Power Play?

Hi,

I've been playing drums for more than 2 years.. but i've got this doubt about my technique.

I've played many gigs till now and have played well.. but there are some fellows (having no connection to instruments) who tell me to STRIKE the heads HARDER.. i mean, i've also seen some fellow drummers striking way too hard (and i need to mention that i play better).. This makes me feel that it generates more NOISE rather than Music and there's no need when u've got the Microphones.

I've this habit of playing a little gently.. although i use Power in KICK/BASS and some patterns but generally i play lite-handed.
Is it incorrect?? I mean are Drums meant to be BASHED real hard?? Is that the "Proper" way?

Please Advice.

Thanks.....

I'm not sure I understand this post.
Keeping aside the fact that we haven't heard you, you say you play better than the others who hit harder, you said that hitting hard sounds to you more like noise than music...
What kind of answer do you expect exactly? You kind of came to a conclusion yourself.
Do you need us to confirm what?

The only advice I can give is, after only 2 years on the road, listen "openly" to the advices that fellow drummers give you. I don't believe that people is approaching you to tell you that you suck cause you're not loud enough. They have, more likely, noticed something in your play that could use some improvement.

In short, stay humble, if you want to learn.

ktz said:

I'm not sure I understand this post.


In short, stay humble, if you want to learn.

Click to expand...

umm... Sir,

You kindda got me wrong there. I'm really sorry if it sounded offensive, it wasn't meant to be.
By the statement, i "play" better, was in comparison to THOSE fellows who are with me HERE.. my friends who don't PLAY drums and some drummers who've just STARTED playing (But Strike the kit Hard as Hell'). They advice me on PLAYING HARD cause for them Drumming means Bashing up Hard!
But from what i learned so far, Music is the key, and playing lite-handed (softly) generates better sound.

Is playing soft, the wrong way on Drums?

Is STRIKING the Drums VERY HARD (~like Dave Grohl) the ONLY correct way of playing?

Anyways, thanks for the reply.

Utkikillz said:

umm... Sir,

You kindda got me wrong there. I'm really sorry if it sounded offensive, it wasn't meant to be.
By the statement, i "play" better, was in comparison to THOSE fellows who are with me HERE.. my friends who don't PLAY drums and some drummers who've just STARTED playing (But Strike the kit Hard as Hell'). They advice me on PLAYING HARD cause for them Drumming means Bashing up Hard!
But from what i learned so far, Music is the key, and playing lite-handed (softly) generates better sound.

Is playing soft, the wrong way on Drums?

Is STRIKING the Drums VERY HARD (~like Dave Grohl) the ONLY correct way of playing?

Anyways, thanks for the reply.

Click to expand...

In short, no. There's more than one dynamic on drums, and many styles call for a light touch.

Your friends are buying into an often-perpetuated stereotype that in order to be a "cool" or "successful" drummer you have to bash the crap of of your kit.... not true.

Don't worry about what "they" say, because "they" rarely ever get it right. Worry about you and getting that next gig, or learning that next thing.

Different styles of music and venues have different volume requirements.

Also, internal dynamics are important. You may be bashing the hi-hats loudly playing a rock groove, but if you're gently tapping the snare, then it won't sound good. Sometimes, comments about playing volume from other musicians are really about getting the dynamics of the voices within your drum set correct. A driving, rimshot backbeat on the snare and a powerful bass drum driving the music, etc.

It's hard to diagnose without hearing examples.

Are you playing metal? I've seen metal drummers with loud feet but are just tapping with their hands and I've never heard one that I thought grooved. The grooviest metal players I've seen tend to have a meaty backbeat, Danny Carey for instance.

If you're playing rock and you find you prefer playing lighter than most, maybe you'd be more in your element learning blues, soul, funk and pop?

Depends on the style of music, and ultimately, the gig at hand.

But playing hard isn't just about making more noise, it's about the attitude behind the hit.

If it's a loud rock band, often the singer and guitar player want a nice kick in the butt coming off the drum kit that only really comes from an aggressive hard hitting approach.

But of course, if you're playing blues and classic rock at a small bar, hard hitting probably isn't appropriate.