Playing w/o a snare?

[Class A Drummer]

Has anybody here ever had to play live or just practice with other musicians with a normal set but no snare? (guess its not that normal). I just got back from summer camp and i had to play twice and both times without a snare because it was stolen in the winter and the camp is too cheap to buy a new one.

Surprisingly, both times after playing, i was complemented by many and they said that it sounded great. Pretty much all i did was play all different types 16th note paterns on the hats and do a few tom fills.

Anyone else have to play without a snare? Once you get into it, its not too bad and actually kinda fun.

[harryconway]

The snare is just another voice type. I just played another gig last friday night (9pm-1am) with my 2 piece kit. 2 vioces (or 3 or more), as long as they're different enough to easily tell them apart, it should work. Bongo's, Conga, Tabla, etc. all the same idea.

[Garvin]

I think I would personally have a hard time overcoming my own fear of that situation. I have had to play with broken snares, but at least there was something there that felt like a snare drum. One of my friends had to do a jazz gig with no kick pedal, which is another thing that would freak me out, but I guess that just goes to show what I personally rely on. Kudos for getting through that though. I guess you'll know to bring your own snare next time huh?

[Deathmetalconga]

I've had to do that a few times. It takes some getting used to, but it's a good exercise. In fact, it's probably good to play once and while without some core piece of equipment (snare, bass drum, hats, ride). A lot of people play without toms sometimes to focus their playing. Leaving out a core item would force you to re-assess and use different drums in different ways.

[Class A Drummer]

Originally Posted by Deathmetalconga

I've had to do that a few times. It takes some getting used to, but it's a good exercise. In fact, it's probably good to play once and while without some core piece of equipment (snare, bass drum, hats, ride). A lot of people play without toms sometimes to focus their playing. Leaving out a core item would force you to re-assess and use different drums in different ways.

I remember in a portnoy clip i saw, he spoke about something where he had no cymbals at all, just lots of drums. I guess it really makes you play quite out of the box.

[Mendozart]

Originally Posted by Class A Drummer

I remember in a portnoy clip i saw, he spoke about something where he had no cymbals at all, just lots of drums. I guess it really makes you play quite out of the box.

Just like when Peter Gabriel asked Phil Collins to play on one of his solo albums (I think it was the melted face one), and told him he didn't want any cymbals on the record at all. Phil thought he was nuts.

[Deathmetalconga]

Originally Posted by Class A Drummer

I remember in a portnoy clip i saw, he spoke about something where he had no cymbals at all, just lots of drums. I guess it really makes you play quite out of the box.

Trippy.

Trilok Gurtu's set has no bass drum. He instead has a low tom close to the snare that serves as the bass.

[Shinx]

I like to try to play without using a certain piece of the set sometimes. I feel like it can spark my creativity on a different level.

[fijjibo]

Well, I think that once in a while something like that could be a goo thing to do to add a bit of spice in your playing.

You could always do what Neil Peart did once and play the backbeat on a tom.

Sounds real good....

[Trip McNealy]

I guess technically the snare is still physically "there" but once in a while I will throw off the snares and treat it as a timbale/tom/whatever.. kind of like Danny Carey in Tool.

you will find that you exercise more creativity around the set and come up with some really cool rhythms!! and it sounds neat!

an example of a clip i made with the snares "off".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvMcPVH2xOY

[Class A Drummer]

Originally Posted by Trip McNealy

I guess technically the snare is still physically "there" but once in a while I will throw off the snares and treat it as a timbale/tom/whatever.. kind of like Danny Carey in Tool.

you will find that you exercise more creativity around the set and come up with some really cool rhythms!! and it sounds neat!

an example of a clip i made with the snares "off".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvMcPVH2xOY

That was actually kinda cool stuff. Your drums sound really good.

Jazz drummers do this alot. Billy Ward said at the clinic the other night "Rock drummers bring their bass drum and snare to the gig, jazz drummers bring their cymbals". The hi-hat is the snare in jazz music. The actual snare is there to just chatter underneath everything and for accents.

[Trip McNealy]

Originally Posted by Class A Drummer

That was actually kinda cool stuff. Your drums sound really good.

thank you! i am pleased with my sound, not bad for the built-in camcorder mic too!

[Wile E. Coyote]

I play with only snare and cajón very often. Fits very good in small acoustic low-volume gigs. Some pub owners get scared when they see a drumset.
Also nice: SD and Ride + some small percussion instrument.

[Michael G]

I would never purposely play without one. It is too important to me.

For one thing, I do alot of time keeping with it. Both the snare itself and the rim. Plus in conjunction with the hi-hat and ride, it compliments it in the right places and makes the band sound so much better.

[Class A Drummer]

Originally Posted by SmoothJazz

I would never purposely play without one. It is too important to me.

For one thing, I do alot of time keeping with it. Both the snare itself and the rim. Plus in conjunction with the hi-hat and ride, it compliments it in the right places and makes the band sound so much better.

I agree, if i had the choice, i would never play without a snare. Personally i was extremley surprise/pleased that i was able to play so well without it.

[burnthehero]

I'll play with the snares off quite often, but I can't imagine not having the snare drum there. In fact, that sounds absolutely ridiculous.

I would have probably ended up cross sticking on a tom to get that crack. I've written drum parts with the snares turned off if that counts?

[Class A Drummer]

Originally Posted by millerdakiller

I would have probably ended up cross sticking on a tom to get that crack. I've written drum parts with the snares turned off if that counts?

doesnt quite count. Im talking about it physically not being there at all. I turn off the snare alot, especially when playing sambas and stuff, but the snare drum is still there.