looking for more info on playing cymbals

feeds@yuku.com (RickK) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:04:32 GMT

I was looking for something that focuses on playing cymbals, and am having difficulty finding what I was looking for.

Not so much on stick tips (nylon or wood) but more on ride patterns that would compliment say a simple 2-4 rock beat...either on hi hat or ride or crash etc....

What about when playing say a ballad, or blues etc....

I don't find much that illustrates the cymbals, maybe I am just missing it?

Thanks for the help.

A Qualitative Discussion of Loops

feeds@yuku.com (jimmymartin) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:17:00 GMT

I've been trying to get into the creation of and incorporation of loops into my musical landscape. My desire is to get involved with creating what would be musical, creative, and possibly lucrative loops.
I have some great tools at my disposal: Digital Performer 5.1, a miked up kit, various percussion, a Roland SPD-S, Stylus RMX, Reason (old 2.5), EZ Drummer, etc.

So I have a wealth of options. I just don't feel I quite have the...

Tuning techniques and torque key?

feeds@yuku.com (Joe Hamm) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:55:00 GMT

I'm interested in thoughts on the torque drum keys. I've always tuned by feeling the tension, and by counting quarter, half, and full key turn rotations. Of course, having a great amount of patience and listening to overtones is also how I've learned to get great tones out of my drums. I've never experimented with torque keys, and I'm curious. Anyone tried...

Traditional Grip - Both Hands?

feeds@yuku.com (TTNW) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:28:23 GMT

A question for traditional grip players. I am not wanting to start a discussion as to the virtues of traditional grip vs. matched grip.

I play matched grip and so I am relying on you traditional grip players to give me, as best you can, an unbiased answer.

Whether you play both grips or prefer traditional grip, why is it that no one uses traditional grip for both hands? My understanding of the history of traditional grip is that it was born out of necessity from playing...

Jazz Mechanism

feeds@yuku.com (corneilius) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:31:16 GMT

Hey people, haven't been around in a while, between work and rehearsals, I've been a little swamped.

Anyway, one thing I was getting into was a ride cymbal exercise. Steve Smith gets into this on his US Beat DVD: I was playing Ex10 on Page 20 of the Chapin book, and realized that the left hand broken triplets made a great mechanism to keep my cymbal beat honest. I realized that I was slightly rushing on two and four, it really helped even things out - non swung grooves...

Velocity

feeds@yuku.com (The Mad Basher) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:20:42 GMT

OK. I have another question that's hard for me to ask succinctly.

I have a friend that ran sound on a tour with Johnny Rabb. He is a producer for a commercial music house in NYC and has released several albums of positive acclaim. I trust his opinions regarding recording and producing.

Recently we were talking about J. Rabb's level of excellence. My friend comment that much of JR's talent was his consistency with velocity. As a sound man, he never ran any...

Keith Carlock OMG!!!!

feeds@yuku.com (stixwallah) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 04:47:16 GMT

Whilst the US residents slumber, the Europeans are taking over the board haha!

Anyway, I haven't seen Keith Carlock before but heard much talking.

Blimey, what a frikkin' amazing drummer!

http://www.drummerworld.c.../keithcarlockswiss2.html

I am besotted!

three questions about counting

feeds@yuku.com (CrusherDestroyer) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:42:45 GMT

1. do you count out loud during practice, and when (how much)?

2. did your teacher ever tell you to?

3. if you are a teacher, do you tell your students to?

i just started doing it this last week, and it really screws up my breathing, so i end up just mouthing the numbers.
anyway, i've been really mulling over billy's concept of mechanisms. i've never applied it. my problem with it has been that if it is not metronomic and consistent, then it...

The Importance of Good Technique

feeds@yuku.com (curiousgeorge) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:46:39 GMT

http://www.mirror.co.uk/c...-injury-115875-21662312/

Phil Collins yesterday revealed he will never play the drums again because of a spine injury. The Genesis star says he can no longer even hold his drum sticks because sitting at a kit is too painful. Phil, 58, said: "I've got a condition that means I...

Bass Drum shuffs

feeds@yuku.com (dpdrum) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:27:15 GMT

So I've been trying to build up foot speed on the bass drum using that funky bass drum shuff beat pattern, and it seems that the
1st hit on the drum winds up beeing lighter sounding than the 2nd hit as I get faster (d-da, d-da, d-da). I'm wondering if anyone knows the best way to get both hits 'even'
in volume and power or can share their approaches to this. I'm aware that you need to start slow, but it seems like it has been taking me quite some time to master...

Tuning for the Room

feeds@yuku.com (The Mad Basher) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:52:15 GMT

Does anyone have suggestions or tips for tuning your drums at a gig?

I'm REALLY frustrated right now. I had a show last night and the bass drum was way to ringy. I want to get a nice round, open sound. In my practice space the drum sounds great. When it was running through a big PA it was problematic. The sound guy was arrogant and unhelpful so rather than battle I stuffed a t-shirt against the front head and moved on.

I know I can do better. Billy's comment about...

Consistency versus Creativity

feeds@yuku.com (Jaaye) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:27:02 GMT

Hey guys. I'm going through an interesting experience right now, and I thought I'd share.

As many of you know, I've been using an electronic system based around the Zendrum controller for my primary rig the last few years. Around this controller I have two systems: one based on a Yammie module and a bunch of effects and one based off a little BOSS drum machine (I call them EVA-1 and -2, respectively).

EVA-2 has never played quite like -1. The MIDI function...

Want technique?

feeds@yuku.com (ambadextro) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:35:52 GMT

Very beautiful stuff....

Frank Bellucci

do you breathe through your nose or mouth...

feeds@yuku.com (debbie) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 09:28:37 GMT

when you're playing fast?

i try to always breathe through my nose, as i find it's better at keeping me relaxed, but it's hard. i notice, especially with hand development, that when you reach a certain point where you're trying to increase speed, the breath 'catches.' you have to work through that and actually get the breath to complete the inhalation so you can fully relax. inevitably that's where your timing starts to hiccup. i haven't yet found a...

Self Analysis: muscle memory vs. musical choice

feeds@yuku.com (johncurry) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:06:27 GMT

I was doing some soul searching while reviewing the most recent live recording from this last weekend in Denver.

I'm constantly trying to identify the little hidden stuff in my playing that's between me and where I want to be.

I noticed something that felt off in my playing. Very frequently I will place a kick drum beat on the first 16th note after the back beat, not every time, but often. I tend to do this in situations that would require perhaps something...

Have you Experienced: Revalation after Hiatus

feeds@yuku.com (johncurry) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:12:43 GMT

I had this thought reading one of Billy's other posts (thanks for being a catalyst Billy!)

Every time I've ever taken a 'break' from drumming, whether by choice or not, I've come back to drumming with fresh insight. The first break was for about a year after 10 years steady playing. And then a break for about 3 years while I established a career with a living wage (and secretly to finance playing music of my own choosing). It seems to me after the fact that...

Amazing Slow Downer

feeds@yuku.com (johncurry) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:28:53 GMT

At my Stanton Moore master class last weekend, Stanton mentioned a software tool he had been using to help him transcribe and learn some classic funk parts. The tool is called the Amazing Slow Downer. I picked up the trial copy to check out. I was a bit skeptical I must say, but the tool is really awesome and I even ponied up the 50 bucks to buy the darn thing. Check it out here:

Indian music, tala, bhols

feeds@yuku.com (llabarge) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:32:49 GMT

Yesterday I had an opportunity to play with some serious musicians from India. When I got home, humbled but fired up I started looking for some resources. I found this guy from Benny Greb's video. http://www.petelockett.com/
If you look, he's got 27 (Twenty freaking seven!!)
lessons about applying tala to the drumset.
Who else has Indian music resources?

I have much work to do.
[ps the Indian guys...

What are you feeling (internally) when you comp against jazz ride?

feeds@yuku.com (debbie) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:22:01 GMT

triplets or the quarter pulse?

i've been practicing playing/accenting all partials of the triplet when comping on the snare. i'm trying to get this smoother, more dynamic and more uptempo. generally speaking, when i've practiced time, i've focused on the quarter notes. but it feels like to really hear and 'see' where the part of the trip is falling [especially when accenting or ghosting], i feel like i have to think in triplets more. i've heard the big...

Metronome on Stage

feeds@yuku.com (Joe Hamm) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:27:44 GMT

I've been hearing that some of the bigger groups like U2, and The Fray, Coldplay use a metronome on stage. Can anyone verify that these big major label groups do that? Has anyone had experience with playing with a metronome on stage?

Technique/Concepts