For quite some time, I struggled with my decision between Remo and Evans. Having used both of their heads extensively in both live, and recording situations, I ultimately decided that Remo gave me more of what I was looking for in terms of tone, dynamic response, and tune-ability. The Evans head that was by far the most difficult for me to switch from was the Emad bass drum batter head.
For this reason, I am stoked about Remo’s new bass drum batter, the Powerstroke Pro. It seems like their version of the Emad, and I can’t wait to hear how it sounds. Much like the Emad it has built in external dampening for sound control, and I anticipate good things. Check out the full specs on the head, plus a small video HERE.
Unfortunately the head won’t be available until March of this year. Can’t wait!!
My Favorite Drum Kits and New Products From the 2011 NAMM Show
I was lucky enough to get a pass for the NAMM show this year, and thought I would take some pictures of my favorite new products and kits from the show.
As you might know, NAMM is a trade show where all companies music come to display their latest and greatest products. Buyers come to check out these products, and potentially purchase them. Each company wants their booth to stand out, so drum companies usually have one huge, overly elaborate kit set up. I decided to take pics of my favorites so check them out!
The Kits
TAMA
This kit wrapped 360 degrees, and it was the largest kit at the show from what I saw
LUDWIG
Check out that suspended bass drum! It was hanging from wires attached to the ceiling.
DRUM WORKSHOP – DW
In case you didn’t know this is the latest Neil Peart kit. Keep in mind they endorse Terry Bozzio as well. How do they keep up!?
GRETCH
Speaking of Terry Bozzio, this is reminiscent of his cymbal set up. This rack was incredible.
PEARL
This kit was the hardest to capture in a picture. It was so tall I couldn’t seem to get it all in frame.
TRICK DRUMS
This kit was tiny but so cool! That metal wheel on the resonant bass drum head was slowly spinning, and their was smoke billowing from some of the metal tubing.
And now for my favorite new products from the show. Fyi I wanted to take more pictures but I ran out of room on my memory card! Its cool though, I still got some good ones.
The Products
Chad Smith’s Holy China: Sabian
This is Chad Smith’s signature china from Sabian. I haven’t tried it personally, but I definitely trust Chad Smith to put his name on great sounding stuff.
Corey Miller: Remo / Ludwig
As you may know, Corey Miller is first and foremost a tattoo artist. He does, however, play drums and designs killer artwork for them. Here is a picture of his signature snare drum through Ludwig, and his signature head by Remo.
Jarrah Snare Drums: Brady Drums / Chris Brady
As I said in my previous NAMM post, Chris Brady went on another one of his “walkabout” tours in the Australian wilderness to find all kinds of amazing woods to make drums out of. Pictured is one of his Ply snare drums made from Jarrah.
“Triple Bass Pedal”: Dualist
Dualist has been making these pedals for a while, but I didn’t even know about them until this year. In a nutshell, the right pedal control the two right beaters so both the upstroke, and the downstroke of the pedal trigger a stroke by a different beater. The left pedal controls the far left beater like a normal double pedal. Kind of a dumb concept if you ask me, but who am I to judge.
The Vari-Tone and Qube Shakers: Latin Percussion – LP
Here is something I am genuinely excited about. These shakers are both awesome in their own ways. The Vari-tone shaker is spring loaded and has a tiny opening in the center that can be closed if you squeeze it. Closing the shaker provides a different tone than if it’s open, so you can change while you’re playing!
The Qube might be the most original, and ingenious shaker I’v ever seen. You can use it like a regular shaker with a back and forth motion, BUT, you can also shake it side to side. Furthermore, if you shake it in a circle you can achieve steady 16th notes as all four walls trigger a sound! Once you get the hang of it you can play ruffs, and other patterns in the midst of your playing. Awesome.
Twenty Masters Series Cymbals: Paiste
My favorite new product from NAMM had to be the new line of Paiste Cymbals. These are an extension of the Twenty series, and every new piece sounds incredible. The line is called “Masters” and rightly so. The tones range from elegantly dirty, to bright and washy, but stay true to Paiste’s amazing craftsmanship, and tonal options.
I hope you enjoyed my NAMM show 2011 wrap up! As I said previously, I am going to try to post more as time goes on. Thanks for reading!
A Jam Session / Interview With the Legendary Drummers of Frank Zappa
So Drumchannel got a bunch of former Frank Zappa drummers together to have a big ol’ jam session/interview. I still haven’t seen the entire thing, but the parts I have seen were fantastic. How can you go wrong with such legendary drummers as Terry Bozzio, Chad Wackerman, Ralph Humphrey, Chester Thompson, and Ruth Underwood. Below is a little preview of the jam, and below that I have linked part 1 of the round table interview with these amazing drummers. Enjoy!
Click HERE for the link to Drumchannel’s interview with these guys
Drumchannel also released a DVD of the amazing performance/interview footage. Click HERE to go to Amazon where you can purchase it!
A Few Options For Preserving Your Most Precious Asset
There is no doubt that acoustic drums are extremely loud. If you want to have any kind of longevity as a musician, you absolutely need to protect your hearing. Fortunately there are many options for doing just that these days. Earplugs have evolved over time, and now come in a variety of different shapes, colors, and styles. I have listed a few of those below.
Standard Foam
Foam earplugs are probably the most tried and true of all of the models of earplugs that are available out there. They provide more than sufficient hearing protection in most musical situations. I keep a huge bag of these with me at all times, no matter what I am doing. You can get some huge boxes of these at Home Depot if your in the market for an economy pack.
Plastic with Hole
This style of plug can be great for certain things due to the level of noise that they let in. They come hollowed out in the middle, thereby only blocking a portion of the sound. This can be good for really quiet playing, or on gigs where you need to be extra conscious of dynamics.
Attached Plastic/Foam
This is just a standard set of plastic or foam plugs that is attached by a cord. It’s the same level of hearing protection, but much easier to keep track of.
Vic Firth Cans
These come either with the headphone option, or without. The headphones can be great for recording, as they block just the right amount of sound when in the studio, and are comfortable enough to wear for long sessions. These cans are fairly inexpensive, and durable, making them a solid investment for any drummer.
Custom Plugs/Monitors
If you have the money, this is the best way to protect your hearing. There are a few companies that make custom molded ear plugs, and in ear monitors. I purchased my in ears from a company called In Ear Systems. I have taken them on the road, and regularly use them for multiple artists I trigger backing tracks for, and they have always worked great for me. Their in ears come with a detachable cable feature, so you only have to buy a new cable if yours breaks, and not a whole new set of monitors. I have linked their site HEREso go check them out if you are in the market.
I recently discovered this drummer while watching R&B artist Maxwell’s performance on the Grammy’s. I first noticed the unusually dry, trashy tones he was using, and then got one glance of his setup, and had to find out who he was. As it turns out, Chris “Daddy” Dave has played and recorded with other big name artists such as Kenny Garrett, Dolly Parton, Pat Metheny, Me’shell N’Degeocello, TLC, Toni Braxton, Mos Def, Common, Maxwell, Talib Kweli, Jill Scott, Mint Condition (Janet Jackson World Tour), Yolanda Adams, Robert Hurst Trio, Donald Brown Trio, Soulful Symphony and Reginald Veal, and many others.
The only thing that compares to the uniqueness of this guys tone and playing style, is his setup. As far as I can tell the largest kit this guy uses is only 3 or 4 peices. He will use either 1 or 2 snare drums, and sometimes one tom. His drums are placed in a rather uncommon pattern around him, leaving room for all of his cymbals to be right in front of him. The only way to truly understand his playing is to see him in action so below I have placed a few videos and pictures of this innovative drummer. FollowTHIS LINK to visit Chris’ myspace if you want to learn more about him. Hope you enjoy!
Chris Playing with Maxwell at the 2010 Grammy’s
Chris with the Chris Dave Trio Playing “Nefertiti” at Charlie Wrights in London
Pearls New E-Pro Live Electronic/Acoustic Drum Set Hybrid
Yesterday I did a post about a brand new product that Pearl is coming out with called E-Pro Live. It features the slogan, “Get Real. Be Real,” and was shrouded by rumors and theories about what this product could be. It looks like the majority of those rumors were right. E-Pro Live is Pearl’s new revolutionary electronic/ acoustic drum set hybrid. It will cost you a pretty penny (somewhere in the $3,000-$3,500 range), but it really is two kits for the price of one. It also features Pearls new R.E.D. Box module. I have listed some features of the kit, and module below.
Real wood shells, drum finishes, and hardware (mounted on a modified Icon rack)
The ability to remove all of the electronic heads (held on by standard hoops) and put on acoustic heads, converting it into a fully acoustic kit
Lifetime warranty on all hardwear
New Tru Trac heads, coated for realistic responsiveness, and playability
Pearl R.E.D. Box Module
1000 build in HD sounds
100 preset kits, with space for 100 custom user kits available
Ability to download external virtual drum sets from Toontrak, BFD2, Sonic Reality, Ocean Way Drums, Steven Slate Drums, and Virtual Drumline from Pearls web site
12 individual volume faders
Built in sequencer, allowing you to record and loop yourself
Now we just need to see this kit in action! The video belowincludes an explanation of the E-pro Live features, as well as demonstrations by Dennis Chambers, and Joey Jordison.
Achieve Your Ideal Personal Mix with the Aviom A-16II Mixer
I recently had a chance to use Aviom’s A-16II mixer, and was pleasantly surprised, and impressed with it’s user friendly format/layout, and it’s outstanding mixing capabilities. This 16 channel stereo mixer gives you personal control over everything you would ever want to adjust on stage.
This is the first time I have ever felt truly comfortable with my on stage mix, and I’m not even picky. Whether you’re on an external monitor system, or using in ears, there is usually someone else in charge of your mix. Most of us do the best we can to let the sound guy know how much to adjust each level in our monitors, but usually end up settling on a mix that is less than ideal. Again, I am really not particular when it comes to my mix, but this Aviom system opened my eyes to what kind of mix is achievable on stage.
Now let’s get to the features of this device. Below I have put a picture, and a few functions of the A-16II (which were pulled straight fromAviom’s website)
16 Channel Stereo Mix
Fully Adjustable Individual Channel Pan/Volume Control
Auto Detect Mono/Stereo Circuitry (So No Dealing With All Those Pesky Cables)
Simple Set-Up With Cat-5e Cables
16 Preset Locations For Storing Custom Mixes
Pan/Spread Control With LED Readout
Channel Volume Control With LED Level Readout
Master Volume, Treble, and Bass Controls
Easily Mountable
As you can see, these are just about all the features you would want in order to achieve the mix that is right for you. The Independent volume control allows you to change a level on the fly, and the custom mix option let’s you store a separate mix for every song if you like. The possibilities are truly endless, and I would definitely recommend this for the gigging musician.
Bring Tambourine Into Your Live Playing with the Hat Trick
As many drummers know, tambourine can add great texture and motion to virtually any groove. From programmed hip-hop grooves, to big fat classic rock grooves, tambourine can add the needed motion to spice up your playing. I have gradually become more fond of tambourine in the past year or so, and have recently been exploring options available for bringing it into a live scenario. In my exploration, I came across the Hat Trick hi-hat tambourine made by Rhythm Tech.
The thing I like most about this is the number of options it gives me in live situations, and even in the studio. I use it in two primary ways:
1) Hitting it with a stick much like a side mounted tambourine can be a great way to add it under your backbeat for choruses, or bigger sections of tunes that need an extra punch. You can also use it alone as your backbeat for softer sections of songs, or for parts where you may only be playing a shaker, and need a backbeat option other that snare/cross stick.
2) Bouncing the hi-hat, triggering the tambourine tone. This can also be a great way to add tambourine to choruses, or sections where you don’t have a free hand.
Below I have put a picture of the hat trick, and this is a perfect opportunity to debut a song I recently recorded the hat trick on. It’s an original christmas song by Julie the Band. You will hear the hat trick on all of the pre-choruses, and choruses. Notice how it brings a much needed distinction between sections, especially in a song that is so texturally based, and earthy sounding.
This is the original song “Merry Christmas” by Julie the Band. Listen for the Hat Trick, and enjoy!
A Few Great Drum Books for the Beginner/Intermediate Drummer
Whether you’re self taught, taking lessons, going to school, or whatever method you are using to better your playing and understanding of the drums, The basic fundamental concepts remain the same. There are a few books on the market that I personally recommend to all of my students, and have worked through myself at some point. These books all contain fantastic information on various subjects including reading, simple grooves, rock drumming, rudiments, etc… Lets go through them, and take a closer look at what these books are all about.
Joel Rothmans “Reading, Rudiments, and Rock Drumming”
This book is an all encompassing collection of a bunch of different drumming concepts. The majority of the book is broken up into sections starting very basic, and progressing to some fairly advanced reading/playing concepts. Each section contains a page of reading, a set of hand exercises, and a set of grooves. Each of these categories within the sections tie in extremely well with each other, and progress at the same rate in difficulty. This book is great for the self-taught drummer, as it eliminates confusion, and incorporates three of the most essential areas of drumming.
Louis Bellson’s “Modern Reading Text in 4/4″
This book is basically designed to only help one learn how to read, but the content is fantastic. It starts very basic by introducing quarter notes and 8th notes, and their corresponding rests, and then gradually becomes more difficult. There are a few things that set this book apart from other reading books, one being the length of each section. I have found that most reading books move from concept to concept too quickly, and don’t contain enough practice material to properly digest the concept. This book provides 3-7 pages of reading, plus a summary page at the end of each section to ensure proper understanding of the idea. It also contains countless exercises, and great explanations.
“Encyclopedia of Reading Rhythms” by Gary Hess
This is by far the most comprehensive reading book I have ever come across. I have studied for countless hours from this book, and with the amount of information it provides, one could spend years practicing it. It starts very basic, but unlike most reading books, it progresses to an extremely advanced level. It takes one through virtually every reading concept imaginable including odd time reading, advanced triplet notation, and even complex roadmaps at the end that incorporate all of the previous material. This book is a fantastic source for learning to read not only rhythm charts, but also drum set charts/figures as well.
These are just a few of a collection of thousands of great book out there. Have fun practicing, and bettering yourself, and your playing!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I would pay homage to the products that I simply could not function without. Lets get right into it!
1) Vater 5B, and 5A Los Angeles Wood Tip Sticks
Vater 5B’s are my primary stick, but I value both of these sticks equally. I use the 5B’s for all of my heavier, rock type stuff, and the Los Angeles’ for anything lighter. I work with a lot of singer/songwriters and the los angeles’ allow me to play lighter with the same amount of control.
5B/5A Los Angeles
2) Moongel
I can’t say enough about this product.It’s simply essential for studio situations, and should be part of any studio musicians arsenal. This little gem has helped me out on many occasions, and allowed me to eliminate hours of tuning and tweaking in the studio.
Moongel
3) Remo Coated Ambassador
This is, I believe, one of the most versatile heads on the market. I have used it for many different tunings, and have gotten some great sounds with it. It is my go to head whenever I’m in doubt.
Remo Coated Ambassador
4) LP Softshake
I have used this shaker in countless musical situations. It achieves a great balance between attack and great tone, and Is a solid addition to anyones gear bag. It also tracks extremely well.
LP Softshake
5) DW 7000 PX Double Pedal
This is the best, and only pedal I have ever played. It was the first pedal I ever purchased, and having tried countless others in music school, and other random situations, still my favorite. It allows me to get the perfect balance between weight and tension for maximum control.
Its cool though, I still got some good ones.
