Physical limits of drummers?

[WeeWoo]

I am programming drums and don't know if this rhythm is humanly possible, I don't want it to sound robotic.

It's simply a continuous 16th note pattern at 190bpm on the toms for three measures.

each tom gets 4 hits:

aaaabbbbccccaaaabbbbcccc etc for three measures

[RAMI]

If you're asking if it can be done by a real drummer, the answer is yes. Whether it will not sound robotic when you program it, is another thing altogether. Even the slowest fill can sound robotic if it's not programmed properly.

[WeeWoo]

Yeah I was asking f it can be done by a real drummer, I figured if it's not physically possible then it would automatically sound robotic no matter what techniques I used to humanize it.

[RAMI]

Originally Posted by WeeWoo

Yeah I was asking f it can be done by a real drummer, I figured if it's not physically possible then it would automatically sound robotic no matter what techniques I used to humanize it.

It's great that you took into account the fact that it might be possible or not. A lot of non-drumers ( I hope I'm not making an in-correct assumption in your case) do some pretty un-realistic things with drum machines.

Having answered your question about doing 16th note rolls at 190bpm, I have to add that most drummers probably wouldn't be able to do it, if they can't do a press roll or really fast single-stroke rolls. But it's not impossible, by any means.

[Seafroggys]

16th notes at 190 is easily possible, did shit like that in marching band a lot.

[Supercreep]

16th note anythings at 190 bpm is pretty hardcore.

[Farview]

Originally Posted by Seafroggys

16th notes at 190 is easily possible, did shit like that in marching band a lot.

What were you playing in marching band that was 190bpm?

[RAMI]

Originally Posted by Supercreep

16th note anythings at 190 bpm is pretty hardcore.

Agreed. That's why I mentioned that, while possible, most drummers won't (can't?) do it. I practice my double strokes at 208bpm, so I know it can be done. But that's on a practice pad for one minute. It's not realistic to think most drummers can whip around 4 toms with 16th notes at that speed. It is pretty hardcore, and rare.

[Supercreep]

I practice my double-strokes in the shower before work every day.

And it's all downhill from there.

[RAMI]

Originally Posted by Supercreep

I practice my double-strokes in the shower before work every day.

And it's all downhill from there.

I'm para-diddling as I type.

[Seafroggys]

Originally Posted by Farview

What were you playing in marching band that was 190bpm?

er, snare drum? I played snare, tenor, and bass drum for field shows, but our 190 bpm show I was snare.

Actually, it was 180 I think, but more or less the same thing.

[Farview]

Originally Posted by Seafroggys

er, snare drum? I played snare, tenor, and bass drum for field shows, but our 190 bpm show I was snare.

Actually, it was 180 I think, but more or less the same thing.

No, the song. I assumed you were playing drums of some sort. I just can't imagine a marching band marching at 190 bpm. The band would be shuffling around the football field at 30 mph!

[Seafroggys]

Cavaliers in 2002 did a song at 210 I believe.

180 seems to be kinda the higher limit for high school bands though, but sometimes they go into 190 for short bursts.

The winter drum show I marched that was 180 was Ballet Sacra I think was the name of the song, though for the life of me I can't remember the composer. Fairly popular recent American composer.

[VomitHatSteve]

Originally Posted by RAMI

It's great that you took into account the fact that it might be possible or not. A lot of non-drumers ( I hope I'm not making an in-correct assumption in your case) do some pretty un-realistic things with drum machines.

Hey! I'm that guy, neat!

[RAMI]

Originally Posted by VomitHatSteve

Hey! I'm that guy, neat!

Huh??????????

[The549]

I'm not a great drummer by any means, but I think doing something like that is within the range of where a standard drummer's chops should be. I like to think that 200bpm is a standard target for single stroke roll, more for double (not buzz).

http://www.metronomeonline.com/

To clarify, 200bpm - play sixteenths; the metronome is a quarter note, or the final hits are equal to 800bpm. Then you should be able to go around the snare and any toms as you like.

I didn't do percussion in school but I have heard of 180bpm as a rudiment req (paradiddle, etc).

====

As for the original post, hell, you could find a few drummers that could do that speed roll on a snare and a single tom at the same time if they used a rim click trick, so it is a perspective thing, but I think most drummers would agree that it's cool to hear someone asking a question like this, many having aversions to drum machines.

[Supercreep]

Originally Posted by The549

I'm not a great drummer by any means, but I think doing something like that is within the range of where a standard drummer's chops should be. I like to think that 200bpm is a standard target for single stroke roll, more for double (not buzz).

http://www.metronomeonline.com/

To clarify, 200bpm - play sixteenths; the metronome is a quarter note, or the final hits are equal to 800bpm. Then you should be able to go around the snare and any toms as you like.

I didn't do percussion in school but I have heard of 180bpm as a rudiment req (paradiddle, etc).

====

As for the original post, hell, you could find a few drummers that could do that speed roll on a snare and a single tom at the same time if they used a rim click trick, so it is a perspective thing, but I think most drummers would agree that it's cool to hear someone asking a question like this, many having aversions to drum machines.

Hey The549 where in norcal are you?

[Supercreep]

Originally Posted by RAMI

Huh??????????

He does unnatural things with drum machines.

[Seafroggys]

playing 16th note diddles at 200 is fairly easy and a beginner can easily reach that "cleanly" within a couple of years. That's just playing 16th notes at 100 (which anybody can do) and throw in an extra hit with each hand.

Doing single stroke, on the other hand, well, I've been playing almost 10 years and I would have issues.

[eternalpayn]

Originally Posted by Supercreep

He does unnatural things with drum machines.

Eeeewwwww...

[PGSOR Drummer]

Well, not to be rude, but I usually do 32nd Notes on my high tom, to medium, to floor, back to medium etc... I go up and down, and it is very easy. I've never attempted to go aaaabbbbccccaaaabbbbccc before. I suppose maybe if your Toms wrapped around you, then you could do it easily, but thats a different story. My answer: Yes, it is possible. PS: It would also be easier with light sticks, like 7AN's, preferrably Nylon Tips. I have only played drums about a year, but I have been taught by the best teachers available. Just practice and almost anything is possible with physics. "You'll miss 100% of the notes that you don't play."

Oh, btw, you could also do some Bonham techniques.
ex. Snare, High Tom, Floor Tom, Kick Drum. Snare, High, Floor, Kick. and keep them going with that in 16th, 32nd, or umm, maybe 64th notes. lol.

[RAMI]

Originally Posted by PGSOR Drummer

Well, not to be rude, but I usually do 32nd Notes on my high tom, to medium, to floor, back to medium etc... I go up and down, and it is very easy.

You do 32nd notes with single-strokes at 200BPM?????? Yeah, sure.

it would be easierr with light sticks, like 7AN's, preferrably Nylon Tips.

What????? Lighter sticks are not easier for everyone. For some, it would be the exact opposite. And I have no idea what you're getting at about the nylon tips. That's just silly.

I have only played drums about a year,

Oh, ok. Well then that explains the previous nonsense.

but I have been taught by the best teachers available.

[Greg_L]

Lol. Maybe he's taught by zaragemca.

[PGSOR Drummer]

Well, before you start throwing out suggestions on other peoples abilitys, do your homework! 73.9% of Professional drummers use lighter sticks. Not as light as 7AN's, but lighter sticks. And almost all use Nylon tips. Consider Joey Jordison Vs. Lars Ulrich. Both are great drummers of their time, but the only difference is that Joey uses 5A's, and Lars Ulrich uses 5B's. Joey is fast on double kick, and can probably blow Lars away with speed and accuracy, but Lars is great at keeping a flowing, steady beat to help the other bandmates keep on the "One." And yes, I can do 32nd notes, not at 200bpm, at more like 190bpm, but nevertheless I am still a very good, accomplished drummer. I'm not bragging, but I've done at least 10 concerts with a minimum of 1,000 seats each. I don't get payed, because I am in the Paul Green School of Rock Music, but I will in the future. So dont go lashing around hating comments on peoples posts, when you cant back it up with information Jerk! PS: And when I said I was taught by the best teachers AVAILABLE! Thats exactly what I meant, Available. Not proffesionals man.

[RAMI]

Originally Posted by PGSOR Drummer

Well, before you start throwing out suggestions on other peoples abilitys, do your homework! 73.9% of Professional drummers use lighter sticks. Not as light as 7AN's, but lighter sticks. And almost all use Nylon tips. Consider Joey Jordison Vs. Lars Ulrich. Both are great drummers of their time, but the only difference is that Joey uses 5A's, and Lars Ulrich uses 5B's. Joey is fast on double kick, and can probably blow Lars away with speed and accuracy, but Lars is great at keeping a flowing, steady beat to help the other bandmates keep on the "One." And yes, I can do 32nd notes, not at 200bpm, at more like 190bpm, but nevertheless I am still a very good, accomplished drummer. I'm not bragging, but I've done at least 10 concerts with a minimum of 1,000 seats each. I don't get payed, because I am in the Paul Green School of Rock Music, but I will in the future. So dont go lashing around hating comments on peoples posts, when you cant back it up with information Jerk! PS: And when I said I was taught by the best teachers AVAILABLE! Thats exactly what I meant, Available. Not proffesionals man.

No offense, dude (well that's not really true), but not only do you sound like a complete idiot, you're totally full of shit.

Wow!!!!! 10 concerts with 1,000 people. Dude, if we're going to start throwing our resumes and experience around, you'll feel pretty stupid about throwing that one out there, so let's not go there.

You can't do 32nd note SINGLE STROKE rolls at 190bpm, so shut up. Maybe you don't know what a 32nd note is, which wouldn't surprise me. But you can't do it, and you're full of shit to claim that you can.

Like I said, you're an idiot. Your lack of experience and knowledge proves the point that the less you know, the more you think you know.

Quit while you're ahead. You're embarrassing yourself.