"only way out" solution :(

[h3r3tic]

Hey guys! how's it going?

After drumming for a while a huge problem has appeared now. It's not a technical problem but more of "how to play" problem.

So to be more specific with this issue... I've been drumming since 15 now I'm turning 23 and I used to reahearse at my ex-bass guitarist's house, which indeed was a very cool place to practice but now that I left the band and in pursuit of another type of sound and other people to play with, I've got the drums at my house where I still live with my folks... which means:

-> I can't play everytime I wish to play;
-> Everytime I start practicing I always get interrupted;
-> When I start playing for like 5 minutes my mom gets pissed because of the volume of the instrument itself...

Since I'm getting into a little bit of jungle/drum n' bass lately, I've been composing some instrumental stuff on a software called reason (very cool, and has lots of stuff). I was not composing the drumming but piano stuff, bass etc... special efects and so on...

So I've been wondering since I have very limited time to play drums on my house for a while, would it be bad to compose my drumming ideas into this software and then try to memorise the stuff so that when I get to the drumset I can start practicing my ideas but applied on the drumset?

would this make me a bad drummer?


Need help guys.. what do you think?
Hope to hear from you soon ;)

[harryconway]

Sounds like an e-kit might be a good way to go, as long as you're under your moms roof.

[FourOnSix]

Originally Posted by harryconway

Sounds like an e-kit might be a good way to go, as long as you're under your moms roof.

i hate to agree with this, but i must. I hate e-kits, not the same, but better then nothing...


and to answer your question, no i don't think it will make you a bad drummer. I doubt its the most efficent way to learn new ideas, but go for it.

[h3r3tic]

Originally Posted by FourOnSix

i hate to agree with this, but i must. I hate e-kits, not the same, but better then nothing...


and to answer your question, no i don't think it will make you a bad drummer. I doubt its the most efficent way to learn new ideas, but go for it.

Yes I know it's not the best way to learn ideas... but do I have a better solution?

As for the e-kits... I just can't afford one...

[Wavelength]

Originally Posted by h3r3tic

So I've been wondering since I have very limited time to play drums on my house for a while, would it be bad to compose my drumming ideas into this software and then try to memorise the stuff so that when I get to the drumset I can start practicing my ideas but applied on the drumset?

would this make me a bad drummer?

I think this is an excellent idea. Composing drum parts away from the kit takes away your technical restrictions, habits, thoroughly practiced licks, and forces you to play around with sounds, rhythms and orchestrations that surpass the aspects of physically performing them. When you come up with a good phrase, figure out the best stickings by imagining yourself behind the kit, and try to practice their execution in your mind. I've found that by immersing yourself in any pattern, figuring out the technical aspects related to its execution and pretend-practicing it is almost as effective as practicing it on the kit.

All motions stem from a mental process, and figuring out and visualising the motions before actually doing them makes it a whole lot easier. Before I started drumming I liked to air-drum and pretend-play all the time, and when I finally got to try playing actual drums, I realised I already had the coordination and facility to play basic grooves and fills right off the bat. I was no Steve Gadd, naturally, but it was nevertheless pretty decent for a guy who hadn't held a pair of sticks in his hands before.

[aboylikedave]

Originally Posted by h3r3tic

Yes I know it's not the best way to learn ideas... but do I have a better solution?

As for the e-kits... I just can't afford one...

Rubber silencer pads. Really not bad at all I find. Bit of a shock to get to full bounce off a skin but fantastic to practice on, independence, coordination etc.

[Diaz]

What about mesh heads?!?

[Drummerboy30]

Originally Posted by Diaz

What about mesh heads?!?

Yeah, if you cant afford an e-kit, try mesh heads, I have never played them but I think they work pretty well as volume goes. Im not sure about stick response though.

[boomboomda]

Mesh heads are very quite, I just equipped my Sonor jungle kit with them.
You get more rebound with mesh heads than with regular heads, but for volume I think they are unbeatable.
But you also need to silence your cymbal, and for those you buy silencers.