Blast beats

[Tyrnox]

Hey guys,

Earlier in the week I said that playing blastbeat's we're a great way to "train" your left hand if you will, someone asked me what a Blastbeat was, so I wanted to make a little video, unfortunatly I didn't have my camera at the time, so I made one now, better late then never right ?

Anyway's enjoy, this is really a great way to build up your left hand, and coordination with your basedrum's.

http://s39.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1EY11F369NFTF2HN2UNBIW21D7


p.s The video has a limited number of download's, hope it's a decent amount :(.

[Dyaxe]

holy smokers! awsome video man! im sure a bunch of people will find this helpfull. however, its a bit hard to see when and how the sticks are hitting the snare and ride because of the speed. But other then that..thanks for posting this man!

[Tyrnox]

Thanks Dyaxe,

Hehe I thought about the speed problem before recording it...I played a little slower then usual so the camera would capt it better, and I was playing the ride in quarter notes ( I think that's the term in english ) instead of 16th's, normaly every hit on the basedrum would be accompanied with the ride. That should give you a general idea of the blastbeat.

[cvighals]

Are you playing the snare on 1 and 3 or 2 and 4? If you understand what I mean!?

Great playing btw!!

[LDGuy]

Hey. Cool vid.

Christ! How the hell d'you move your left hand so fast? Lol.

How long has it taken you to get to that level?

[Tyrnox]

Hmm I can't really say, when I joined the death Metal band i'm in about...well about a year ago now, I knew that I needed to practice alot on my double bass and single stroke's...so that's pretty much what I did for the past year i've been taking about 1 hour of my 3 hours or so of practice per day, and using that hour only for practicing Double bass, chop's, endurance and blastbeat's, to my metronome, so that's pretty much the result...I can still go faster but my camera doesn't capture it, my hand just blurs out and you can't see anything, so there wasn't much point to the video.

To answer your question CV, think of it like a very very fast version of a basic punk beat, the snare hit's in between your basedrum/ride ( or hat ) stroke's.

[Tyrnox]

Hey!! i luv doing the blast beat!!! i am in a death metal/thrash band and it is cool as f**k!!!! it goes reli well with fat guitar and every 1 was like "wow" when i was doing it at our first gig!!! ive been playing 5 years and in the last year i hav got into double bass and speed drumming......i notice u also can put the double bass in with it!!!! Keep it up blast brother!!!! hehe

Blastbeat's are nifty at the appropriate spot but you really can't abuse of them because they get repetitive fast, often in Death metal you can listen to alot of group's which seem to misplace blastbeat's just for the sake of "being heavier"... I don't blast too much with my group because I really tend to follow the guitar's/bass alot for a better feel. I usualy play blast's just to get my left hand stronger, and it works wonders.

You are right about one thing though, blastbeat's aren't always the same, infact there are tons of different ways they can be played...

That's all for metal though...I really don't listen to as much as I used to before, i'm alot more into Tool, Dream Theater and Symphony X lately, and I would kill to find some musician's around here that would be game to start something around the likes of that music...

[Henry II]

That looked like a Stick Control exercise. I can't imagine what kind of music that would go with.

[BarryBuchanan]

RE............Blastbeat's are nifty at the appropriate spot but you really can't abuse of them because they get repetitive fast, often in Death metal you can listen to alot of group's which seem to misplace......................


I dont use them often i use the once in one song and twice on another song.........i try not to do them to often cos they r reli energy draining if you keep it going too long.... i got into the blast beat after i had got into slayer...i started playing 1&2&3&4& at lomardo's speed on the ride then tryed it with my left on the snare...i took me a bit but i got it in the end......but then i bought Slipknots "Disaster peices".....i noticed on the song "Eore" (or however u spell it) that Joey did the blast beat but did Double bass with it..i copyed it and my blast beat was done....but after you saying there are lots of direrent ways to play it i am gona try to find out more about the blastbeat!! thnx

[Stu_Strib]

I couldn't get much out of that other than quarter notes on the ride.

Could you do another video where you just break each limb down super slow. Even if you don't know the right musical term, I need to see where the hands fall in relationship to the feet. I can't hear the double very cleanly because of the recording quality.

Man, I'd love to be able to play like that.

Stu

[Henry II]

I couldn't get much out of that other than quarter notes on the ride.

Could you do another video where you just break each limb down super slow. Even if you don't know the right musical term, I need to see where the hands fall in relationship to the feet. I can't hear the double very cleanly because of the recording quality.

Man, I'd love to be able to play like that.

Stu

The sound is a bit too distorted to hear it clearly, but for the most part it looks like quarters on the ride, 16th's on snare and 32nds on the bass.

[Tyrnox]

Yea I can make another video, not a problem just give me a little time I just woke up :D

[Tyrnox]

Ok guys I just made this video...this is me trying to eh...explain the blastbeat hehe. I played 2 different versions and slowed them down...alot for you guys to see what i'm actually playing.

Hope this helps, enjoy.

http://rapidshare.de/files/3527801/MVI_0314.AVI.html

[matt949]

what are blast beats i hear people talkiung about them but have no idea what they are is it just like double timing the snare or something?

[fourstringdrums]

Here's a perfect example. Usually the bass, cymbal and snare part are rapid 16th's in sync with each other.

http://www.handidrummed.com/drummers/profiles/scott/media/scott_blast.mp3

[matt949]

ah thank you! very helpful

[3/4over5/4]

i want to get better at blast beats how do you suggest i go about doing this. ie good things to practice

[Casper "DrPowerStroke" Paludan]

i want to get better at blast beats how do you suggest i go about doing this. ie good things to practice
I guess I would just practice blast beats ;-)

[nerdy]

theres variations on the blast beats.

the most common is a 4/4 pattern with a cymbal/bass on 1234 and a snare on the ands.

another popular blast beat is snare, cymbal, and bass on 1234 and on the ands. this one is much harder to play because keeping all three appendeges on the same beat is frustraing..

the best practice advice is to start slow, or even better, become proficient at basic beats like the standard rock beat and cut time beat. when you can do those in your sleep, blast beats are no problem.

[Capitaine Quebec]

look on this page, tiger bill has some exercices for blasts beats
http://drummagazine.com/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index&catid=12&topic=

[3/4over5/4]

thanks captian quebec, i usually am not a big fan of drum magazine but the alot of that seems like it will be really helpful

[y0avz]

Not brightest question i know...what are these blast beats ?

[W6e6s6W]

I am trying to build speed on my blast beats, but the speed isn't improving much. When I do them with the snare and ride being hit at the same time, I can do them pretty fast, but the same speed with alternating hits, but when I do the same time ones, they wear down my pecs like crazy. Any exercises to build speed specifically for blast beats?

I need a little more speed on the blasts for Funeral Thirst (Black Dahlia Murder), but I am no where close to Flo Mounier (Cryptopsy's Drummer)'s speed. I was think of getting his dvd where he goes over the exercises.

[aahznightsky]

i never knew what a blast beat was .... is that just a name for hand-foot single stroke rolls? i have suggestions if it is but i dont really know what a blast beat is!

[Slayer_metal_head]

Okay first off what kind of blast beats are you talking about. Well my favourite blast beat is the grindcore but i ride both the beats (over the snare and the bass) and also the double bass grindcore ( basically really fast snare and hihat with a ripping double bass) after you get your speed up you also need to be able to accent with the cymbal while doing the blast beat.

Okay basically do your average paradiddles and other stuff at gradually increasing speeds. also i have a few wrist exersizes but i dont explain them with words and i dont have a video camera.

bye the "same time ones" do you mean gravity blast beats it helps if you have a double bass pedal and just do slow quads and try to ride the snare and the ride at the same time as fast as you can. but i dont have any exercises to explain online.

Just doa ll the blast beats slow then gradually speed up.

[Tutin]

I play lots of blast beats, the key to going faster with them is touse just your fingers, keep the thumb on top of the stick (not to the side) you may need to use a bit of wrist on the ride. Moeller methods do work though, just take a bit longer to get.

[FloEy]

Ok i can do it in both hands but the problem is the volume. I need to get it a little louder. I heard that this is what metal drummers do to get them going so fast so hopefully someone here knows what to do. Any ideas?

[BlackAttack]

can someone explain what they are to me?

[sovereign_76]

From www.derekroddy.com
follow Derek link, then Derek's FAQ

What is a blast beat and how would you count or write it out?
Ah, the ever-popular blast beat. A blast would break down as alternating straight 8th notes with the ride or hat and the kick drum on the down beats (or ones) and straight 8 th notes with the snare on the up beats (or ands). This makes a 16th note single stroke roll. I like to count blast tempos as 16th notes at higher bpm's. This way you hear more clicks and there's not so much open space between the beats as when you count them as 32nd notes. 16th's at 250 bpm's = 32nd's at 125 bpm's.


bodymore, murderland.....muhahaha

[tambian89]

Nice choice of Quotes. This is exactly how I learned how to count Blast Beats. Start at a slower speed, maybe around 90 bpm, and then gradually get faster. Death Metal drummers usually go above 180 bpm, Thrash metal drummers around 130 or so.

- Marc

[BlackAttack]

wow lol ok, thanks alot:)

[jarrod]

also there is a song by morbid angel called opening the gates that has like a hole song of blast beats! pluz double kick over 1000 strokes a min

[sovereign_76]

also from derek roddy

#2. (I'm going to get in trouble for this one) there's way too much editing going on these days in the studios. Not all we hear on record is what was played. Even some of the records you guys are talking about on this very forum!!!!!!!! I've seen it first hand! You can take somebody that doesn't even play drums and make them sound like a god. You can fix bass drums or entire drum parts that fell apart during the recording, you can play the kick drum in half time and go back and add the other kick notes by hand, and the new big thing is “punching in” to achieve more consistent tempos. Why do most metal musicians write music they can't even make it through in one take or make it through it at all! And how could you be proud of something that you know deep in your heart that didn't really play??????? Anybody that knows me knows that I'm really against punching in and editing drum parts. I had to punch in on Nile's “black seeds” record because I had 2 days to learn and record 7 songs. I wish I could have had the time to learn the music and write some good drum parts. Maybe then I would have been more satisfied with the end result.

I know of one recording (which is mentioned on my forum as being “some of the most extreme drumming ever!!!” The infamous drummer came in played 4 bars of every type of blast and double bass beat known to man, along with various fills. The entire record was assembled by looping the drum parts together with pro tools! Yea, that's brutal. If something doesn't sound humanly possible to play, you have to say to yourself that it probably wasn't. You really get a good idea of how drummers really play by seeing them live. You can't fix anything then.

[drumz4eva]

hmm...

mabye....do u no the finger technique ( im not sure if thats wut its called, but its a technique thats all in the fingers....no wrist no nothing )

i use that one,....and man i can rip with one hand!!

but if not.....then really all there is...is to work on that right hand..

match it up with ur left....
do w/e u want to do.....paraiddles, different techniques....(i can explain the finger technique further if u need so......

but practice is the key.....and start to try to mabye devolope the moeller with ur right hand

good luck!

~mat~

[artraxy- eddie]

I'm having trouble with my blast beats.
It seems as though that my left hand has no problem playing straight eighth notes. (my left hand plays with a moeller technique... and so its easy to do.)
The problem is that my right hand cant keep up while doing straight eighth notes at a fast tempo as well as my left hand can.. (and i dont have the moeller technique in my right hand,) so its a disadvantage to my blast beats.

Don't get me wrong.. I can still play really fast with my right hand but I usually accent the second hit I make with my right.. so if i were playing on the ride really fast.. it would be like this... RrRrRrRrRrRrRrRr... etc..
and so when it comes to blast beats.. you accent every single hit.. and my right hand suffers.. but with my left its like this... LLLLLLLLLL.. etc.. (I accent every hit.)

Does anyone have any advice on how I can improve my right hand? (I play righthanded by the way lol).
well what i have to say is i had the same problum with my leftbut i just started slower with it sometimes thats all i would do is play with my left then after a few months it went away but thats me well i hope i helped try it it

[drumz4eva]

lol i have exactly wut u have....i can like spaz out....and just like blast...lol

but it is possible to do the moeller techinque with ur right hand....i do it, along with my left.......

heres a great video of this guy explaining it...

im to lazy to post a video by my self

www.derrickpope.net/moellertechnique.wmv

[beatsMcGee]

i hope when you guys refer to your playing as "spazed" that is just your way of discribing controlled finger movement.. if not id break away from the spazed movements into a more controlled finger technique.. sorry if i just misunderstood you.

good luck

[drumz4eva]

lol, no....i can keep it in tempo, and cordinate it with everything else

[a1DrummerT]

I'm having trouble with my blast beats.
It seems as though that my left hand has no problem playing straight eighth notes. (my left hand plays with a moeller technique... and so its easy to do.)
The problem is that my right hand cant keep up while doing straight eighth notes at a fast tempo as well as my left hand can.. (and i dont have the moeller technique in my right hand,) so its a disadvantage to my blast beats.

Don't get me wrong.. I can still play really fast with my right hand but I usually accent the second hit I make with my right.. so if i were playing on the ride really fast.. it would be like this... RrRrRrRrRrRrRrRr... etc..
and so when it comes to blast beats.. you accent every single hit.. and my right hand suffers.. but with my left its like this... LLLLLLLLLL.. etc.. (I accent every hit.)

Does anyone have any advice on how I can improve my right hand? (I play righthanded by the way lol).

u have a control issue...slow down and work on playing w/ out the accents untill you feel comfortable doing it then speed up..

also try beginning ur rolls with ur left hand to strengthen and gain conrol

[Remopinstripe]

as said by a1drummert you have control issues. I think your issues are that you are not using proper technique as described before as the (finger technique) which really isn't a technique its the way the drum strick should be used. also with rist snap ofcorse. but always play the fisrt beat with rist then on rebound use finger snap. if you can do that with motion with rist your set but with both it is more solid exceptially for doubles.

[tambian89]

Tommy:

In death metal, most drummers hit the ride cymbal or hit hat on the bass drum strokes. In thrash metal, the 16th notes are slower, and the cymbal is hit on both the up- and down- beats. Try the push-pull technique for your hands, and try using both feet too.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=D70Xn8NkpFk&search=push%20pull%20technique

- Marc

[TAMAmetaldrummer]

i need help with blast beats. any suggestions?

[tomgrosset]

i need help with blast beats. any suggestions?

I don't really have any good advice for playing blast beats because I generally don't play them, but I think basically you just have to work on your single strokes with both of your hands - both of your hands have to be consistent.

Work on your exercises. Work with your hands independently, especially your weak hand.
Make sure you use a metronome.
Hope this helps.

[low-tech]

handspeed, i do a moeller type motion where i lower my wrists and hands every second hit but this isnt necessary, its just what im comfortable with.. also single flams, one stick on the hihat another hitting snare at the same time. its just a matter of refining your single strokes. so just drill a fast single roll and single flams, it takes a while and you constantly need to practice them

if you play a double kick you gotta work on a fast single roll as well, it has to be in sync with your hands

[metalheadeza666]

try and have a look at Dave Wekl's finger technique, if you practice that, it should take most of the energy use off your arms, coz you'll get tired if you try and use your arms too much, i know. mike smith from Suffocation uses blasts all the time and use use his fingers most of the time, but yeah, work on your single strokes will help aswell. hope all this makes sense and is of help.

L8er.

[djp132]

I play blasts two different ways, the first one I call the onbeat as the snare is on the eights notes, the second I call the offbeat as the snare is on the off beat 16ths. Kind of looks like this:

x = hat
s = snare
b - bass

On beat
1 e + a 2 e + a
x x x x x x x x
s s s s s s s s
bbbbbbbbbbbbb

Offbeat
1 e + a 2 e + a
x x x x x x x x
i s s s s s s s s
b b b b b b b b

Notice how everything lines up in the onbeat while the snare and hat alternate on the offbeat. The onbeat is the one that requires the foot speed as its doing the 32nds. Try doing it one foot at a time on the 16ths like this:

1 e + a 2 e + a
x x x x x x x x
s s s s s s s s
b b b b b b b b <--- all played with the right or left foot.

Do this with both feet and strive for accuracy, all notes are hitting at the exact same time. Then very slowly start to go for the alternating 32nds on the kick, so slow that they can be counted as 16ths.
When it comes to blast beats many people think that its just playing as fast as possible, and while this is sometimes true, dont forget that there is a rhythm here that needs just as much accuracy and articulation as any other beat.
Hope this helps!

Derrick
djp132@gmail.com

[low-tech]

1___ e____ +____a____2____e____+____ a
x____x____x____x____x____x____x____x
s____s____s____s____s____s____s____s
___b____b____b____b____b____b____b

hand/foot roll blasts, im trying to learn these currently

essential for single pedal players

[Class A Drummer]

Pretty much what everyone else has said. They are all good practice for blast beats.

[jarrod]

Can eny one give me some metal blast beats i now these 2 (bh s bh s bh (bass and HH are at the same time) and (bbbbbbbbbbbb) and sane and hh on 1 and the timing is 1234 with double bass)) i need more please!



_______________________

-jarrod-

[lapa]

Then you should check out this thread:

http://www.derekroddy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=101&highlight=blastbeast+101

[waxyjoe]

um... ive been wonderingm what is a blast beat?

[cdawg_2010]

a blast beat is used in metal and its like 32 notes played on the bass and then 32 on the hihat and snare, but alternating like hat snare hat etc. also you can have like flams with the hi hat and snare hitting them at the same time. thats not all just read down further

[Ashbash]

when ur tabbing, please use the courier new font. please.

[Josh is a cult]

I love blast beats...except i cant quite do them.
any tips or tricks?
And also what is a "gravity" blast and how do you do it?

[Cephalic]

What do you need help with? I always thought blast beats themselves were a simple concept, just hit everything at the same time. :)
One sort of cheat I use sometimes, is play the snare with my right hand because it's faster, and just play half that speed with my left hand on hi-hats or something.



I believe gravity blasts are when instead of hitting both you're right and left hand at the same time, you alternate them. Between The Buried And Me's drummer does this a lot. I'm currently writing out "The Primer" and that's the only type of blasting he does in that song.

So the bass drum and right hand don't change, but you're left hand (or whatever you use on the snare) is put on the "off" beat.

[DoubleBassUrFace]

dude, we just gotta hangout sometime,
ill teach blast beats, their easy.
idk bout the gravity one tho.

[Cephalic]

dude, we just gotta hangout sometime,
ill teach blast beats, their easy.
idk bout the gravity one tho.

There's nothing really to teach about them... basically just hit everything. ;)

[Raymond Bloom]

gravity blast = rimroll (freehand technique) well the Johnny Rabb thing :-)

[Cephalic]

gravity blast = rimroll (freehand technique) well the Johnny Rabb thing :-)

Oh? Then what's the thing I was describing called? Or isn't that called anything?

[Raymond Bloom]

Oh? Then what's the thing I was describing called? Or isn't that called anything?
blasts alternating hands? well, it's called the single stroke roll :D

[Capitaine Quebec]

its called inverted blast beat...? Blast beat are simply hi-hat+bass drum and then snare and then start again until you are bored of it. Really simple. The only tips is to practice. It like a single stroke roll using your feet every 2 note

[jarrod]

Isnt a gravity blast 32nd notes or snare (using rimroll) and 16th on double bass and HH

[Josh is a cult]

the rimroll is what a gravity blast is i beleve...
but then theres
normal blasts...
Sicors (i cant spell, the things you cut with)
Corpse grinds
Gravity blasts..
soo many!

[sloppyn9ne]

wuts a corpse grind or w/e? thats sounds "xcore" lol but really just cerous?

[Cabazon]

wuts a corpse grind or w/e? thats sounds "xcore" lol but really just cerous?

I don't get it, are you asking if it's "really just of or related to cerium" ?

[Josh is a cult]

a corps grind is 8ths on the hi hat or ride or w/e, whole on the snare and 16th on bass drums...but there played @ blinding speeds....i.e. Cannable corpse, Necrophagist, and even slayer...

[sloppyn9ne]

o ok yeah ive heard those before. thanks

[Symbolic]

No offence people here dont know blast beats.

Go here, its noted out and everything,

http://www.derekroddy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3745

[Josh is a cult]

thats what i needed..thanks man!

[DrumProgressive]

No offence people here dont know blast beats.

Go here, its noted out and everything,

http://www.derekroddy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3745

Very nicely explained and noted down. Seems like a nice forum over there.

[low-tech]

blasts alternating hands? well, it's called the single stroke roll :D


that is just one way. there are more

ill notate

X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_
_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s
b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_

single kick bomb blast

X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_
s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_
b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_

single kick cannibal blast

X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_
s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_
_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b_b

hand/foot roll blast

X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_
ssssssssssssssssssssssss
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb

thats a gravity blast with a double kick

X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_
_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb


X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_
s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_s_
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb

bomb and cannibal with double kick

[deadbirdsoup]

or reffered to as lawnmower beats lol. what can i say, would be tough pulling off half the speed of some of these guys....

[Josh is a cult]

wow i never knew there where so many types of blasts

[Hemiola86]

it's pretty clear by now that there are plenty of blast beat patterns, but just to illustrate how versatile the patterns can be, just listen to Dillenger Escape Plan and see how their drummer changes his blast rhythms according to what meter and rhythms the band is playing.

[Josh is a cult]

I LOVE DILLINGER!!! and ion dissonance! cannable corpse! necrophagist! cattle decapitation! i dont know where im going with this... but i love blast beats!

[The Rev #2]

Blast beats are gnarly..but they can get old after awhile. But it's the funniest thing seeing someone's face when they do blast beats though lol.

[daddyyabjee]

Nice choice of Quotes. This is exactly how I learned how to count Blast Beats. Start at a slower speed, maybe around 90 bpm, and then gradually get faster. Death Metal drummers usually go above 180 bpm, Thrash metal drummers around 130 or so.

- Marc

Death metal guys go to around 250bpm!

[DreamTheater4life]

I was wondering what you all think of the blast beat. I dont want this to turn into a big "DEATH METAL SUXXX!!!11111!!!!!" thread so just give your opinion and facts to back it up with. I personally LOVE it, mostly because i'm a huge metal head. I love to play it, i love to listen to it. It is great for death metal because it's BR00TAL just like the music.

ONCE AGAIN***************** NO BASHING MUSIC OR EACHOTHER, JUST DISCUSSION.

Thank you all for your opinions :)

[secondXheartbeat]

Before you judge what I'm about to say, keep in mind that I'm a metal fan as well.

In some cases, the blast beat fits with the music very well and is a very appropriate groove to play in that situation.

For example, in "Rose of Sharyn" by Killswitch Engage, drummer Justin Foley plays a blast beat with a syncopated guitar melody. The bass guitar is on the down beat (which is mimicked by the bass drum) and the guitars play the melody on the upbeat (snare drum), thus creating a very complimentary blast beat pattern.

However, sometimes I feel like blast beats are metal dummers copping out of a cool groove that could be there by just bashing away.

I'll pick on Justin Foley of KsE again so I don't seem biased in any way.

In the song "A Bid Farewell," once the second guitar riff is going (after the first verse) Foley plays a blast that seems very out of place to me. That song is an example of where blast beats aren't quite the most apporpriate groove for the application.

Don't get me wrong, I love metal and KsE is probably one of my top ten bands. I just think that the blast beat should only be used to compliment music, not take away from it.

[FloEy]

if it fits it fits. If i have to a hear a solo of it i think it is total garbage. absolute banging + no creativity = blast beat lol

[DrumProgressive]

For example, in "Rose of Sharyn" by Killswitch Engage, drummer Justin Foley plays a blast beat with a syncopated guitar melody. The bass guitar is on the down beat (which is mimicked by the bass drum) and the guitars play the melody on the upbeat (snare drum), thus creating a very complimentary blast beat pattern.

Don't ge tme wrong, i LOVE killswitch but the part your describing isn't really a blast beat. Justin is just playing fast upstrokes there.

In the song "A Bid Farewell," once the second guitar riff is going (after the first verse) Foley plays a blast that seems very out of place to me. That song is an example of where blast beats aren't quite the most apporpriate groove for the application.

Here we have a perfect taste can differ. I can totally understand why u don't like this blasting, why I absolutely love it and i think it's genious.

It's also a good example of what i think a blast beat is good for. It's that one thing to play when u need to speed up into a climax and you're tired of those upstrokes or downstrokes. I myself ain't that good at blasting. It have not yet come to the point of actually use it in any of y band's songs but occasionally i throw it in at the ending of a song right before the guitar hits it's last chords.

Obviously, i play metal.

[Bernhard]

Did you see the sample of Thomas Lang:

http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/thomaslangblastbeat.html

Bernhard

[secondXheartbeat]

i LOVE killswitch but the part your describing isn't really a blast beat. Justin is just playing fast upstrokes there.

Could you explain to me how that isn't a blast beat? The only diference is it's slightly slower and in 3/4.

RC|x-x-x-|
SD|-x-x-x|
BD|x-x-x-| . . . so on and so forth

[schist]

what are blast beats i hear people talkiung about them but have no idea what they are is it just like double timing the snare or something?

There are many forms of blast beats, but the one I commonly use is this one:

R= x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
S= -x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
R= x---x---x---x---
L= --x---x---x---x-

'R' is used to signify the ride cymbal (or hi-hat, or china, or whatever), 'S' is the snare, 'R' being your right foot and 'L' your left.

So basically, you're playing 16th-note single strokes (RLRLRLRL) with the right hand on the ride (or whatever) cymbal and the left hand on the snare, and playing alternating 8th-notes with the feet, ensuring that the bass drum notes fall in unison with the right hand.

Hope this helps .... somewhat.

[jAZZpLANTS]

<<just for your amazement: Everyone must look up Lord Marco Pitruzella of BRAIN DRILL. This guy is unquestionably in the top ten fastest drummers in the world. Read the description of the band on myspace and Watch the videos to witness the brutality!!!. His one handed roll is godly!!!

www.myspace.com/braindrill
Also check out sickdrummer.com- great resource for extreme metal and blasting.

[jonescrusher]

He used to visit here every so often. You might still be able to find his thread in Your Playing. Still the most viewed thread in that sub-forum I believe.

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

<<just for your amazement: Everyone must look up Lord Marco Pitruzella of BRAIN DRILL. This guy is unquestionably in the top ten fastest drummers in the world. Read the description of the band on myspace and Watch the videos to witness the brutality!!!. His one handed roll is godly!!!

www.myspace.com/braindrill
Also check out sickdrummer.com- great resource for extreme metal and blasting.

Funnily enough, I heard a rumour he went to the WFD and got his arse handed to him. Heh.

[Jeff Almeyda]

Funnily enough, I heard a rumour he went to the WFD and got his arse handed to him. Heh.

It's not a rumor. I was there and Marco was more than 200 strokes behind the winner in the feet. His hands are fast with scores approaching 1000 and his one hand roll is perfect but he was pretty much in the same range as me with the feet at the time (750 range)

[DogBreath]

It's not a rumor. I was there and Marco was more than 200 strokes behind the winner in the feet.
To be fair though he handled it extremely well in my opinion. He was quite surprised at the numbers and swore that he was going to better the next time. For all of the bluster associated with the competition, I'm always pleased to see how humble the WFD competitors are whether they win or lose.

[Big_Philly]

There are many forms of blast beats, but the one I commonly use is this one:

R= x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
S= -x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
R= x---x---x---x---
L= --x---x---x---x-

'R' is used to signify the ride cymbal (or hi-hat, or china, or whatever), 'S' is the snare, 'R' being your right foot and 'L' your left.

So basically, you're playing 16th-note single strokes (RLRLRLRL) with the right hand on the ride (or whatever) cymbal and the left hand on the snare, and playing alternating 8th-notes with the feet, ensuring that the bass drum notes fall in unison with the right hand.

Hope this helps .... somewhat.

If you doublestroke on the snare it sounds a little thrashier. I tried that one as well.

[mikeh23]

one if my favorite bands is band called nile. check out some of their stuff when they had george kollias as a drummer. hes wicked insane. blasting throughout whole songs switching into double time on the kick yet they're music is so tight and clean with great use of china and bell patterns it never seems to get repetative.