Studio Drummer – Playing Technique, What Are The Microphones Hearing?

PLAYING TECHNIQUE – WHAT ARE THE MICROPHONES HEARING?

There are a number of key elements regarding technique, not just hand technique but playing technique in general that are important to the sound that you produce.

 

At this point I want to introduce a term that I will refer to throughout this chapter called ‘internal dynamics’. 

 

A drummer should look at his kit not only as a whole but also as 6 or 7 different instruments that require their own specific approach.  If you study the sound that you’re creating not only holistically but also as distinct instruments and how to improve upon those created sounds, you’ll be much further ahead.

 

We want to create the desired sound and consistency by maintaining the best habits we can surrounding the kit.  There are many techniques involving the hands and I don’t want to spend too much time on which particular technique you adhere to.  I am a matched grip player who occasionally uses traditional grip and perhaps you’re the same or the reverse of that. 

 

What I would like to address are the key elements of importance in producing the sound we want to produce.  Whether you’re traditional or matched grip you want to have a strong fulcrum in both hands. If you’re unfamiliar with that term what this means is that by grasping the stick with your thumb and the meat of your fore finger you want a strong bond to the stick at that point.

 

Just as a teeter-totter has a center fulcrum which is the pivot point allowing it to go up and down so you also want this in your grip. It allows you greater control and the ability to do double strokes for example.  Yet you also want the rest of the fingers on the hand to be relaxed and free to manipulate and contact the stick.