Drummers!!!

[Slater]

Where has the art of drumming gone? Are there any drummers here? If not, the rest of you probably have a band or at least play with some people. How important is the drummer? What happens if the drummer screws up? BAD THINGS I TELL YOU!!! So why is it that nobody seems to value us as a valuable part of the band? They even made a machine to make a horribly cheap imitation.

[cabhats]

Yeah drummers are awesome. They're just rather hard to come by. I tried to learn, but I already knew how to play guitar nicely and starting at the beginning again sucked. That and I can't really afford a drum kit.
Besides, the people I live with would hate me if I took up drums now.

[Shagg]

Drummers are a vital part to music, but people don't consider them apart of the creative process. Sure we don't write melodies, but we hold everything together and give drama to the music. Most people use a drum machine because drums live are mostly louder than someones equipment, recording is a bitch, and moving the drums are a hassle. But a real drum gives much more emotion than some looped piece of hardware.

[Athrogate]

Hi, I've been taking lessons for about 2 and a half years...looking to get myself a new snare drum and a nice Tama Iron Cobra double-bass pedal. =D My current kit isn't really that great, just your standard 5 piece Ludwig Accent kit.

A drummer's main job is to stay in time I suppose, but there's no reason you can't push the limits of your talent and creativity.

[Riddlebox]

Hi, I've been taking lessons for about 2 and a half years...looking to get myself a new snare drum and a nice Tama Iron Cobra double-bass pedal. =D My current kit isn't really that great, just your standard 5 piece Ludwig Accent kit.

A drummer's main job is to stay in time I suppose, but there's no reason you can't push the limits of your talent and creativity.

Before getting the Iron Cobra, which is beautiful I know, I would get the direct drive yamaha double bass pedal. This thing has so many modifications on it that I prefer it over my friends Iron Cobra. Seriously, my favorite pedal I've used.

Anyway, I'm a drummer in a band, and yeah, we are important, but I'll admit that even though I'm good, drummers aren't hard enough to come by that they wouldn't just ditch me if I started doing drugs of being a general asshole all the time.

The drummer "art" hasn't gone anywhere, just go to the drum department at your local music store and chat with people, or just chat around on the interwebs. I would also reccomend seeing some drum clinics. The BMW tour was awesome when it came through here.

I just wish my drums were easier to move around, I just leave em at our practice place, which used to be a giant meat freezer that was modified into an auto shop, so it's got a huge lock and I'm not worried about anyone stealing them.

[Slater]

Hi, I've been taking lessons for about 2 and a half years...looking to get myself a new snare drum and a nice Tama Iron Cobra double-bass pedal. =D My current kit isn't really that great, just your standard 5 piece Ludwig Accent kit.


I've been playing for about 6 1/2 years and I've got a roland electric. Instead of a double bass pedal, I recommend tap dancing lessons or something like that. With practice, you can go just as fast with one pedal as with two. Also, with practice, a 5 piece drum kit is just as good as Neil Pert's kit.

P.S. I recently met Zoro. He's a great guy, and we talk regularly. He gave me a few pointers on sounding like you've got a huge kit with only a five piece. Tip 1) Roll your fills.

[Riddlebox]

This guy is really great at the double pedal, and if you do what he says, you'll get better at double-bass really quick. Helped me a lot. Doesn't matter how fast you are if you're not clean.

Derek Roddy-does not blink
Sticking (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPFEP_stPGI&feature=related)
Double Bass (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD3SLe6VjmE&feature=related)

[Slater]

This guy is really great at the double pedal, and if you do what he says, you'll get better at double-bass really quick. Helped me a lot. Doesn't matter how fast you are if you're not clean.



I don't think that the double bass is necessary. I can get about 10 bps with a regular. My band goes for the Iron Maiden/Journey feel so I have no reason to go any faster.

[Chaplin]

I wanna learn drumming soo bad. I'm thinking about buying a kit for my birthday or something. Drumming is such a cool thing to do and it sounds so awesome.

[MarkS33]

yah, I've played drums for about 8 years. I must say, it one of the most enable things to do. ate winning afew battle of the bands and local stuff, I've since come to realize that, saddly, my future lies not in music. I still enjoy playing in my own time though and would always love to jam with people who play the other insturments.

I think drumming is an art. something that is tough to do and a challenge to master. I always wish I were as good as a neal pert or someone like that, but instead, I just push myself to my skill and creative limits.

we are also VERY under appreciated...

[Brando2600]

I've been playing for about 2 and a half years now and taking lessons for about 1 year.


"we are also VERY under appreciated..."

That may be true but if you throw out a lightning fast solo you'll turn some heads. I remember once I just did a roll down the toms and a girl was like, " Holy Crap, do that again!"

[Taerran]

I'm a drummer also. I know alot of guys are saying double bass pedals are.. uh.. not needed. Technically all you NEED is a hi hat, crash, snare, bass, and 2 toms. You can do alot with just that. If you REALLY want to improve, once you get really good with your kit setup the way you like it, set it up backwards. Most drummers play right hand - hi hat and left hand snare. Try switching your kit around. It will be like starting all over again, But I can promise you you'll be 10x better afterwards. =)

[Riddlebox]

I'm a drummer also. I know alot of guys are saying double bass pedals are.. uh.. not needed. Technically all you NEED is a hi hat, crash, snare, bass, and 2 toms. You can do alot with just that. If you REALLY want to improve, once you get really good with your kit setup the way you like it, set it up backwards. Most drummers play right hand - hi hat and left hand snare. Try switching your kit around. It will be like starting all over again, But I can promise you you'll be 10x better afterwards. =)

Rather than switching around your set, you could just use your left hand to play the hi-hat and right hand on the snare.

Double bass isn't necessary, but it helps you build coordination. Plus, it's good to be well rounded. Plus, it can be fun to insert double bass into your beats. I like it. It takes less energy to play at 180bpm with a double bass than with a single.

[Athrogate]

I've been playing for about 6 1/2 years and I've got a roland electric. Instead of a double bass pedal, I recommend tap dancing lessons or something like that. With practice, you can go just as fast with one pedal as with two. Also, with practice, a 5 piece drum kit is just as good as Neil Pert's kit.

P.S. I recently met Zoro. He's a great guy, and we talk regularly. He gave me a few pointers on sounding like you've got a huge kit with only a five piece. Tip 1) Roll your fills.

Thanks for the advice, I don't know about tap dancing...but are there other exercises I can do to get my foot speed and control up? Other than practicing constantly? I try and play heel up always, which seems to give me a higher degree of accuracy.

And for the record, I'm left handed, so I play with my ride on the left as well as the hi-hats. I play the bass pedal with my right foot...

Before getting the Iron Cobra, which is beautiful I know, I would get the direct drive yamaha double bass pedal. This thing has so many modifications on it that I prefer it over my friends Iron Cobra. Seriously, my favorite pedal I've used.


I guess I'll look at all of the different pedals when I go to get it. A lot of modifications sounds good though, I'll definitely look into it and try some of them out.

[Slater]

That may be true but if you throw out a lightning fast solo you'll turn some heads. I remember once I just did a roll down the toms and a girl was like, " Holy Crap, do that again!"

Wow... Something THAT simple? Man... I gotta try that.

Also, to the user that wants to buy a kit and learn, No. take a few lessons, THEN decide if you want to spend 1,000$ on a kit. And yes, kits can run that much and much more. Mine was 3,000 for a five piece electric.

Thanks for the advice, I don't know about tap dancing...but are there other exercises I can do to get my foot speed and control up? Other than practicing constantly? I try and play heel up always, which seems to give me a higher degree of accuracy.
And for the record, I'm left handed, so I play with my ride on the left as well as the hi-hats. I play the bass pedal with my right foot...
I guess I'll look at all of the different pedals when I go to get it. A lot of modifications sounds good though, I'll definitely look into it and try some of them out.

Other exercises. There really isn't any that I can think of right now, but if I do, I'll PM you. I'm ambidextrous, and it would help you to learn to play open (your style if I understand correctly) and closed (with arms crossed over the hi-hat and snare)
It's definitely a good idea to look at a bunch of different types, brands, add-ons, ect... Just be sure to try EVERY one of them out. It's time consuming, but worth it because you'll be sure to find the one that matches your style EXACTLY.

[LooseClaim]

I bin drumming for a year and a half now and I aint too bad, but I'm just asking if anyone had any tips for workin somethin tricksy with the hats, snare and kick? I've no problem doing fast fills, just trying to work on dexterity and sort of mixing things up.

[Lissa]

With practice, you can go just as fast with one pedal as with two.

Yeah but with two you can go as fast as four. :facts:

Heel-toe does amazing things for you.

[Kass]

Where has the art of drumming gone? Are there any drummers here? If not, the rest of you probably have a band or at least play with some people. How important is the drummer? What happens if the drummer screws up? BAD THINGS I TELL YOU!!! So why is it that nobody seems to value us as a valuable part of the band? They even made a machine to make a horribly cheap imitation.

Nobody values drummers anymore because drummers these days all suck, or have been snatched up by another band.

[Slater]

Nobody values drummers anymore because drummers these days all suck, or have been snatched up by another band.

If you do it for the music, not the money or anything else, and you have experience and practice, you CANNOT suck.