Option of instrument on drums Part 4

Hi! Welcome back to my blog! I wrote about optional instruments on drums last time. I'll introduce more optional instruments today.

First, I'll introduce the "Roto tom" which is a kind of tom-tom that has a spinning frame in the head. The sound is dry. This tom is used by a drummer who wants to accent the musical pitch. Some people use only one, but the other people use several. When this tom's frame is spun, it changes the tensile force of the head, so it can change the pitch. It is difficult to change the pitch while playing music except tympani, but this tom has the ability to change the pitch. It is possible to use it in various genres and it is useful, but you need a sixth sense and music sense. Also it's so difficult for beginner drummers to use it. There are 3 reasons.

1. There is no drum barrel, so the sound's volume is small.
2. Tuning is difficult.
3. Sound's direction is various, therefore miking is complicated.

I prepared two images and a video. The video is from Guitar Center.

This is a Roto tom.

There is Roto tom near the snare drum.

A "gong drum" is a kind of effect drum which is produced by TAMA in the late 1970's. The size is almost same as a bass drum and drums head is only at the top. The drum's sound is very deep and low, and sustain is longer. The function is like a floor tom.
I prepared two images and a video.　The video is from COOP3RDRUMM3R.

This is a gong drum.

There is a gong drum near the floor tom. 

 

A "melodic tom" is a single-head tom tom, but the drum has only a top head and has pitch. There are 8 toms totally and the drum has pitch, we called them "eight tom" or "melo tom" (only Japanese maybe...). The sound has no afterglow and it's dry.
Sorry, I can't find an image, but I found a video. I use a video from jannevaatainen.

Finally, I'll talk about "Canon toms". This tom is called different names by different companies. For example, Pearl calls it "Canon Tom, Rocket Tom or Quarter Tom", DS (drums shop) calls it "Roto Tom", TAMA calls it "Octoban" and d drum calls it "Decca Bon". In this system, the pitch changes by the drums barrel's length. When we use them, they're played on the drumplaved set from two to eight generally. We can do tuning easily. This tom is used by a drummer who wants a higher sound than a high tom. It is possible to use it with various music genres, but you need a sixth sense and music sense
I prepared an image and a video.

This is a "Canon tom".

There is a Rocket tom top of the snare drum.

 

Thank you for checking my blog!! Thank you so much and see you again!!

Introduction of Famous Drummers Part 4

Hi, guys! I introduced Akira Jimbo a long time ago. I'll introduce a famous and respected drummer this time. This person is... Don Henley!! His full name is Donald Hugh Henley. Don Henley is a famous drummer and also he used to be a member of the Eagles.

This picture is when he was young.

This picture is Don Henley at present.  

Don Henley (Donald Hugh Henley) is from Texas, U.S.A. He was born on July 22, 1947. He is known as the drummer and singer of the Country rock band the Eagles.  He was chosen for the list of the 100 Greatest Singers of Rolling Stone once, and he ranked 87th. Moreover, he was chosen for the list of the 100 Greatest Singers of Q Magazine on April 2007, where his ranking was 85th.

He formed the Eagles with Glenn Frey in 1971. He was the lyricist, drummer and vocalist in the band. However, The Eagles broke up in 1980. Since then, he's done solo activity. Now he does drums, guitar and singing. However, he recently doesn't play the drums hardly because his main job is singer. He released a CD called "The Boys of Summer" in 1984. This CD readed #5 in the U.S.A then, he received a prize Best Rock Vocal (Male)at the Grammy Awards in the same year. Furthermore, he released a CD "End of The Innocence" in 1989. He received a prize for Best Rock Vocal (Male) at the Grammy Awards in that year, too.

Speaking of the Eagles,  Glenn Frey died on January 18th, 2016. Don Henley had known him since they formed the Eagles. Don Henley said, "He was like my brother, like my family. He was then at the beginning."I'll never forget him." "Take it easy. You created successful life, well, you did more than it." What a lovely story!! I was really impressed!!
R.I.P. Glenn Frey

Drummer is Don Henley and guitarist is Glenn Frey. 

Last, I'll introduce favorite Eagles and Don Henley's song. I chose "Take it easy" and "Hotel California" from Eagles and "The Boys of Summer" from Don Henley. Please have fun!!

This clip is  "Take it easy".

                                                                This video is "Hotel California".

                                                   This video is "The Boys of Summer".

Thank you for checking my blog!! See you next post!!

Optional instruments on drums Part 3

Hi! Welcome back to my blog! Long time no see!  I wrote about optional instruments on drums last time. I'll introduce more optional instruments today.

First, I'll introduce a sizzle cymbal. A sizzle cymbal is a cymbal with holes and rivets. It sounds like "sizzle" which means "to make a sound like water falling on hot metal" so it's a unique sound. Sizzle cymbals are usually made from ride cymbals, but sometimes crash cymbal and china cymbal are processed, too. You can make it by yourself easily. On any cymbal (except hi-hat cymbals) make a hole with a drill, then drive in a rivet or attach a thin chain center. This cymbal is used in jazz and rock. I prepared two images and a video and I used LanceCampeau's video. Thank you so much!!

This is a sizzle cymbal which is made with rivets.

 

This is sizzle cymbal. This cymbal is made with a thin chain and the sound is the same as one with rivets.

Next, I'll explain swish cymbal. A swish cymbal is a kind of sizzle cymbal. The function is between the china cymbal and the "ride cymbal". The how to set was opposite like "china cymbal" long time ago, but now swish cymbal is used as a "ride cymbal" lately to beat the rhythm. Let's compare "swish cymbal" with "china cymbal". A swish cymbal has more rivets, a deeper bow and a shallower bell than a china cymbal. The reason is when swish cymbal is used as a "beat". The china cymbal's sound is a unique sound like a gong and the setting is opposite from the normal cymbal generally. The swish cymbal is used mainly as a variation of the ride cymbal. The setting is like a normal cymbal. "Swish" means "moving or making something move quickly through the air with a quiet sound" in direct translation, so that's why it's called "swish". This cymbal is used often in jazz. By the way, if we use it as a china cymbal, it doesn't make a sound like china cymbal, the sound will be deep and soft sound woth long sustain. I prepared two images and a video and I used memphisdrumshop's video. Thank you so much!!

This is a swish cymbal which is similar to a china cymbal. 

This is a china cymbal. Notice the difference.

Next, I'll introduce the remote hi-hat. What is a remote hi-hat? As we play the drums longer, we increase the number of gradually, and we think we need more space. A normal hi-hat cymbal' s stand takes up space next to the snare. However, a remote hi-hat's wire moves in a sphere, so we can set the hi-hat cymbal everywhere. There are two advantages. First, we can set the hi-hat on the right side, so your hand can move easily to the other drums. Moreover, the extra space on the left side is now available for new drum instruments. Moreover, the left foot is free so we can step on the twin bass pedal. Type is wire and not wire (kind of twin bass pedal.) I prepared two images and a video and I used SweetwaterSound's video. Thank you so much!

This is a remote hi-hat. It's not wire.

This is same thing. It's wire.

Finally, I'll explain the remote bass drum. It's the same as a remote hi-hat, but the function is different. Remote bass drum allows you to various instruments when you need them. Nevertheless we can use everything except the hi-hat cymbal. Type is wire and not wire (kind of twin bass pedal). I prepared an image and a video and I used Alan Kenny's video. Thank you so much!

This is a remote bass pedal.

That's all for this time! Thank you for reading until the end!!                          

Optional instruments on drums Part 2

Hi! Welcome back to my blog! I wrote about optional instruments on drums last time. I'll introduce various optional instruments at the last time continually.

First, I'll talk about the China splash cymbal. The China splash cymbal is merges the China cymbal and the splash cymbal. The size is from 6 to 10 inches generally. This cymbal is put on a stand. However the splash cymbal and the China cymbal can combine as a combined cymbal. This cymbal's sound quality is lighter than the China cymbal, but this cymbal is more powerful than the splash cymbal. This cymbal's sound has longer duration than the China cymbal, so it uses to accent sound instead of splash cymbal. I used Guitar Center's video. Thank you!

This is China splash cymbal.

   
 Second, I'll explain the bell cymbal. The form is kind of like a bowl. The setting is the same as with a normal cymbal. Sound quality is powerful and the afterglow is long. It is similar in duration to the China cymbal. However, it's hardly used to beat the rhythm. I prepared an image and clip. I used CHANG CYMBAL 's video. Thank you!

This is a bell cymbal.

Actually, Cymbals are separated accorting to a standard. The standard is having a unique sound or not. The hi-hat cymbal, ride cymbal, crash cymbal are called suspended cymbals.  The China cymbal and splash cymbal have a unique sound, so they are called effect cymbals.

Finally, I'll introduce the double bass drum. This is a playing style, not an instrument.
Two bass drums are used instead of one. It is often used in "Hard Rock" and "Heavy Metal", especially speedy songs such as "Thrash Metal", "Extreme Metal" and "Death Metal". However,　many drummers don't play this style because, we need more space and if we set two bass drums, we can't hit the tom-tom. This style is decreasing because we can use a twin pedal to get the same effect.  

This is a doublr bass drunms.

This is a twin pedal.

Option of instrument on drums Part 1

Long time no see, everybody! Nice to see you again! Welcome back to my blog!! I'll post for the first time in about 4 months.

This time my topic is about optional instruments on drums. In my first blog, I said "Drums have many various instruments as an option." Do you remember? You may already partly understand their system and functions, but I'll explain optional instruments on drums in more detail.

First, look at this picture. This is splash cymbal which is a type of accent cymbal that expresses a splashing sound. Size is from 6 to 10 inches generally. When you hit it, it sounds lighter than a crash cymbal. When I set my drums, I put it on like this. Can you see it? The splash cymbal is used for ballad songs, but sometimes it is used for speedy songs. (e.g. Rock, Hard Rock) I prepared the splash cymbal 's sound in two clips. Check them out! I used Timmy G's video and Memphis Drum Shop's video. Thank you very much.   

This is a splash cymbal.

There is a splash cymbal above the tom-tom.

CHINA CYMBAL: Second, I'll talk about china cymbals. The china cymbal gets its name because it sounds like a china gong. This cymbal's size is so wide. Do you know how to set a china cymbal? This cymbal's setting is unique, because when we want to set it, it should be reversed. This cymbal can be used for a groove, but it can be used as a beat, too.  The sound quality is cloudy. Check this out. I prepared a video with Chad Smith, from Memphis Drum Shop's videos. Thank you so much!

This is a china cymbal.

There is a china cymbal by the ride cymbal.

Crash ride cymbal: Finally, I'll explain the crash ride cymbal. The crash ride cymbal combines a crash cymbal and ride cymbal. Size is from 16 to 22 inches generally. When you set it, put it on a stand. When you hit it, it's between a crash cymbal's sound and a ride cymbal's sound. you can beat the rhythm and get a crash cymbal's sound. In jazz, this cymbal is used instead of the crash cymbal. I prepared a clip about it. Useing Sound Attacks video. Thank you! 

This is a crash ride cymbal.

 

That's all for today! Thank you for checking my blog!! See you next post!!

How to hold the drum sticks and hit stroke

Hi! Today's theme is how to hold drums stick and hit stroke. I'll explain, how to hold the drum sticks and how to hit the drum head.
First, I'd like to talk about how to hold the drum sticks. We call it grip. These are two ways to grip, first way is matched grip. First, hold the stick with thumb and index finger at about the pick one third point while the other fingers lightly wrapping around the stick. Matched grip is further subdivided into two kinds, The French grip (Timpani grip) and the German grip. With the French grip, the thumb is angled up. With the German grip, the top of the hand is angled up.

This is matched grip.

This is French grip (timpani grip).

This is German grip

Next, I'll introduce the regular grip (traditional grip). How to have is difficult a little. First, thumb and index finger's base of finger tuck tenaciously next, put on medical finger's between first arthro and second arthro finally, index finger and middle finger append lightly. This video uses from Sacha K's video.

Next, I want to talk about the "stroke". Stroke is how you beat (hit) the drum. There are various types of strokes, including full stroke, tap, down stroke and up stroke for a total of 4 types. This rendition uses with rebound and hit. It is used hit and what not in mosso tempo mainly. Tap is bridging dynamic between accent. The down stroke is the basic style for drums in a marching band. But when you pull the stick down, you don't hold the stick too firmly, because the first down stroke shoad hit strongly and then hit weakly on the rebound. If we hold the stick too strongly, we can't hit the next sound. The up stroke is often used in concert bands. We can express the percussion with a rendition in light touch, but it's not well suited for mosso tempo.

This picture is about stroke.

I have to announce that I'll take a break making this blog. I'll post my next blog in April or May. 

Thank you for checking my blog.

Bye for now.

Shunya Miwa

 

   

Comic

Hi, everyone. I made comic about related my blogs.
If you have free time, please take a look. I'm terribly sorry, I couldn't write interesting comic. But, I hope if you like it.  

This is my comic. I made it by myself.