The fastest singles in the world - best technique in the world?

[Drumbasta]

Mike Mangini can play the fastest singles in the world.

Yet, if you watch this guy playing around the set, as in the latest video of MDF 2006 http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/mdmikemangini.html, it is surprising to see that his technique appears to be rather ordinary, even a bit stiff and tensed.
Fastest singles in the world - best drum technique?

[ermghoti]

That would be the best technique for playing the fastest singles.

[Drumms]

I've seen the video where he played the fastest singles, and it's not at all what he does in the excerpt you show.

In that video his sticks weren't moving more than 1 cm away from the pad and, albeit very fast, they made almost no sound.

Those fastest singles are totally useless in a real drumming situation.

200

[tamadrummer132]

that video wasnt even good lol. It had no groove and half the time his timing was off.

[centralzeke]

Yeah, I never really liked Mangini's sound or feel. He won world's fastest drummer, that's all. I'd say don't try to copy his "technique" because he definately is way too tense (he said his technique for the extremely fast playing is actually a muscle twitch that starts in the triceps? no thanks).

[Jeff Almeyda]

Mike is an unusual drummer. The fact is, he can play pretty much any way. He can do it traditional, matched, bare hands, fingers or "twitch". The absolute fastest is the twitch but he can still do it the "regular" way as well. He is not tense when you see him up close, his hands have no callouses and he has no arm or shoulder pain.

The amazing thing about this video is that he is switching back and forth between lefty and right kits as the tracks change.

As far as the video, it didn't get me dancing but it wasn't that he played out of time. Listen to the clave foot part. It is the ostinato. He then plays polyrhythmically over that. It's weird but he's not screwing up. The polys at the end are tense sounding and I wouldn't have played them but they are legit.

I study with Mike now and he has opened my playing up VERY quickly. He's definitely not everyone's cup of tea but he is a freak, man. I saw him play groups of 19 (!), as double strokes with the feet, at a speed of 50 BPM . He then began to accent every down beat with a cymbal crash and every third kick note with a snare hit. The poly that came out was 19 over 3 over 2 but it felt as if he was playing fast triplets. All while talking to me in his studio at Berklee. Too much.

[Drumbasta]

The point that I wanted to make is: the ability to physically execute certain strokes is only a part of drumming technique. The other and in my opinion far more important one is the touch and feel. You can have the fastest strokes in the world but without the right touch and feel your playing will sound dead and will lack of expression.

[Jeff Almeyda]

The point that I wanted to make is: the ability to physically execute certain strokes is only a part of drumming technique. The other and in my opinion far more important one is the touch and feel. You can have the fastest strokes in the world but without the right touch and feel your playing will sound dead and will lack of expression.

100% correct.

Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31c-FL0ZlZ0

Mike doing a solo at a Steve Vai show. This one is for all those who think his fast hands thing only works on a pad.

Just look at the guy when he plays, does he lack expression?

[Tutin]

100% correct.

Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31c-FL0ZlZ0

Mike doing a solo at a Steve Vai show. This one is for all those who think his fast hands thing only works on a pad.

Just look at the guy when he plays, does he lack expression?

It's so true, I love this video and it is truly amazing.

[jonescrusher]

I study with Mike now and he has opened my playing up VERY quickly. He's definitely not everyone's cup of tea but he is a freak, man. I saw him play groups of 19 (!), as double strokes with the feet, at a speed of 50 BPM . He then began to accent every down beat with a cymbal crash and every third kick note with a snare hit. The poly that came out was 19 over 3 over 2 but it felt as if he was playing fast triplets. All while talking to me in his studio at Berklee. Too much.



LOl, doesn't it just cheese you off when your teacher starts showing off?

[chazgrohl]

the solo on the drummerworld vids is good, i think its quite like dale crover from the melvins, his kinda awkward almost style of playing

[Drumbasta]

100% correct.

Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31c-FL0ZlZ0

Mike doing a solo at a Steve Vai show. This one is for all those who think his fast hands thing only works on a pad.

Just look at the guy when he plays, does he lack expression?

Sorry Jeff, but it's probably just not my style of drumming.

It's true that he himself doesn't lack expression but if you actually just listen to the solo without watching him I think it's solely a sequence of polyrhythmic exercises and technical show off pieces. For me theres no feel, no groove, no expression to his solo. It's mathematics and sport.

All the best!

[Shinx]

I haven't watched the video yet (I think I've watched it before anyway), but even with a lack of groove, it is too amazing technically to pass off as unimpressive and it's definitely cool

[Wile E. Coyote]

That would be the best technique for playing the fastest singles.

Right on the spot.

Or even: the best technique for playing the fastest singles for a particular pair of hands.

[amba]

Actually, there is a groove and his timing is spot on...

that video wasnt even good lol. It had no groove and half the time his timing was off.

[PeartWeckler]

I haven't watched the video yet (I think I've watched it before anyway), but even with a lack of groove, it is too amazing technically to pass off as unimpressive and it's definitely cool

Yes, I agree! Very amazing stuff!! He's definitely put the time in to develop his chops, this guy.

Wow!!

[radiofriendlyunitshifter]

100% correct.

Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31c-FL0ZlZ0

Mike doing a solo at a Steve Vai show. This one is for all those who think his fast hands thing only works on a pad.

Just look at the guy when he plays, does he lack expression?

wow, that was amazing.

i didn't realize how goofy this guy was.

he looks like a character.

[TopCat]

My post got deleted?

C'mon mods...it was hardly offensive, but on topic all the same...

[ghuyuiq]

half the time his timing was off.

It was in time, and I don't even think you will ever be able to play that kind of stuff in time.