Having More At Your Disposal Than You Actually Need

Ben Sesar, drummer for Brad Paisley

Cris Cohen: You seem like someone who is never done, never satisfied. Over the years, you made some big changes to your drumming technique. For instance, in recent years, you learned how to play using traditional grip.

Ben Sesar, drummer for Brad Paisley: It is all about trying to make the gig easier. Because with Brad, it is very demanding musically. There is a lot going on and the intensity is high. And there is something magical about having more at your disposal than you actually need, so that when you are cruising along, it is that much easier.

Cris Cohen: In other words, learning to play fast improves your ability to play slowly as well.

Ben Sesar: Yes. It is like an Aston Martin versus a Volkswagen Bug from the 60s. Both can go 70 miles an hour. But one is doing it easily and one is doing it at the top of its range.

That is the purpose: To increase your headroom so that everything you do just rolls off. That is how I look at it.