Advantages of low placed snares

JimmyM

JimmyM

Diamond Member
I keep my snare fairly high and straight across, with the batter sticking above my thighs by a couple inches. Yet it seems so many place the snare much lower, with some placing it well below their thighs.

It’s occurred to me there must be advantages to doing that, but I would have no idea what they are. So I invite those of you who sling ‘em low to let me know what it does for you.
 
Not sure myself. Bruised thighs spring to mind.

You can only really play French technique to do it.
 
I don’t have mine low but I notice when I play down into a drum there’s a different technique you’re using because your sticks are pointing downward and your wrists are definitely in a different position. Perhaps it’s less effort to bring the sticks back up because they start in a higher position?

I hate not being able to rimshot without hitting my thigh so I’m with you.
 
JimmyM said:
I keep my snare fairly high and straight across, with the batter sticking above my thighs by a couple inches. Yet it seems so many place the snare much lower, with some placing it well below their thighs.

It’s occurred to me there must be advantages to doing that, but I would have no idea what they are. So I invite those of you who sling ‘em low to let me know what it does for you.
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Inexperience mostly i think. Having the snare that Iow presents a lot of playing issues.
 
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As far as I can tell, there aren’t any advantages. Whenever I see weird or unergonomic setups, it only shows a lack of experience.

(No need to post Daru Jones’ setup, he’s admitted that he only does it for the attention.)
 
'the snare goes lower when you raise your seat higher'
so snare placement isn't changed. Joe placement is. 😁

and the gravity easement advantage of playing slightly above the drums; we had this discussion a few weeks ago

You 4 piece guys..mount tom placement perfect?

OK..im listening to Stephen Clark on YouTube go over this. Long story short he actually suggests sitting higher to avoid your mount being to high causing reach. Man..i don't like sitting higher..id rather reach a bit causing a stick drum crash now and then (which he suggests avoiding) but I'm...
www.drummerworld.com
 
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I have my snare slightly above my thighs and angled towards me just a touch. I don't play rimshots often, but if the snare is lower its seems like it would be hard to play rimshots.
 
Daru: Hold my beer.

index.php
 
JimmyM said:
I keep my snare fairly high and straight across, with the batter sticking above my thighs by a couple inches. Yet it seems so many place the snare much lower, with some placing it well below their thighs.

It’s occurred to me there must be advantages to doing that, but I would have no idea what they are. So I invite those of you who sling ‘em low to let me know what it does for you.
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same here....pretty much any drummer I have seen with lower placed snares always are hard to watch play...there is a weird "hunch" that they have that I feel would just be painful to play in all the time.

one of the best drummers around town here in C-bus ended up going to the hospital for real bad lower back problems b/c he played his snare so low. He was a super aggresive "blast beat" metal guy, and I honestly don't know how he did it. He had to quit playing, had to give up driving for a while, and had massive issues. It was pretty sad, and he is well loved in our little metal community, so it was hard for us to see him have to give it up

I asked him why he played with is snare so low, and he said "no one ever told me I should raise it." He was 6'4". super lanky. his whole kit was really low...it was like he grew up, but never thought to adjust the drums

I teach all of my students to have the snare high enough that they will not hit their thigh while playing, and I always use his story as the reason why.
 
I appreciate the advice. Definitely don't want bruised thighs or back problems. Sounds like I'm good.
 
JimmyM said:
I appreciate the advice. Definitely don't want bruised thighs or back problems. Sounds like I'm good.
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yep...a lot of drummers I play with always say that my snare is "too high"....but i just don't get it. The placement allows me to get better sound with less work
 
I think the advantage is personal comfort for the individual player. Steve Jordan, at least during his John Mayer years, kept his snare low. Ash Soan is another one. Maybe it stimulates a different “vibe” or feel?

At 6’ but sporting an albatross-ish 79” wingspan, I wouldn’t expect my setup to be comfortable for someone 5’6” with short arms. @JimmyM, I know you’ve wondered how I can get around my toms with their placement, yet they’re extremely comfortable for me.

I think it’s a individual comfort deal more than anything, with the possible exception of Daru, who, as mentioned before, openly states that he adopted his low-slung setup in order to stand out visually from his peers.
 
RVC said:
I think the advantage is personal comfort for the individual player. Steve Jordan, at least during his John Mayer years, kept his snare low. Ash Soan is another one. Maybe it stimulates a different “vibe” or feel?

At 6’ but sporting an albatross-ish 79” wingspan, I wouldn’t expect my setup to be comfortable for someone 5’6” with short arms. @JimmyM, I know you’ve wondered how I can get around my toms with their placement, yet they’re extremely comfortable for me.

I think it’s a individual comfort deal more than anything, with the possible exception of Daru, who, as mentioned before, openly states that he adopted his low-slung setup in order to stand out visually from his peers.
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Ya, Daru is taking a little good natured shrapnel and he does it for a whole different reason, which IMHO is legit because he’s a legit badass. What you say makes sense, just wondered if there were other things I might not have considered. I know one guy who keeps his low so he doesn’t have to move his left arm off his leg. Problem is he sounds like he’s being lazy, too.
 
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Bozozoid said:
Check out Vinnie at his Gretsch kit with Zappa. 😨.
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Sitting that low was very en-vogue in the 70s/80's wasn't it? Gadd and Jeff were the same. Instant lower back pain even looking at their set-ups!!!
 
Phil Collins infamously broke his back by playing a low-placed snare drum. He probably was making room for his high toms, but most multi-tom drummers do it much more ergonomically.
 
JimmyM said:
I keep my snare fairly high and straight across, with the batter sticking above my thighs by a couple inches. Yet it seems so many place the snare much lower, with some placing it well below their thighs.

It’s occurred to me there must be advantages to doing that, but I would have no idea what they are. So I invite those of you who sling ‘em low to let me know what it does for you.
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Hey Jimmy, was there anyone you had in mind when you posted this? If so, I'd like to see their set-up.
 
I always have wondered how some people play with their set ups.
 

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