Developing Your Own Pocket On The Drums

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“Real pocket determines how they dance, and how they move to it. It’s the movement of the music.”

Taylor Gordon has carved out a niche for herself as ‘The Pocket Queen’, known for her incredible feel and groove. If you’ve ever seen one of her videos on Instagram or YouTube, you’ve seen her positivity and passion as well.

In this Drumeo live lesson, Taylor talks about what it means to be ‘in the pocket’. She defines it not as the notes being played, but the spaces between the notes and the feel of those spaces. She also dives into a great point about how the drums – and where the beat lies – can give direction to a song. How do you want the audience to move to the music, and how do you want them to feel?

Taylor views drumming and music in a somewhat unconventional way: she associates grooves with shapes and waveforms. Some are square, others are circular, and others have a jarring up-
down pattern. While she says she doesn’t think she has synesthesia, she describes it in a way that could really benefit drummers who are visual learners.

Follow Taylor:

Lesson Index:
0:29 – SONG: “Quest For Pocket” by Nikko Ielasi
4:48 – Introduction
6:10 – SONG: “Greyson’s Ladder” (Drumeo Edge Drumless Track)
10:08 – Defining ‘pocket’
13:05 – Seeing shapes and waveforms
19:14 – How Taylor builds grooves
31:35 – How beginners can improve their pocket
36:02 – SONG: “U2 Are Led” (Drumeo Edge Drumless Track)

[antonburger]

Seriously classy playing. No overplaying, no underplaying, just class!

[wynton]

Oh my goodness! Taylor use to play at my church when I was child! And now she's on DRUMEO!!!

[KingdomInnovate]

She allows every sound to breathe, resonate, and express itself, and her pauses are so professional, one of the most balanced drummers in the game. cymbals and drums so evenly placed throughout.

[Houndzee]

I absolutely ❤️ how she doesn’t overplay but still makes it sounds interesting at the same time. Fantastic.

[moviepedro]

I love her playing soooo much! Her pocket is so deep and it seems like she has all the time in the world to do everything, nothing is rushed. also the drum sound is phenomenal! also I see people say similar thing on other videos but seriously, why would people give this a thumb down rating? I just don't understand

[joekelly]

Her cymbal work is exquisite, and her overall phraseology is so perfectly balanced.

[JoshSaysStuff]

She's the cleanest player I've seen in a long time. She really digs into the groove in this mesmerizing way.

[PureSwedishViking]

That’s one of the best sounding snares I’ve ever heard! Such a snappy, sharp sound.

[conscious___creators]

I love when a drummer or any musician for that matter, doesn't need to show off or overplay... but then has their moments where they show the chops are technique/ skills are there when the music calls for it! Awesome groove!

[bertramattles]

For anyone who has followed Taylor Gordon on her Youtube Channel to see the growth of drumming and understanding of her musicianship is truly amazing. She is really coming into her own!

[subiegal]

Taylor, you knocked this session of Drumeo right out of the ball park!!!! Well done Queen 🌹👍😁

[drummer]

I think “I better play pocket” might be the best thing you can have in your head while you play drums

[Nargaroth]

That entire set of cymbals just sounds absolutely incredible. Great playing.

[Indigokitteh]

As a synesthete, I can really get behind her way of visualizing music and patterns. Creative lesson from a fabulous drummer!

[mychelsaddler]

Who ever disliked this video I would love to hear your reasons why. This is smooth!!!

[ThunderTaco]

Taylor's groove is deeper than the Marianas Trench. This woman is the real deal.

[truefilm]

Everything she plays is: "No need to look any further, You got the gig!" Her touch is just incredible.

[randydoak]

Goosebumps! Chills! There's something about a drummer that smiles when they're playing... you can't fake that. Papa Joe Jones and Billy Higgins were in that space and so is the Pocket Queen.

[Danfromoverthere]

She plays with such awesome feel man. Each hit of every drum and cymbal means something. I love her grove

[Cosmic_Sunrise]

Phenomenal - First class musicianship right here. From the playing to song selection; from the drum mix to the wisdom laid down - It doesn’t get any better!
I absolutely love the way she visualizes grooves as similar shapes and sound waves. Right when she was talking about the sine wave, and played the shuffle, I was like “triangle or saw” and BOOM! Mind expanded.