ok this is a weird one. at practice, my snare drum head feels great to play on but when i play live it feels like it's too tight and it rebounds the stick so much that i have hardly any control over my snare rolls. any help is greatly appreciated.








_________________
Tama Starclassic Performer
Sabian Cymbals
Axis AL-2CB
Remo Drumheads
Pro-Mark Sticks
Gibraltar Drum Rack

Metropolis1021 wrote:

ok this is a weird one. at practice, my snare drum head feels great to play on but when i play live it feels like it's too tight and it rebounds the stick so much that i have hardly any control over my snare rolls. any help is greatly appreciated.

It sounds to me like the problem exists within your technique. Usually my batter on the snare is table top tight. The more response the better. You are probably just tensing up during live performance.

All I can recomend is that you practice your wrist and finger technique with much dedication. It is essential that a drummer can play on any surface and the surface not affect his playing.

Pick up any of Joe Morello's master studies books and knuckle down and work on your hands.








_________________
I don't know what I'm talking about!

"Don't play FOR people. Play WITH people."
- Papa Jo Jones

interesting, i never would have expected an answer like that. i actually, not to be cocky or conceded or anything, think my technique is fine, but i don't really check at gigs, i find the less i play out, the more uncomfortable i am live. you think it could be due to getting nervous and throwing all technique out the window?.as for the books, i'll look into it, thankyou very much.








_________________
Tama Starclassic Performer
Sabian Cymbals
Axis AL-2CB
Remo Drumheads
Pro-Mark Sticks
Gibraltar Drum Rack

Metropolis1021 wrote:

interesting, i never would have expected an answer like that. i actually, not to be cocky or conceded or anything, think my technique is fine, but i don't really check at gigs, i find the less i play out, the more uncomfortable i am live. you think it could be due to getting nervous and throwing all technique out the window?.as for the books, i'll look into it, thankyou very much.

Yes, in my early experience I went through a similar thing. But I found after speaking with my teacher that the more work I put into my hand technique, the more relaxed my hands became when in contact with the sticks. I was then, over time, able to get my hands to the point where I was simply able to point the stick at anything and the technique required would simply happen naturally.

It's important not to have to think about anything regarding playing when on the gig. This also includes breathing and relaxation. The only way to get to this point is through more and more practice. The more sure one is, the less chance there is that one may tense up.

One way to learn how to relax is to hold folded magazines under your arms while playing. Try not to think about them. Just allow your elbows to remain relaxed and at your side. Once this is happening, your shoulders should also feel loose. This in turn helps remove tension from the forearms, wrists and fingers.

After speaking with my teacher, I then began to practice a great deal with my hands keeping the above information in mind. I would spend at the very least 6 to 7 hours a day on hand technique alone. On a good day I would put in perhaps 15 hours. Now I find that my hands are always relaxed and I never have to think about sticking unless on purpose.









Last edited by Dale on Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:11 am; edited 1 time in total
_________________
I don't know what I'm talking about!

"Don't play FOR people. Play WITH people."
- Papa Jo Jones

Of course having said all that, you may have incredible chops but then just get nervous. In that case I'd advise you not to worry because worry will not help you. Just try to focus on enjoying the gig.








_________________
I don't know what I'm talking about!

"Don't play FOR people. Play WITH people."
- Papa Jo Jones

It might be becuase when you play live you have adrenaline pumping through you.... You hit your snare drum harder in some cases. When I play live if u keep relaxed then everything is all nice and fluffy and sounds great. Don't pressure yourself and kick some serious ass.

keep on rocking dude








_________________
Pure Deaththrash

Jaki wrote:

It might be becuase when you play live you have adrenaline pumping through you.... You hit your snare drum harder in some cases. When I play live if u keep relaxed then everything is all nice and fluffy and sounds great. Don't pressure yourself and kick some serious ass.

keep on rocking dude

Yeah, I agree. I found that once I began thinking "That felt weird!" I'd then focus even more on my hands. This snowballed and after a while I'd begin thinking of my feet, cymbal placement...everything! This just made me more uncomfortable and really stiffled my playing.

That is why I offered such a lengthy explanation. It's not that I have made a decision regarding the posters own playing or a judgment. It's more to help any younger reader who may have a similar problem and reads this thread.








_________________
I don't know what I'm talking about!

"Don't play FOR people. Play WITH people."
- Papa Jo Jones

well thankyou very much i appreciate all of your help.
i'm only 16 and still have a LONG way to go as a drummer.
i'm just here to be the best drummer i can be, and i beleive not only you guys but every drummer on this site or wherever has something to give that can help someone out. that's why this site is so amzing!
Prog on!








_________________
Tama Starclassic Performer
Sabian Cymbals
Axis AL-2CB
Remo Drumheads
Pro-Mark Sticks
Gibraltar Drum Rack

Metropolis1021 wrote:

well thankyou very much i appreciate all of your help.
i'm only 16 and still have a LONG way to go as a drummer.
i'm just here to be the best drummer i can be, and i beleive not only you guys but every drummer on this site or wherever has something to give that can help someone out. that's why this site is so amzing!
Prog on!

Well, just try to enjoy the gig when you play live. These sorts of problems all work out in the long run. My advice is to be patient with yourself and understand that even if you make a mistake, that is not such a bad thing. As long as you are enjoying yourself, people will see that and it will communicate the enjoyment to others.

Just make sure that when you practice you try to include everything. Don't just play along to recordings, spent time working on your technique, groove time etc. If you don't know your rudiments and want to expand your hand technique, you can begin here: http://www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.html

Also play these with your feet. As you get better, try to play one set of rudiments with your feet and another with your hands. Start simply using singles, then doubles and paradiddles etc. As you progress add more difficult rhythms.

You are right. This is a great sight. No flame wars here. Unlike many others.

Good luck. Dale









Last edited by Dale on Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:42 pm; edited 1 time in total
_________________
I don't know what I'm talking about!

"Don't play FOR people. Play WITH people."
- Papa Jo Jones

As far as playing live goes it is an interesting situation...I tend to play harder which in turn sends just one of my tenision rods to loosen so I'm constantly tightening just one its a pain in the ass and I've practiced playing in different high pressure instances but still the same result...and I cant keep that damn rod tight with anything... any suggestions?








_________________
Rock n Roll

locster99 wrote:

As far as playing live goes it is an interesting situation...I tend to play harder which in turn sends just one of my tenision rods to loosen so I'm constantly tightening just one its a pain in the ass and I've practiced playing in different high pressure instances but still the same result...and I cant keep that damn rod tight with anything... any suggestions?

Have you tried lug locks? If they do not work, it may be because the insert is old and the thread is no longer as tight as it once was.

That said, if playing loudly I often have had to fine tune between songs.








_________________
I don't know what I'm talking about!

"Don't play FOR people. Play WITH people."
- Papa Jo Jones

It seems very simple to me. Too much rebound? Loosen the head. If that doesn't work, try a more top-heavy stick.

If your head feels like a "table top" like Dale, chances are the drum sounds terrible. Everyone has their tastes and I'm not saying "I'm right!" It's just that technique and tight heads work great in the marching realm, but on a drum kit you should just do what feels and sounds right. I compose and instruct for marching drum lines and I did the DCI thing for a little while too. On the other hand, I've never taken a single lesson on drum kit but I think I'm much more of an "expert" on the ladder.

I tend to think drum kit is 70% feel/expression and 30% technique. This is why there are no "bests" when it comes to drum kit. In the marching scene, it's 100% technique. Because of that, you can easily spot whom is better than whom. I feel like a lot of young drummers get the two ways confused.








_________________
Phee
Fireflight
www.fireflightrock.com
www.myspace.com/fireflight

phee wrote:

.

If your head feels like a "table top" like Dale, chances are the drum sounds terrible.

Actually, my drums sound superb.


I've tuned many many drums, from snares to toms, congas, zambumba, repinique, repique de mao, djembe and a whole host of others. I used to tune and fine tune drums for recording sessions all the time.

Of course if the song called for it I would detune a drum so as to fit the timbre of the song and instruments. I've been tuning drums for over 25 years. While table top tight is a good way of describing it on the net, my drums are never choked.








_________________
I don't know what I'm talking about!

"Don't play FOR people. Play WITH people."
- Papa Jo Jones

iv'e actually tried loosening it to the point where it's too loose and doesn't sound the way i'd like it to. i do agree with the marching aspect where you can tell whos better. i've been in the school band since 7th grade and this is my second year in the marching band, but i'm in pit. i find the 16th note runs up and down the keys a lot more challanging than anything the drumline has to offer.








_________________
Tama Starclassic Performer
Sabian Cymbals
Axis AL-2CB
Remo Drumheads
Pro-Mark Sticks
Gibraltar Drum Rack

I really think this is just your being too tense. If the snare isn't tight at rehearsals but is on the gig and the tuning remains the same, it isn't the drum.








_________________
I don't know what I'm talking about!

"Don't play FOR people. Play WITH people."
- Papa Jo Jones