3 Things You Don't Need on Your Drum Kit
Everybody in the gear world wants to tell you all the things you need for your drum kit. Well I'm here to tell you what you don't.
Here's three things you can leave home on Sunday.
1. The Double Kick Pedal
For most styles of music including worship, you want to keep you kick pattern simple and solid and a lot of drummers have a hard enough time doing that with one pedal. Double kick patterns can become distracting. Now if you play a lot of Van Halen in your off time, it might be worth having one, but leave it at home on Sunday.
2. A Gazillion Toms
When I first started playing drums I wanted the biggest and most impressive kit around. I had 8", 10" and 12" rack toms and 14" and 16" floor toms and I looked ridiculous. Now I just play one rack tom and one on the floor. Having less toms (or drums in general) actually pushes you to be more creative with your grooves. Not to mention it looks a lot cleaner and there's less to setup/tear down. Can I get an "Amen"?
3. The Gong Show
I used to play a ton of cymbals to go with that huge tom collection, but I've come to realize that you should be able to get away with a set of hats, a ride and a crash. That's not to say I wouldn't bring another cymbal or two into the mix depending on the sound for a certain song, but I've played full gigs with a set of hats and a ride and wasn't left wanting.
Comments
This is awesome. Add a set of
Submitted by Jenna on September 24, 2015 - 5:20pm.
This is awesome. Add a set of chimes and specifically, a splash cymbal.
YES!!!
Submitted by Jason Houtsma on September 28, 2015 - 10:29am.
As long as you keep the cowbell it's all good.
Generally agree
Submitted by Ktoeller on December 4, 2016 - 7:38am.
It depends on the style of music. A 2nd floor is nice to have for many Hillsong-ish arrangements, and those higher toms - 8 & 10 - can really help pop some gospel arrangements. That said, I don't enjoy carrying the extra stuff around either, so I tend to base my setup on what the music calls for... if I don't need it, it stays home.
Right on!!
Submitted by Josh Ward on December 4, 2016 - 8:01am.
I can totally agree with that one! Very good point. :)
IDK
Submitted by ytreval on January 24, 2017 - 8:11pm.
We have 6 piece Rolond V-20 at my Church 1-snare,2 rack toms and 2 floor toms with bass pad and 3 cymbal pads 2 crash and 3 zone ride and hi-hats of course. And I use a PDP 502 double bass pedal in some songs, you can use them in Churches but use them wisely. I also used a double bass 9 piece kit with 6 Zildjin Crash Cymbals and 2 Zildjian Splash and Zildjian Ride and Chimes. Again you have to use your head and your kit wisely. Although small kits are fun to play to as like the author stated it makes you think about your fills when you only have 3 drums + bass to use and not 6 toms +2 basses. And In Worship music you ALWAYS have to watch your dynamics.Have a Blessed Day and Happy Drumming. God Bless
There's a balance to be struck
Submitted by bonohodge on February 5, 2018 - 12:54am.
I am sure it wasn't ment this way, but as soon as I see the words 'you should be able to get away with', I feel a bit uncomfortable; after all, the point of worship drumming is that we are not doing it for ourselves, but to bring our very best offering for the Lord and to serve the congregation.
If you have the luxury of being able to bring your own kit, then plan it according to the songs you are playing. A smaller kit can encourage you to be more creative and certainly helps set up/pack down time. But sometimes it's the unexpected sounds or the varierty of voices that you can add that can help breathe new life into a song.
So, think about what you are setting up and why - is it for your benefit and satisfaction, or to give the very best you can for the Lord and for the people you are serving? Is the big set up a disguise for needing to work on creativity and technique? Does that extra set up time put everyone else under extra pressure?
But never have the attitude of getting away with something, whether that is your practice and preparation, your playing, our gear, or how you live the rest of the week.
Snare tuning
Submitted by blackonblack on April 4, 2022 - 6:03pm.
Hey Josh,
The video you made on tuning a snare drum with an Evans drum key. Is that still around?
Thanks Bill
Snare tuning
Submitted by blackonblack on April 4, 2022 - 6:04pm.
Hey Josh,
The video you made on tuning a snare drum with an Evans drum key. Is that still around?
Thanks Bill