AzHeat
Platinum Member
There have been so many threads about small kits being where it’s at and the freedom to be creative....this is not intended to be one of those.
I’ve always played 6 or 7 piece and every time I read one of these threads I would get super frustrated. Less toms were just less toms. My fils would still sound the same, because I was the one behind the kit. I have to admit that after all these years I finally get it. Not the freedom part, not the creative part, but why a smaller set was so absolutely frustrating. Every time I shed toms, it was the same thing...the same question...now what!?
I didn’t realize the appeal until I started taking lessons. A few sessions in and blamo! I suck! My foot’s fast, my timing is decent, but my creativity is hampered by the lack of skills. When I started the lessons I stripped off toms so I could practice the lessons I was going through in lower volume. Keeping things close made it easier is all. It hasn’t been long, but I finally get how some of you make it through the older songs with big fills. I also discovered I really don’t enjoy those as much as before.
Don’t know if my kit will stay as a miniaturized version of its previous self indefinitely, but probably the first time since I picked up sticks that a smaller kit hasn’t been annoying.
I think after reading all the threads and comments on how creative, what freedom, etc., it boils down to skills and preferences. I don’t hit things because they are there. Never felt that way about more toms. Shrinking things down can only help you be creative, if you have skills. TNo one seems to ever say that!
Thought I would post, this because I read and read and never saw no posts to this fact. At least for me. Maybe someone else found the same to be true?
Long live big or small kits, whichever you prefer.
Oh and one more thing! Less cymbals aren’t the same thing, unless I’m missing something there too!
I’ve always played 6 or 7 piece and every time I read one of these threads I would get super frustrated. Less toms were just less toms. My fils would still sound the same, because I was the one behind the kit. I have to admit that after all these years I finally get it. Not the freedom part, not the creative part, but why a smaller set was so absolutely frustrating. Every time I shed toms, it was the same thing...the same question...now what!?
I didn’t realize the appeal until I started taking lessons. A few sessions in and blamo! I suck! My foot’s fast, my timing is decent, but my creativity is hampered by the lack of skills. When I started the lessons I stripped off toms so I could practice the lessons I was going through in lower volume. Keeping things close made it easier is all. It hasn’t been long, but I finally get how some of you make it through the older songs with big fills. I also discovered I really don’t enjoy those as much as before.
Don’t know if my kit will stay as a miniaturized version of its previous self indefinitely, but probably the first time since I picked up sticks that a smaller kit hasn’t been annoying.
I think after reading all the threads and comments on how creative, what freedom, etc., it boils down to skills and preferences. I don’t hit things because they are there. Never felt that way about more toms. Shrinking things down can only help you be creative, if you have skills. TNo one seems to ever say that!
Thought I would post, this because I read and read and never saw no posts to this fact. At least for me. Maybe someone else found the same to be true?
Long live big or small kits, whichever you prefer.
Oh and one more thing! Less cymbals aren’t the same thing, unless I’m missing something there too!
Last edited: