How loud?

[skaman]

Hi guys!

This may seem a stupid question, but it's bothering me so I will ask it anyway.
I wonder how loud should be hihat vs. snare vs. kick in the groove. I think those instruments should not be played in similar loundness but I dont know what is proper, or better, recomended balance.

You can write down in scale from 1-10 if you want. And for different music styles. You can also add crashes, ride, toms...

Example: HH 4, Snare 7, Kick 6.....

[Styx]

Howzit Skaman.

Follow this link for a good explanation by Steve Houghton.
Copy and paste into your URL address bar or simply click the link.

http://www.vicfirth.com/education/drumset/houghton.html

Click on the "Balance on the drumset" video.

Hope this helps

Regards

Styx

[DestinationDrumming]

Thanks Styx,

Fantastic video and some material I hadn't discovered on the Vic Firth website. I had, and still have a problem with volume levels around the kit and still practice to try to get a good sound. Really interesting that the levels of different components changes with the style. I hadn't even thought about that. Being a novice I've been concentrating on basic rock beats (which I think is fine for a beginner).

For a lot of my life I've done manual work and have well developed muscles in my right/dominent arm, hence I have to work hard so the hihat isn't too loud.

cheers

[figure_02]

Snare should be the loudets where the big hits are, at least in certain styles.

[ledzepjb]

i dont really pay attention to the level of loudness i play at i just play what ever souds good.

[TomasHakkesBrain]

different genres use different internal dynamics. rock is loud on the snare and bass drum, funk hat and snare, jazz hat and ride, but the loudness depends on many things such as the venue, the particular part in the song etc. Modern r'nb drumming has a particularly loud snare on 3 ompared to older funk when the emphasised the 'one'.

[cantstandyourfunk]

Hmmm...great topic. I am just loud, anyway...

[Almuric]

"Dynamics?!!!... Hell, I'm playin' as loud as I can!" My favorite saying when my bandmates give me a hard time. Jokingly, of course.

I think it is a matter of feel, really. Do what feels good to mix in the song to keep it's emotion.

j

[bdub]

Great question! Get Russ Miller's book The Drumset Crashcourse. It shows all the levels each drum should be played at for all of the main styles of music.

[Jarrcad]

just look at the bass players face, that should tell you. it does in my band ?

[da cheese walks]

it flows....i mean i sit an play beats...an ill be hitting heavy hats,light snare,barely tipping teh bass drum...then the groove flows along,and my bass becomes thunder,hast are barely even hit....yknow?

its all abotu dynamics and feel....