some drum setup questions - a survey, sort of

[antichef]

Is that the kind of stuff you're wanting to play?

No - I mean if I woke up one morning and could play like that, I'd be stoked, but my interest is more academic than anything. The only formal music training I have is 3 years of jazz guitar instruction, so I developed an appreciation for the genre that way. I've always wanted to be a jazz fan, but couldn't quite pull it off - but I have to say I really enjoyed the music this weekend - maybe it's the New Orleans musician dominance that made it work for me. I don't normally listen to it.

I wanna rock.

 

[Greg_L]

No - I mean if I woke up one morning and could play like that, I'd be stoked, but my interest is more academic than anything. The only formal music training I have is 3 years of jazz guitar instruction, so I developed an appreciation for the genre that way. I've always wanted to be a jazz fan, but couldn't quite pull it off - but I have to say I really enjoyed the music this weekend - maybe it's the New Orleans musician dominance that made it work for me. I don't normally listen to it.

I wanna rock.

Haha. I hear ya. I'm not at all a fan of traditional jazz and have no interest in playing it, but I'm from New Orleans and Dixie-Land jazz is something that's fun to listen to.

Just remember a kit set up for light tapping jazz isn't the best way to go if you wanna rock. Just set it up however is the most comfortable for you. Don't worry about "rules". As you progress you can tweak things to suit you better.

One thing I would suggest is to stay away from weird drum angles. Your toms and snare don't need to be pointed in crazy directions. They don't have to be perfectly flat and level either, but somewhere between 0 and 45 degrees to the floor should be good.