with the sound of your drums and cymbals. I hope you can upgrade soon. Factory brand stuff is okay if you're just starting out, but after a while, you end up wanting something more to your taste! I've been taking lessons, but to be honest, I'm probably going to stop. I'm asking myself whether I can accomplish what I'm hoping to do on my own, with the use of DVDs, books and video. I've pretty much taught myself up to this point, and have had a few lessons, and I guess I should give it more time, but I start to feel constrained, and I don't feel like I have enough hours in the day to devote to working on the technical stuff, then doing what I want to do, or am motivated to learn. I don't see myself progressing the way I'd like. I realize there's no fast track, that you have to put in long hours of practice, well, at least I'd have to, to get really good. I don't think I have that. This feels like the slow train, and while it would probably yield some good results, I really haven't seen it. There has to be another way than playing exercises out of a book on stick control. I feel like whatever movement I made was of my own instigation, not because the instructor told me. He had me practice at a certain speed, and I got so tired of playing it slowly, I just started to speed up in my practice. It didn't necessarily sound great, but it sounded more like it was supposed to, He never told me to speed up, and if I hadn't I probably would've kept playing at that speed! I don't know. I'll probably stop-not sure. I'll definately continue using the metronome, though. What sort of stuff do you do? Hope you are doing well. Take Care!-Jessica G.
- At 1:33am on July 15, 2009,
Jessica G. said…
- Hi Tracy! I'd look into how you're holding your sticks. Maybe that's what's going on with your arm. It may be how you're holding the stick, the grip, how tight-I'd look into it, but I'm just making a guess. Funny you mention timing-at times, during rehearsal tonight, I felt very off because I just was, or I wasn't hearing the other instruments well. It can be challenging to play with others, but it helps to lock into the bass or the guitar. Everyone looks to the drummer to set the pace, and often that happens, but in my band, where the guitarist likes play more slowly than the original song version, I just lock us in and try to stay with it, like a sort of foundation. I felt off tonight, though, and that happens plenty of times. Some practices are better than others, and gigs are that way, as well. I'm getting a little better at playing in direct unison with the metronome; when the click disappears, you know you're on top of the beat. I think it's disappearing, or else, I'm not hearing mine! Glad to hear your playing is going well. Take Care!-Jessica G.
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