question about flams

[Toza]

This is maybe stupid question but...

When you are playing flam do you think to move hands in the same time (they will come in different time anywhey because they are on different hight),
or you dont move your accent hand until the first note is played:) I hope you understand what im asking;)

[druid]

I guess I am thinking L then R all the time...I recently started working on alternating flams at higher speeds again....where you have to be consciously aware of which is happening when as oppossed to alternating flam taps where it falls into a sequence....of course at faster speeds my sticks travel shorter distances so I really am aware at that point.

I hope this answers your question some what?

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I never gave the distance thing any thought. I just made sure of the timing. But remember my background is school band and orchestra, and my hands were always pretty close together. If that matters?

[rmandelbaum]

It really depends on when the flam is being played, if it is on the back of an up stroke (moelleor method) or if it is maybe after a crash and both hands are returning to the drum..

My suggestion is to work through the flam section in Stick Control the flam exercises in Buddy Rich's Modern Interpretation Of Snare Drum Rudiments.

Both are great books.

http://library.davesabine.com/uploads/itemID(61)_001.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5172D0HVBDL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg

[Ian Ballard]

This is maybe stupid question but...

When you are playing flam do you think to move hands in the same time (they will come in different time anywhey because they are on different hight),
or you dont move your accent hand until the first note is played:) I hope you understand what im asking;)

The hands move at the same time, but the sticks are at different heights. As long as you keep the heights consistent, the flams should also be consistent.

I typically put the ghost stick about an inch off the head and the accent stick is about 75 degrees upward. Throw them down at the same time and you have a flam.

People confuse themselves by trying to time their hands in accordance to a sound they think a flam should be, but they end up sounding inconsistent. If you throw them down at the same time, the ghost stick will hit first and the accent will fall at the point you control, based on height? Get it? The larger the difference in height, the larger the difference between the notes.

This is one of those concepts I do not budge on at all. I was taught this by a very reputable drum corps player turned drumset artist, who happens to be the drummer/bandleader for Rascal Flatts. ;)

[Ian Ballard]

It really depends on when the flam is being played, if it is on the back of an up stroke (moelleor method) or if it is maybe after a crash and both hands are returning to the drum..

My suggestion is to work through the flam section in Stick Control the flam exercises in Buddy Rich's Modern Interpretation Of Snare Drum Rudiments.



The Buddy Rich book is great! I found a copy and have used it for all my students. It's exercises are well formed and use good rhythm models so students can work slowly, much easier. It also correctly names the "ruff" and "drag" properly. It's sad how many "reputable" drum books incorrectly note those two.

[Toza]

so it means the hands come together, but stick hight is different.

[rmandelbaum]

if the hands hit at the same time it is not a flam, well some would call it a "flat flam" What makes it a flam is the separation if the hits.

Take a look at this video. Pay attention to his hands in the first demonstration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrjx_s_86Go

[R Furb]

I typically put the ghost stick about an inch off the head and the accent stick is about 75 degrees upward. Throw them down at the same time and you have a flam.

That's really helpful as I have also been struggling with flams, thanks Ian.