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You are here: Home / Archives for drums

Which Musical Instruments Are Hardest To Learn?

June 12, 2013 by Chris

Such is the beauty of music that anyone can play any instrument.  You or I could pick up and instrument, and get started right away. Of course, there is a world of difference between playing an instrument and using an instrument to produce an amazing sound that people want to listen to and will pay for.

Which instruments are the most difficult to learn to play well? Will you dare to take them on? On the other hand, will you avoid them at all costs?

Violin

No one who has ever looked at a violin will likely be shocked to see it appearing on this list. To most people, the violin can actually look like a deceptively easy instrument to play at first. If you’ve ever picked one up, however, then you’ll know that it is something that takes a long time to master. That is, if you found the resolve to forget the initial frustration you probably felt when you first tried playing and it sounded less than great.

As one of the hardest instruments to master, the violin is also one that gives you a great feeling of reward when you start to plat to a good standard,

Piano

This is probably the perfect example of an instrument where most people could easily learn a tune or two themselves, butMusic when it comes to more complex sounds and improvising, even pianists who have been playing for years find it a challenging instrument to play.

One of the biggest challenges posed by the piano is that there are few reference points to other instruments, as it is so unique and unlike any other. Like the violin, however, if you are able to train yourself to become an accomplished pianist, the sense of achievement will be huge.

Saxophone

MusicIn terms of technical music, the saxophone is actually one of the more straightforward instruments to pick up and play. However, the difficulties come in all of the intricacies that are involved with the sax.

From the way you hold the instrument to your movements when playing each note, not to mention the type of reed you use, everything needs to be perfect in order for you to get a definitive sound. That is before you even start to think about mastering techniques such as circular breathing – breathing in and out at the same time. However, saxophone lessons are great fun, and they will help you to pick up everything you need to know in order to become a decent level saxophonist.

Drums – From a Band Perspective

Drums are reasonably straightforward to learn, which is why they are the instrument of choice for parents buying for their children, even when they are fully aware of the noise they will make.

However, if you’re a solo drummer, making the transition into drumming in a band situation can be very difficult. Now, you’re not just the drummer, but the leader and pacemaker of the whole band. One mistake, especially in a live situation, can make a whole track sound like an awkward mash-up, making it a much-pressured role.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB900385364.jpg
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB900385375.jpg

Robert is an accomplished guitarist who is more than happy to stick with one instrument. Robert has a lot of admiration for anyone who can play more than one instrument, as well as people who play difficult looking instruments, such as the saxophone and violin, to a competent standard.




Filed Under: Instruments, musical instruments, Playing Styles Tagged With: drums, Hard, learn, musical instruments, Piano, Saxophone, violin

Does bigger drums means a better drummer?

November 18, 2010 by Chris

Is the old saying more is better always correct or what about less is more? Sometimes it is and sometimes …

I ran into this situation a couple of minutes ago. I was watching a neat little video from a drummer name Gavin Harrison. It was a video from a concert that he performed titled Sound of Muzak, in which he and his huge drum kit are the only things on the stage. I must admit that I have never seen a video like this, so I had to watch it in it’s entirety.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzFfNk4xGTE&feature=related

The video is not about a drummer performing inhuman drum solo over and over again, in what seems like eternity!

It shows us a guy who has perfect command of his drumming technique. Gavin’s style shows us that every one of his movements (rolls) are extremely fluid, flowing seamlessly from one drum to another. His drum kit in huge and the sound is just amazing! Now here is where I run into that old saying!

A old buddy of mine, Domenic, has shown us time and time again that he too exhibits these same musical skills as Gavin, but Domenic does so on a much smaller drum kit. He makes his modest gear sound like he is playing on a much larger one. Not that I’m bashing Gavin Harrison, not at all! It’s just that I think, most non musicians out there believe that you must have a lot of drums to produce a sound big. Now listen to by buddy to see what I am getting at.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgXnYew2YRE

So my question to you is does a bigger drum kit mean that you are a better drummer?

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Instruments, musical instruments, Musicians, My experiences, Playing Styles, Video Tagged With: big kit, bigger is better, Domenic Nardone, drummer, drumming, drums, Gavin Harrison, less is more, small kit, technique

Beginners Guide to Percussion Instruments

October 15, 2009 by Chris

Ask almost anyone what exactly is percussion and I bet you they can’t name more than one instrument, if that.

Some instruments in the percussion family are not often thought of as being a percussion instrument. Cymbals and timpani are often thought of as the main focus of percussion and drums in general. The drums in a band one could not do without and are thought of as being the beat or foundation of the sound and rightly so. Drums are not the only percussion as we will see. You will greatly expand your knowledge of music as a whole if you learn one or more of the instruments in the percussion category.

Percussion can be defined as striking one body against another; especially such as gives a sound or report. When you learn piano you are seldom made privy to the manner of its sound production and the fact that it is a percussion instrument. The piano straddles two groups, chordophones and percussion; being a stringed instrument but having the sound produced by hammers striking the strings. Open the piano and see how the hammers strike the strings to grasp the effects of percussion. The sounds of music are produced in many and various ways.

Percussion is divided into other classifications as well. Percussion instruments are either idiophones or membranophones and are defined as instruments that produce sounds through the vibration of their entire body when struck or instruments that have a stretched membrane that vibrates. Some examples of idiophones are the triangle, cymbals and the vibraphone. Membranophone examples are congas, bongos and the tom tom. Whether a definite pitch is produced or not is a further division of percussion instruments.

As many instruments in this area can produce defined pitches, players are often required to learn to read music as it is essential to playing.

Percussion can be much more than what you might think. Percussion instruments can play not only rhythm, but harmony and melody as well. The beat of the music is found in marching band music as well as the modern jazz quartet. Percussion is the soul of music.

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: drum, drums, instrument, instruments, Music, percussion

Drums to go

July 29, 2009 by Chris

This is a perfect gift for all of those drummers that you love, that is always on the move!
Domenic and Chris, if your good little drummers this year, you never know what might end up under the Christmas tree with your name on it!

The drum bike

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Entertainment, Humor, musical instruments Tagged With: drums, drum_humor, drum_humour, funny_bicycles, funny_drums, funny_pics, Humor, humour, pics

The band called Klaatu

December 9, 2008 by Chris

The Canadian Progressive Rock band Klaatu certainly needs no introduction. The myth/rumor of “Klaatu are the Beatles” didn’t hurt the bands career either.

Some of Klaatu’s great compositions are Calling Occupants, Anus of Uranus, Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III and Doctor Marvello just to name a few. Bands just don’t make music like this any more. Where is the passion, ingenuity and originality?

They were so massively talented in so many ways, that I can not possibly begin to tackle all of their skills in just one post! I will try though to sum them up in a couple of simple areas. For the un-anointed, sit back and enjoy a terrestrial ride.

  • The Sentimental Factor
  • Myth/Mystic
  • Sound of the band

First of all there is the sentimental factor. Klaatu was CANADIAN! Their music resonates in Canadian minds of the good times that we, as a country, were experiencing! When I was around 9-10 years of age, I distinctly recall listening over and over to the song Sub Rosa Subway. I would be in my parents backyard, with that old silver Radio Shack AM radio, goofing around with the family doing whatever, just having good old family fun!

As for America’s first subway
The public scoffed, “It’s far too rude”
One station filled with Victoria’s age
From frescoed walls and goldfish fountains….
To Brahmsian tunes …

Next came the mystic of the band. Nearing the end of the Beatles era, a band was rumored to be the actual Beatles working in a clandestine project. Who were these members, where did they come from? It was a mystery and myth to most of us at the time. Everyone who thought that this group was in fact the Beatles, frantically searched through any and all of their past master pieces and for subtle clues. You can see how this would make the rabid fan lose many a nights sleep, looking for their lost heroes, just listen to Klaatu’s sound.

Let’s face it, even the electronic voice analyzer in Australia thought it was Paul McCartney singing Sub Rosa Subway. Dee Long Klaatu

Then came their distinctive sound! In some of their anthems, you could easily hear similarities in the voices.

Klaatu had many fans listening to the bands songs backwards looking for any hidden meanings. To decide for yourself, go to the Klaatu website and click on The MUSIC, in the top left of the site, look down towards the section and click BACKWARDS MESSAGES! You then have to go through a disclaimer that rightfully so, blasted some idiot who illegally took the bands hard work from their site, and created his/her own YouTube video, uploaded it to the site and then had the balls to take credit for it! Fucking idiots!!! It has since been removed by Youtube! They do have the backwards messages section nicely set up and it’s easy to use. It allows you to listen to some of the songs in question, forward and then backwards. The words show up when playing them backwards and it is quite astonishing!

So I hope that you enjoyed the trip! I just loved posting on this topic. I hope to keep the art of fine Canadian Progressive Rock music alive!

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Canadian, Great Bands, Music, Musicians, Playing Styles, Songs to play, Toronto Bands, Video Tagged With: bass, beatleish, Beatles, beatles_like_band, beatle_esque, candian_band, cherry beach toronto, drums, guitar, John_Lennon, keyboards, Klaatu, multiple_instruments, OPD, paul_McCartney, progressive_rock_band, psychedelic, psychedelic_music, sound, toronto_band

Late in the Evening drumming

November 14, 2007 by Chris

This is a song that I just love playing! It has everything a player, with heavy rythum guitar influences would want.

The rhythm is very catchy. It’s Simon and Garfunkel so everyone has at least heard the song one. The chord can be played in such a way that they all open with really big fat sounds to them!

stevegadd.jpg The biggest thing about this tune is the drummer is and drumming itself. I can play the drums at a decent level but I would love to play this song the way that only Steve Gadd can.

I have never seen a drummer play with 2 sticks in his hand but this guy certainly does and he does it well!

If your a drummer looking at this post here is a challenge for you! Go get on your kit and try this one out. Wait until you reach 0:48 on the video counter at the bottom left of the screen. Try it out and get back to us! If your not a drummer, go and get the old pots and pans out or if your not that ambitious then do it air drumming style!

Enjoy.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDU9691Q-Uw&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Entertainment, Music, Musicians, Songs to play, Video Tagged With: big fat, decent level, drummer, drums, fun, guitar, guitar influences, heavy, late in the evening, love song, play, playing, pots and pans, rhythm, simon garfunkel, sound, sounds, Steve Gadd, Steve Gadd with simon and garfunkel, studio drummer

The Christian Rock Band

September 1, 2006 by Chris

Mrs. Lord, I think, arranged for a Christian Rock band play at our elementary school one time and this is what sent me on my journey to where I am today. To this day I am still trying to to find out what the the name of that band was.

They had showed up at our school with this touring bus that looked like the Partridge Family bus and it was amazing to look at. It had real groovy colours and patterns in the design. It looked like the Big Top just pulled in, well to a little kid anyway.

They were a 5 piece band with long hair. There was 3 men (guitar, drums and bass) and 2 women(Keyboards,flutes and tambourines).

When we went into our class, after the beginning/morning bell rang for us to go in, the anticipation was so thick that you could cut it with a knife! The morning had pasted and we where called in for the afternoon. As they were doing their sound check, my heart was racing so fast and I was literally bouncing off the walls! Mrs. Lord knew that I was going to go inter ballistic so, to make sure I wasn’t anymore of a distraction then usual, she asked me if I would see how the band was doing. Thank God the door was open or I would have bolted right through the damn thing.

As I entered the gym, the regular lights were out, the bands lights were being worked on and they were tuning and talking to each other. It was at this time that I think that I had an outer body experience!

I just stood there right in front of the stage and absorbed everything I could. I saw these glittering drums these big tall black things with lights and knobs on it (it must have been a Marshall, full stack) these things that a women was playing on the right side if the stage, that sounded like an organ one time and then the next moment sounded like a whole herd of violins that sounded much better then the grade 8 class ever did!

I had never heard a keyboard with such a full, wild sound like that before. Our church organ/keyboard had a traditional sound and feel, but seeing and hearing this electric keyboard\organ thing was wild! This was a change from the organist at our church which was always a man. I was trying to listen to both the guitar player and keyboardist but I was just in ahhhhh with what they were doing.

Finally the whole school was asked to go in and the event that was going to change my life was about to start!

When we were all seated on the floor, I didn’t sit with my classmates. I sat right in the middle and if anyone would have tried to ask me to go to where my class was sitting, I think that … well they wouldn’t be with us anymore.

The lights then went down and this very eerie music that made me feel very strange and scared, started to play! Then after minute pasted, a flash of light appeared and the transformation had begun. The lights were flashing and the POWER CHORDS brought me to another place in my mind!

Throughout the whole show I thought that I was the one that they were playing for, nobody else! I watched intensely as they played, the drummer was sooo powerful and the guitar solos made me feel like I was literally floating in the air. I finally looked around and saw kids holding their ears and running out of the gym, what the hell where they running from?I thought, GREAT, I hope they all leave and I can have this experience all to myself.

When the show was over I started screaming like some crazy girl at a Leif Garret show. For those not familiar with this guy, go and google him! Then everyone started screaming and screaming! Finally they came out for an ovation! They did this acapella thing that was a lot better then the harmonies that we did for mass and that stuck with me too!

After the show, we could go up and ask them questions and I told the guitarist that I too was a guitar player and he said that was great! He said keep practicing the basics and go VERY SLOWLY with it at first and then I will get faster later. Mrs. Lord then added that I was a good guitar player and she wanted to see if he would listen, and he said yes. I wasn’t nervous about anything back then so I played the band some songs and they liked it!

I got a chance to see them pack things up, and I watched them drive away. The guitar player drove away with one of the women in the band on the back of his motor cycle, wow, I knew then that this is what I wanted to be!

Has anyone ever had an experience like this in their life that changed them in such a drastic direction?

Keep on jamming everyone!

Filed Under: The early Years Tagged With: acapella, band, bass, Christian rock, christian rock band, class, drums, guitar, keyboard, power chords, school, St. Pius X elementary school Brantford Ontario, tamborine, The early Years

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