DRUMMING UN PLUGGED

[don strandberg]

Gentleman of the forum. I have been playing for many years. I recently joined an all acoustic band. My back ground is in rock, r&b, and electric blues.

The band I joined is concentrating on what I suppose you can call root music. Traditional country, bluegrass, rockabilly. I am really in to playing this style. I never had to play at such a low volume. And I find it demanding. Mostly brushes both wire and plastic. Plus when I get really loud rutes.

I am interested in hearing from fellow drummers who have played this style of music. For any info they can offer. There doesnt seem to be much information on this style of drumming.

Looking forward to you comments... Thanks in advance.

Don///

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I haven't played the style or technique, but have recently been watching many Crossover music programs on my HD channel and I see a lot or Rutes and similar style sticks being used. They can be played at a decent volume without overpowering an acoustic set like sticks would. I use my Steve Smith brand when I feel like being a bit quieter.

[caddywumpus]

I don't use rutes or hot rods or brushes unless I want that kind of articulation.

If you need to play quietly, then learn how to play quietly. I've played an entire bluegrass gig without lifting my sticks more than an inch off of the snare while feathering the bass drum. Oh, and don't play near the edge of the snare in an attempt to play quietly, either. That's a pet peeve of mine--it doesn't carry well and it sounds horrible, unless you're looking for that "ripping paper" sound.

[jonescrusher]

I don't use rutes or hot rods or brushes unless I want that kind of articulation.

If you need to play quietly, then learn how to play quietly. I've played an entire bluegrass gig without lifting my sticks more than an inch off of the snare while feathering the bass drum. Oh, and don't play near the edge of the snare in an attempt to play quietly, either. That's a pet peeve of mine--it doesn't carry well and it sounds horrible, unless you're looking for that "ripping paper" sound.

Ripping paper?! Playing the edges of the snare is a perfectly valid sound option. How well you pull it off define's how good or bad it sounds.

[jay norem]

I played with an acoustic blues trio for awhile. Hollow-bodied slide-quitar, bass and me. I used a very abreviated kit. Just the bass, snare, hats and one cymbal. And I mostly played with Regal Tip Flares and brushes. It was very low volume and I really enjoyed it.
I don't think I ever actually used sticks at all.
We did old "delta-blues" music, "folk-blues," that sort of thing. I really had to lay back, and since I'm from a jazz background that wasn't a problem for me.
I played almost everything on the snare, hardly ever played on the hats, except with my foot of course, and feathered the bass drum. I'd use the cymbal for soft crashes and to ride on some of the time.
It was all about keeping the beat very basic, keeping the hands going on the snare, usually just feathering the kick on the beat and playing the hats on 2 and 4. Real simple stuff, but very fun to do. A different way of swinging. And it was a lot less stuff to haul around.

[jay norem]

Something else occurs to me, since you say you have a background in electric blues. You know the old two-beat pattern, like, say "Mojo Workin," that beat? What you do is play that with both hands on the snare using brushes or Flares. Works like a charm for all kinds of up-tempo tunes like that.