Drummer Live 2008 was a part of the London International Music Show, and it was a very well attended event. The main showroom was full of drumming musicians, filling the entire building with the energetic drumming. Missing from the event were drummers Ronn Dunnett, and Nicko McBrain. MC this year would be handled by Ian 'Crofty' Croft, the editor of Drummer magazine. Here are some of the drummers present for Drummer Live.
- George Barnett -
His style is expressive and flamboyant, his passion for drumming is paled only by his love of music in general. His set was a short 10 minutes of a variety of genres and song styles that demonstrated his skill to great affect.
- Ray Luzier -
A brilliant showman and talented drummer, he engages the listener with wonderful facial expressions and his flair with the drum sticks. Performing with him was bassist Billy Sheehan, and though they were jamming, their complex styles meshed as though they knew each other for years.
- Derico Watson -
His style elicits images of Papa Jo Jones, with a minimalist sort of showmanship. His drumming skill is solid with impeccable time keeping and distorting. It is no wonder why he is the drummer for bassist Victor Wooten.
- Trevor Lawrence Jr. -
The drummer for Snoop Dog delivered with amazing skill that demonstrated exactly why he was nominated for, and occasionally won, the Grammy for the past eight years.
- Jojo Mayer -
His set of Nerve tunes was stunning along with the atmosphere given off by his over all technique.
- Chad Smith -
Drummer from the Chili Peppers, his wild and motivated character broke all of the barriers. He urged listeners to pull their chairs up, much to the chagrin of the staff as it broke fire code. He then provided a show that powered through Chili songs with conversation in between. He even took requests from the latest album. He later chased security away since they were kicking people out of the fire code designated lanes. All the showmanship aside, the drummer packs a powerhouse of skill and talent, all teeming with energy.
- Josh Devine -
Mapex drummer of tomorrow winner, his chops were amazing leaving even seasoned drummers speechless.
- Roy Mayorga -
The drummer from Stone Sour provided a set that was intense, with his double bass technique and use of octobans and side-mounted bass and toms.
- Pete Ray Biggin -
The British drummer was a giant of the instrument that left all those in attendance speechless. Unlike some artists, he did not have any dull moments in his set. His skill is why big names such as Robbie Williams, Amy Whinehouse, Sean Lennon, Mark Ronson and many more call on the drummer for his skill.
- Gavin Harrison -
This artist can easily be described as the best drummer of the entire performance. His seeming neat skill carried surprising emotion, with complex elements and timings sounding effortless. His technique is without fault, and was the only drummer for whom the entire audience gave a standing ovation.
Originally posted 2009-01-26 05:09:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Musical Instruments: The Drum, the Heart Beat of Music Many individuals enjoy drums as an instrument that is fun to play and exciting to get to heart but many music lovers truly believe that drums are the heart of music due to the way that they keep time and rhythm for the rest of the instruments or for other......
Ancient and Modern Drums Drums can be traced back to 6000 BC and have been used in almost every culture throughout history for a variety of purposes. Is it any wonder that the drums have such an appeal today? They've been used as a form of communication, a call to arms, and as important......
Types of Drums Drums are percussive instruments that are most commonly constructed by stretching one of a couple of different types of membranes over the opening in a vessel. The most common property of the various different types of drums is the pitch that each drum offers. Drums are by far one of......
Musical Instruments: Drums for Sale The unique thing about drums when it comes to making music is that there are so many different elements that change the sound you create when you play them. The size, shape and composition of the drum will all alter the sound that it creates. Whether you beat on the......
The Drum Kit The percussionist in any musical group will have to his aide a number of percussive elements. This set of drums will have a variety of instruments including drums, cymbals, and any other instruments that the musical group will need. Different genres will require differing pieces of equipment. So what goes......
The essential driving force behind a completed drum set is the bass drums. These are the heart of the drum set because all of the additional equipment is attached to them. The bass also provides what is essentially the underlying beat to your drumming rhythm. Your drum set needs to be set up adequately and properly tuned if you want to provide the highest quality sound. If your set is not adequately set up or properly tuned, you could compromise your entire rhythm section and could damage your drum set as a result.
If you are not getting the best sound out of your drum set, then you should consider some of the following possibilities which are capable of compromising your sound:
For starters, you want to keep in mind that bass sets have a tendency to move or creep while you are playing or practicing. This will happen especially often if you use the kick pedal. One of the best ways to keep your kit from moving is to use a rug or a small carpet beneath the set and the seat to keep things from moving around. You can also keep your bass drum at a steeper angle simply by raising the front legs of the drum set up a bit. If your set has spikes, utilize them as a means for keeping your drum set in place. Sturdy drum kits are kits that provide a much more unique and much more reliable sound.
When cleaning your kick, you may want to use compressed air to handle the harder to reach places and small crevices. If you create too much contact in these areas, though, you can cause unwanted movement, so use compressed air to alleviate this problem while still maintaining the cleanliness of your set.
Another way to keep your bass drums in good shape is with a bass cover which can come in handy especially if you ever intend to travel with your drum kit. Bass covers also have better sound mobility and better flexibility. When you tune your bass, remember that you cannot tighten the heads too much or you will never get a good, high pitch out of them.
If all else seems to fail, videotape yourself during a practice to see if you can pinpoint any of the problems that you may not be noticing, especially when they aren't always easily detectable. You may find that you are causing a hindrance with your drumstick length, physical proximity or the basic set placement for your drums, which are all issues that can be easily remedied to improve the sound of your bass drums and your entire drum set.
Types of Drums Drums are percussive instruments that are most commonly constructed by stretching one of a couple of different types of membranes over the opening in a vessel. The most common property of the various different types of drums is the pitch that each drum offers. Drums are by far one of......
Are Drums a Good Match for You? Some people know when they're still kids that they want to learn to play the drums. Others seem to end up playing drums in the school band because they're just not interested in any of the other instruments. Some of them look so difficult with all those shiny keys and......
Musical Instruments: The Drum, the Heart Beat of Music Many individuals enjoy drums as an instrument that is fun to play and exciting to get to heart but many music lovers truly believe that drums are the heart of music due to the way that they keep time and rhythm for the rest of the instruments or for other......
Drumsticks and Drums Drumsticks are specially designed sticks that are intended to strike the heads of percussion instruments like drums. Drumsticks are especially useful for hitting specific types of drums, especially during orchestral work, jazz music, rock band music and even marching band music. The most common drumsticks are made from oak, hickory,......
Musical Instruments: Drums for Sale The unique thing about drums when it comes to making music is that there are so many different elements that change the sound you create when you play them. The size, shape and composition of the drum will all alter the sound that it creates. Whether you beat on the......
The traditional Taiko drum has a long history in Japan. Split into two varieties, the byou-uchi daiko and the tsukeshime-daiko, the taiko drum is an instrument used in traditional and modern Japanese music. The drums have a new renewal of interest in the young generation as the video game, Taiko Drum Master for the Nintendo Wii system has topped the charts in Japan. The game debuted first as an arcade game, where the controller was a mock up of a taiko drum. Players would play the music, trying to match beat with those shown on the screen. The Wii version of the game features a unique, Taiko drum controller which plugs into the Wii controller.
The two variations of taiko drum both feature a single piece wooden body. The tsukeshime-daiko has the drum heads sewn to an iron ring, and attached to the body via taught cords linking the two sides. The tone can be tuned through tightening the cords. Conversely, the byou-uchi daiko has the two head attached via iron nails. Both versions are featured in a number of sizes, producing a large variety of sounds and tones.
The one most defining form of taiko drum is the odaiko. These massive drums are sometimes 7 to 10 feet in hight, and so massive that they are typically not moved, and rather a temple built around the drum. Their bodies are still made up of only a single piece of wood, having been harvested from a similarly large tree, ones over a hundred years old. Just as massive are this drums is the impact that they have over audiences observing their sound.
The first modern taiko drum ensemble is credited as being formed by Daihachi Oguchi in 1951. He started to add a form of jazz flare to his ensemble's drumming, which took very well ad led him to be known for his varied jazz performances. Since his forming of the taiko ensemble, many others were formed, including the world renowned group Kodo. Formed in 1981 by various members of the group Ondekoza. The group now consists of 24 drummers, and has released 22 albums and played in nearly 3000 performances across the globe. Since the 60s, the Taiko drum had been gaining popularity in the US, with a number of groups being formed by post world war immigrants from Japan. In Japan too, many artists of today, including Art Lee and Shidara. The powerful rhythmic elements of the drums lend themselves to many modern treatments and stylings.
Thanks to the advent of Taiko Drum Master for the Wii, one can hope that interest for the instrument has been inspired in the younger generation. The renewed enthusiasm kindled by the overwhelming interest in the game in Japan is hoped to be shared in other countries with the game's future foreign debut. From the cultural history of Japan to the latest in technological playgrounds, the taiko drums heavy impact will hopefully live on for quite a while.
Originally posted 2009-01-13 05:42:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Primer for Bass Drums The essential driving force behind a completed drum set is the bass drums. These are the heart of the drum set because all of the additional equipment is attached to them. The bass also provides what is essentially the underlying beat to your drumming rhythm. Your drum set needs to......
Ancient and Modern Drums Drums can be traced back to 6000 BC and have been used in almost every culture throughout history for a variety of purposes. Is it any wonder that the drums have such an appeal today? They've been used as a form of communication, a call to arms, and as important......
Musical Instruments: Drums for Sale The unique thing about drums when it comes to making music is that there are so many different elements that change the sound you create when you play them. The size, shape and composition of the drum will all alter the sound that it creates. Whether you beat on the......
Musical Instruments: The Drum, the Heart Beat of Music Many individuals enjoy drums as an instrument that is fun to play and exciting to get to heart but many music lovers truly believe that drums are the heart of music due to the way that they keep time and rhythm for the rest of the instruments or for other......
Are Drums a Good Match for You? Some people know when they're still kids that they want to learn to play the drums. Others seem to end up playing drums in the school band because they're just not interested in any of the other instruments. Some of them look so difficult with all those shiny keys and......
The unique thing about drums when it comes to making music is that there are so many different elements that change the sound you create when you play them. The size, shape and composition of the drum will all alter the sound that it creates. Whether you beat on the drum with your hands or another instrument like a drum stick will also have an effect. Playing the drums is creative and unique, and can present a wide variety of different sounds in the process. In the past, individuals only played a single drum at a time and it was required for musical bands to have numerous drummers to get the most out of their sound. These days, however, drum kits are much more popular that involve a single drummer playing multiple drums all at once within a single set up. Here is a brief look at some of the most popular types of drums as well as what sets each apart from the others in the world of drumming for music -
Bass Drums -
Bass drums are large drums that produce notes with low definite or indefinite pitches. There are basically three different general classifications when it comes to bass drums. The first bass drum is the concert bass drum, the second bass drum is the kick drum, and the third is the pitched bass drum. The type that is most often see or heart when it comes to concert band music or orchestral music is the concert bass drum. The kick drum is a bass drum that is struck with a beater that is attacked to a medal, and these bass drums are most commonly seen in standard drum kits. The third type of bass drum, the pitched bass drum, is most commonly used in drum corps as well as marching bands. These particular bass drums are tuned to produce a very specific pitch, and they are usually coupled in groups of between three and five drums and all played together. In an entire orchestral ensemble, the bass drum is the largest drum.
Snare Drums -
Snare drums are a type of drum that have strands of snares that are crafted from metal wire, metal cable, guy cords or plastic cables that are curled and stretched across the drumhead, most typically at the bottom of the drum. Pipe and tabor and some other snare drum types often even have a second set of snares on the internal bottom side of the top head in order to make a sound that is brighter in nature. The Brazilian Caixa for example commonly has snares on the top of the upper drum head as well. The snare drum is considered to be one of the most important drums that is present in a modern day drum kit. The snare drum originated in Ethiopia and has become widely accepted across the world.
African Drums -
Djembes are African drums that are also known as djimbe, jenbe, jembe, yembe and even sanbanyi. These are skin-covered hand drums that are crafted in the shape of a large goblet. The Djembe African drum is designed to be played with the bare hands rather than struck by a drum stick or another similar instrument. The name Djembe is purported to come from the saying "Anke dje, anke be", which has a literal translation of "Everyone, gather together", essentially defining the drum's purpose in no uncertain terms. The Djembe African drum is part of the membranophone family of musical instruments because it has a frame or a shell that is covered by a drumhead or a membrane crafted from one of many products, though the most common covering is rawhide. This type of drum also offers metal rings, rope and skin in certain circumstances. Djembe African drums can be found in a wide variety of sizes ranging from 5 inches to 18 inches, but the most common version of this drum is about 12 inches with a 24 inch diameter. The rounded shape of the drum with its extended tube forms a device that is known as a Helmholtz resonator, which is why this particular drum has such a unique deep bass note to it. The primary notes that are used in this type of drumming are bass, slap and tone, though other tones can be produced by players with more advanced understanding of the drumming style. Some people consider the Djembe to be a female drum, and the Ashiko to be a male drum.
Bongo Drums -
Finally we have bongo drums. Bongo drums, or bongos for short, are a percussion instrument that is comprised of two smaller drums attached to one another. These drums each have a different size. The larger drum is referred to as a Hembra, which means female in Spanish. The smaller drum in the bongo set is referred to as a Macho, which is Spanish for male. Bongos came to South America from Africa during the slave trade. The history of drumming with bongos can be traced back as far as Cuban Music styles like Cangui and Son. These styles were developed in the Oriente Province on the east side of Coba. It is believed that the bongo drums evolved significantly over time and that their design concept and sound was actually derived from the Abakua drum trio. These drums are still a fundamental part of music in many countries including the countries of origin.
Each different type of drum has a unique origin, a unique size and shape, unique materials behind its composition, and most of all, a completely unique sound produced. Many modern drum kits are derived from drums with histories coming from around the world. Drumming is used not only in making music but also communication which is why it is vital to produce so many different sounds with them. Anyone who is interested in creating music with a musical instrument drawn from many cultures all over the globe will benefit from learning how to play the drums, regardless if it is a modern day drum set, or ancient bongos and congas that get their interest.
Drummer Live 2008 London Drummer Live 2008 was a part of the London International Music Show, and it was a very well attended event. The main showroom was full of drumming musicians, filling the entire building with the energetic drumming. Missing from the event were drummers Ronn Dunnett, and Nicko McBrain. MC this year......
Taiko Drums Top the Video Game Charts The traditional Taiko drum has a long history in Japan. Split into two varieties, the byou-uchi daiko and the tsukeshime-daiko, the taiko drum is an instrument used in traditional and modern Japanese music. The drums have a new renewal of interest in the young generation as the video game, Taiko......
Musical Instruments: The Drum, the Heart Beat of Music Many individuals enjoy drums as an instrument that is fun to play and exciting to get to heart but many music lovers truly believe that drums are the heart of music due to the way that they keep time and rhythm for the rest of the instruments or for other......
Primer for Bass Drums The essential driving force behind a completed drum set is the bass drums. These are the heart of the drum set because all of the additional equipment is attached to them. The bass also provides what is essentially the underlying beat to your drumming rhythm. Your drum set needs to......
Types of Drums Drums are percussive instruments that are most commonly constructed by stretching one of a couple of different types of membranes over the opening in a vessel. The most common property of the various different types of drums is the pitch that each drum offers. Drums are by far one of......
Musical Instruments Drum will be website dedicate to the drum. Drum sets, drum sticks, and everything else associated with drumming. As I prepare the website for launch please consider checking out the musical instrument drum store.
Originally posted 2008-09-27 12:28:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Drummer Live 2008 London Drummer Live 2008 was a part of the London International Music Show, and it was a very well attended event. The main showroom was full of drumming musicians, filling the entire building with the energetic drumming. Missing from the event were drummers Ronn Dunnett, and Nicko McBrain. MC this year......
Taiko Drums Top the Video Game Charts The traditional Taiko drum has a long history in Japan. Split into two varieties, the byou-uchi daiko and the tsukeshime-daiko, the taiko drum is an instrument used in traditional and modern Japanese music. The drums have a new renewal of interest in the young generation as the video game, Taiko......
Musical Instruments: The Drum, the Heart Beat of Music Many individuals enjoy drums as an instrument that is fun to play and exciting to get to heart but many music lovers truly believe that drums are the heart of music due to the way that they keep time and rhythm for the rest of the instruments or for other......
The Drum Kit The percussionist in any musical group will have to his aide a number of percussive elements. This set of drums will have a variety of instruments including drums, cymbals, and any other instruments that the musical group will need. Different genres will require differing pieces of equipment. So what goes......
Are Drums a Good Match for You? Some people know when they're still kids that they want to learn to play the drums. Others seem to end up playing drums in the school band because they're just not interested in any of the other instruments. Some of them look so difficult with all those shiny keys and......
Many individuals enjoy drums as an instrument that is fun to play and exciting to get to heart but many music lovers truly believe that drums are the heart of music due to the way that they keep time and rhythm for the rest of the instruments or for other parts of the song. When you are in a crowded room with music playing or even when you are one of the people playing the drums you can feel the pulse of the drums flowing through you and captivating you within its sounds.
Drums are an instrument that many people would enjoy playing but only some ever get to. This is partially because a person may go to a school that offers other instruments but that does not offer drums that they would enjoy playing such as a standard drum set. However, the history of the drum goes back far in human history as it is one of the oldest instruments. Originating in tribal history and folklore, the drum was created as a form of communication and a way to keep back the spirits of the night as they seemed to keep animals away at night, and it was reasoned that they would also keep away bad spirits.
Eventually, the drum began to be a part of culture and history, with many difficult cultures creating their own version that became used in music and ceremonies. It has become a strong aspect of many different religions, and is used in sports, ceremonies, and parades across the entire world. Although it is mostly a supporting instrument to support others, there is no contest in that the drum truly is the heart beat of music itself. It allows a crowd to keep tempo, or to give a piece of music the extra bit it needs to be capture a crowd. In addition, there are few musical instruments that can capture individuals so entirely as the gentle beating of a drum, which can be felt through a floor or even walls into the very air around individuals.
The modern application of the drum consists mostly of the aforementioned parades and bands, but the drum is not as easy to learn as some might think. A person’s rhythm must be excellent, and coordination is very important in order to keep time with other musical instruments. It is speculated by many that if you do not learn how to play the drums early on, then much like the violin it will be very difficult and almost impossible to learn later on.
The drum was once shrouded in mystery as being a defense against the night an eventually became a cultural icon. It has now grown into an international sensation that many individuals have come to admire and yearn to play. No matter where you play a drum, you are sure to draw a crowd and to incite admiration and encouragement, heralding the drum as one of the most beautifully simple musical instruments.
Musical Instruments: Drums for Sale The unique thing about drums when it comes to making music is that there are so many different elements that change the sound you create when you play them. The size, shape and composition of the drum will all alter the sound that it creates. Whether you beat on the......
Primer for Bass Drums The essential driving force behind a completed drum set is the bass drums. These are the heart of the drum set because all of the additional equipment is attached to them. The bass also provides what is essentially the underlying beat to your drumming rhythm. Your drum set needs to......
Types of Drums Drums are percussive instruments that are most commonly constructed by stretching one of a couple of different types of membranes over the opening in a vessel. The most common property of the various different types of drums is the pitch that each drum offers. Drums are by far one of......
Taiko Drums Top the Video Game Charts The traditional Taiko drum has a long history in Japan. Split into two varieties, the byou-uchi daiko and the tsukeshime-daiko, the taiko drum is an instrument used in traditional and modern Japanese music. The drums have a new renewal of interest in the young generation as the video game, Taiko......
Ancient and Modern Drums Drums can be traced back to 6000 BC and have been used in almost every culture throughout history for a variety of purposes. Is it any wonder that the drums have such an appeal today? They've been used as a form of communication, a call to arms, and as important......
The percussionist in any musical group will have to his aide a number of percussive elements. This set of drums will have a variety of instruments including drums, cymbals, and any other instruments that the musical group will need. Different genres will require differing pieces of equipment. So what goes into the drum kit?
The drum kit consists of drums of varying pitch and cymbals, as well as a number of other percussive elements which is of use to a musical group. The drums that can make up a drum kit include bass drums, snare drums, mounted and floor toms. Standard cymbals include hi-hats, crash and ride. The standard drum kit will include a 22 inch bass drum, a 14 inch snare drum, 12 and 13 inch mounted tom drums and a 16 inch.
The largest drum of the drum kit is the bass drum. It is typically played by a foot pedal operated mallet. There are also version played by striking with the hand, but for the purpose of the drum kit, it is important for the drummer to have their hands free for other instruments. More rapid bass drumming is done through use of a double bass drum kit, where both feet can rapidly strike each drum and create a quick, heavy beat for the group. Snare drums provide the lower mid range beat, and combined with the bass drum provides for the basic rhythm for countless songs. Tom drums provide an upper middle beat, while the cymbals provide the high tones. Cymbals are made with metal, providing the higher resonance and sound.
The history of drum kits began as space and money issues became important as drummers had to cover as many instruments as possible. Until the 1890's, both bass drums and snare drums were played with drums stick by hand. After that, they began using foot pedals for the bass drums, a system made workable in 1909 by W. F. Ludwig. Military drum kits consisted of massive bass drums with many small drums around it. This became the standard for jazz kits, and by 1926 hi-hat cymbals were introduced. After that there were a number of improvements to the mounting hardware, including the drum stands, adding legs to the drums, and providing places to mount additional percussive instruments.
There was a large movement to play the drums when Ringo Starr was seen on TV playing the drums. Since then, movements for rock, metal, and many other music genres have provided growth for the drum kit, adding additional bass, snare and tom drums. In the modern scene, electronic items such as loops, sequencers, tempo and sound analysis tools and many other pieces of equipment for the drummer.
Ancient and Modern Drums Drums can be traced back to 6000 BC and have been used in almost every culture throughout history for a variety of purposes. Is it any wonder that the drums have such an appeal today? They've been used as a form of communication, a call to arms, and as important......
Musical Instruments: The Drum, the Heart Beat of Music Many individuals enjoy drums as an instrument that is fun to play and exciting to get to heart but many music lovers truly believe that drums are the heart of music due to the way that they keep time and rhythm for the rest of the instruments or for other......
Drumsticks and Drums Drumsticks are specially designed sticks that are intended to strike the heads of percussion instruments like drums. Drumsticks are especially useful for hitting specific types of drums, especially during orchestral work, jazz music, rock band music and even marching band music. The most common drumsticks are made from oak, hickory,......
Drummer Live 2008 London Drummer Live 2008 was a part of the London International Music Show, and it was a very well attended event. The main showroom was full of drumming musicians, filling the entire building with the energetic drumming. Missing from the event were drummers Ronn Dunnett, and Nicko McBrain. MC this year......
Types of Drums Drums are percussive instruments that are most commonly constructed by stretching one of a couple of different types of membranes over the opening in a vessel. The most common property of the various different types of drums is the pitch that each drum offers. Drums are by far one of......
Some people know when they're still kids that they want to learn to play the drums. Others seem to end up playing drums in the school band because they're just not interested in any of the other instruments. Some of them look so difficult with all those shiny keys and dozens of notes to learn. Still others start on the drums because it's a less expensive choice-a saxophone costs hundreds of dollars, while a snare drum can be had very cheap, especially if you purchase one used. If you're considering the drums, or your child is considering learning drums as part of the school band, here are some things to consider to see if the drums are a good personality match.
It's true there are no notes to learn, but reading music is still important. Some people think reading music and understanding the notes is too complicated so they opt for the drums. What they might not realize is that you still have to learn the drum notation which is very similar to reading music. You don't just sit there tapping the drum to keep time, but you follow along with your part of the score so there is some musical notation required. Someone who can read music, look at a score and recognize what the other instruments will be playing will have an even easier time playing the drum part-it's always a good idea to learn to read music.
There's more to playing the drums that hitting out 1-2-3-4. While it's true that some pieces require very little else than someone hitting a drum with the beat, most music does offer more variety than that. It can get repetitive most of the time, but there are spots where the drum beat is mixed up a little that offer excitement for the drum player. If you choose to play jazz, for instance, the drum part can be quite exciting and offer a variety of different sounds and rhythms. Rock music often has drum solos, or spots within a song where the drum gets to shine a little beyond mere timekeeping.
You still must learn the instrument well. Playing drums doesn't require that you know how to play all the notes required on a flute, trombone or guitar, but you still must be able to play all the rhythms required by the drum line. The drummer sets the beat for the song, and therefore must being willing to learn how to set the right tempo for a song and keep a steady tempo throughout, no matter what the other instruments are doing. Some musicians would slow down and speed up throughout a song if not for the strong drum line keeping them steady. So while the drums might be easier to play when you're starting out than something like a saxophone, the ability to play them very steadily is important.
Once you decide if these things apply, you'll have a better understanding whether playing drums is right for you.
Drummer Live 2008 London Drummer Live 2008 was a part of the London International Music Show, and it was a very well attended event. The main showroom was full of drumming musicians, filling the entire building with the energetic drumming. Missing from the event were drummers Ronn Dunnett, and Nicko McBrain. MC this year......
Primer for Bass Drums The essential driving force behind a completed drum set is the bass drums. These are the heart of the drum set because all of the additional equipment is attached to them. The bass also provides what is essentially the underlying beat to your drumming rhythm. Your drum set needs to......
Taiko Drums Top the Video Game Charts The traditional Taiko drum has a long history in Japan. Split into two varieties, the byou-uchi daiko and the tsukeshime-daiko, the taiko drum is an instrument used in traditional and modern Japanese music. The drums have a new renewal of interest in the young generation as the video game, Taiko......
Musical Instruments: The Drum, the Heart Beat of Music Many individuals enjoy drums as an instrument that is fun to play and exciting to get to heart but many music lovers truly believe that drums are the heart of music due to the way that they keep time and rhythm for the rest of the instruments or for other......
Ancient and Modern Drums Drums can be traced back to 6000 BC and have been used in almost every culture throughout history for a variety of purposes. Is it any wonder that the drums have such an appeal today? They've been used as a form of communication, a call to arms, and as important......
Drums can be traced back to 6000 BC and have been used in almost every culture throughout history for a variety of purposes. Is it any wonder that the drums have such an appeal today? They've been used as a form of communication, a call to arms, and as important part in some of humanity's most sacred, religious and important rituals.
In Africa, hourglass shaped pressure drums, also called talking drums, were used by natives to communicate to a group, usually as part of a ceremony. Far from making a similar noise each time the tightly-stretched hide was struck, leather cords stretched the length of the drum allowed the person beating the drum to change the pitch by squeezing or releasing the cords. These drums are popular in West African music today.
Message drums, also called slit gongs, were made from a single log, with sounds that could carry 5 miles to another tribe or village. The logs could be elaborately carved or plain, but the emphasis was on the sound. The log was hollowed and slit cut in it, its length determining the pitch of the drum. Native American Indians regularly used slit gongs to communicate, too. Hollowed out logs are among some of the earliest discoveries of a type of drum used in ancient times.
Drums were used as communication devices during the Revolutionary War by troops, as well. Each camp had a drummer who played something designed to communicate their status to the other camps. Drums were used to motivate soldiers to move, they were used when commencing battle, and they were used as the beat for the death march of the condemned.
Medicine men used drums to perform their sacred healing rituals, and most ancient cultures used them in almost every ritual from birth to marriage to burial. The beat of drums is part of our humanity and our heritage, even though it seems that today drums are only used to keep time for rock bands and heavy metal guitar solos.
A truly skillful drum solo may touch that tribal ancestry within all of us and connect with us in ways we can't even begin to understand. Listening to tribal drums may forge such a connection but even listening to modern era drummers and percussionists like the late Buddy Rich can demonstrate the true skill required to play a musical instrument, even one considered as basic as the drums.
Drum sets are a relatively new development, with the first drum set appearing in the 1800s. They let one person play the snare drum, cymbals and bass drum (thanks to the foot pedal) where it always took 3 separate people before. This gave way to drums being used in jazz and swing, and then in the 50s, drum sets being used with rock music.
But the tribal beat that our species played thousands of years ago still appeals. Browse your music score today and you'll find heavy metal music with pounding drums sold alongside entire albums filled with tribal drum solos.
The Drum Kit The percussionist in any musical group will have to his aide a number of percussive elements. This set of drums will have a variety of instruments including drums, cymbals, and any other instruments that the musical group will need. Different genres will require differing pieces of equipment. So what goes......
Musical Instruments: The Drum, the Heart Beat of Music Many individuals enjoy drums as an instrument that is fun to play and exciting to get to heart but many music lovers truly believe that drums are the heart of music due to the way that they keep time and rhythm for the rest of the instruments or for other......
Primer for Bass Drums The essential driving force behind a completed drum set is the bass drums. These are the heart of the drum set because all of the additional equipment is attached to them. The bass also provides what is essentially the underlying beat to your drumming rhythm. Your drum set needs to......
Drummer Live 2008 London Drummer Live 2008 was a part of the London International Music Show, and it was a very well attended event. The main showroom was full of drumming musicians, filling the entire building with the energetic drumming. Missing from the event were drummers Ronn Dunnett, and Nicko McBrain. MC this year......
Types of Drums Drums are percussive instruments that are most commonly constructed by stretching one of a couple of different types of membranes over the opening in a vessel. The most common property of the various different types of drums is the pitch that each drum offers. Drums are by far one of......
Drumsticks are specially designed sticks that are intended to strike the heads of percussion instruments like drums. Drumsticks are especially useful for hitting specific types of drums, especially during orchestral work, jazz music, rock band music and even marching band music. The most common drumsticks are made from oak, hickory, hard maple and ebony wood. Typical drum sticks are made to be 16.3 inches in length, and only 0.635 inches in diameter with a rounded tip. Drum sticks can be used by players of all experience levels and age groups, including beginners, intermediates, experts, advanced players and even professional drummers, though not all drumming requires the use of drumsticks. Most professional drummers are quite particular when it comes to the characteristics of their drumsticks, paying particular attention to the weight, the shape, the size, the balance, the grain and the density of the sticks that they buy and use. Thick and heavy sticks tend to be used to primarily play street drums in drum corps and in marching bands, and these sticks are regarded for providing high quality sound.
A typical or traditional drumstick has a tip, a shoulder, a shaft and a butt. The tip, which is also commonly referred to as a bead, is the topmost part of the drumstick, which is responsible for actually striking the head of the drum. Traditionally the tip of the drumstick is crafted from the same hard wood as the remainder of the stick, though there are also drum sticks that have plastic nylon tips depending on the sound that you are intending to create. Tips come in a variety of different shapes and sizes when it comes to drumsticks, including round tips, barrel tips, oval tips and acorn tips just to name a few. The area below the drumstick's head or tip is known as the shoulder. The shoulder is primarily used to strike the edge of a crash cymbal. The remaining part of the stick is the shaft, the part that is handled by the drummer, and the butt is the opposite of the tip, located at the very bottom of the drumstick.
Drum sticks always come available in pairs, and you can generally select from a wide and consistently growing range of colors and styles. Drum sticks come in metallic colors like metallic red, metallic black, metallic silver, metallic wine red, and metallic green and even metallic blue. Colorful sticks that have shiny metallic logos are excellent for many live performances. Some drummers prefer to simply play with natural wooden drum sticks, especially if they go through them quickly.
Electronic drum sticks have their own built in speakers and some offer pre recorded tunes. When these electronic drum sticks strike any time of surface, they create the unique, crashing sounds that are pre recorded. These electronic drum sticks make use of a LED (Light emitting Diode) that is placed at the tip of each stick, allowing you to create music even when you do not possess a full set of drums to play with. Electronic drumsticks are becoming increasingly popular among kids that are fond of the unique range of sounds that they produce.
Are Drums a Good Match for You? Some people know when they're still kids that they want to learn to play the drums. Others seem to end up playing drums in the school band because they're just not interested in any of the other instruments. Some of them look so difficult with all those shiny keys and......
Musical Instruments: The Drum, the Heart Beat of Music Many individuals enjoy drums as an instrument that is fun to play and exciting to get to heart but many music lovers truly believe that drums are the heart of music due to the way that they keep time and rhythm for the rest of the instruments or for other......
Primer for Bass Drums The essential driving force behind a completed drum set is the bass drums. These are the heart of the drum set because all of the additional equipment is attached to them. The bass also provides what is essentially the underlying beat to your drumming rhythm. Your drum set needs to......
Drummer Live 2008 London Drummer Live 2008 was a part of the London International Music Show, and it was a very well attended event. The main showroom was full of drumming musicians, filling the entire building with the energetic drumming. Missing from the event were drummers Ronn Dunnett, and Nicko McBrain. MC this year......
Musical Instruments: Drums for Sale The unique thing about drums when it comes to making music is that there are so many different elements that change the sound you create when you play them. The size, shape and composition of the drum will all alter the sound that it creates. Whether you beat on the......
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Musical Instruments: The Drum, the Heart Beat of Music Many individuals enjoy drums as an instrument that is fun to play and exciting to get to heart but many music lovers truly believe that drums are the heart of music due to the way that they keep time and rhythm for the rest of the instruments or for other...... 
Ancient and Modern Drums Drums can be traced back to 6000 BC and have been used in almost every culture throughout history for a variety of purposes. Is it any wonder that the drums have such an appeal today? They've been used as a form of communication, a call to arms, and as important...... 
Types of Drums Drums are percussive instruments that are most commonly constructed by stretching one of a couple of different types of membranes over the opening in a vessel. The most common property of the various different types of drums is the pitch that each drum offers. Drums are by far one of...... 
Musical Instruments: Drums for Sale The unique thing about drums when it comes to making music is that there are so many different elements that change the sound you create when you play them. The size, shape and composition of the drum will all alter the sound that it creates. Whether you beat on the...... 
The Drum Kit The percussionist in any musical group will have to his aide a number of percussive elements. This set of drums will have a variety of instruments including drums, cymbals, and any other instruments that the musical group will need. Different genres will require differing pieces of equipment. So what goes...... 
The essential driving force behind a completed drum set is the bass drums. These are the heart of the drum set because all of the additional equipment is attached to them. The bass also provides what is essentially the underlying beat to your drumming rhythm. Your drum set needs to be set up adequately and properly tuned if you want to provide the highest quality sound. If your set is not adequately set up or properly tuned, you could compromise your entire rhythm section and could damage your drum set as a result.
The unique thing about drums when it comes to making music is that there are so many different elements that change the sound you create when you play them. The size, shape and composition of the drum will all alter the sound that it creates. Whether you beat on the drum with your hands or another instrument like a drum stick will also have an effect. Playing the drums is creative and unique, and can present a wide variety of different sounds in the process. In the past, individuals only played a single drum at a time and it was required for musical bands to have numerous drummers to get the most out of their sound. These days, however, 
Many individuals enjoy drums as an instrument that is fun to play and exciting to get to heart but many music lovers truly believe that drums are the heart of music due to the way that they keep time and rhythm for the rest of the instruments or for other parts of the song. When you are in a crowded room with music playing or even when you are one of the people playing the drums you can feel the pulse of the drums flowing through you and captivating you within its sounds. 
The percussionist in any musical group will have to his aide a number of percussive elements. This set of drums will have a variety of instruments including drums, cymbals, and any other instruments that the musical group will need. Different genres will require differing pieces of equipment. So what goes into the drum kit?
Some people know when they're still kids that they want to learn to play the drums. Others seem to end up playing drums in the school band because they're just not interested in any of the other instruments. Some of them look so difficult with all those shiny keys and dozens of notes to learn. Still others start on the drums because it's a less expensive choice-a saxophone costs hundreds of dollars, while a snare drum can be had very cheap, especially if you purchase one used. If you're considering the drums, or your child is considering learning drums as part of the school band, here are some things to consider to see if the drums are a good personality match.
Drums can be traced back to 6000 BC and have been used in almost every culture throughout history for a variety of purposes. Is it any wonder that the drums have such an appeal today? They've been used as a form of communication, a call to arms, and as important part in some of humanity's most sacred, religious and important rituals. 
