Drummer

Fellow drummers, we all know how important we are, but sometimes we need to remind our friends, band members and fans of this slightly boastful fact. We’re more than a glorified metronome and fortunately, there are and have been various drummers prepared to prove that to the world with some beautifully recognisable, iconic drum parts. In honour of them, Bax Music presents: 5 legendary drum parts!

An electronic drum kit is the ideal tool for almost every drummer: no more heated arguments with the neighbours about the noise; practically all the sounds you could wish for and you can practice whenever you want. But let me remind you that you can do much more than simply hone your drumming here, as digital drums are also a great recording tool. As a matter of fact, ease of recording is one of the biggest advantages compared to an acoustic kit. In this blog, I’ll show you how it works and offer you three easy ways to record an electronic drum kit.

The drum kit as we know it today has undergone centuries of evolution. In all likelihood, it originates from the first instrument played by humans, as archeological evidence suggests that for thousands of years, people having been pounding and hammering on anything they could get their hands on.

Unfortunately, we don’t get to see them as much as we’d like, but that’s already changing fast. Thanks to pioneers like Karen Carpenter, Sheila E., Meg White, Helen Hallsworth, and YouTube stars like Meytal Cohen, more and more girls are picking up a set of sticks and pounding the skins. In this blog, we tell you about 5 of the best known and most interesting female drummers out there.

In this blog, I’ll be taking a look at the four most important drum rudiments you need to raise your drumming game. Rudiments are short drum pattern made up of a small number of strokes. Drill these rudiments every day, and you’ll not only watch yourself grow as a drummer, but you’re likely to find that playing your drum kit becomes much easier. This is simply because the most complex of rhythms is actually made up of rudiments. In this blog, we’ll talk about the four most common patterns, and since they’re the most-used, they’ll stay with you for the rest of your drumming life.

If you’ve just set up your electronic drum kit and you’re just missing a set of sticks, then you’ve probably noticed that there’s an overwhelming amount to choose from. Different lengths, diameters, tapers, tips, material … If you’re just starting your epic drumming journey, it can be tough to pick through what’s out there. And, while some or all of these questions can be answered by our other blog: How Do I Choose the Right Drum Sticks?, we’ve put together this blog to help explain the kind of sticks you’ll need to play an electronic kit.

Practice may make perfect but when it comes to drumming, practice also makes a lot of noise. As such, not every neighbour, house mate or family member is going to be equally appreciative and understanding. To meet those that are slightly annoyed with your new hobby in the middle, we’ll give you 5 tips you can use to turn down the volume a little.

Singing while playing guitar or piano, or any other combination of vocals and an instrument for that matter, all comes down to high-level multitasking. While for some the thought alone can cause nightmares, anyone can learn to do it. Start by asking yourself two questions: 1) Can I sing? and 2) Can I play an instrument? If your answer to both questions is “yes”, then you can also do both at the same time. It’s a really just a matter of practice, practice and mostly, practicing both individually.

Reggae drumming. How do you do it? Reggae is a playing style that, in terms of difficulty, is often underestimated by a lot of drummers (and musicians). Playing tight, authentic reggae grooves can be a little harder than you’d think. For example, if a reggae track emerges during a jam session, it gets pretty clear, pretty quickly that a lot of the musicians involved have no idea what they need to play or even what their role is. In this blog, I try to lay out the essential reggae drum rhythms along with some tips to pull the tightest sound from your groove.

Is it difficult for beginners to pick up the cajon? The short answer is no! This percussion instrument doesn’t just look simple but it’s also really simple and intuitive to play, making the cajon accessible for beginners as well as experienced musicians. That said… if you want to learn to play the cajon, it’s worth knowing a few basic techniques. In this blog, you’ll hopefully learn two essential things: the most comfortable and healthy cajon playing posture and how to get the best sound.

Few instruments demand such intense use of your body as drum kits do. Sure, coordination is difficult when it comes to nearly all musical instruments, considering you usually need two hands and sometimes your mouth as well. Drummers, however, use both hands and both feet, and each limb needs to behave independently of the other. And don’t even get me started on singing drummers. Luckily, limb independence can be practised with a number of exercises that I’m about to show you.

Drumheads are one of the most important, if not the single most important part of the way your drum kit sounds. Replacing them can add up and get pretty costly, especially if you own a considerable kit. In this blog, I’ll be sharing three practical tips to help you make the most of your drumheads. And don’t worry, it’s not all about ‘hitting less hard’.