Okay, so today I was messing around with “Amir Thompson,” which, if you haven’t heard, is the name of the drummer, also known as Questlove, from The Roots. I’ve been listening to a lot of their stuff lately, and I got curious about the guy behind the kit.
First, I started by just plain old listening. I mean, really listening, not just having it on in the background. I put on some headphones and played “The Next Movement” and just focused on the drums. It’s not flashy, but it’s so, so solid. Like, the groove is unreal.
Diving Deeper
Then, I went down the rabbit hole. I started to research more about him.
- I found a load of interviews with him. Some were just text, others were videos. I watched a bunch, trying to get a sense of his style and what he’s all about. He’s way more than just a drummer, he’s like a walking music encyclopedia!
- Next, I tried to find some isolated drum tracks. This was harder than I thought! You can find some stuff on YouTube, but the quality isn’t always great. Still, it gave me a better idea of what he’s playing specifically.
- After that, I actually tried to play along. Now, I’m no Questlove, not even close, but I have a basic drum kit at home. I pulled up some of the songs, slowed them down, and tried to mimic his parts. It’s tough! He’s got this subtle way of playing that’s hard to copy.
It is not an easy job. He is an excellent and professional person, I just want to use this method to research more people like him.
So, yeah, that was my day with Amir Thompson/Questlove. It was more about appreciation and learning than anything else. It definitely made me respect him even more as a musician. I am still finding more videos and articles about him and I am sure that I will keep trying to play the drums like him!
