Hi! Welcome back to my blog! Long time no see! I wrote about optional instruments on drums last time. I'll introduce more optional instruments today.
First, I'll introduce a sizzle cymbal. A sizzle cymbal is a cymbal with holes and rivets. It sounds like "sizzle" which means "to make a sound like water falling on hot metal" so it's a unique sound. Sizzle cymbals are usually made from ride cymbals, but sometimes crash cymbal and china cymbal are processed, too. You can make it by yourself easily. On any cymbal (except hi-hat cymbals) make a hole with a drill, then drive in a rivet or attach a thin chain center. This cymbal is used in jazz and rock. I prepared two images and a video and I used LanceCampeau's video. Thank you so much!!
This is a sizzle cymbal which is made with rivets.
This is sizzle cymbal. This cymbal is made with a thin chain and the sound is the same as one with rivets.
Next, I'll explain swish cymbal. A swish cymbal is a kind of sizzle cymbal. The function is between the china cymbal and the "ride cymbal". The how to set was opposite like "china cymbal" long time ago, but now swish cymbal is used as a "ride cymbal" lately to beat the rhythm. Let's compare "swish cymbal" with "china cymbal". A swish cymbal has more rivets, a deeper bow and a shallower bell than a china cymbal. The reason is when swish cymbal is used as a "beat". The china cymbal's sound is a unique sound like a gong and the setting is opposite from the normal cymbal generally. The swish cymbal is used mainly as a variation of the ride cymbal. The setting is like a normal cymbal. "Swish" means "moving or making something move quickly through the air with a quiet sound" in direct translation, so that's why it's called "swish". This cymbal is used often in jazz. By the way, if we use it as a china cymbal, it doesn't make a sound like china cymbal, the sound will be deep and soft sound woth long sustain. I prepared two images and a video and I used memphisdrumshop's video. Thank you so much!!
This is a swish cymbal which is similar to a china cymbal.
This is a china cymbal. Notice the difference.
Next, I'll introduce the remote hi-hat. What is a remote hi-hat? As we play the drums longer, we increase the number of gradually, and we think we need more space. A normal hi-hat cymbal' s stand takes up space next to the snare. However, a remote hi-hat's wire moves in a sphere, so we can set the hi-hat cymbal everywhere. There are two advantages. First, we can set the hi-hat on the right side, so your hand can move easily to the other drums. Moreover, the extra space on the left side is now available for new drum instruments. Moreover, the left foot is free so we can step on the twin bass pedal. Type is wire and not wire (kind of twin bass pedal.) I prepared two images and a video and I used SweetwaterSound's video. Thank you so much!
This is a remote hi-hat. It's not wire.
This is same thing. It's wire.
Finally, I'll explain the remote bass drum. It's the same as a remote hi-hat, but the function is different. Remote bass drum allows you to various instruments when you need them. Nevertheless we can use everything except the hi-hat cymbal. Type is wire and not wire (kind of twin bass pedal). I prepared an image and a video and I used Alan Kenny's video. Thank you so much!
This is a remote bass pedal.
That's all for this time! Thank you for reading until the end!!
Hi! Welcome back to my blog! I wrote about optional instruments on drums last time. I'll introduce various optional instruments at the last time continually.
First, I'll talk about the China splash
cymbal. The China splash cymbal is merges the China cymbal and the splash cymbal.
The size is from 6 to 10 inches generally. This cymbal is put on a stand.
However the splash cymbal and the China cymbal can combine as a combined cymbal.
This cymbal's sound quality is lighter than the China cymbal, but this
cymbal is more powerful than the splash cymbal. This cymbal's sound has longer duration than the China cymbal, so it uses to accent sound instead of
splash cymbal. I used Guitar Center's video. Thank you!
This is China splash cymbal.
Second, I'll explain the bell cymbal. The form is kind of like a bowl. The setting is the same as with a normal cymbal. Sound quality is
powerful and the afterglow is long. It is similar in duration to the China cymbal. However, it's hardly used to beat the rhythm. I prepared an image and
clip. I used CHANG CYMBAL 's video. Thank you!
This is a bell cymbal.
Actually, Cymbals are
separated accorting to a standard. The standard is having a unique sound or not. The hi-hat
cymbal, ride cymbal, crash cymbal are called suspended cymbals. The China cymbal and splash cymbal have a unique sound, so they are called effect cymbals.
Finally, I'll introduce the double bass drum. This is a playing style, not an instrument. Two bass drums are used instead of one. It is often used in "Hard Rock" and "Heavy Metal", especially speedy songs such as "Thrash Metal", "Extreme Metal" and "Death Metal". However, many drummers don't play this style because, we need more space and if we set two bass drums, we can't hit the tom-tom. This style is decreasing because we can use a twin pedal to get the same effect.
Long time no see, everybody! Nice to see you again! Welcome back to my blog!! I'll post for the first time in about 4 months.
This time my topic is about optional instruments on drums. In my first blog, I said "Drums have many various instruments as an option." Do you remember? You may already partly understand their system and functions, but I'll explain optional instruments on drums in more detail.
First, look at this picture. This is splash cymbal which is a type of accent cymbal that expresses a splashing sound. Size is from 6 to 10 inches generally. When you hit it, it sounds lighter than a crash cymbal. When I set my drums, I put it on like this. Can you see it? The splash cymbal is used for ballad songs, but sometimes it is used for speedy songs. (e.g. Rock, Hard Rock) I prepared the splash cymbal 's sound in two clips. Check them out! I used Timmy G's video and Memphis Drum Shop's video. Thank you very much.
This is a splash cymbal.
There is a splash cymbal above the tom-tom.
CHINA CYMBAL: Second, I'll talk about china cymbals. The china cymbal gets its name because it sounds like a china gong. This cymbal's size is so wide. Do you know how to set a china cymbal? This cymbal's setting is unique, because when we want to set it, it should be reversed. This cymbal can be used for a groove, but it can be used as a beat, too. The sound quality is cloudy. Check this out. I prepared a video with Chad Smith, from Memphis Drum Shop's videos. Thank you so much!
This is a china cymbal.
There is a china cymbal by the ride cymbal.
Crash ride cymbal: Finally, I'll explain the crash ride cymbal. The crash ride cymbal combines a crash cymbal and ride cymbal. Size is from 16 to 22 inches generally. When you set it, put it on a stand. When you hit it, it's between a crash cymbal's sound and a ride cymbal's sound. you can beat the rhythm and get a crash cymbal's sound. In jazz, this cymbal is used instead of the crash cymbal. I prepared a clip about it. Useing Sound Attacks video. Thank you!
This is a crash ride cymbal.
That's all for today! Thank you for checking my blog!! See you next post!!
Hi! Today's theme is how to hold drums stick and hit stroke. I'll explain, how to hold the drum sticks and how to hit the drum head.
First, I'd like to talk about how to hold the drum sticks. We call it grip. These are two ways to grip, first way is matched grip. First, hold the stick with thumb and index finger at about the pick one third point while the other fingers lightly wrapping around the stick. Matched grip is further subdivided into two kinds, The French grip (Timpani grip) and the German grip. With the French grip, the thumb is angled up. With the German grip, the top of the hand is angled up.
This is matched grip.
This is French grip (timpani grip).
This is German grip
Next, I'll introduce the regular grip (traditional grip). How to have is difficult a little. First, thumb and index finger's base of finger tuck tenaciously next, put on medical finger's between first arthro and second arthro finally, index finger and middle finger append lightly. This video uses from Sacha K's video.
Next, I want to talk about the "stroke". Stroke is how you beat (hit) the drum. There are various types of strokes, including full stroke, tap, down stroke and up stroke for a total of 4 types. This rendition uses with rebound and hit. It is used hit and what not in mosso tempo mainly. Tap is bridging dynamic between accent. The down stroke is the basic style for drums in a marching band. But when you pull the stick down, you don't hold the stick too firmly, because the first down stroke shoad hit strongly and then hit weakly on the rebound. If we hold the stick too strongly, we can't hit the next sound. The up stroke is often used in concert bands. We can express the percussion with a rendition in light touch, but it's not well suited for mosso tempo.
This picture is about stroke.
I have to announce that I'll take a break making this blog. I'll post my next blog in April or May.
Hi, everyone. I made comic about related my blogs.
If you have free time, please take a look. I'm terribly sorry, I couldn't write interesting comic. But, I hope if you like it.
I introduced famous and popular drummers from my 3rd post to my 5th post in my blog. I'll talk about a little different topic this time. This time's topic is 'Electronic drums'.
Did you notice? I introduced it a little in the last post. If you want to see this post, please check it out!! Introduction-of-famous-drummers-part 3
Electronic drum is made sound with electronic processing when you play. You can connect to an amplifier, speaker or headphones. There are different from 'acoustic drums or real drums'. There are various kinds of electronic drums.. For example, synthesizer drums or not synthesizer drums.
This is electronic drums.
These are real drums.
When we play electronic drums, we can set the drum sound and also we can make interesting sounds. For example, we can make the sound of a gun, a human laugh or a footstep sound.
Electronic drums were introduced at the end of the 1970's in the world. The first in the world were SYN-DRUMS Pollard by the company (USA). They were used for techno-pop mainly.
This is SYN-DRUMS.
In 1978, Toyo musical instrument company (in Japan) released ULT-SOUND. This musical instrument is similar to SYN-DRUMS. This machine was called synthesizer drums in those days.
This is ULT-SOUND.
At the beginning of the 1980's, Simmons company (the UK) developed an epoch‐making thing. This musical instrument's epoch‐making thing is its shape. The shape is hexagon. Thanks to this shape, it was known widely and boomed in this period. The shape was same as the present form from this era. In those days, it was about 100 million yen for the first model.
Simmons's electronic drums. It's very novel, isn't it?
In middle of the 1980's, various makers developed and announced electronic drums with various approaches inside of Japan, but Electronic drums were inaccessible for amateur drummers, so each company retired by the end of the 1980's. Roland and YAMAHA developed a high quality sound module and kept the sense of playing real drums. This era's electronic drums got good evaluations from amateur drummers, and its use by drummers increased from this era.
This is V-Drum.
In 1997, Roland released a news electronic drum material. We call it the V-Drum. It is made from mesh head. What is mesh head? Mesh head is lapped material of two pieces of mesh texture materials.
I don't recommend electronic drums, because if you don't practice playing real drums, you can't learn drum's expression. If you want to play real drums, please practice both real drums and electronic drums. Electronic drums can cheat for poor playing drummers. If you want to play the drums well, you ha better not use electronic drums. However, they have some advantages, such as the ability to we can set interesting sounds and so on.
Hi, again! Last time, I introduced Tico Trres. I'll introduce a famous and respected drummer this time, too. This person is... Akira Jimbo. Akira Jimbo is a famous Japanese drummer. He is from Tokyo. In 1980, he joined Cassiopeia a fusion band, while he was in college. In those days, he was 20 years old. He was in this band from 1980 to 1989, but he rejoined Cassiopeia as a supporting member from 1997.
His presence attracts listeners, amateur drummers and professional drummers, both Japanese and foreign. Whatever sound appears on a score, he can play each sound. His technique is like Senzyukannon (Thousand-armed Kannon). Actually, he is called Jyutte kannon (Ten-armed Kanon). Because he plays like it's not only him playing. Jimbo has used YAMAHA drums since his debut. He took part in development of electric drums as a demonstrator. He has used MIDI (Drums Trigger System) since the early 1990's. Akira can play the drums while playing melody part and bass part on MIDI solo performance at same time. The solo performance is called one-man orchestra. In 2000's, His playing style was known only by his fans. He has taught at Kunitachi College of Music as a visiting professor with a jazz specialization since 2011, and he has appeared on band contests on TV shows as a judge from 2012. His appeal is using normal drums with electron drums (MIDI). I explained MIDI (Drums Trigger System). More talk about MIDI. MIDI (Drums Trigger System) is made by YAMAHA originally in beginning of 1990's. The system is First, pasted cartrige and electronic drum pads connect each part of drums. When you beat each part of the drum, you can hear the set sound. But a one-man orchestra is so difficult, because we can set the order of intervals, so the machine doesn't beat the sound automatically. The other reason, we have to acquire perfectly about where I beat part, how many times and where I beat it, how I beat right order. We need to set short tones and long tones. So he is so awesome!!
This is MIDI (electron drums, Drums Trigger System)
I found Akira's drum set and gear. This is the URL. Please take a look. In 1999, he was chosen by Reader Poll Most Popular Drummer of the UK drum magazine "RHYTHM MAGAZINE". In 2000, He was chosen as the most accomplished drummer by American magazine, and he was featured on the main story in "MODERN DRUMMER MAGAZINE". The feature was more than 10 pages. He talked about what the drums mean to him and why he chose YAMAHA's drums. He said, " My Drum set is my irreplaceable space, and I have used YAMAHA's drums for a long time, I feel deeply 'my body extends is to my drums' ". When I sit and beat just one sound, I have passion in my mind. YAMAHA's drums always say 'Have fun more freely' to me.
Last, I'll show you two videos. The top left side video is a famous song of Cassiopeia the song title is 'Asayake'. The bottom right video is Akira's one-man performance video. The song is 007's theme song from Mission Impossible. He is so cool and marvelous!!
