When to use percussion vs drum set only, or both
It was only recently that I started to play around with various hand percussion tools, and incorporate them into my playing. By the way when I say hand percussion, I’m referring to anything you use as a percussive tool (ie cowbells, shakers, djembe, tambourines etc…) other than the instruments typical to the average drumset. The more I played around with these instruments, the more I realized how significant they can be in so many musical situations. The most important tool in my percussive arsenal is my cajon. A cajon is basically just a wooden box with snares behind one side that can create an array of different tones, and be an asset in an acoustic situation. I use a Meinl cajon and its fantastic, however, many companies make these instruments in many different sizes and styles. Take a look!
Meinl Cajon
As I have said before I work with many “singer/songwriters,” and their music is mostly soft rock with a pop/folk pop sound. As a result I end up playing quite a few acoustic shows and small venues, and this cajon is a great way to bring the appropriate textures and sounds to the music, without overpowering it with the extreme dynamic and harshness of a drum set. Along with the cajon I usually add a tambourine, and various shakers to my setup which gives me a few different sound sources for different songs and styles. The drawback to playing only percussion (for me at least) was always that I couldn’t reproduce snare and bass drum tones and rhythms well enough to be comfortable using it in musical situations. This all changed when I bought my cajon. With the Meinl Cajon, it became possible for me to bring convincing snare drum and bass drum tones to a musical situation, and avoid using an entire kit, but still maintain the rhythmic integrity of the music. One technique I use almost exclusively with my cajon is playing with either a brush, or a shaker in my lead hand. This allows me to simulate a hi-hat tone with ease. In my other hand I either use some kind of stick (whether it be a blast stick, brush, or whatever) or nothing at all. In the videos below you will see me playing my cajon in an actual gig situation. The first video is a demonstration of using a brush in my lead hand. The second video is an example of using a shaker in my lead hand, and simulating bass drum and snare drum tones with my opposite hand. In both videos, I use a tambourine under my left foot to add under backbeats during choruses, and bring the dynamic up when necessary. I apologize for the poor sound quality, but you’ll get the idea.
Cajon/Brush Combo
This video demonstrates the shaker/cajon combo
Cajon/Shaker Combo
As you can see, hand percussion can be very effective if used in the right contexts. The dynamic must be appropriate when considering using hand percussion in any situation. If you are using cajon, find out if you will be able to mic it at whatever venue you are playing. You may also consider buying a cajon with an output built into it, so you plug directly into the PA. If you are using shakers/cowbells etc.. in conjunction with a drum set, consider how loud the music is, and what style you will be playing, and if you will be able to mic the percussion instruments specifically. The bottom line is to use your best musical judgement in any situation you feel might be enhanced by hand percussion.
One last thing I must add is a plug for my favorite shaker of all time. The shaker pictured below is called the LP Softshake, and has a unique tone that I have used in tons of live settings. It has just the right amount of attack, and is the most versatile shaker I have found. Enjoy playing around with some of these ideas!
LP Softshake
