A bunch of questions

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Jayme

Jayme

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O.k...
I've been playing the drums for about 3 years and I haven't had a teacher so I've had to work it out for myself, I can't play brush drums but I'm trying to learn but I can play well enough with sticks. I play any stile but I am a bit week on the jazz end of things although I can play 5/4s 7/4s and things like that. There have been some things that I have always wondered though, I know that most of the answers might will involve the quote "it all depends on what feels and sounds best for you" but I just would like to know the standard ways of doing things!
So here we go!
- The china cymbal is placed up side down no? so,.. where and how do you hit it? on the rim or on the curve, with the side of the stick or on the end?
- are you supposed to hit a cymbal with the end of the stick or the side of a stick?
- what is a splash usually used for?
- I have got two snares, a normal 14" and a piccolo 14", which way round would be the norm to put them?
- Is having a loose bass pedal (easy to push down) better than having a hard one (hard to push down) or is it better to get used to having it hard?
- Is it better to have the throne high or low? what's the difference?

That's all I can think of for now, there might be more later!
If anyone can answer some of these questions then I would be very grateful!!!
 
how can u have been playing 3 years and not know these basic thing
first of all dont worry about china and splash cymbals there effect cymbals tht u dont need to use since u just started better get used to the basics first hihat kickdrum snare
learn about how they work how to use them how to tune them and maintaine them
then when ur actually ready to go a more advanced it will be a breeze
BASICS
goodluck
 
If I can offer you advice, I'd say to crank that friggin' bass pedal all the way (hard as possible), and work your foot until it burns like Hell. The faster you can work up thos muscles, the faster you're going to be able to learn doubles and triplets (which sound a lot better when you can hit harder). As for the throne, try and put it between middle and low (if this means anything). This is, of course, personal preference, but when you hit the bass pedal, you should be lifting your leg a bit on the harder hits (some heel-toe stuff), and keeping it down for simple easy stuff. Just keep it low enough so you can move around the toms well. If you've got anymore [what other people would think to be dumb] questions, then PM me, I'll be glad to help. I've never had a teacher and was in the same boat as you a few years ago. (Didn't know the correct techniques, standards, and I've been drumming a decent while now).

-rw
 
Bad Habits

PLEASE get lessons before you develop bad habits.
A good song to learn time signature is wind and wothering by Genesis.
If you can master that,you can feel good on most odd signature.
Now about the swing, get that left hand working.
PRACTICE YOUR RUDIMENTS!
Get some Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa cd's.
GOOD LUCK :)
 
Yup ......
"It all depends on what feels and sounds right to you"
There are no standard ways of doing things with the kit unless you are trying to mimic another player. Be yourself!
But, to try and answer some of your questions .....
China Boy .... yes it would appear as though it is mounted upside-down. I typically hit the curvature of it with the side of the stick.
Splash .... along with the China, these are typically accent cymbals used for their specific sound. Though a splash will normally be a thin cymbal with a short sustain. I use a 6", a 10" and a 12" splash along with a 10" china splash. :D My China Boy is an 18".
Snares ..... Which one do you like to use the most? Put that one right between your legs. Put the other one wherever it feels most comfortable to reach .... or just use the one snare until you play a song the requires the other one predominately.
Kick pedals .... mine are DW 5000's semi loose feel, but not so loose that I have no control over their bounce. Yet, I've been playing just over 22 years now, so I've developed quite good control of the pedals. None the less .... it's what's comfortable to me.
Throne .... the only difference is .... one is higher and one is lower. :rolleyes:
Again, this is what is most comfortable for you. I play with the throne rather low (seeing as how I'm 6' 3"). I play with my throne set to a hight in where my calves (-EDIT- Boy that would be hard to do ... unless I was laying on my back :D ... I ment my "thighs") are parallel to the ground with my feet flat on the ground.
I see throne hight relating to how you play your pedals .... heel up or heel down. I play heels up. This gives me far greater ankle action and feel of the pedal via my toes. Like i said earlier ... this is what is comfortable for me.
Be yourself!
Like what has also been said .... learn the basic kit. Get comfortable in your playing style and get some books on rudiments.
Rudiments Rudiments Rudiments ..... learn them, then you can transfer them to using the rest of the kit.

HTH

-Ken
 
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Thax Crankz 1
That was helpful, but I must admit, I don't have a clue about rudiments, what I mean is that I don't know if I already am doing them when I'm playing or if they are something that I've got to learn! at a guess, I am properly doing a few but I don't know! Anyway....
I can see that I'm coming off as a complete amateur but I will always be learning and will always be an amateur to someone better than me!
Here are some more :
- When I play the kick I rest the beater on the skin, is that OK to do or is it best to keep it off the skin? (note: learning to not leave the beater on the skin will bugger me right up!).... (but if I've got to learn then it'll be for the best.)
- If my bass drum skin is loose and my bass pedal is loose then why should it bounce on the skin when I kick it? surely the loose skin should take up any bounce?
- I don't hit my drums hard and I use my wrists for speed, is it better to use your arms more than your wrists?
- is it better to hit drums hard than to hit them softly?

There will be more later....

Thax to everyone for your answers!! :D
 
Alright, all decent questions...

In reference to the rudiments, I can almost guarantee you don't know more than half of them, and if you do, I'm sure you can't play them uber-fast, so this means keep practicing, like we all do. Check out that Vic Firth rudiments site I posted up there, it's got sound clips and staffs for all of them.

When I play my kick, I have developed a strong enough muscle (like most drummers) to keep the kick in front of the head, but not on resting on it. Right now that aspect shouldn't matter, because when your muscle builds up (tighten the spring!), you'll eventually gain enough control of the beater to do whatever you want, and you won't need to rest it (you won't even need to think about it!).

If you like your batter head loose, then it usually means you'll have ot hit it harder for a better sound. This is easily accomplished with any pedal setting, but doing doubles/triplets gets complicated. For me, my head isn't completely loose (flabby), but has some bounce to it, just a little. My pedal is as tight as it can be so I can get the most reflex out of it. Again, with a lot of practice, you'll develop good control of the beater, and your muscles will be able to harness whatever you want to do without even thinking about it. Just keep excercising those legs!

You should always be using your wrists most of the time! In the end, your wrists will allow you to bounce the sticks faster, and eventually gain more control over them. Build up your arm speed/reflexes to move around the set to each drum; don't use them to bounce on the drums.

Hitting the drums hard or soft is competely personal preference, and depends on what type of music you want to play. If you're into jazzy stuff, you usually brush the drums/hit them lightly, with accented notes here and there. If you're into metal and rock, or whatever, then bang the shit out of them. To be honest, you'll become an entirely better drummer if you can learn as many different styles of music as you can fit into your head. The more you know, the more original you're stuff is going to sound, and the better you will become. When you get to know the rudiments well, you'll eventually apply them to the whole set, and find that you can move around it quite nicely with good bounce and dynamics. So, like we said, it is good to learn them as best you can.

Keep practicing!
 
O.k more!!
- Is it normal to keep the High hat going at all times (you know, when you playing a rhythm using the high hat) even when hitting a cymbal? and if your hands aren't free then footing it?
- are thick skins better for rhythm toms?

That's all I can think of for now but please feel free to answer the questions that I've already asked and that have been answered by people, I want to know everyone's point of view! :D
 
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