4 drums or 5 and more..?

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Anders

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i play a set of 4 drums, 14" snare, 13" and 16" toms and 22" kick.
i think it works out really good and ive played with 5 drums before but i just dont like it. i feel like 4 drums is all i need.

is there any advantages, pros and cons with these situations? ive seen some drummers who are surrounded with like 20 toms but they mostley just use the snare and kick.. is it just to look cool or am i missing something here? :(
 
It all depends, really.. Some people I'm sure do it just so they have the look ....

But my last drummer, used 2 floor toms, three rack toms, two kicks, and snare.. But he was a very picky person about when he played them, he had specific times he played them, so they were all used, and musically at that.

So, once again, it all depends on you and your situation.. If you feel like you don't need anymore then a four piece kit, then great, less pain on your back.
 
Whatever is comfortable. How many sounds do you feel you need? I really like using toms alot, and thats why I'm trying to save up for a 12 piece set (7 rack toms, 2 floor toms, 2 kicks, 1 snare). But if you aren't gonna use the toms... then its a huge waste of money. Compare Danny Carey with Mike Portnoy. Danny Carey has 4 toms, Portnoy has about 10 or more. But in my opinion, Danny Carey uses the toms a lot more than Portnoy (which is why danny carey is my favorite drummer). Another good example is Nick Mason.I've heard he has 40 cymbals, 30 drums, and a bunch of other stuff. But he only uses about 1/4 of what he has.

SOOOO IN CONCLUSION

Whatever feels right for you. How many sounds do you want? There are plenty of drummers who play really well on small set ups. If a 4 piece set is what your most comfortable with, by all means stick with it.
 
danney carey has like 32 pieces........cymbals, drums, and electronic pads all together, but that guy is a machine, so he can do it. to me it seems like most drummers can't and don't use more than 2 toms. i've jammed with a bunch of drummers and recorded a bunch more and the ones that have 3 toms or more are the ones that use them the least, and in the least tasteful ways.
 
I love playing with the smallest amount possible.
If you actually get out and gig much the smaller kit is a welcome relief for set up and travel.

So much depends on music style and what is needed for the songs. Most of the time a good player can make a good 4 piece kit sound like a 6 piece.

I say go with the 4 piece if you can.

Tom
 
donkeystyle said:
danney carey has like 32 pieces........cymbals, drums, and electronic pads all together, but that guy is a machine, so he can do it. to me it seems like most drummers can't and don't use more than 2 toms. i've jammed with a bunch of drummers and recorded a bunch more and the ones that have 3 toms or more are the ones that use them the least, and in the least tasteful ways.
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I was talking about just toms lol. He only has 4 toms.

But he has:
13 cymbals
7 drums
6 electric pads
1 Drum Machine
1 Drum Module
1 Symphonic Gong
1 Korg Wave Drum

SO more around 30... maybe I forgot something
 
use what you need...no more, no less....i typically play a 4 piece kit too...but last night (because i wanted to bring less to a gig), i played with a snare, kick, hihat and 3 cymbals...worked out pretty good! made it a bit of a challenge to come up with something where tom fills generally are...a little more snare and more cymbal work...go with what works for you.
 
I play a 7 piece kit. But I use mine muscially, 10,12,14,16 toms are tuned in 4ths then i have a 13" on my left which is really nice and breaks up whatever im playing. I think the main issue is that most drummers can't tune, so they'd be no point in having many toms as to them they're just things to hit. People who can tune use them as musical instruments not just things to hit.
 
shortness said:
use what you need...no more, no less....i typically play a 4 piece kit too...but last night (because i wanted to bring less to a gig), i played with a snare, kick, hihat and 3 cymbals...worked out pretty good! made it a bit of a challenge to come up with something where tom fills generally are...a little more snare and more cymbal work...go with what works for you.
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Yeah! i think thats really great when youre forced to be creative like that! i think thats really cool! i wouldnt know what to do with more than 4 drums anyway.. :D
 
drummerdude666 said:
I play a 7 piece kit. But I use mine muscially, 10,12,14,16 toms are tuned in 4ths then i have a 13" on my left which is really nice and breaks up whatever im playing. I think the main issue is that most drummers can't tune, so they'd be no point in having many toms as to them they're just things to hit. People who can tune use them as musical instruments not just things to hit.
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youre probably right about that most drummers cant tune too well, but for my style of playing i think its best to use the drums to play different rhytms and use the toms for breaks dynnamics and stuff.. i dont intend to play a melody with the drums. i just like to play some headbangin beats. its really awsome that you can use all those drums, and i cant imagine myself doing that. the drummer in BOW WOW WOW uses alot of timbales and stuff and he almost doesnt use a snare, ive tried to play something like that, but it didnt work out to well.
 
i like totally swapping around my kit, depending on my mood. Sometimes i force myself to play with hithat set up next to kick pedal (thomas lang style) and play kick with my left double kick pedal and hi-hat with right foot. Really throws you :D

Also i move toms around so they're not in size order, you can come up with really intresing musical ideas when you change from your usual routine. Also helps your playing.
 
drummerdude666 said:
I play a 7 piece kit. But I use mine muscially, 10,12,14,16 toms are tuned in 4ths then i have a 13" on my left which is really nice and breaks up whatever im playing. I think the main issue is that most drummers can't tune, so they'd be no point in having many toms as to them they're just things to hit. People who can tune use them as musical instruments not just things to hit.
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Tuning is a major issue.
 
anders, i played a buddies kit (helped him tune, etc.) not long ago...it was a 8 piece with 6 toms...i was clueless :confused: ....

drummerdude...hmmmm, might have to try the pedal swapping sometime...that sounds kind of cool, especially for trying to come up w/a creative/different sounding riff of beat.
 
to be honest i can't use my right foot to control my hi-hat properly. I often switch them around to keep practicing it but it doesnt seem natural. Its wierd, But i guess becuse it doesn't come naturaly to me it's pushing me hard to try and do it.

I can use it as a basic hithat stuff, but when i play funk and play grooves that require subtlety.....whoh! I just can't do it. It either foot up totally, or foot down.

But i will get there......hopefully.

Also I forgot to add that when I play jazz I do only use a 4 piece kit and 2 cymbals. But then my jazz playing is waaaaaaay behind my rock, funk, etc etc.
 
drummerdude666 said:
to be honest i can't use my right foot to control my hi-hat properly. I often switch them around to keep practicing it but it doesnt seem natural. Its wierd, But i guess becuse it doesn't come naturaly to me it's pushing me hard to try and do it.

I can use it as a basic hithat stuff, but when i play funk and play grooves that require subtlety.....whoh! I just can't do it. It either foot up totally, or foot down.

But i will get there......hopefully.

Also I forgot to add that when I play jazz I do only use a 4 piece kit and 2 cymbals. But then my jazz playing is waaaaaaay behind my rock, funk, etc etc.
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If you really want to get your playing together turn Your Kit around and play it with your weaker side dominating. Learn to play the Tom Rolls backwards (i.e., if you are right handed - learn to lead with the left.)
Then when you play stuff right handed - you'll have tons of versatility because you won't just be locked into leading with the right.


Tim
 
I always try to practice ambidexteroiusly (spelling). But i always practice thing that are useful.

A few months ago i was talking to this other drummer at a gi, he told me he could play a straight 4 with his left hand on the hithat, right hand on snare.
I asked whats the point?
He replied It's kewl and really immpressive.
I told him it's not, It's stupid, Non-drummers won't notice, and drummers will look at you and say to themselves whats the point.

I can see the point in playing what he did to build up his left side so he can do more comlplex things that he can't do with his right hand. Anyway he was a fool.

I've swapped my kit over a few times completely to try it out but i'm always teaching or recording a band or practicing with my band. I'm not goos enough to play left handed yet and i don't have the spare time to practice it more, as the bands i play with get fustrated when i mess things up. I can't teach on a left handed kit, and recording bands won't record on a left handed kit, so i always heve to switch it back.

But for peopl who don't have this issue, like tim said, try it out. It will make you a better player.
 
4 drums are basically all you need. I Play with a 14," rack and 16" and 18" floor toms and the 16" is the main tom. I don't use the 18" all that much, though I like having it there for certain accents and things. If you were going to add another tom, I would add another floor tom, an 18". That way, it doesn't change your set up at all and you've always got that option of playing it if you need it.
 
drummerdude666 said:
I always try to practice ambidexteroiusly (spelling). But i always practice thing that are useful.

A few months ago i was talking to this other drummer at a gi, he told me he could play a straight 4 with his left hand on the hithat, right hand on snare.
I asked whats the point?
He replied It's kewl and really immpressive.
I told him it's not, It's stupid, Non-drummers won't notice, and drummers will look at you and say to themselves whats the point.

I can see the point in playing what he did to build up his left side so he can do more comlplex things that he can't do with his right hand. Anyway he was a fool.

I've swapped my kit over a few times completely to try it out but i'm always teaching or recording a band or practicing with my band. I'm not goos enough to play left handed yet and i don't have the spare time to practice it more, as the bands i play with get fustrated when i mess things up. I can't teach on a left handed kit, and recording bands won't record on a left handed kit, so i always heve to switch it back.

But for peopl who don't have this issue, like tim said, try it out. It will make you a better player.
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i know the feeling drummerdude...time is hard to come by for practicing and trying 'new' things...i will have to say that a long time ago i did concentrate quite a bit playing like the fellow you spoke with (ie, the leading w/left hand, etc...mainly to stregthen my weak side!)...i'll have to say that it is kind of cool to me to feel comfortable leading with either hand...however, because i haven't kept up with it well, i've lost alot of that :p ....
 
I've never understood why people say they wish there were more hours in the day, But now I do. Time goes so quickly, all i'm asking for is maybe another 2 hours per day..is that too much to ask???
 
number of drums

i think using just 2 toms is my favorite setup, but every now and then i get the hankering to drag out my other matching toms and have 4 toms going on. in the end i always end up using 2 though. it certainly makes gigging easier as there is that much less that you have to carry around. ive played a few gigs with just the bass and snare and that was always pretty cool. my personal opinion is that you should have the smallest kit possible without limiting yourself the ability to play a tasteful part. some guys do a great job at using large kits and ill agree that they are fun, but when it comes to building them, moving them and micing them, they start to get on my nerves. there are way too many drummers that take a slew of toms to gigs, cause the sound guy all sorts of problems micing them up and soundchecking everything, and then they dont use the additional drums enough to warrant all of the work OR they go way over the top and overplay everything. i think a lot of those drummers would really improve their abilities if they were to stick to a smaller kit for a while and keep in mind that the drums dont always have to be in the forefront.

for me, a 4 piece kit works best. its cost-effective, easy to transport, and i dont feel limited behind it. part of me always wants to cut out the rack tom and just use a floor, bass and snare, but i think that would put a damper on my creativity.
 
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