off top of my head,Is there a good example of effective rimshots in a song? I’ve never really understood how it’s different (‘better’) than just hitting the snare harder. Honestly I can’t even tell when they are being used, which may be part of my problem.
Rimshots introduce the shell tone to the final resolved sound. The shell tone dominates the head tone when a rimshot is used. Sonically, there is a clear difference between a head shot and a rim shot. Most of my hits are rimshots, just for the tone. It's my default stroke/tone. I have to focus on NOT hitting the rim in songs that call for it.Is there a good example of effective rimshots in a song? I’ve never really understood how it’s different (‘better’) than just hitting the snare harder. Honestly I can’t even tell when they are being used, which may be part of my problem.
Is there a good example of effective rimshots in a song? I’ve never really understood how it’s different (‘better’) than just hitting the snare harder. Honestly I can’t even tell when they are being used, which may be part of my problem.
Rimshots introduce the shell tone to the final resolved sound. The shell tone dominates the head tone when a rimshot is used. Sonically, there is a clear difference between a head shot and a rim shot. Most of my hits are rimshots, just for the tone. It's my default stroke/tone. I have to focus on NOT hitting the rim in songs that call for it.
I play rimshots because I like the tone much better than just head. Just because it says rimshot doesn't mean it has to be loud. Rimshots can be played very gently, my preference, or they can take your head off with the volume if needed. Depending on where the stick tip hits (near the edge, halfway to the middle, just past the middle) gives me different sonic options for my rimshots. If I want the fattest backbeat I can get from the snare, I hit the tip past the center of the head with the stick butt simultaneously hitting the rim. If I want a Bruford-esque tone, my stick tip is near the edge of the head for the wildness and the stick taper is on the rim. I like backbeating with rimshots and ghosting with just the stick tip on the head, no rim. The dynamic and tonal differences between the 2 classes of hits draws the listener in.
If I'm doing a full on shuffle pattern on the snare with my snare hand, I play head only except where the 2 and 4 is. I'll play a rimshot on the 2 and 4 to make the backbeat prominent. It gives a shuffle that "lift".The beauty part is I don't have to hit harder for the backbeat, the rim ups the volume automatically. When I'm fully shuffling my snare with my weaker left hand, it's really helpful not to have to whack it harder on the 2 and 4. It gets tiring. I use the same force on the backbeat as the rest of the pattern and simply employ the rim to provide the extra volume I need for the backbeat. Works like a charm, and it's easier to maintain muscle-wise.
Experiment with rimshots. They allow much more tonal and dynamic options, and very usable ones at that. If I removed them from my playing, I would be removing an entire sonic dimension from my sound.
I'm like you - I'm 48 and have only recently started focusing on rimshots. They make backbeats sound great. My problem is that I still have a lot of trouble being consistent with them. Sometimes I hit them with too much rim and they don't sound good, and occasionally I miss the head altogether. Consequently, when I play with my band, I don't even attempt them. Not sure how to get there except practice, practice, practice. But I've been practicing them consistently for at least 6 months and still have problems.30 odd years playing .. I just ‘discovered’ that I hit dead centre and that to be really ROCK I should have learnt to rim shot ... so a New Years resolution to learn how — nearly there now in mid Feb and loving the ear splitting crack - Not 100% reliable but will get there.
I spent almost all of my 50 years behind the kit playing rimshots only and using traditional grip. I never paid any attention to it. Then, about a year ago, I lost the ability to play rimshots consistently. Now I have to consciously focus on doing so. What happened? I have no idea.
GeeDeeEmm