Challenge

[remnantdrummer]

I have a challenge from the director of my school's Jazz Band, he wants me to play all next week without hitting the snare drum... could you do this? what would you do with no snare? (no substituting a tom for a snare either)

[Karaboo]

I'm not a huge jazz drummer but I do know that if you keep your hi hat going on beats 2 and 4 you don't really need any constant snare work. You can use your snare hand to hit various tom accents. However try to make the tom accents flow with the music. They don't need to be constant, use them to help accompany the melody or soloist.

[MNdrummer21]

may I ask why he's doing this?

[Diaz]

you're probably hitting the snare rediculously loud, on jazz last year our director made the principal drummer do that as well. Don't get too notey with your snare keep it light and ghost note-ish.

But if your director tells you to do that, then do it man just swing away.

[Class A Drummer]

possibly you could his the hi hat slightly open and crash it evry so often then slowly, or quickly close it during the decay sound period. Idk.

[Class A Drummer]

I got it.

You could Beat box reaaaaaaalllllly Loud.

[Spreggy]

Well it sounds like he's telling you you're all over that snair! Maybe he's also telling you that he'd like better dynamic control of the cymbals. So maybe comp with your bass when you have to, and just play time.

Diaz is probably right on, you could take the week to study up on your ghost notes, keep that tip real close to the snair when comping, like an inch an a half for all your taps.

[remnantdrummer]

he wants us to play faster and lighter... so, he made the challenge to the drummers... I don't hit the snare all that hard...

[dea]

*** Keep your left hand at 2inches ***. This will keep it tight and light.

In jazz, it is not necessary to play 2 and 4 all the time. In fact, in the more free/avant jazz this is not the norm. What is more common is to continuous comp the snare ( scatter those babies lightly all over the place ). Its the ride and hi-hat that driver the tune forward. You have to have that ride really beating out the tune ( lightly, but seriously on target ).

Good luck.

[millersc]

I would suggest comping with the bass drum and hi hat. Make sure though to keep the ride cymbal pattern the same and accenting the quarter notes. That way you will keep the forward motion going. Just be careful not to accent the skip notes, that will kill the groove.