Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
→ Play modern worship TOM patterns, FILLS, and 6/8 & 3/4 grooves with ease - Grab the church drummer’s “15 Go-To Grooves & Fills for Worship Music.” Feel confident & equipped to play your best every Sunday. thenonglamorousdrummer.com/grooves-and-fills-for-church-drumming
Table of Contents:
3:23 - What a sound guy told me one time (and the valuable lesson I learned!)
5:45 - Switch to these sticks for a lighter sound & feel
6:54 - The grip adjustment for more natural soft playing
9:41 - How to use the “drop motion” for softer playing
17:00 - Tips for becoming more “mindful” of your volume
18:43 - Determining how loud your “loud” will be
20:24 - How KNOW exactly how loud you can be in the room you’re in
21:20 - Additional tips for quieting your kit in a live setting
Hey Friend! If you play in church and you’ve been told “You’re too loud” - But you’ve struggled to play soft enough to keep everyone happy - Then you’re in the right place today!
I get it! (And I’ll tell you in a bit what a sound man said to me one time that made me realize how bad my dynamics were!)
It’s exhausting when band members, the sound guy, and even congregation members are telling you you need to quiet down. You try, but you end up getting louder throughout a song without realizing it… Not to mention you get sloppy and feel you can’t play well when you get quiet.
So what gives? Well, it really is possible to play quietly on the drumset - while still using sticks, and you can learn how to do this.
It’s easy to assume that in order to play softly, you just need to…well… play softly (or switch to brushes or rods). But the truth is there are several shifts you can make (including 2 big grip shifts) that make all of this much easier than just forcing yourself to play awkwardly quietly!
Today we’re breaking down 4 steps to confidently playing softly while still sounding good & feeling good - So that you’re playing and leading in worship without worrying about volume, you’re playing for the room and sounding awesome, and you’re keeping the sound guy (and even the old folks) happy. YOU CAN DO THIS!
I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short!
SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with.
Stay Non Glamorous,
Stephen
Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
→ Play modern worship TOM patterns, FILLS, and 6/8 & 3/4 grooves with ease - Grab the church drummer’s “15 Go-To Grooves & Fills for Worship Music.” Feel confident & equipped to play your best every Sunday. thenonglamorousdrummer.com/grooves-and-fills-for-church-drumming
Table of Contents:
3:23 - What a sound guy told me one time (and the valuable lesson I learned!)
5:45 - Switch to these sticks for a lighter sound & feel
6:54 - The grip adjustment for more natural soft playing
9:41 - How to use the “drop motion” for softer playing
17:00 - Tips for becoming more “mindful” of your volume
18:43 - Determining how loud your “loud” will be
20:24 - How KNOW exactly how loud you can be in the room you’re in
21:20 - Additional tips for quieting your kit in a live setting
Hey Friend! If you play in church and you’ve been told “You’re too loud” - But you’ve struggled to play soft enough to keep everyone happy - Then you’re in the right place today!
I get it! (And I’ll tell you in a bit what a sound man said to me one time that made me realize how bad my dynamics were!)
It’s exhausting when band members, the sound guy, and even congregation members are telling you you need to quiet down. You try, but you end up getting louder throughout a song without realizing it… Not to mention you get sloppy and feel you can’t play well when you get quiet.
So what gives? Well, it really is possible to play quietly on the drumset - while still using sticks, and you can learn how to do this.
It’s easy to assume that in order to play softly, you just need to…well… play softly (or switch to brushes or rods). But the truth is there are several shifts you can make (including 2 big grip shifts) that make all of this much easier than just forcing yourself to play awkwardly quietly!
Today we’re breaking down 4 steps to confidently playing softly while still sounding good & feeling good - So that you’re playing and leading in worship without worrying about volume, you’re playing for the room and sounding awesome, and you’re keeping the sound guy (and even the old folks) happy. YOU CAN DO THIS!
I believe that YOU can become the drummer everyone wants in their band. Anyone can learn the drums, and you’re far more capable of mastering this instrument than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short!
SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that help you know what to practice so that you can gain confidence, nail songs, and be the drummer everyone wants to jam with.
Stay Non Glamorous,
Stephen
Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!
