Check this Drummer's Set!

[ecktronic]

It looks like all he can do is keep the beat with that setup. Well, maybe throw in a snare roll and a crash here and there. Woo Hoo!

It depends on the music. I've heard songs on the radio where that is all they really play anyway. But I like to hear a tom now and then.

The less you have the more you concentrate on what you have so I'd say he could be quite technical, just a thought.

Eck

 

[lbanks]

I remember when he played in a local band, years ago, when he played a pretty massive kit. I think still has it. This was his small (5 drum) kit, but the vibe of the day was minimalist; even I decided to forgo my usual number of effects. Don't think he was sitting back there, just keeping the beat; he was keeping it interesting.

 

[bdenton]

Some drummers have licks, some drummers have toys...

In that vein I just did a little shrinking on my kit...

 

[cephus]

It looks like all he can do is keep the beat with that setup. Well, maybe throw in a snare roll and a crash here and there. Woo Hoo!

Every time I've ever played with a drummer with a small set, everyone was was amazed at his musicianship and impressed with his chops. Every time I've played with a drummer with a large kit, everyone in the band complained that he took up too much space and took too long to set up with almost no comment on the poor guy's playing.

I've never really heard anyone say "man, he had the most awesome set with 8 toms and 9 cymbals" since I was like 14.

I would think that I'd want the option of a tom every once in a while, but damned if I didn't miss it at all.

That said, it's nice to have a couple different crash cymbals, don't you think? You can get pretty sick of the same punctuation all night.

 

[mickmadness]

my kit

i play a small kit: ride, hihats, snare, kick, and floor tom. No other cymbals, but sometimes i add my 12" rack tom back into the mix. it just depends.

it's great because it takes way less time and space to set it up, it's easier to mic, and it is often seen as more impressive to play awesome parts on a small set. i'll never go back to even a mid-size kit.

 

[PhilGood]

Perfect drummer for most guitarists! No chance of outshining anyone when all you need to do is keep a beat. I guess you can sleep and feel safe with this guy sitting behind you!

ahem: *behind* you...in the back...with you out front.

 

[second skin]

this is ideal to me. any drummer that can't sound great on a kit like this and play in an interesting manner is just making excuses for mediocrity. this particular setup is using a ride that crashes well and large crash that rides well. the cymbals really allowed for a lot of variety in the sounds that come from them.

 

[Rimshot]

Okay.................

So which one of you smart asses is going to tell Steve Gadd, Steve Smith, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Coliauto, Louis Bellson (RIP), Carter Beaufort, Dennis Chambers, Terry Bozio, Gregg Bissonette, Jack deJohnette and all of the other "big kit" players that they suck as drummers?

Man, are they ever going to hang their heads in shame!

YEAH, RIGHT!!!

................and why would I want to be a drummer with a small set ?

 

[PhilGood]

So which one of you smart asses is going to tell Steve Gadd, Steve Smith, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Coliauto, Louis Bellson (RIP), Carter Beaufort, Dennis Chambers, Terry Bozio, Gregg Bissonette, Jack deJohnette and all of the other "big kit" players that they suck as drummers?

Man, are they ever going to hang their heads in shame!

YEAH, RIGHT!!!

................and why would I want to be a drummer with a small set ?

Hear hear!!

(or is it here here? I don't recall)

 

[PhilGood]

this is ideal to me. any drummer that can't sound great on a kit like this and play in an interesting manner is just making excuses for mediocrity. this particular setup is using a ride that crashes well and large crash that rides well. the cymbals really allowed for a lot of variety in the sounds that come from them.

I guess that depends on your definition of "sounds great". A great drummer will sound good on that kit, but will sound unbelievable on a bigger kit!

 

[second skin]

I guess that depends on your definition of "sounds great". A great drummer will sound good on that kit, but will sound unbelievable on a bigger kit!

both points are valid which makes it kind of a circular discussion. most of the music that i prefer tends to be played on smaller sets. i'm really not interested in any of the virtuoso drummers any more than i am virtuoso guitarists or bassists. some people are. to each his own.

 

[Rimshot]

Okay

both points are valid which makes it kind of a circular discussion. most of the music that i prefer tends to be played on smaller sets. i'm really not interested in any of the virtuoso drummers any more than i am virtuoso guitarists or bassists. some people are. to each his own.

And I'm perfectly willing to give you a pat on the back and say good job. I'm just a bit peeved with the "small kits are better because better drummers play on them and drummers that play big kits, suck." Good musicianship is good musicianship and the type of instrument can be a personal choice or it can be what fits that particular type of music you are playing. I don't feel that drummers that play big kits are better or worse drummers, they just have more colors on their palette. Some music demands more colors.
And it has nothing to do with "virtuoso" drummers. It has to do with more keys on the keyboard.

 

[PhilGood]

I'd have to add "who are you to decide if a drummer is good based on the size of his kit?".


Some of the best guitarists I've played with only use 3 strings and 3 chords.

Some of the best bass players just thump on the E and A strings.

Does that sound about right? To me it sounds like complete bullshit!