36 replies to this topic

[AWOL 01]

I've been playing drums since last June and I feel like I'm hitting a dead spot. I play at my church every Sunday and Wednesday and we practice on Thursdays. I taught myself by listening to music and watching YouTube videos because I don't really have the time or money for lessons, but I did buy my own set so I can practice whenever I do have some extra time. If there are any drummers on these forums I'd be happy to get some advice on where I should go next. Thanks!

[AWOL 01]

Thank you very much!

That's pretty cool that you play at your church also. Some of this I have learned over the past few months but it's nice to hear from another drummer. Which cymbal do you use most often? I don't really use my ride cymbal much just because it's so sharp so I usually end up using my hi-hats or wash riding on one of my crashes and I use the other crash for more emphasis. Do you use your toms very often? I started out not using them much and used a double bass pedal for filling in empty spaces but I've started using a lot more fills and just playing by ear. At my church we use an electronic drum set. It's a high-end one so it's not terrible but I'm trying to convince them to just build a cage and have an acoustic set. What kind of music do you play at your church? Also, what kind of music do you listen to?

[AWOL 01]

I use toms the same way, or I'll use them for more dramatic songs like Healer by Kari Jobe or 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman. And it's funny that you use an electronic set and have issues with sound too. I started out in the A/V department and always tried to make the electronic set actually sound good but it's pretty difficult. We use an Alesis DM8 and I just added one of our old cymbals for more variety. The problem is the sensitivity with the ride. If I hit it lightly it has the right sound but if I hit it more than twice in a row it's obnoxiously loud. At our church the A/V and worship team have separate leaders (my mom is the A/V team leader), so that helps with the worship leader not overextending their responsibilities. Plus we have a Presonus StudioLive 16.4.2 for a soundboard so we have multiple settings and just load one that hasn't been messed with if there is a problem

It's funny that you should say that cause I'm actually going to a Chris Tomlin concert this Saturday. I agree about his songs, although I do like God's Great Dance Floor just because it has a lot of variety in it. That really sucks about your leg I'm glad you're okay! The only problem with using the double bass pedal is that I have to take my foot off the high hat pedal and I don't like playing them open so I've learned to have quick feet.

I'm exactly the same way about music. It was weird going through high school not listening to very much secular music. I listen to older music as well, and I really like Led Zeppelin. I've only heard a few Petra songs but I do like them! I like to listen to Skillet, Disciple, and Pillar for harder rock, Hillsong, Bethel, Jesus Culture, and Brian & Katie Torwalt are all great worship bands. The Newsboys, Phil Wickham, Ryan Stevenson, for King & Country, are all great. I really like Third Day and Switchfoot but Family Force 5 and David Crowder* Band are probably my favorite bands. And if you're looking for something different try Planetshakers. We play their song Endless Praise every once in a while.

[AWOL 01]

Yeah, if you could share that info with me that'd be greeeeat. Seriously though, we have 2 electrical engineers on the worship team and both of them are experts on sound equipment and we still can't get the drums to sound that great.

Do you have a Christian radio station where you live? We have K-Love but that's about it. My brother lives in Arizona and they have Air1 out there which is more rockin'. I've actually joked about stuff like that with my worship leader and my youth group leader (one of the background singers) actually bought these afros for all the background singers to wear at our worship leader's concert next Friday cause she just released an album.

Haha Tim Hawkins is the best. The first video I saw of him was his Fire Ants song, and that's been a family joke to this day.

[AWOL 01]

Haha that's terrible. We have a station like that up north that my dad listens to for some reason. It's kinda sad cause some of those old hymns have great lyrics but no one updates how they're played so they get ignored. I'd like to see a band that does that.

[Heffay]

Hey, what do you call the guy who hangs out with the band?

Spoiler

The drummer!

[AWOL 01]

That's awesome! It takes a lot of talent. I started out taking piano lessons when I was younger so I know how music works but I'd really like to start learning to play the bass. I've heard it's pretty similar to the drums because it helps with the rhythm. I tried learning the acoustic guitar but I had a crappy one so it would never stay tuned.

[AWOL 01]

When did you start playing piano? Did your parents get you started playing instruments or did you have a desire to play? I know a lot of people start out playing because of their parents but I'm the only person in my family who can play an instrument so it wasn't really like that for me.

[AWOL 01]

Alright well congratulations! That's very impressive. Hopefully you'll find a girl that can appreciate your talent

[AWOL 01]

Okay that was fun. Back to the topic.

Marack,
We may be recording the concert next Friday so I may be able to send you a video if you'd like to see how we play.

[Alienized]

[AWOL 01]

Marack,
It's nothing big it's just at our church but we're gonna try to have fun with it. Is there a reason you've never been to a concert? I've been to a bunch with my youth group, and by far the best was Skillet and Disciple. I don't listen to Skillet very much because their songs sound so similar but their concerts are very original and they know how to get the audience going.





Disciple is pretty talented and have a lot of energy on stage.




(The best part is at 2:14. They do that every show.)

Alienized,
That beat is awesome, it definitely made me smile. I'm gonna have to practice that. Are you a drummer?

[Alienized]

AWOL 01, on 13 March 2015 - 10:18 AM, said:

Alienized,
That beat is awesome, it definitely made me smile. I'm gonna have to practice that. Are you a drummer?

nope and i can never be one since my right knee is fked up for good
but alot of metal drummers are pretty awesome and they got alot of lessons up on youtube.
just like george kollias or gene hoglan.

[AWOL 01]

That's too bad. It sucks that metal music gets such a bad rep when in reality they're actually very talented musicians. Personally I could do without the vocalists most of the time but whatever. I'll definitely have to check those 2 out! Thanks for the input!

[AWOL 01]

Yeah that makes sense. I know a few other people like that. It really doesn't make sense to go to a concert then cause that's the best part about going. If you simply want to appreciate the music then an album is better, but if you want to interact with the band and the crowd then you go to a concert.

Are orchestral concerts common? I'll have to check that out because I really do enjoy classical music and seeing how much music has changed. It's cool to see all the different instruments working together as well, rather than just having 2 guitars, drums, and a keyboard.

I've never heard of Highlander but I'll check them out. And it really shows you how what's considered extreme today becomes the norm pretty quickly. It'll be interesting to see what bands will be as well-known or popular as KISS and Metallica are after a few decades, if any.

[AWOL 01]

Marack Drock, on 15 March 2015 - 07:48 PM, said:

I think that Miley, Nicki, and Justin took over the industry for crazies in Music.

If that's the direction music is headed then I'm worried. It's bad enough as it is.

I kinda figured they'd be a little pricey but it's probably worth it. It was $25 to go to that Chris Tomlin concert. I wear a suit to church every Sunday so that's not a big deal. I actually like getting dressed up. I'm assuming you can tie a bowtie since you wear a tux?

I think the problem with some Christian singers is that they grow up on the worship team and are never actually taught how to sing. Don't even get me started on Justin Bieber... or rap music.

By the way, I thought you'd like this

[Alienized]

AWOL 01, on 13 March 2015 - 10:24 AM, said:

That's too bad. It sucks that metal music gets such a bad rep when in reality they're actually very talented musicians. Personally I could do without the vocalists most of the time but whatever. I'll definitely have to check those 2 out! Thanks for the input!

you might laugh now but in my eyes the metal scene has some of the best singers that ever recorded a sound.
i can fully understand that people dont like screaming or growling but then alot of listeners dont understand the reason of it.
its part of transferring the lyrics and emotions into the songs. sure you can have aggressive lyrics in rap but does it SOUND agressive? no. it doesnt.

i give you an example of a band you might know from need for speed 2 underground.



also, the whole music and rythms are very complex. this complete album is a masterpiece of progressive metal.

[Alienized]

Marack Drock, on 16 March 2015 - 09:38 AM, said:

It also depends on what people find menacing and aggressive. I don't find that stuff aggressive. I find it to be like Christian Bale Batman.... like they have Throat cancer or something. Really this sort of screaming and such makes me laugh a little because to me they sound like they just got killed by a troll on GTA V or something. This is to me though. Find stuff like this

conveys so much more emotion and energy. Rather than screaming your feelings its more a lamentation, they don't even need lyrics to describe what is happening and what it is about. Its obvious, its lyrical and sometimes breathe taking.

because the song itself is not agressive
some words/parts are and these are shown by screaming. it would not fit to sing them cleanly.
if you read the lyrics etc you would not find it laughable because many many people on this earth felt what the song is about.
to express that is the hardest part of a singer and why i personally laugh at pop-singers. i am not doubting their singing abilty but the expressions of the lyrics.

this instrumental sounds pretty standard to me for such games. heard such stuff far too often but im some years older so its ok theres no emotion in it, just drama and energy and cant even come close to THIS:

[AWOL 01]

Marack Drock, on 16 March 2015 - 09:24 AM, said:

I do occasionally tie my own but I bought a lot of pre-tied ties so I can get them done faster. Actually its been probably since my sister's wedding since I last tied my own.

Weeeeeeeeak haha

Alienized, on 16 March 2015 - 09:29 AM, said:

you might laugh now but in my eyes the metal scene has some of the best singers that ever recorded a sound.
i can fully understand that people dont like screaming or growling but then alot of listeners dont understand the reason of it.
its part of transferring the lyrics and emotions into the songs. sure you can have aggressive lyrics in rap but does it SOUND agressive? no. it doesnt.

i give you an example of a band you might know from need for speed 2 underground.



also, the whole music and rythms are very complex. this complete album is a masterpiece of progressive metal.

That screaming is okay with me usually. I'm still learning to play this song but it's one of my favorites.



This one has that aggression. I listened to it before football games and wrestling matches.



I also like the music Marack pointed out.



This one brings back a lot of memories, along with the Lord of the Rings soundtrack.

[AWOL 01]

This might be unpopular, but this song is pretty epic, for me at least. He's one of the few electronic artists that I really like.