What parts of drumming are you "done" or "over it?"

[rhumbagirl]

I’m done trying to sound exactly like the studio version of a record when I play a song in my cover band. Once I figured that out, I felt better about myself and I played better.

I'm done procrastinating. Ok, the last week or so it's been about work. Damn GoogleTest is OOP and so tricky to learn. But the drive is there, it just seems to come at the wrong hour to keep mom up. So not entirely my fault. But it is my fault because I'm supposed to be responsible enough to *prioritize and schedule* my time every day. I'm done!

 

[doggyd69b]

I think this would be an interesting comparison.

It is of course going to sound different, but I have seen some people tune drums by ear and they sounded great. Maybe it also had to do with the room ambiance but clearly can be done without tools. I have another example, I tuned my guitar (with a tuner, I can't tune guitars by ear), then confirmed with a second tuner, both tuner's "agreed", my friend borrowed it, and slightly tuned it by ear, and it sounded so much better! it sounded properly tuned which it didn't when using both tuners... it didn't sound bad with the tuners it just sounded much (noticeably) better when he tuned it..

 

[doggyd69b]

I’m done trying to sound exactly like the studio version of a record when I play a song in my cover band. Once I figured that out, I felt better about myself and I played better.

Are you talking about playing note for note or trying to emulate the drum sound? two very different things...

Somebody opened a thread asking why was it ok for drummers to not play the parts correctly when if a guitar player did it, he would be called out.

Now as we know chasing somebody's drum sound (unless he used plugins exclusively and you happen to have same said plugins and perhaps the same person mixing you is going to be impossible), there are too many variants to overcome.

I like attain certain drum sounds, but when using plugins, some iconic drum sounds can be found for example Steven Slate Drums
Here we have Glen Sobel demoing some of the sounds:

but as great as those kits sound (and they do sound just like in the video) they have 2 problems:
1 If you play along the original track and use those drums, they blend in so well that they disappear (it just sounds like the original drums got turned up in the mix, unless you play the wrong notes).
2 Sometimes ( a lot of times) having thundering drums and explosive snares just doesn't work for the music genre.
Of course the software comes with other drums that are way more subdued but you get the idea, just because some kits sound great alone, it doesn't meant they will sound great in some mixes.

 

[yammyfan]

It is of course going to sound different, but I have seen some people tune drums by ear and they sounded great. Maybe it also had to do with the room ambiance but clearly can be done without tools. I have another example, I tuned my guitar (with a tuner, I can't tune guitars by ear), then confirmed with a second tuner, both tuner's "agreed", my friend borrowed it, and slightly tuned it by ear, and it sounded so much better! it sounded properly tuned which it didn't when using both tuners... it didn't sound bad with the tuners it just sounded much (noticeably) better when he tuned it..

Agreed.

I would like to see an experiment done where somebody tuned drums by ear to the point where they thought they sounded good, record them, then go over them again using a tuner and compare the final result. It would be interesting to hear how much of a difference it makes.

 

[doggyd69b]

Agreed.

I would like to see an experiment done where somebody tuned drums by ear to the point where they thought they sounded good, record them, then go over them again using a tuner and compare the final result. It would be interesting to hear how much of a difference it makes.

Maybe post that as a request to one of your favorite drum channels in YouTube.
Since they are always looking for content ideas, I'm sure they will eventually make it happen.
And because it would be video documented, you can return here with some example you can share with the rest of us.

 

[Jml]

Are you talking about playing note for note or trying to emulate the drum sound? two very different things...

Somebody opened a thread asking why was it ok for drummers to not play the parts correctly when if a guitar player did it, he would be called out.

Now as we know chasing somebody's drum sound (unless he used plugins exclusively and you happen to have same said plugins and perhaps the same person mixing you is going to be impossible), there are too many variants to overcome.

I like attain certain drum sounds, but when using plugins, some iconic drum sounds can be found for example Steven Slate Drums
Here we have Glen Sobel demoing some of the sounds:

but as great as those kits sound (and they do sound just like in the video) they have 2 problems:
1 If you play along the original track and use those drums, they blend in so well that they disappear (it just sounds like the original drums got turned up in the mix, unless you play the wrong notes).
2 Sometimes ( a lot of times) having thundering drums and explosive snares just doesn't work for the music genre.
Of course the software comes with other drums that are way more subdued but you get the idea, just because some kits sound great alone, it doesn't meant they will sound great in some mixes.

I meant playing note for note. I create my own fills, etc. I don’t try to emulate anyone else’s “sound”. I have enough on my plate.

 

[doggyd69b]

I meant playing note for note. I create my own fills, etc. I don’t try to emulate anyone else’s “sound”. I have enough on my plate.

The only time I don't agree with that approach is when the part in question is an iconic very recognizable part that even non drummers immediately frown upon if changed.
For example the drum rolls in Rush's Tom Sawyer or similar parts. but anywhere else, if what you play serves the song and sounds good then go for it.
In one of the bands I played we covered this band were they have the drummer and 2 other percussionists playing together.
Me being just one person had to adapt those parts (which meant being able to keep a similar drum part playing while at the same time adding a variation of the percussion parts). If you listened to the final product, it didn't sound exactly the same as the original, but it worked well for the song. I know this is a case of needing to adapt because of numbers, in most other cases, (only one drummer) I feel that if I can make the part sound better (or better to me) I will enjoy playing it more and as long as it still works, why not?