anyone else set drums closer than kick allows?

[Quadricept]

I set up my snare and toms close to my body. I sit bolt upright and have
mounted the rack toms on a stand to slide them in further than any kick mount
would allow.
I bet my snare is a good 12" in from the kick hoop toward me. This extends my
legs quite a bit as you can imagine, letting the beaters out of the kick
easily. I feel a firmer center of gravity like this and my elbows rarely travel
forward more than a couple if inches.

Is this wrong/ uncommon? Everyone else I've seen out, or sat in for, seems to
set everything up so far away? Their toms don't even break the plane of the
batter kick head.

***
"Yo, play faster" -Thomas Hannum
"underwater fight scenes are the drum solos of movies" -Servo

[joem]

Quadricept wanted everyone in rec.music.makers.percussion to know that
> Is this wrong/

whatever's comfortable for you is correct for you.

> uncommon?

somewhat. I have seen some people do this. but not as drastic as you
describe.

> Everyone else I've seen out, or sat in for, seems to
> set everything up so far away? Their toms don't even break the plane of the
> batter kick head.

mine is close to that situation. the snare sits about 2-3" in from the
batter head of the BD.

and presently I have no rack tom positioning issues; I've removed it for
now. it's made me look at the kit in a completely different manner. :-)

--
Joe.

"you're an electronic girl...i'm a rock guy...i don't think we have a
chance." - storm&stress

[kyrre laastad]

> and presently I have no rack tom positioning issues; I've removed it for
> now. it's made me look at the kit in a completely different manner. :-)

you`re my man! no toms is fuuuuun.

i set the kick up so that it is quite a bit of distance from my foot and so
that it points away from my body so that it sort of prolongs my natural foot
movement. not as drastically as you, though.

my internet is working again; yollyhoo (is that even a word? if not it
should be!)

peace on earth,
-k

[joem]

kyrre laastad wanted everyone in rec.music.makers.percussion to know that
>> and presently I have no rack tom positioning issues; I've removed it for
>> now. it's made me look at the kit in a completely different manner. :-)
>
> you`re my man! no toms is fuuuuun.

well, I still have the floor tom up for now. I removed it for ahwile,
but then brought it back. I don't have a huge problem with overplaying
that drum; it's mainly just used for accenting.

but now, I'm using:
bosphorus 14" traditional light hats, 21" masters ride and 22" flat ride
spaun 16x20" BD and 14x14" FT
brady 5-1/2x14" jarrah block snare

I spend the majority of my time playing BD/snare/hats or BD/snare/flat ride.
I'm excited about this simplification, if you can't tell. :-)

--
Joe.

"you're an electronic girl...i'm a rock guy...i don't think we have a
chance." - storm&stress

[kyrre laastad]

"joem" <jmelnyk@REMOVE_THIS_PARTcs.kent.edu> skrev i melding
news:slrnbk27co.j4p.jmelnyk@localhost.localdomain. ..
> well, I still have the floor tom up for now. I removed it for ahwile,
> but then brought it back. I don't have a huge problem with overplaying
> that drum; it's mainly just used for accenting.

me neither; except that it`s one more drum to carry to the gig ; )

> but now, I'm using:
> bosphorus 14" traditional light hats, 21" masters ride and 22" flat ride
> spaun 16x20" BD and 14x14" FT
> brady 5-1/2x14" jarrah block snare

my small kit is

22" 60s pearl bd, 14x5,5 ayotte woodhooped 6-ply snare, 13" k/z hat (not too
satisfied with this, in the search for a more silky one) and a 20" old
paiste 505 medium/light ride from the 70s methinks.

when i play with toms, i have a 16" cymbal and a 14" with rivets which
sounds great.

> I spend the majority of my time playing BD/snare/hats or BD/snare/flat
ride.
> I'm excited about this simplification, if you can't tell. :-)

yeah, same here. i use a lot of brushes and my bare hands when i use this
setup too. when there are so few different sources of sound you really force
yourself to explore each and every sound of the drum or cymbal.

peace,
-k

[joem]

kyrre laastad wanted everyone in rec.music.makers.percussion to know that
> me neither; except that it`s one more drum to carry to the gig ; )

exactly!

> my small kit is
>
> 22" 60s pearl bd, 14x5,5 ayotte woodhooped 6-ply snare, 13" k/z hat (not too
> satisfied with this, in the search for a more silky one)

I'm not too fond of those hats, really. depends on the situation, of course.

> and a 20" old
> paiste 505 medium/light ride from the 70s methinks.

I'll bet that 505 sounds sweet!

> when i play with toms, i have a 16" cymbal and a 14" with rivets which
> sounds great.

I actually add a rivet ride as well (20" bosphorus hammer)

> yeah, same here. i use a lot of brushes and my bare hands when i use this
> setup too. when there are so few different sources of sound you really force
> yourself to explore each and every sound of the drum or cymbal.

well, I do that pretty often anyway. this new project I'm trying to get
going forces me to concentrate on a consistent, great groove (while I
add drum machine parts and various other electronic supplements). so
my idea of slimming down the kit was to increase my focus and decrease
my chance of straying from the groove. :-)

--
Joe.

"you're an electronic girl...i'm a rock guy...i don't think we have a
chance." - storm&stress

[kyrre laastad]

"joem" <jmelnyk@REMOVE_THIS_PARTcs.kent.edu> skrev i melding
news:slrnbk2b39.j6k.jmelnyk@localhost.localdomain. ..
> kyrre laastad wanted everyone in rec.music.makers.percussion to know that
> > 22" 60s pearl bd, 14x5,5 ayotte woodhooped 6-ply snare, 13" k/z hat (not
too
> > satisfied with this, in the search for a more silky one)

> I'm not too fond of those hats, really. depends on the situation, of
course.

me neither, guess i was once, though. i`m looking for something really thin
to give me that silky wash when played half open, and still sounds good when
played closed and preferably the bottom cymbal would sound sweet too. i am
contemplating on finding one with rivets.

> > and a 20" old
> > paiste 505 medium/light ride from the 70s methinks.
>
> I'll bet that 505 sounds sweet!

i think that it is really lovely. nice definition but also a gorgeous wash.

> > when i play with toms, i have a 16" cymbal and a 14" with rivets which
> > sounds great.
>
> I actually add a rivet ride as well (20" bosphorus hammer)

rivet rides are fun ; ) you sure have a lot of cymbals going on with the
kit. but i think that is great, there are so many way to utilize a cymbal
and when playing elektronika, several different cymbals are indeed something
that is quite useable. i would contemplate on using a _really_ dry cymbal as
well.

> > yeah, same here. i use a lot of brushes and my bare hands when i use
this
> > setup too. when there are so few different sources of sound you really
force
> > yourself to explore each and every sound of the drum or cymbal.
>
> well, I do that pretty often anyway. this new project I'm trying to get
> going forces me to concentrate on a consistent, great groove (while I
> add drum machine parts and various other electronic supplements). so
> my idea of slimming down the kit was to increase my focus and decrease
> my chance of straying from the groove. :-)

another fun thing to do (i guess, i haven`t been able to afford it yet) is
to use 2 hi-hats; one on the hi-hat stand and one on a boom where the rack
tom usually would be. then you could play vontrasting patterns with the left
foot - right hand. i`d like that. *mental note: get two hi-hats*

i`ve been lsitening a lot to vespertine by björk lately. that record is
fantastic. matmos`s programming on that record is to say the least _very_
inspiring. it`s also a very hard and challenging record to play along to.

peace,
-k

[joem]

kyrre laastad wanted everyone in rec.music.makers.percussion to know that
> rivet rides are fun ; ) you sure have a lot of cymbals going on with the
> kit.

not really. two cymbals and hi-hats usually; whether I'm playing with
toms or without. I only occasionally add the third (rivet) cymbal.
that's certainly not "a lot" of cymbals. at least, not to me. though, it
is probably the most I'll ever use at one time :-) I just get
uncomfortable with more.

> but i think that is great, there are so many way to utilize a cymbal
> and when playing elektronika, several different cymbals are indeed something
> that is quite useable. i would contemplate on using a _really_ dry cymbal as
> well.

yeah, that is quite fun. I'm not really shooting for an elektronika
sound with my kit (though my electronic sound is "Elektron"ika, since
my drum machine is by a company called Elektron :-), though. I guess
just somewhere between jazzy and funky, while still keeping a large
breadth of sound options from each sound source. if that makes sense...

> another fun thing to do (i guess, i haven`t been able to afford it yet) is
> to use 2 hi-hats; one on the hi-hat stand and one on a boom where the rack
> tom usually would be. then you could play vontrasting patterns with the left
> foot - right hand. i`d like that. *mental note: get two hi-hats*

probably just as much fun as playing with two snares, no? :-)

> i`ve been lsitening a lot to vespertine by björk lately. that record is
> fantastic. matmos`s programming on that record is to say the least _very_
> inspiring. it`s also a very hard and challenging record to play along to.

I've never been too into bjork, really. is there really some intense
programming on her records? I thought she might be more into that stuff,
since she recently had Squarepusher (who I'm coincidentally listening to
as I write this) opening some of her US dates; including some stadium
shows. I can't imagine that - Squarepusher at a stadium!

--
Joe.

"you're an electronic girl...i'm a rock guy...i don't think we have a
chance." - storm&stress

[kyrre laastad]

"joem" <jmelnyk@REMOVE_THIS_PARTcs.kent.edu> skrev i melding
news:slrnbk4f8f.l9a.jmelnyk@localhost.localdomain. ..
> kyrre laastad wanted everyone in rec.music.makers.percussion to know that
> > rivet rides are fun ; ) you sure have a lot of cymbals going on with the
> > kit.
>
> not really. two cymbals and hi-hats usually; whether I'm playing with
> toms or without. I only occasionally add the third (rivet) cymbal.
> that's certainly not "a lot" of cymbals. at least, not to me. though, it
> is probably the most I'll ever use at one time :-) I just get
> uncomfortable with more.

sorry bout that. i was in my BD, snare, hi-hat and one cymbal mode. and it
was laaaate; ) you`re right though, three cymbals aren`t much at all. i use
that as well when playing with toms.


> > but i think that is great, there are so many way to utilize a cymbal
> > and when playing elektronika, several different cymbals are indeed
something
> > that is quite useable. i would contemplate on using a _really_ dry
cymbal as
> > well.
>
> yeah, that is quite fun. I'm not really shooting for an elektronika
> sound with my kit (though my electronic sound is "Elektron"ika, since
> my drum machine is by a company called Elektron :-), though. I guess
> just somewhere between jazzy and funky, while still keeping a large
> breadth of sound options from each sound source. if that makes sense...

it does. i just figured that it`s be more electronic since you would do
programming as well..:)

> > another fun thing to do (i guess, i haven`t been able to afford it yet)
is
> > to use 2 hi-hats; one on the hi-hat stand and one on a boom where the
rack
> > tom usually would be. then you could play vontrasting patterns with the
left
> > foot - right hand. i`d like that. *mental note: get two hi-hats*
>
> probably just as much fun as playing with two snares, no? :-)

yeah. but still different when you`re trying to emulate electronic sounds;
it is more usual to use multiple hi-hat sounds on programmed grooves than
several different snare sounds. plus you can play different combinations
between hand foot stuff.

> > i`ve been lsitening a lot to vespertine by björk lately. that record is
> > fantastic. matmos`s programming on that record is to say the least
_very_
> > inspiring. it`s also a very hard and challenging record to play along
to.
>
> I've never been too into bjork, really. is there really some intense
> programming on her records? I thought she might be more into that stuff,
> since she recently had Squarepusher (who I'm coincidentally listening to
> as I write this) opening some of her US dates; including some stadium
> shows. I can't imagine that - Squarepusher at a stadium!

yeah, the programming on her later discs are at times very intense. on the
homogenic record she used lots of sounds sampled from the nature of iceland,
geysirs, rain and such. you should check out the vespertine album, though,
it is quite extraordinary. lovely programming and even more so lovely
melodies.

> --
> Joe.

-k

[joem]

kyrre laastad wanted everyone in rec.music.makers.percussion to know that
> it does. i just figured that it`s be more electronic since you would
> do programming as well..:)

well, yes. :-) I'd like to get some of the more electronic sounding
cymbals and such. for example, I really dig the 18" remix breakbeat
ride; and I'd like a 10" or 12" snare. but they're not really a
priority right now; mainly because if I want electronic-sounding stuff,
I'll just program it.

> yeah. but still different when you`re trying to emulate
> electronic sounds; it is more usual to use multiple hi-hat
> sounds on programmed grooves than several different snare sounds.
> plus you can play different combinations between hand foot stuff.

this is true, I guess. but I hear a lot of both of them,
really. you'll hear ghost note simulations with a different snare
sound then you'll hear on the louder more backbeat-ish hits. but
very often, you're right, there are subtle hi-hat combinations that
fatten things up a bit. that's actually one of my favorite things
to do to increase an electronic groove.

> yeah, the programming on her later discs are at times very
> intense. on the homogenic record she used lots of sounds sampled
> from the nature of iceland, geysirs, rain and such. you should check
> out the vespertine album, though, it is quite extraordinary. lovely
> programming and even more so lovely melodies.

cool. I'll add it to the very lengthy list of stuff I'll be
getting in the future (once I pay off my credit card) :-)

--
Joe.

"you're an electronic girl...i'm a rock guy...i don't think we have a
chance." - storm&stress

[kyrre laastad]

"joem" <jmelnyk@REMOVE_THIS_PARTcs.kent.edu> skrev i melding
news:slrnbk73vv.oh1.jmelnyk@localhost.localdomain. ..
> kyrre laastad wanted everyone in rec.music.makers.percussion to know that
> > it does. i just figured that it`s be more electronic since you would
> > do programming as well..:)
>
> well, yes. :-) I'd like to get some of the more electronic sounding
> cymbals and such. for example, I really dig the 18" remix breakbeat
> ride; and I'd like a 10" or 12" snare. but they're not really a
> priority right now; mainly because if I want electronic-sounding stuff,
> I'll just program it.

good point, joe. i`ve been experimenting with deadening up cymbals with
tape, lately. a really dead cymbal with a chain on it can be a part of some
really interesting grooves if you let it sizzle for a given length of the
bar and then choke it.
i find it quite similar to the bursts of gated noise that you sometimes hear
in programmed grooves.
i want to set up a kit consisting of three or fours snares in different
sizes and with different sounds, a two different bd (one large, one smal)
two hi-hats and a huge cymbal with a chain on it. if i only had the money.
it would be a living hell to set up in a way tat i can reach everything.

> > yeah. but still different when you`re trying to emulate
> > electronic sounds; it is more usual to use multiple hi-hat
> > sounds on programmed grooves than several different snare sounds.
> > plus you can play different combinations between hand foot stuff.
>
> this is true, I guess. but I hear a lot of both of them,
> really. you'll hear ghost note simulations with a different snare
> sound then you'll hear on the louder more backbeat-ish hits. but
> very often, you're right, there are subtle hi-hat combinations that
> fatten things up a bit. that's actually one of my favorite things
> to do to increase an electronic groove.

that`s true. i want both to be honest ; )

> > yeah, the programming on her later discs are at times very
> > intense. on the homogenic record she used lots of sounds sampled
> > from the nature of iceland, geysirs, rain and such. you should check
> > out the vespertine album, though, it is quite extraordinary. lovely
> > programming and even more so lovely melodies.
>
> cool. I'll add it to the very lengthy list of stuff I'll be
> getting in the future (once I pay off my credit card) :-)

do that, you won`t regret it! (methinks)

> --
> Joe.

-k