Jeff Donaldson on SoundBetter

I’m here to help you bring your music to life with custom drum parts that perfectly fit your song. With over 30 years of experience across a wide range of genres, I know how to craft the right groove and feel for any track. Let’s create the beat your song deserves!

Jeff Donaldson – Drummer & Percussionist

Jeff Donaldson has been bringing energy and groove to the drums since 1995. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, he is the current drummer for Bridge of Hope Church and The Touchables, as well as an in-demand freelance drummer throughout the region.

Jeff’s extensive performance experience includes his tenure with the acclaimed Jay Jesse Johnson Band, where he played at major festivals and venues across the Midwest. His drumming can be heard on the band’s albums Set the Blues on Fire, Down the Hard Road, and Man on a Mission.

A versatile musician, Jeff has also performed in the pit orchestra at Jenny Wiley Theatre, providing drums and percussion for productions such as A Chorus Line, West Side Story, High School Musical, and The Wizard of Oz.

Jeff studied percussion at Morehead State University under the guidance of Frank Oddis and Brian Mason, performing with the university’s percussion ensemble, symphonic band, and jazz band. His diverse background and commitment to musical excellence make him a dynamic presence on any stage or recording session.

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

2 Reviews

Endorse Jeff Donaldson

by Robert B.
Verified
Jeff has been a great drummer to work with. Played the track just how I liked it, whilst also adding his own creative input that fitted the style of the song perfectly.

Very quick turn around, sending recordings promptly and responds to messages fast.

Talented drummer, highly recommend.
by conrad z.
Verified
Jeff was great to work with .
Adding his professional touch added so much to the track .
Very quick turnaround between sending what I was looking for and his finished files .
Will work with Jeff again in the future!

Interview with Jeff Donaldson

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I will get you clean drum tracks to mix with your song in a timely manner. I will be open to feedback, and am not happy with the drum parts until you are.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love the challenge of playin to new and interesting songs, and trying to create drum parts that fit those songs.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I have been playing drums for over 30 years. I studied percussion at Morehead State. I have played in a variety of groups, including musical theatre pits, rock bands, and jazz combos.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Groove oriented. Whatever fits the song is what I play.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I usually work on rock, and blues. I am able to play a variety of styles, and am open to all types of music.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Drumming.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Good groove, tasteful fills, and a good sense of what drum parts will fit without getting in the way of the other instruments.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: First, I like to listen to the song that I'm playing to. Once I've got it in my head, I like to sit down and practice it a bit without recording at first, so I can play with some different ideas. Once I've got a good feel for the song, I'll record a take, and listen back. I might record a few takes before I send out a rough draft that I am happy with. From there, I do up to 3 retakes, and send off the raw WAVs. I send out the first take within a day. I stay on top of doing retakes in a timely manner. A song can take as little as a day if you are happy with the first take. Typically, I get the project done in a couple of days.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I use Yamaha drums, and Zildjian cymbals. I use ten inputs: kick inside and out, snare top and bottom, 2 overheads, ride, hi hat, rack, and floor tom. I use Studio One, a PreSonus 1818, and a PreSonus Digimax D8. I also run through Cloudlifter preamp.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I record acoustic drum tracks for my clients. A lot of times, I am replacing a programmed drum part. Sometimes, I am creating a part from scratch.

Song Highlights by Var. Artists

I was the Drummer in this production

Live drum trackAverage price - $70 per song

I allow 3 revisions per song. Typical turnaround is 2-3 days for a song. I send you an MP3 demo to review, and once you are satisfied with the parts, I send you the raw WAV files.