Drum Rack Or Stands

Drum Racks And Drum Stands Discussed

Stands
Stands for drum kits were initially fairly light weight, because they were designed to hold one cymbal, or a snare drum, or later on two rack toms. However, it wasn't until the 1980's that drum companies beefed up the hardware making it possible to have a steady base of support for multiple cymbal arms, etc.

For a while stands keep getting heavier and bigger, finally adding counter-weight booms and getting big enough to jack up your car for a tire change. Nowadays, that "race" has backed off a bit and drum kit stands are available in a variety of sizes (and weights), with clamps and attachments for all sorts of gear. So you do not necessarily need a separate stand for each cymbal or other item with those options available nowadays.

Racks
Drum racks had been "home made" versions until recent years. I remember seeing one from the 1930's. They are now available from several major companies in a variety of shapes and materials (aluminum, steel, PVC, other composites) with all sorts of extensions, add ons, clamps, arms you name it. It can probably be configured now from commercially available parts.

Okay, So Why Choose One Over The Other
I have used both racks and traditional stands. I have even used a combination of by having spanner tubes connected to cymbals stands (which was the best of both worlds for me). It worked great for my touring needs because all of the cymbals, toms, microphones, etc. were on the spanner tubes and the supports were actually heavy duty cymbal stands. That made it easy to set up because I didn't have to juggle a one legged post while trying to clamp on a fairly heavy (because of all of the attachment clamps) spanner tube. As just the 28 clamps on the tubes made them very heavy.

About Using Racks
If you seen the photos of Pasha's drum kit, then you realize that without using rack system components that he would require an incredible number of specialty stands. There is no question to me that using the racks are a must for him.

Racks can eliminate a lot of floor clutter if you use a lot of gear that is now on (or else would be) on separate stands. It is now possible to have everything, including your snare drum, and hi-hat, attached to a rack set-up. If you don't use a rug to mark the floor positions of the components of your drum kit, then a rack might help you with positioning the components of your drum kit the same way each time. It might not happen to you, but I have experienced times when the tubes of the rack interfered with the spot I wanted to place a cymbal or a tom. So it takes a lot of time and trial & error to get it all "just right". That also means that a rack system might not be as easy to modify when you find yourself on a stage with less than desirable space.

About Using Stands
Stands can be adjusted and moved "on the spot" without a lot of hassle in situations like a small stage. It is also possible to significantly reduce the number of stands by using clamps and attachments. Stands are a more flexible option if you tend to change your drum kit configuration for different performances.

Transport
Whether you choose to use a rack or traditional stands, they must be transported to the next performance. So if you do a lot of one niters, either way could mean schlepping a lot of weight around if you have a large drum kit. I don't believe there is much of a weight or load volume difference.

I did not want 400 pounds of drum stands to transport so here are some of my personal set-up decisions that might give you some ideas.

I have reduced my hardware load considerably during the past five years. The attachments and clamps available now have made that possible.

I don't usually use a really big set, so this is what works for me. On my left side I have one single braced stand that holds a cymbal, a mounted tambourine, and a rack tom. On my bass drum, the mounts hold two rack toms and a cymbal. On my right side, a second single-braced stand holds three cymbals, a cowbell and a jam block. The other hardware left to pack is my throne, bass drum pedals, snare stand and hi-hat stand.

I purchased an SKB Hardware case (that looks much like a hard shell golf club flight case) that is 48" x 18" and has tilt-back wheels. I do not break down the tiers on my stands. I just remove the cymbals rods. I did not disassemble my hi-hat or snare stand. I simply collapse the legs. I can lay the still-assembled stands into the SKB case for transport. When I set up my kit, it is just a matter of placing the cymbals rods back into the ratchets and opening up the tripod legs.

I think racks look really cool with some kits, although when they get really bulky it kind of hides the beautiful finishes on some drum kits. But, I think too many floor stands can look just as cluttered also. Maybe that's just the reality of using a really large drum kit.

I have used racks, stands, and the combination of both. I had my logic and reasons for that. Nowadays my playing involves using various components, depending on the performances requirements. Since I change things quite often I'm back to using stands. If I had a larger kit and was playing the exact same set-up each performance, I'd probably get my rack gear back out.

So, like so many aspects of drumming, it comes down to your personal preference of comfort, stability, convenience, portability, and even the desired "look". hey, it's all about you.

Ken Sanders
Drum Rack Or Stands

Steve Gadd - In Session - Watch free drum lessons & techniques video

82.39 minutes
Steve Gadd and friends live, in session, featuring Richard Tee, Will Lee, Forge Calto and Eddie Gomez.
Steve Gadd demonstrating several explosive Latin feels - and then explaining how he did them - topped off by some of the most exciting solos Steve has ever recorded. This video comes with its own accompanying instructional booklet, contains a wealth of teaching by simply showing Gadd playing his relentlessly impeccable licks in loose improvisatory jams, and fleshing them out with illustrative voiceover comments. Watch him jam out with amazing musicians in such styles as funk, Latin, reggae, shuffles and ballads.

Steve Gadd - In Session - Watch free drum lessons & techniques video

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Track list
1. R&B Reggae
2. My Little Brother
3. Suffle Reggae
4. Slow Blues
And more tracks

Steve Gadd - In Session - Watch free drum lessons & techniques video

Heavy Metal Music, Double Bass - History And Development Drummers Guide

By: Eric Starr
Heavy Metal music has been a driving force in Rock for over 30 years. The style developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s through classic Hard Rock and the louder Blues Rock bands. Since then, it has evolved into music featuring exceptionally fast, technically challenging rhythms and heavy drumming, frequently accompanied by growling vocals and heavy, blistering guitar tones. The style usually requires an exceptional amount of endurance from the musicians playing it. Terms associated with contemporary Heavy Metal are "Death Metal," "Goth Metal," "Black Metal," "Speed Metal," and "Thrash," which all suggest its sound. Bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and solo artist Alice Cooper are among the originators of the Heavy Metal style, which even at its inception featured louder, harsher guitar, more active bass and drum parts, and darker lyrics than in standard Rock. Another feature of Heavy Metal is that many of its artists put on live concerts involving elaborate stage sets, intricate light shows, pyrotechnics, and outrageous costumes (Kiss).

The Heavy Metal sound initially relied on high pitched singers (Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin), but has since evolved to embrace lower range, roaring vocals. Over the past two decades, metal bands such as Venom, Napalm Death, Carcass, Cannibal Corpse, and Slayer set a new standard for the intensity this music can achieve, paving the way for current Heavy Metal acts such as Meshuggah, Emperor, and Slipknot. Heavy Metal drummers need to develop the considerable speed, coordination, and dexterity necessary to play the intricate patterns, most notably double bass drum patterns, inherent to this style. Typically, Heavy Metal drummers utilize two bass drums in their set up, though a similar double bass effect can be achieved with a double pedal playing one bass drum.

Variations move from simple to more complex patterns, and are only an introduction to authentic Heavy Metal drumming. The most advanced Heavy Metal drumming grooves can also incorporate ideas and patterns from Fusion and Linear Funk. One of the signatures of the genre is the guitar power chord. In technical terms, the power chord is relatively simple: it involves just one main interval, generally the perfect fifth, though an octave may be added as a doubling of the root. Although the perfect fifth interval is the most common basis for the power chord, power chords are also based on different intervals such as the minor third, major third, perfect fourth, diminished fifth, or minor sixth. Tempos range from quarter note = sixty beats per minute to speeds exceeding quarter note = three hundred and fifty beats per minute.

Double bass playing is a strong characteristic of Heavy Metal. Skilled double bass drummers can perform anything from extremely fast alternating 16th note rhythms to polyrhythms to syncopated rhythms to rudimental style drumming with their feet (double stroke rolls, flamed rudiments, etc.). Be aware that it's necessary to have patience developing the dexterity, control, and strength required for double bass drumming. Unlike the majority of musical styles covered, double bass drumming is primarily based on muscular development, and it takes ample time to become a well versed double bass drummer. The grooves include some essential patterns of this style of drumming. Quarter note = one hundred all the way to two hundred beats per minute.

Heavy Metal Music, Double Bass - History And Development Drummers Guide

Play "heel up" on the bass drum for more power and speed

Play "heel up" on the bass drum for more power and speed.
The heel down bass drum technique will work but requires a bit more effort. Also, it's easier to play heel up technique with quick drum fills.

Mike Portnoy - Progressive Drum Concepts - Video drum technique

Mike Portnoy - Progressive Drum Concepts - Video drum technique
59.54 minutes
Intended for intermediate to advanced-level drummers, PROGRESSIVE DRUM CONCEPTS. Mike Portnoy, the drummer for the progressive heavy metal band Dream Theater, presents a fantastic instructional video for intermediate to advanced players.

Mike Portnoy - Progressive Drum Concepts - Video drum technique

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Topics include:
Full Descriptionone's drum set, drum set assembly, double-bass techniques, odd time signatures, grooves and phrasing, and more.
Mike Portnoy, with John Myung on bass and Derek Sherinian on keyboard, plays various examples from Dream Theater songs:"Pull Me Under" "Voices" "Metropolis" "A Change of Seasons" "Surround" "Take the Time" "Erotomania".

Mike Portnoy - Progressive Drum Concepts - Video drum technique