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Drum
Tips and Tricks
The
Tiger originally began offering Tips on drums, drumming, and percussion
that change regularly on the main Home page of this site. This section
is an archive of those Tiger Tips for your convenience. Now, we are pleased
to include tips from other drum pros as well.
Practice
Pads are Good But Real Drumsets are Better!
Unless you are planning to make a living playing a practice pad, you should always
practice all of your pad exercises on the drumset as well. Drums not only have
a different feel than a pad but there are usually a lot more of them and you
need to get your body comfortable moving from drum to drum. So don't be one of
those drummers who plays a terrific pad but doesn't know what to do behind the
kit! Everyhting you practice on the pad should be woodshedded on a full kit!
[Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
How
NOT to Practice Your Rudiments!
I don't agree with the common method of practicing rudiments from slow to fast
and back to slow again. This tends to build bad timing into your muscle memory.You
should practice your rudiments at all tempos but you're better off stopping and
re-setting your internal clock before each tempo change. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
The
Key to Breaking Through to the Next Level of Speed!
If you've been working on your speed but you can't quite seem to make
it to the next level then you're probably practicing incorrectly. The
key to increasing your speed is to push yourself slightly past your usual
comfort speed level and practice short burst of speed exercises. Even
at the risk of sounding a bit sloppy! This serves to build the new speed
level into your muscle memory. Then, when you back off a notch or two
on the metronome, you'll find that you will be able to play faster and
cleaner than before. It's kind of like taking two steps forward so you
can take one "clean and precise" step back. Try it! But don't
allow your muscles to tense up at any time! [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Is leg
pain normal when playing Heels Up?
Absolutely not! It's one thing to become fatigued when practicing your foot chops
for long periods of time but you should never feel any real pain! If you do,
you are playing under too much tension. If you're having this problem, here are
two important things to look for:
#1: Check throne height. If your seat is not at the correct level, you will
have poor foot chops. See "Improve
Your Bass Drum Chops Instantly" for more.
#2: When playing Heel Up, raise your heel no more than about 1/4 inch from
the footboard. Higher than that will cause tension. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
The
Correct Type of Practice Makes Perfect... Incorrect Practice Just Wastes
Time!
One of the most common questions I get is from drummers who complain
they've been practicing for many years and they're not getting any
better! The problem usually lies in the type of practice they're doing.
To get better you must constantly push yourself. Effortful practice
is the key to improving your skills. Practicing things
that you already know and can play well is a waste of valuable practice time.
[Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Building
Neuro-Pathways for Improved Performance!
All great athletes know that the 'secret' to becoming the best that they can
be is repetitive practice. Practicing the same motions over and over and over
again, stimulates and builds pathways between the brain and the muscles. The
more repetitions you perform on a regular basis, the more efficient these pathways
become.
The result is that you'll soon be playing things that you thought were impossible!
[Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Make
Mistakes Faster!
Everyone makes mistakes but the most succeessful people are those who have learned
to make mistakes faster!
So, if you have been trying to be very careful and negotiate your way through
life and/or business worrying about making mistakes, forget about it! Take
a tip from some of the world's most successful people and go after your dream,
whatever it is, not worrying about making mistakes. Just learn to make them
faster. This, in turn, will allow you to become successful much faster! [Supplied
by Tiger Bill.]
Only
the Proper Kind of Practice Makes Perfect!
Practice really does make perfect but only the proper kind of practice.
The key is to start slowly and gradually build up your speed while maintaining
control over everything you do. Once you get to the point where you are
starting to sound sloppy, back down a notch or two on the metronome to
find your "Control
Speed" and start over again. [Supplied by Tiger
Bill.]
Two
Books NO Drummer Should Be Without!
The first book that every drummers should own is Stick
Control by George Stone. Not only is this book gret for working
both hands and feet, but with a little creativity you can apply it a thousand
different ways to the entire drumset.
And every drummer, regardless of musical style, should also own the
book Syncopation by
Ted Reed. There are so many different ways that you can practice the exercises
in this book, it's unbelieveable! Get your copy of Syncopation today
and get creative! [Supplied by Tiger
Bill.]
Making
Odd Time Signatures Easy
If you're having trouble feeling comfortable when playing in odd time signatures,
such as 5/4, 7/4, 11/4, etc., try breaking them down into more common signatures.
For example, instead of counting in 5 for 5/4 time, try it as a bar of 3/4 and
a bar of 2/4. You can think of 7/4 time as a 4 and a bar of 3, and so on. Try
it. It can help make odd time signatures feel a bit more even! [Supplied by Tiger
Bill.]
Improve
Your Bass Drum Chops Instantly!
Sometimes all it takes to improve your bass drum chops is a simple height adjustment
on your drum throne. Sitting too high or too low can cause tension in your legs,
which not only slows you down but makes endurance and control a nightmare!
How do you find the correct adjustment for you? Watch the DRUM! Magazine
Web site for Tiger Bill's new Video Lesson: Developing
Tension-Free Footwork. [Supplied by Tiger
Bill.]
Drummers
NEED Music Theory Too!
While it's true that some very famous drummers cannot read music they are the
exception, not the rule. The very best drummers are those who have an overall
knowledge of music theory, which includes a knowledge of melody , harmony, and
chordal structures as well as rhythm. Once you have Music Theory under your belt
you can do anything with your music, even compose your own songs. I feel that
every drummer should have at least a rudimentary knowledge of keyboard in addition
to drums. [Supplied by Tiger
Bill.]
The
Circle of Success
Practicing properly yields successful workout sessions. The more successful sessions
you have, the more your confidence level increases, which makes you want to practice
more. This, in turn, increases your success even more. It's a never-ending circle
of success! [Supplied by Tiger
Bill.]
Avoiding
A Common 'Speed Trap'
One of the most common problems shared by drummers of all experience levels,
from beginners through advanced, is the tendency to speed up when playing fills.
The best way to avoid this is to practice with a metronome (use a variety of
tempos from slow to fast) and play 3 bars of a groove followed by a fourth bar
drum fill. Once you can easily lock in the tempo for a one bar fill, increase
the fill to 2 bars and practice playing 2 bars of groove followed by a 2 bar
fill. Once you've mastered this to a metronome, it's time to try it to music
and the best way to practice this, outside of a real band, is to use Spencer
Strand's CDs Turn It Up & Lay
It Down. Volume 1 and 2 both contain play-along tracks that are
perfect for practicing fills without benefit of a click track. Have fun! [Supplied
by Tiger Bill.]
The
Key to Becoming a Musical Drummer
LISTEN! That's it. Listen to everything! Listen to all kinds of music
(not just the music you like to play) and listen to what everyone
in your band is playing. Although listening to the bass player is
important so that you can both lay down a solid foundation for the
beat, it's also important to listen to what each member of your band
is doing so that what you're playing doesn't step on any of their
toes! So, in addition to practicing various exercises to build your technique,
practice "listening" every day. [Supplied by Tiger
Bill.]
The
Money Beat!
Originally coined by Nashville session drummer Paul Leim, the 'Money Beat' is
as follows: Play bass drum on 1 and 3 and snare drum on 2 and 4. That's it! You
can play about 90% of today's Rock, Country, Pop, New Wave, and Techno tunes
using this basic pattern. Learn it well. Then go out and make some cash with
it! [Supplied by Tiger
Bill.]
Rockin'
the Rudiments
Rudiments are not just for marching drums. When used with a little imagination,
they can be extremely effective on the drumset in whatever style of music you
play. [Supplied by Tiger
Bill.]
Check out the Tiger's Free 5-part lesson Rudiments Around The Drums for
details. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Secret
to Speed?
It's simple. The faster you play, the closer you should keep your sticks to the
drumhead. For maximum speed, try using less wrist and more fingers. For free
lessons and tips on speed drumming technique see Tiger Bill's new series: Speed
Lessons, exclusively at DRUM! Magazine. [Supplied by Tiger
Bill.]
Would
You Like to Make Your Drumheads Sound Better and Last Longer?
Try putting a good insulator wax on the bearing edges of
the drum shells and the underside of the heads where they meet the shells. This
little trick allows the heads to vibrate freely over 100% of their surface. They
breathe throughout and last about twice as long and keep their tuning much longer.
[Supplied by Roger Strange.]
Verbal
Phrases Are Often Easier Than Counting
Difficult rhythmic patterns can often be made easier to play by converting
them to verbal phrases rather than counting them. For example, triplets
could be counted as 1-trip-let, 2-trip-let, etc., or you could use
a verbal phrase like "ba-be-da,
ba-be-da" to play the triplets instead. You can do this for quintuplets
and any rhythmic pattern. Create your own verbal phrases for various rhythmic
patterns and experiment with it yourself. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Think
ODD As Well as EVEN
When you're looking for more options for creatiive drum solos, fills, or rhythmic
patterns try interspersing odd-time phrases with the more common even ones. For
example, instead of playing a drum fill that consists of four groups of four-sixteenth
notes, try playing four groups of five-sixteenth notes. Also experiment with
groups of seven, nine, eleven, thirteen, and fifteen for some real strange but
different (and challenging) drum patterns.
Check it out and see what you can come up with. [Supplied by Tiger
Bill.]
Thinking
Out of The Box
I regularly receive questions from Drumheads asking how they can improve their
creativity. Actually, there are a number of ways but here are two of the simplest:
1) Rearrange your drumset. Move your toms to different locations. For
example, try placing your floor tom on your left side and/or an additional
snare drum where your floor tom normally is. When your drums are not
where you expect them to be, you'll find yourself playing different sounding
patterns. This can lead you to new ideas.
2) Practice playing on a limited drumset. For example, use only your
snare drum and hi-hat and see what you can do with them. This will also
force you to discover new ideas that you'll be able to apply even when
you get back behind your entire drumset.
Force yourself to "think out of the box" and you'll find that
your creativity will greatly increase. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Drumming
and Your Health
Let's face it, drumming IS a physical sport. If you want to keep drumming well
into your golden years, you've got to take care of your health - now! Lighten
up on the junk foods. Eat more fiber and vegetables. Have some fruit instead
of candy and cake. Learn how to make great tasting health-shakes in your blender
at home. If you smoke, quit it! If you're not already physically active other
than playing drums, start an exercise routine and stick with it. Exercising can
be as simple as taking a brisk walk, riding a bike, or swimming but you have
to something every day. And don't forget that yearly physical, it can help detect
minor problems before they turn into major ones. For more on staying fit, see Healthy
Drumming. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Keep
Your Drums Clean
Clean your gear once a week with a soft, clean cloth and it will be a long time
before you'll need to disassemble them for a more thorough cleaning. Non-wax
furniture polish will keep a shine on lacquer finished wood shells, Windex works
wonders on plastic wrapped shells, and chrome-cleaner will keep your hardware
sparkling. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
The
World's Cheapest Double Pedal!
Click on the camera, you've never seen anything like it. Supplied by
Tim "World's
Fastest Feet" Waterson.
(Aka: DrumCanMan.)
The
Key to Building Monster Chops
In a word: Slowly! Don't rush it. No one develops Monster Chops overnight.
It takes time and practice but the proper kind of practice. Speed is nothing
without endurance and control. Start slowly and work on each exercise until
you can play it easily and in complete control before moving up the next notch
on the metronome - or, as I prefer to use, an EZ Sound Module!
This is the key to developing a technique that will last
a lifetime. For details on hand technique, see Building
Monster Chops. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
You
Can't Fail!
If you're looking for the "secret" to making it in the
music biz (or any other biz for that matter), it's simple: Never
give up and you can't fail!
Providing you have your act together and you really can play, just hang in there
long enough and you can't miss. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
DrumHead
Tips for DrumHeads
Although drumhead makers would like you to believe otherwise, you only need to
replace a head if:
1) It's cut or badly dented
2) The head buzzes when struck
3) You can no longer get your drum in tune
As far as drumhead selection goes, if you want your drums to ring more use single-ply
heads. For less ring use double-ply heads. That's the general rule but with so
many different drumheads available today, your best bet is to find a music store
that has lots of drumheads mounted on kits and try them out for yourself! [Supplied
by Tiger Bill.]
Get
Creative
Regardless of what type of music you're into, don't just play the same old beats
you hear other drummers play. Get creative and try some variations of your own.
You might just come up with something that sounds better. Check out the following
lesson articles for some examples: Disco
Sounds Good, With a Little Creativity and Polka
Fun. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Calluses
and Blisters Are NOT Normal!
If you are developing calluses or blisters from playing the drums, then
you're not playing correctly! Using the correct technique, you can drum
for a lifetime and still have fingers as soft as a baby's behind! For
further information, see Building
Monster Chops. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Supervise
That Syncopation!
If you're showing off for a room full of drummers at a clinic that's
one thing, but if you're keeping the beat in a band be careful not to
overdo the syncopated rhythms. Remember, a drummer's main purpose is
to be a timekeeper and groove maker and too much syncopation can destroy
both, not only for your bandmates but for the the listeners and dancers
in your audience.DrumHeads from around the world. [Supplied by Tiger
Bill.]
Before
You Junk Those Drums...
If you can't seem to get a decent sound out of your drumset, try new
drumheads before buying a new kit. That may be all you need. There are
many different
kinds of drumheads available today that will give you a "dry"
or "wet" sound or any type of sound in between. Even the most
inexpensive drums can sound a whole lot better when outfitted with high-quality
drumheads. Check out our Buying
Gear section
to find quality drumhead manufacturers.
[Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Counting
Out Loud
The importance of counting out loud, especially for beginning drummers,
cannot be stressed enough. Not only does it help you to find your mistakes
faster but it also helps you to develop "5-way" coordination.
This will come in handy should you ever need to sing harmony or lead
vocals while drumming in a band someday. After all, look what it did
for Ringo! [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
The
Key to Fame in the Music Biz
It can be summed up in three words: Word of Mouth. More than any
other business on earth, finding work in the music business relies on
word of mouth. For example, a bass player who likes your playing remembers
you, and when someone mentions that they're looking for a drummer, he
recommends you. Most of the time, that's the way the pros find work in
music. So, if you want to be famous, you've got to get out there and play
as often as you can, with as many musicians as you can. And play regardless
of whether you're getting paid or not.
Follow this link for a detailed how-to guide on How
To Make It in the Music Business. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Practice
Routine
I constantly receive questions from drummers who want to know how long
and how often they should practice. As far as length of practice time,
there is no correct answer. It is much more important to practice regularly.
Practicing for 10 minutes every day will get you much farther than practicing
for 10 hours straight, once in a blue moon! [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Pitch-Matching
Your Drumsticks
Pitch-matching your drumsticks is important if you want to get an even
sound from your drums and cymbals. Although top stick makers now computer
test sticks for weight and straightness, I have yet to find matched pairs
from ANY maker than are consistently matched in pitch.
Here's what you can do to check your sticks before you
buy: Holding the stick lightly between the thumb and middle finger, raise
it up to your ear and tap it with the forefinger. Do the same with the
second stick and you'll be able to hear if the pitches match. If not,
choose another pair of sticks. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Building
Double Bass Chops
There are plenty of exercises you can practice on your pedals to build
up double bass drum chops but they'll do you little good if you're lacking
in leg strength. So, along with your drumming exercises, I suggest that
you add a leg strengthening routine. Practiced regularly, any of the following
will make you a better double bass drummer and a healthier person to boot!
1) Swimming with lots of leg action
2) Martial arts that contain lots of high kicks (like Tae
Kwon Do or KickBoxing)
3) Jogging
4) Jumping Rope: The safe way to jump is to jump just high
enough to let the rope pass below your feet, which is about one or two
inches off the floor.
Those are the best exercises you can do for your double
bass drum chops. Note: Always check with your doctor first before beginning
any vigorous exercise routine. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
You
Can't Groove Alone
It's not easy to make everything you play really cook or groove, as they
say in the biz. Developing a good groove requires practice but the proper
kind of practice. First, you need enough coordination to be able to
play various rhythmic patterns with ease. Then, you need to practice
playing alone until you get a consistent groove. But the third and most
important part, is that you must learn to groove with other musicians.
For example, if you've got one idea of groove and the bass player has
another, there will be no groove! There's a lot more to grooving than
just the drums. The entire rhythm section needs to groove together.
And that takes practice. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Time
Times Three
"Time" refers to the rhythmic pattern played by a drummer during
a tune. That's easy to understand. What's difficult, especially for
beginning drummers to comprehend, is how to develop the great "time" feel
of the pros. That's usually because beginners think there is only one
correct "time" feel and that is strict metronome time. Actually,
there are three distinctly different "time" feels and experienced
players decide what is best for a particular tune. Sometimes the "time"
feel changes within the tune itself. The three types of time are:
1) On Top of the Beat: This type of time, exemplified by
Buddy Rich, is the most exciting and energetic. You have to be careful
not to rush the tempo when playing on top.
2) In the Center of the Beat: This is strict metronome time,
where you play directly in the middle of the beat.
3) Behind the Beat: This type of time, popularized by Count
Basie, requires that you play slightly behind the beat. You have to be
careful not to drag the tempo down when playing behind.
Those are the three distinct time feels. Each should be
practiced with a metronome and also while playing along to various records
from Count Basie to Buddy Rich to *NSYNCH.
For more on working with a metronome, see my article:
Time In Time Out. [Supplied
by Tiger Bill.]
Cymbal
Sense: Let 'em Breathe!
A major cause of crummy sounding and even cracked cymbals is due to overtightening.
When setting up your cymbals, make sure your cymbal stands have felt pads
and nylon sleeves on them before placing your cymbals over the threaded
screw. If the nylon sleeves are missing and your cymbal touches the metal
screw threads, not only will it sound terrible but you'll eventually wear
an extra groove in your cymbal hole. Not good! When installing the final
wing nut on top of your cymbal stand, don't tighten it so much that it
hampers the free swing of the cymbal.
Top hi-hat cymbals are also often kept way too tight. Tighten
the clutch only enough to hold the cymbal while still allowing it to
move around freely. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Be
an Original, Not a Copy
Joe Morello once told me that, although he loved the way Buddy Rich played,
he would never be flattered by someone telling him that he sounded like
Buddy. Why? Because Joe didn't want to sound like anyone but himself.
As Joe puts it, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but
the fastest way to failure!" Anyone who has heard Joe play would
have to agree that Joe sounds like no one but Joe. He's a true original
whose playing style has influenced, and continues to influence, drummers
the world over. I feel the same way. Every drummer has something unique
to bring to the art of drumming. As much as I loved Buddy's playing myself,
how boring would drumming be if we ALL sounded like Buddy? And years after
all of the Buddy Rich imitators fade away, who will even remember their
names?
Although you can (and should) listen to and emulate the
playing styles of all of the great drummers, you should NOT copy any of
them note for note. Develop your own variations on their theme, create
your own sound. Then, someday, you may find other drum students copying
YOU!
That's when you'll know you've made it as a true original
in the field of drumming. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Audition
Anxiety Cure
Everybody gets nervous at auditions, beginners and pros alike. Here are
a few things you can do upfront to help you relax and give you the upper
hand during any audition. First find out if you'll be playing their drums
or your own. If it's their drums, try to get a look at the set ahead of
time so there aren't any surprises. If you can get a tape of the tunes
you'll be expected to play for the audition, great. If not, at least get
a list of the songs, get them, and practice them prior to the audition.
The better you know the music, the more likely you'll get the gig. Important
note: There is often a difference between tempos of tunes that are recorded
live and those recorded in a studio. (Live version tempos are often faster.)
Try to get live in-concert versions of the songs to study, if possible.
If you're auditioning for a band like KISS, it's probably overkill to
come dressed up as a "Cat" but it's not a bad idea to try to
emulate the overall look of the band - minus the theatrical makeup! The
more closely you identify with the members, the more likely they'll choose
you to become one of the "guys." (Whether you're a Guy OR Gal!)
[Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Find
Yourself A Sub
Whether you play for a hobby or for a living, be on the lookout for good
drummers that you can use to sub for you. Subs can come in handy whether
you're too sick or injured to play the gig yourself, or if get two gigs
for the day and one of them pays more. So keep your eyes and ears
open and start collecting phone numbers of other drummers you can use
to sub for you.
Additional Tip: Not only do you need to make sure that a potential sub
can cut the gig musically, you need to verify that he is someone who is
trustworthy and easy to get along with. You wouldn't want to send a "looney
tune" in on a gig that you value unless, of course, you are
trying to get fired from the gig! [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Best
Hand Technique On The Planet!
The Gladstone method of drumming allows you to play at top speed for hours
at a time without getting fatigued. The longer you play the better you
feel. Don't believe me? Follow this
link and find out for yourself. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Got
4-Way Coordination Problems?
The secret is to break the exercise down and practice only two parts at
a time, alternating parts until they become easy to play. Then, add the
third and finally the fourth part and you've got it.
If you're still having trouble, click
this link for more help. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
The
World's Slowest Drummer?
What's harder than playing fast? Playing slowwww. That's right. It's much
harder to play slow than fast. Try it. Set your metronome to the slowest
setting (which is usually somewhere around 40 bpm) and try to play a quarter
note pattern to it. Not so easy, is it? But, practice makes perfect. If
you practice enough, you may even have a shot at getting listed in the
Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Slowest Drummer!
Now that's cool! [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Bad
News for Knuckle Crackers
Do you regularly crack your knuckles as a way to warm up before playing
the drums? If so, STOP IT! Why? Because it really doesn't loosen you
up at all, it tightens you up. And worse than that, it can eventually
cause arthritis. Don't do it! [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
There's
Always Something New To Learn
No matter what your musical bag, there's always something new that you
can learn - as long as you keep an open mind. Once you get to the point
where you think you know it all (and NO one knows it ALL), you're dead
(creatively speaking). That's why you'll find that the top pros in the
business are constantly learning, they learn from each other and from
their students. There's always something you can learn from anybody -
even if it's how NOT to play! Keep learning - and stay loose! [Supplied
by Tiger Bill.]
The
Secret To Monster Chops
The faster you play, the looser your muscles should be. Allowing your
muscles to tighten up is like driving a car with your gas pedal to the
metal while the brake is on.
The secret is to Stay Loose! And all the secrets are exposed in detail
in TigerBill's Concepts of Tension Free Drumming™ Hand Technique DVD.
Click the link to check it out today. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Tame
That Slippery Drum Kit
Having problems with your kick drum or hi-hat sliding away from you while
you play? Buy a piece of indoor-outdoor carpet of the correct size to
fit your entire kit, including your seat. It's thin, which won't soak
up as much drum sound as heavier carpet would. And it's inexpensive,
lightweight, and rolls up to make schlepping easy.
[Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Trick
to a Click Track? Make it LOUD!
Here's a tip for recording in the studio with a click track: Make the
volume of the click as loud in your headphones as you can stand it. This
lets you forget about concentrating on hearing the click and you'll find
yourself playing as if the click didn't even exist. Experiment with this
at home by sending a metronome or other electronic type click sound through
your headphones while you practice. But don't overdo the decibels. Give
your ears a break! [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Auditioning
Cymbals?
Make sure you bring your own drumsticks with you. Drumsticks of varying
sizes and weights can make cymbals sound very different. Not to mention
the huge sound difference that wood and nylon tipped sticks can produce.
[Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Dr.
Scholl's: Not For Blisters Only!
Most people probably think of Dr. Scholl's Moleskin pads in relation to
blisters on their feet. But, for years, I've used the stuff to protect
my batter bass drum head from wearing out. And, as a bonus, it improves
the tone too!
Just cut a piece big enough to cover the area where your single or double
bass beater balls strike your bass drum head, remove the backing on
the moleskin, and stick it on. Then as the pad wears out, replace it
with a new piece. It's a whole lot cheaper than replacing bass drum
heads! [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Why
Electronic "DrumHeads" Will Never Replace The Human Kind
Electronic metronome-like drum machines can play on the beat with incredible
accuracy, but that's not what makes the groove. In addition to playing
exactly on the beat, groove is sometimes created by laying back and playing
slightly behind the beat or by playing slightly on top of the beat. Something
that electronics will never be able to reproduce. [Supplied by Tiger
Bill.]
Improve
Your Slow R&B Chops
Set your metronome to quarter note equals 80 and play a standard slow
triplet R&B groove: That is, eight note triplets on the ride cymbal,
2 and 4 on the snare drum and hi-hat (with your foot), and 1 and 3 on
the bass drum. Play it over and over until you feel you're in the pocket.
Then set your metronome down to 60 and repeat the exercise. Finally, set
your metronome to 40 and play it again. You'll see that the slower you
play, the harder it gets! Try it!
If your metronome lets you turn the audible click on and off, while
the metronome continues to keep time, try the following: Play the above
exercise and once you think you've got it in the pocket, turn the audible
click off and continue playing for one bar before turning the click back
on. Did you stay on the click? If you did, cool. Try turning it off for
two, three, and four bars (or more) at a time. Have fun!
[Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
Weighted
Drumsticks: Good or Bad?
If you currently use or have ever thought about using weighted drumsticks,
forget about it! Some say that they build up your "drumming"
muscles but, in reality, they tear them down.
Speed and precision in technique requires race horse type muscles NOT
weightlifter-type muscles. Practicing with heavy sticks will only desensitize
your hands, when you should be looking to increase sensitivity. [Supplied
by Tiger Bill.]
Expensive
Drums Deserve Protection
When you spend a lot cash on a drum set, don't skimp on the cases. Lightweight,
hard shell fiber cases aren't cheap but do offer the best protection.
They also make your set easier to carry. For added protection against
damage, wrap each drum in a towel before packing or include some foam
packing blocks inside each case. You never know when you might roll a
drum down a flight of stairs! I DID! But, because of the case, it wasn't
damaged. [Supplied by Tiger Bill.]
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But not without taking care of business first. Click the above link and
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