Turning snare off?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TelePaul
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TelePaul

TelePaul

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When is this done? It gives something of a steel-drum sound...I'm just wondering when it's used?
 
When you want a sound like that.

Danny Carey sometimes uses it, Soundgarden's Like Suicide has a great section in which Cameron throws the snares on when the song peaks in intensity.
 
And maybe I can play it to sound like a timbale, but I have no idea how to get a steel drum sound without a pan and mallets.
 
Very often when playing Latin music

When I played weddings and dance clubs there were times that I played the snare with the wires thrown off. It gives more of the tom sound on all of the accents and you don't get the sympathetic buzzing when you are playing around the kit. There are definitely circumstances where you should throw off the snares.
 
i was just listening to a great song a couple of days ago that had the snare off for most of it. i'll post it if i can think of it

i think it sounds great sometimes. it can be really cool when mixed in with roundabout tom type parts.
 
ah here it is. thank you itunes recently played list

this is a live video from a late night show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDPLKLnmI0A

the snare is more obvious on the studio recording but it's definitly off for most of the song. you can hear it in the parts where he switched away from the backbeat and you can see it when they do a closeup shot around 0:30 into the clip.
 
Supercreep said:
When you want a sound like that.

Danny Carey sometimes uses it, Soundgarden's Like Suicide has a great section in which Cameron throws the snares on when the song peaks in intensity.
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+1


............
 
I worked with a drummer that on some songs used to switch off the snares and use cross-stick and throw in the occasional hits and rim shots. Seemed to do it when he wanted a lively latin sort of feel.
 
well

alot of reggae and ska players use it. i use it alot while playing reggae or ska. even ska-punk. alot of latin style drummers use it also as said below. and thats why the snare switch was invented. other than that. you can switch the snare off when ur bass player is too friggin loud!!
 
In rock I'd definetly say not for the whole song. It should be used to build up...during a verse usually. After Ulrich did it I completly hate the sound of it.
 
tddrummer said:
In rock I'd definetly say not for the whole song. It should be used to build up...during a verse usually. After Ulrich did it I completly hate the sound of it.
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Nonsense.

If you write a song, and that is the sound that works, go with it.

Why anybody thinks that a formulaic rule-bound approach to songwriting is a good idea is beyond me.
 
Supercreep said:
Nonsense.

If you write a song, and that is the sound that works, go with it.

Why anybody thinks that a formulaic rule-bound approach to songwriting is a good idea is beyond me.
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Because snares sound better with the wires engaged. :D
 
Also throw it off when overdubbing tom fills to avoid the buzz.
 
A snare without the wires engaged is called a "tenor drum". Its what drummers used to march with before snare wires were invented.
 
Supercreep said:
Nonsense.

If you write a song, and that is the sound that works, go with it.

Why anybody thinks that a formulaic rule-bound approach to songwriting is a good idea is beyond me.
Click to expand...
There isnt a formulaic rule bound approach, but 99.999 % of the time a snare sounds better turned off. The proof is in the millions of songs recorded with it on.
 
Often playing a sidestick on a balled with the snare off works well. But the more common use is when playing various latin beats where a combination of sidestick & "timbale" riffs lends itself to playing with the snares off.
 
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