is there a real "normal" way to play drums?

[acura8591]

well? I've learned quite a bit from the drummer at my church but I kinda play my own way. How bout you guys?

[zoe r]

Ive learned a lot from my cousin and friend Gabe..but still I play my own special way. :)

[Bass2k]

I play a lot of bass and a bit of drums, so this probably isn't the best answer, but I think everybody has there own 'style' to play. Like, according to other drummer's, I play quite, um, differently:D . I use the heel of my foot for the hi-hat :eek: , i put the rest of my food sideways. But that just seems more comfortable for me for some unknown reason:)

Bass2k

[WaKaDruM]

the conventional method as far as i know (for right handers) is right foot bass, left foot hi-hat, right hand hi-hat/ride, left hand snare

and lefties may opt to switch the floor tom, snare and hi-hat to opposite sides and switch their hands.

thats the conventional way and in my opinion the only way a teacher should begin to teach a student. if a beginner starts playing with just random jacked up configurations (like putting cymbals behind him, switching rides and hihats and mounting snare drums on the bass drum) then it can lead to general awkwardness down the line with new stuff.

but great drummers have been produced by starting out unconventionally (ie Carter Beauford of DMB) but unless someone's particuarly accomplished or has a 6th sense knack for it, i wouldn't recommend doing anything crazy, least not in the beginning.


Victor (who once played lefty for worship for fun)

[Split2000]

I would have to agree with Bass2k everybody has there own way of playing drums (that goes for any instrument).

I play Guitar, Keyboard, drums, and Organ at our Church and I play all of them differently than the other people that play those instruments.




Hope this helps

Ryan

[Messenger4Him18]

I believe that there are very few drummers that can or will play exactly alike! I play my own way and people like it... I mean hey as long as your are playing for the right reasons then go with the flow!

[+Donny]

i would agree on the normal configuration, atleast thats what I have been taught, but what about how you pump the bass pedal? I rest my heel on the ground and use it kinda like a hinge for a more relaxed feel

[WaKaDruM]

Originally posted by Donny
i would agree on the normal configuration, atleast thats what I have been taught, but what about how you pump the bass pedal? I rest my heel on the ground and use it kinda like a hinge for a more relaxed feel

keeping your heel on the ground builds muscle..I should do that more often...as far as I know it's a more advanced method, but the "beginner's" method is to keep the heel up and go toe down as opposed to heel down.

[+Donny]

yeah, i can pump faster with the heel up, but with the heel down, it feels more relaxed, and i get more power, AND the beater doesnt muffle against the head as easy

[Squeak286]

actually bringing the heel up is not always a bad idea. I usually keep it down but if the bass beat is more longer notes then I will lift the heel up because you can get a more pronounced sound and if you work on it you won't muffle the bass sound.

You have to balance it, I probably don't my heel off more then half a centimeter because much farther and your sound will lose quality.

But on the other extreme if you relax all your weight on your heel it will obstruct your ability to do fast 'double kicks' as people call them. like in punk the traditional double kick on beat 3 and the and of 3.

As long as you do not 'kick' straight down you're ok, because the kick should be angled down, not straight down due to the angle of the pedal.

hope some of this makes sense and isn't just blab

[Insane Drummer]

with drum sticks is the normal way LOL HEHEHEHE sorry just being insane

[DanielM]

There's a band (Non-Christian AFAIK) from Scotland called Stapleton. The drummer has the kit set up as a normal right handed kit, but plays the snare with his right hand, and uses his left for the hi-hat etc. Absolutely amazing to watch :)

[+Donny]

sticks? there is a smart way..

[Split2000]

Heard of that, Never seen it, but it sounds neat.

Ryan

[ristmo2001]

Playing left hand--hihat, right hand--snare, is hard. I've been working on it for a couple months and I'm getting it, but I noticed that if your left hand can reach hithat, snare, and first tom, you can have your right hand free for anything. When I play 32nd or 64th notes on the bass with hihat, I like playing with my foot halfway on hithat, halfway on double-bass. That way I still can hold the hihat closed and get good sound. I haven't seen anyone else play like that, but it works. Most drummers play lots differently anyway. I think, though, that there is one thing that we do agree on: rudiments are a pain until you master them, and even when you master them, they are never totally mastered.

[Squeak286]

actually ristmo2001 a large number of dbl. bass players use that technique. also you can buy a hihat accessory that keeps the hihat closed so you don't have to have your foot on both pedals, but it can be hard to switch the hihat from closed to open.

The accessory basically drops the hihat cymbal into closed when you pull or hit the lever with your stick and when you put pressure on the pedal as if to close it and press the lever the hihat goes back to 'manual'. it's sorta hard to explain, if you saw one you'd understand.

[+Donny]

coool, that sounds neato!

[Dr. Z.]

It's called a drop clutch. Should be available at any large music store. Maybe $20-30.