Hat Cymbals

The Magic of Drum

The moment man stamped on the earth or clapped his hands; some sounds evolved which became rhythm later on. Since then making rhythm has been a part of human’s life. Rhythm is available in all types of music whether it’s a Beethoven symphony, the back beat of rock n’ roll or subtle suggestions of jazz. In many places it’s not the drum kit as we know it that provides the rhythmic base, but percussion instruments like congas or even triangles. All of these are a part of arsenal of the drummer or percussionist.

A drum can be small or big –ranging from a snare and bass drum to something consisting of number of drums and a big Chinese gong. At its heart is the bass or kick, drum played by foot, using a pedal. The snare drum which is hit uses stretched coiled wire underneath to make a sharp cutting sound. Cymbals are also a part of the kit. The high hat cymbal is a combination of two cymbals together one on the top of the other that can be played with either the foot on the drum stick. The other two are the ride and the crash. The ride is generally for rhythm and the other is for emphasis. Here drummers are welcome to explore the drum lessons.

Sit upright on a drum stool and keep your right foot on the bass drum pedal and your left on the hi-hat pedal. Take each drum stick on each hand and count four slowly. When you say one bring your foot down on the bass drum pedal. On second count hit the snare drum directly in front of you with the stick in your left hand. On the third beat kick the bass drum hard again but twice. Then on four hit the snare once more. When you read this it may sounds easy but when you actually do it you will discover that it needs lot of concentration and dedication to master this art. But once you practice the basic backbeat pattern until it’s become second nature, you can add another layer. With your left foot, push down on hi-hat pedal to close it and keep it that way. Now as you play the drum pattern, use your right arm and hit the hi-hat cymbal on each of the four beats. Once again it will probably take time and effort to play properly.

You need co-ordination to beat drums. The best drummers, whatever style they play are incredibly well co-ordinated; they can make it seem like four limbs operate completely independently and still produce a perfect mesh of rhythms, often shifting emphasis as they go. Once you are comfortable with these basic steps you can bring variation to your music. Instead of using hit-hat, play the four beats softly on the ride cymbal and bring your foot down on the hi-hat pedal for emphasis when you hit the snare drum. Whatever you do it takes a practice and perfect practice. Listen to what other drummers play and you can even search for a good music teacher to learn more. They bring music alive one note at a time. So go ahead give it a try and play from your heart.

About the Author

Holden Hinkle is a musician, composer and music teacher. For more information on various music lessons he recommends you to visit http://www.encoremusiclessons.com/

Hat Cymbals

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