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drumking089
Sea Monkey
Joined: 01 Apr 2008
Posts: 14
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 Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:41 am Post subject: 4 piece drum technique |
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Works for me with just one tom, one tom tom, bass, and snare.
Anyone else feel the same? |
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styles2281
Moderator
Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 6677
Location: Manchester, CT
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:07 am Post subject: |
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Depends on what I'm doing.
Currently, I'm running a 5-piece, and I really like that feel.
Ideally, I'd like to run a small 6-piece that can be transfigured anyway I want.
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"One day I feel I'm on top of the world
"I'm not dumb, I just have a command of thoroughly useless information" - Calvin of Bill Waterson's "Calvin and Hobbes" |
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Rasta
Fierce Wolf
Joined: 11 Jul 2007
Posts: 579
Location: Minnesota
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:07 pm Post subject: Re: 4 piece drum technique |
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| drumking089 wrote: | Works for me with just one tom, one tom tom, bass, and snare.
Anyone else feel the same? |
I'm playing the same way currently. It's been great for me to work on creativity and ingenuity, though I don't think I would ever say that a 4-piece is the only way to go.
Many times simplicity is great. There is an argument floating out there that a 4 peice is all you NEED. Which may be true, but I love thoes huge sets.
I'm glad Danny Carey doesn't play a 4 piece.
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A groove is a terrible thing to waste!  |
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styles2281
Moderator
Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 6677
Location: Manchester, CT
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:15 pm Post subject: Re: 4 piece drum technique |
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| Rasta wrote: | | drumking089 wrote: | Works for me with just one tom, one tom tom, bass, and snare.
Anyone else feel the same? |
I'm playing the same way currently. It's been great for me to work on creativity and ingenuity, though I don't think I would ever say that a 4-piece is the only way to go.
Many times simplicity is great. There is an argument floating out there that a 4 peice is all you NEED. Which may be true, but I love thoes huge sets.
I'm glad Danny Carey doesn't play a 4 piece. |
Heck, a BASS and SNARE are all you need...it's not really the point.
_________________
"One day I feel I'm on top of the world
"I'm not dumb, I just have a command of thoroughly useless information" - Calvin of Bill Waterson's "Calvin and Hobbes" |
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tylerdrummer
Lion King
Joined: 22 Jun 2007
Posts: 1154
Location: California, F
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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| im one of those people that like the huge *Horse's Patoot* 80's rock sets,(even though all of those drummers sucked, pretty much) |
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Rasta
Fierce Wolf
Joined: 11 Jul 2007
Posts: 579
Location: Minnesota
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| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:04 am Post subject: Re: 4 piece drum technique |
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| styles2281 wrote: | | Rasta wrote: | | drumking089 wrote: | Works for me with just one tom, one tom tom, bass, and snare.
Anyone else feel the same? |
I'm playing the same way currently. It's been great for me to work on creativity and ingenuity, though I don't think I would ever say that a 4-piece is the only way to go.
Many times simplicity is great. There is an argument floating out there that a 4 peice is all you NEED. Which may be true, but I love thoes huge sets.
I'm glad Danny Carey doesn't play a 4 piece. |
Heck, a BASS and SNARE are all you need...it's not really the point. |
Maybe that's all you need. I'd need at least a 4 to seriously perform with a band. Though, what is the point?
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A groove is a terrible thing to waste! |
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reidjazz
Tadpole
Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 27
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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Stravinsky, when composing, would often intentionally limit himself as far as notes, scales, number of instruments, etc. His theory was that with less resources, he was forced to be more creative, with fewer decisions to be made.
I think the same applies to the drums. I find that with only 4 drums, I have to be more creative with fewer drums to choose from...less decisions.
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"When you're finished learning, you're finished."
http://www.toddreid.com |
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Rasta
Fierce Wolf
Joined: 11 Jul 2007
Posts: 579
Location: Minnesota
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| Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:15 am Post subject: |
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| reidjazz wrote: | Stravinsky, when composing, would often intentionally limit himself as far as notes, scales, number of instruments, etc. His theory was that with less resources, he was forced to be more creative, with fewer decisions to be made.
I think the same applies to the drums. I find that with only 4 drums, I have to be more creative with fewer drums to choose from...less decisions. |
That makes sence.
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A groove is a terrible thing to waste! |
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crazysteve1986
Big Guppy
Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 46
Location: Burton, England
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| Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:21 am Post subject: |
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I switched to a 4 peice becuse its easier to transport.
Also if you play a bigger kit and turn up at a gig where the band supplying the kit only have a 4 peice its a pain in the *Ay Matey, Watch 'Yer Language Or Ye Be Swabbin' The Deck* having to change songs in the soundcheck.
I love it though  |
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phantompong
Lion
Joined: 30 Jul 2005
Posts: 941
Location: on the side of the world
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:53 am Post subject: |
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I see it as another aspect of technique - not necessarily physical technique, but definitely musical technique. Do you want to be able to sprint 100m, or complete a half-marathon? Well, I want to be able to do both. Do you want to be a good rhythm guitarist or a good guitar soloist? I want to be able to do both. I want to be able to produce the goods no matter the circumstances, so to speak.
Being reliant on a large kit to sound musical is not ideal, but neither is being reliant on a small kit to force creativity. The drum part has to change to fit the song, not the kit.
I'm not against small kits, just cautioning against the idea that if you take away that second rack tom, you suddenly become more musically creative. You don't - it's just like stretching before exercise. It does free you somewhat, but it still takes practice and good musicianship to make a song sound good. The real test is, when you put that second rack tom back on, did you gain something from not having it for a period of time?
You can play Hot Cross Buns with 3 keys, but the other 85 keys are there for a reason. Hopefully playing a 3-keyed piano helps you discover why, but I wouldn't advise trying to play Islamey on the 3-keyed piano in the hopes of becoming more musical.
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If you don't like it, you can just *Golly Gee* off! - Keith Moon's last words
Drummers are subject to physical laws of nature. One of them states that if you drop a wing nut, it will roll under the bass drum. - Roy Burns |
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reidjazz
Tadpole
Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 27
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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| phantompong wrote: | I see it as another aspect of technique - not necessarily physical technique, but definitely musical technique. Do you want to be able to sprint 100m, or complete a half-marathon? Well, I want to be able to do both. Do you want to be a good rhythm guitarist or a good guitar soloist? I want to be able to do both. I want to be able to produce the goods no matter the circumstances, so to speak.
Being reliant on a large kit to sound musical is not ideal, but neither is being reliant on a small kit to force creativity. The drum part has to change to fit the song, not the kit.
I'm not against small kits, just cautioning against the idea that if you take away that second rack tom, you suddenly become more musically creative. You don't - it's just like stretching before exercise. It does free you somewhat, but it still takes practice and good musicianship to make a song sound good. The real test is, when you put that second rack tom back on, did you gain something from not having it for a period of time?
You can play Hot Cross Buns with 3 keys, but the other 85 keys are there for a reason. Hopefully playing a 3-keyed piano helps you discover why, but I wouldn't advise trying to play Islamey on the 3-keyed piano in the hopes of becoming more musical. |
I would agree that the size of the kit should have no bearing on musicality. My point about Stravinsky sometimes (I said often, but that was a poor choice of words on my part) limiting himself to only a few notes, instruments, etc. was issued more as a choice in compositional style (or in our case, drumming style)...it caused him to compose differently than if he opened up all the possibilities that exist. I think the same can be said about drumming...it may cause you to play differently than if you had a huge kit. Better? That depends if you as an individual end up playing more musically with fewer drums. Few drums or many, my ambition is to be a musician who plays the drums, not just a drummer.
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"When you're finished learning, you're finished."
http://www.toddreid.com |
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punkrocker7341
Lion
Joined: 23 May 2004
Posts: 926
Location: AZ
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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What I find about people that say 4 pieces make you be more creative, is that when you switch to a four piece you can't use all the same fills as you can with something bigger. Now you can play everything you did on a 4 piece on something larger, so that won't make any changes if you don't utilize the new things. Different sets for different applications! I own a 4 piece and a 6 piece and have them set up side by side. My playing style varies on which kit I use simply because I have more or less things to choose from. One is not better than the other, or more creative, it is just a different instrument to work with.
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The Silvertones |
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sbowman128675
Big Lion
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 967
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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i like the good ol 6 piece kit. 2 toms, 2 floors, snare, bass. and an aux snare if i need one
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styles2281
Moderator
Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 6677
Location: Manchester, CT
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 4:49 am Post subject: Re: 4 piece drum technique |
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| Rasta wrote: | | styles2281 wrote: | | Rasta wrote: | | drumking089 wrote: | Works for me with just one tom, one tom tom, bass, and snare.
Anyone else feel the same? |
I'm playing the same way currently. It's been great for me to work on creativity and ingenuity, though I don't think I would ever say that a 4-piece is the only way to go.
Many times simplicity is great. There is an argument floating out there that a 4 peice is all you NEED. Which may be true, but I love thoes huge sets.
I'm glad Danny Carey doesn't play a 4 piece. |
Heck, a BASS and SNARE are all you need...it's not really the point. |
Maybe that's all you need. I'd need at least a 4 to seriously perform with a band. Though, what is the point? |
The point is that music should be played with whatever is required or whatever will sound the best. Some pieces, or genres of music may require nothing more than a bass and snare. Others, just a four piece. Others sound best with a 60 piece kit (okay...embellishing a bit).
I think that saying that a certain amount of drums (regardless of the number) is "all you NEED" is a rather pointless statement.
_________________
"One day I feel I'm on top of the world
"I'm not dumb, I just have a command of thoroughly useless information" - Calvin of Bill Waterson's "Calvin and Hobbes" |
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styles2281
Moderator
Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 6677
Location: Manchester, CT
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 4:56 am Post subject: |
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| reidjazz wrote: | | phantompong wrote: | I see it as another aspect of technique - not necessarily physical technique, but definitely musical technique. Do you want to be able to sprint 100m, or complete a half-marathon? Well, I want to be able to do both. Do you want to be a good rhythm guitarist or a good guitar soloist? I want to be able to do both. I want to be able to produce the goods no matter the circumstances, so to speak.
Being reliant on a large kit to sound musical is not ideal, but neither is being reliant on a small kit to force creativity. The drum part has to change to fit the song, not the kit.
I'm not against small kits, just cautioning against the idea that if you take away that second rack tom, you suddenly become more musically creative. You don't - it's just like stretching before exercise. It does free you somewhat, but it still takes practice and good musicianship to make a song sound good. The real test is, when you put that second rack tom back on, did you gain something from not having it for a period of time?
You can play Hot Cross Buns with 3 keys, but the other 85 keys are there for a reason. Hopefully playing a 3-keyed piano helps you discover why, but I wouldn't advise trying to play Islamey on the 3-keyed piano in the hopes of becoming more musical. |
I would agree that the size of the kit should have no bearing on musicality. My point about Stravinsky sometimes (I said often, but that was a poor choice of words on my part) limiting himself to only a few notes, instruments, etc. was issued more as a choice in compositional style (or in our case, drumming style)...it caused him to compose differently than if he opened up all the possibilities that exist. I think the same can be said about drumming...it may cause you to play differently than if you had a huge kit. Better? That depends if you as an individual end up playing more musically with fewer drums. Few drums or many, my ambition is to be a musician who plays the drums, not just a drummer. |
I've always liked the idea of writing/composing/playing "in a box." I was once accused of "not being able to think outside the box." (in regards to a music piece, or musical expression). In retaliation, I wrote a piece within a box (no drums, and other defining characters) and made the statement, "It's harder to be creative IN the box than out." When ANYTHING goes, where's the challenge?
Anyways, in regards to drums, it doesn't matter WHAT size kit one plays, what matters is whether the music is good/whether the drums sound good with the music. Whether what is played ADDS to the music or SUBTRACTS from it. The rest is personal preference.
_________________
"One day I feel I'm on top of the world
"I'm not dumb, I just have a command of thoroughly useless information" - Calvin of Bill Waterson's "Calvin and Hobbes" |
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