Drum kit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Drum kit |
 |
|
1 Bass drum | 2 Floor tom | 3 Snare | 4 Toms | 5 Hi-hat | 6 Crash cymbal and Ride cymbal |
| Other components |
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China cymbal | Cowbell | Sizzle cymbal | |
A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is mostly a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer.
The drummer uses drum sticks to strike the drum head and to create a vibration. Bass drum pedals are used for the bass drum. The hi-hat is usually controlled also by a pedal, connected via a stand.
Contents |
[edit] History
Early drum kits were known as trap kits (from contraption) and are one of the most contemporary members of the membranophone family. The term survives in the term trap case still given to a case used to transport stands, pedals, sticks, and miscellaneous percussion instruments, still commonly called traps. These early kits usually consisted of a bass drum, a snare drum on a stand, a small cymbal and other small percussion instruments mounted on the bass drum or a small table, all played with drum sticks or brushes except for the bass drum. This drum is operated with one or more mechanical pedals, which convert the vertical motion of the foot to a horizontal striking motion. Due to being played with the foot (and to help distinguish from the bass guitar), the bass drum is also often referred to as the "kick" drum.
[edit] Modern kits and components
The exact collection of components to a drum kit varies greatly according to musical style, personal preference, financial resources, and transportation options of the drummer (See Breakables for more information about personalizing). At a minimum a kit usually contains 5 basic "pieces": bass drum sitting on the floor and played with a pedal, a snare drum on a stand, one tom-tom, mounted on top of the bass drum, and a floor tom (on the floor - hence the word "floor tom"), a hi-hat (sometimes known as a 'sock' cymbal) comprising two small cymbals played by means of pedal usually with the left foot for a right handed player. The set generally will also contain "ride" cymbals that are played in steady patterns to maintain the meter, and "crash" cymbals which are struck forcefully to provide accents.
[edit] Kit additions and variations
Kit variations come along with different playing styles and levels of playing. Some drummers may add a second bass drum (played by whichever foot that controls the hi-hat), double bass pedals (a single unit setup employing two pedals hooked together and two beaters fixed up to a single bass drum, which is played with both feet), additional toms, auxiliary drums, more cymbals, tambourines, wood blocks, cowbells, electronic pads that trigger sampled sounds, or any of a whole galaxy of accessory instruments. Some drummers, such as Billy Cobham, Dave Lombardo, Virgil Donati, Neil Peart, Terry Bozzio, Keith Moon and Mike Portnoy have gone to extreme lengths and built massive kits including features such as ranges of tuned tom-toms, allowing them to contribute melodically as well as rhythmically. These huge kits reached their zenith in the arena rock of the 1980s, and the trend since then has been towards a smaller instrument such as John Bonham's five-piece set. To this day, Dale Crover epitomizes the use of the massive kit, using large 18" floor toms as rack toms and bass drums for floor toms, as heard best on the Melvins' "Bullhead" recording.
[edit] Electronic drums
The first electronic drums were used in the early 1970's (and recorded by Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake and Palmer) with the development of the synthesiser, it was inevitable that the drums would eventually be incorporated into the electronic sound. During the early 1980's drummers such as Bill Bruford of King Crimson incorporated large electronic setups within their acoustic setups and in Bruford's case almost completely diminished the need for acoustic drums. These drums were primarily made by the now defunct Simmons company and later by Tama of Japan. Although many criticised the use of electronic drums; there is a wider level of acceptance now and indeed some drummers such as Akira Jimbo and Tony Verderosa incorporate electronics into their sets in an interesting and innovative way.
Yamaha, Roland and many others have created electronic drum sets which use pads or triggers (mounted on acoustic drums) to play sampled or synthesized sounds (see DTX). The trend in electronics since the late 1980s has been away from overtly electronic sounds and more towards an intensified acoustic sound.
Not only has the sound of electronic drums changed considerably towards a more naturalistic approach, indeed the 'feel' of electronic pads has also changed. With companies like Roland and Pintech offering their popular 'Mesh' or 'V-drum' pads; designed to emulate the 'feel' of a real drum head. Yamaha offers rubber pads also designed to mimic the feel of 'real' drums. Originally, the feel of electronic pads was very hard and unforgiving and as a result many drummers suffered from wrist pains and other related injuries. On the plus side, these surfaces offered a high level of rebound, making it easier to play double stroke rolls up and down the toms. Some drummers looked down upon this, while others took advantage. Drum pads are smaller than real drums, so the drummer can be more visible than behind a kit of traditional drums for greater prominence on stage.
Rick Allen, drummer of hard rock band Def Leppard, had a custom electronic drum kit made after a car accident in 1984 in which he lost his left arm, using footpedals triggering samples via MIDI to play with his left foot what he would have formerly with his left arm. Over the years various kits have been made incorporating differing amounts of acoustic drums (snare and kick, most usually) along with the electronics to return to a more "acoustic" tone, with the samples triggered by the electronic pads recorded to match, depending on the band's and popular music's direction at the time. Drummers Chris Vrenna, Jerome Dillon, and Josh Freese of Nine Inch Nails have also incorporated electronic pads and electronics into acoustic kits to trigger either electronic drum tones or completely non-drum sounds such as sound effects or the triggering of automated "click tracks" to start the band at the correct tempo. Mike Portnoy of progressive rock band Dream Theater falls under the latter category, having two pads on either side of his kit to start the correct tempos and changing time signatures throughout the band's complex songs.
Omar Hakim (Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Dire Straits, Mariah Carey, Madonna, David Bowie, etc) was one of the first mainstream drummers to really take electronic drums seriously. He toured to promote Roland's vDrum line of electronic drums for several years, and continues to promote them to this day.
[edit] Drum set notation
Notation of drum kit music once commonly employed the bass clef, but a neutral clef of two parallel vertical lines, sometimes referred to as the percussion or drum clef, is usually preferred now. (All note letter names in the "Techniques" section refer to the bass clef.) Drum set notation is not standardized, although there are some common conventions. It is usual to label each instrument and technique when it is introduced or to add an explanatory footnote on the score or part or to provide a drum legend to clarify this.
[edit] Techniques
Rolls: Diagonal lines across stem (or above whole note). Open hi-hat: o above high-G X. Closed hi-hat: + above high-G X. Rim click: X in E snare space. Rim shot: Diagonal slash through note head. Brush sweep: Horizontal line (replacing note head) in E snare space with slur to show brush is not lifted.
[edit] Dynamic accents
[edit] Anti-accents
- Slightly softer than surrounding notes: u (breve above or below--inverted--notehead)
- Significantly softer than surrounding notes: ( ) (note head in parentheses)
- Much softer than surrounding notes: [ ] (note head in brackets)
(Ghost note is a less formal alternative term which may refer either to anti-accentuation in general or to a particular degree of anti-accentuation--ghost notes are often considered to be especially faint.)
[edit] See also
| Audio samples | ||
|---|---|---|
| Component | Content | Audio (Ogg Vorbis) |
| Snare | Unmuffled snare drum | 53 KB |
| Muffled snare drum | 37 KB | |
| Rim click on a snare | 46 KB | |
| Bass drum | Muffled bass drum | 54 KB |
| Toms | 8-inch rack tom | 59 KB |
| 12-inch rack tom | 41 KB | |
| Floor tom | 39 KB | |
| Hi-hat | Closed hi-hat | 41 KB |
| Open hi-hat | 58 KB | |
| Hi-hat being opened and closed by its foot pedal | 48 KB | |
| Crash | Crash cymbal | 52 KB |
| Ride | Hit normally | 61 KB |
| Hit on the bell of the cymbal | 71 KB | |
| Hit on the rim | 67 KB | |
| Beat | A typical rock beat on hi-hat | 95 KB |
| Typical rock beat on ride cymbal | 89 KB | |
| See the Drums category at Wikipedia Commons for more | ||
[edit] External links
- Drum Recording Tutorial - a thorough guide to recording & mixing drums.
- Drummerworld.com - A site full of videos and pictures of famous jazz and rock drummers. Also includes a forum.
- DrumTips.com- Over 1000 Drum Related Tips.
- Tomás Howie Drumming Web - The articles and exercises are intended to help you become a better drummer.
- Pearl Drummers Forum - Largest Drumming forum on the web with many educational resources and tips.
- mikedolbear.com - Largest online drum magazine on the web.
