'Bouncing' the sticks

[Zoofie]

Hey guys , im wondering if this a correct technique to use. When going round the toms fast , alot of the time it doesn't sound too good using all wrist , so im wondering if many drummers (metal mainly) bounce the sticks while going round the toms to get speed?
Cheers!

[Ian Ballard]

The problem here, is that most tom-toms--especially in rock--are tuned very low and inherently have less 'bounce' to them. The stored tension in a head, acts as a rebound enhancer in tight snare drums or tom-toms, but when you de-tune a drum to have that more modern "berrrm" sound (as apposed to a "boing"), you lose the bounce or rebound.

So, in order to achieve good 'tom rolling' technique, you have to produce an effective "up" stroke, which requires wrist control. You also have to associate fingers to aid the stick as well.

To a degree, there is some rebound in all drums, but in order to get Dave Lombardo-type tom stuff, you have to develop those wrists and co-ordinate your arms too, in order to move around.

In short, relying on "bounce" alone may not help you at all, in this case.

[larryace]

How can you hit a drum with a stick, and not have it bounce? I mean you could but why? Your toms would sound like ass, and you'd be wasting all that potential energy. Work smarter not harder, I'd say don't waste an ounce of bounce.

[Ian Ballard]

How can you hit a drum with a stick, and not have it bounce?

When it's tuned very low. But even then, there is a small amount of rebound.

I mean you could but why?

If there is no choice in the matter. It's really the degree of bounce that we are concerned with, and how much of it we have to account for, when there is less stored potential energy in a given drum.

Your toms would sound like ass

I dunno. Most drummers today, have realized (as have drum makers) that a drum resonates better at lower tunings and heads generally perform better as a resonating unit.... or, in other words, a drums' natural tuning range tends to be in that "lower range". Lots of drummers today would think that drums cranked up to "big band era" tunings would "sound like ass" and doesn't generally mesh with "rock" playing, which the poster is evidently aiming for.

and you'd be wasting all that potential energy

The potential energy is highest in drums that are cranked up. So you aren't really wasting anything, if you allow the stick to rebound to the extent it is capable. However, getting around a drumset isn't all about "waiting for the stick to bounce back".

Work smarter not harder, I'd say don't waste an ounce of bounce.

You should write for fortune cookies! ;)

[m1ck]

You have to learn to control and assist the bounce. You do use it, but you can't rely on it. The rebound from each drum is different and it actually varies on any one drum according to when your stick makes contact in relation to where the head is in it's vibrational motion. You have to develop your wrists and fingers to perceive the rebound in an instant and control it or compensate for the lack of it in an instant. Basically this means developing a sense of "feel."

It's really very simple, yet hard to explain in few words.