Mostly because its in style right now.
Mostly because its in style right now.
what do you mean by that? U mean people do that just because it looks good or something?
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I don't think it's just a fad. Drummers have been playing 4 pc kits longer than big kits.
For me it was something to try for different tom and ride placement. I originally started by trying my toms offset so they closer to the snare for easier reach. I definitely liked where the toms were.
Then the bassist wanted me to move in the rehearsal space so the room could be used more otherwise. We only leave the drums out. Because of where I was moved to it was easier to just use a 4 piece. So I just removed the 10" tom.
One advantage of doing this was to move the 1 tom of the kick. In my case this made it much easier to get the tom in a good position since I have deeper drums compared to most. Not having anything on the kick made that easier to move around as well. And also, as you mentioned, it allowed me to move the ride over the kick, which was helpful since I've been having weird shoulder problems. It also brings the FT closer in, so the whole kit is easier to reach. One guitarist in my band even sat down and found it easier to go around the kit. I do miss having the 2nd tom in terms of playing b/c I've been used to it for so long. However I like the challenge.
All in all I can say it's been fun, interesting, and challenging playing on different configs after 22 years of playing the set as a 5 or 6 piece (mostly 5). I really liked the offset 5 piece as the toms were easier to get to. I like the 4 piece, but I still haven't adjusted. I think I'm going to go 1 up 2 down if I get this other tom I'm interested in.
I think part of it is just trying new things, especially when you've owned the same kit for 23 years like me. In the end, I don't know what set up I'll stick with.
Jesse
1986 Tama Crestar - Lacquered Piano White
2016 Roland TD-25K
2015 Tama Starclassic B/B - Indigo Blue Sparkle
I started on a four piece 35 years ago.
well heres one explanation...
Whenever my friend buys a new kit, he uses the second rack tom as a erm...smoking device. A water pipe also commonly known as a bong. And he never puts it back on the kit.
I never really used my 13" tom that much before, then I took it off to try out a 4 piece, and I LOVE it. I don't really know what it is, it just forces you to be more creative, and great cymbal placment too!
If you pay attention to your playing, you'll see a majority of it should take place on a '4 piece' kit within a larger kit. More toms can cause you to do a lot of large Neil Peart running fills if you are not careful. Too many large tom fills and your drumming starts to sound dated and can annoy the other musicians. A four piece focuses your chops away from all those tom runs and forces you to tighten up your drumming. Today's big names with large kits -Carter, Portnoy, seem to effectively avoid the big tom runs
Still, I love a big kit. I have found somewhat of a compromise; my kit is set up like a 4-piece with three high toms to the left. I try to use those toms in the context of a beat, and only occasionaly on the big Peart run down the toms. I am currently thinking of removing one of those toms as well.
And the trees are all kept equal by hatchet, axe, and saw. . .
Because it's fashionable and limiting your technical / creative ability is so hot right now.
Today, on Ethel The Frog...
So are you trying to say that having less drums limits your technical and creative ability? That's quite a statement considering who played 4 piece kits, no?
Maybe this is sarcasm and I missed it?
As stated above (can't quote his name), having a lot of drums to do big runs of fills is neither creative or technically difficult. Of course there are people that use their full kit without doing this (even people on DC), and use it creatively. But I don't think you can say that it's less creative to use a smaller kit.
Jesse
1986 Tama Crestar - Lacquered Piano White
2016 Roland TD-25K
2015 Tama Starclassic B/B - Indigo Blue Sparkle
I'm definitely not ready to remove my second tom yet, but I've noticed that as I improve I start using it less.
If you look at the set ups of many great players, even ones with a lot of drums..... its built on a 4 piece. Peart is one. So is Charlie Adams. Both play big kits, and both have a basic 4 piece plainly visible in that monstrous set up. Anyhoo, just a thought....... I spy with my own eye, .......... A Vintage..... Rogers Powertone snare drum in a custom finish.
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Last edited by ThePloughman; 08-16-2009 at 01:08 AM.
Well, I'm not the kind of guy who would diminish his set, but 4 piece sets are quite fun to play.
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My first set (which is my current set) had 1 up 1 down, so I've built my drumming around that configuration. I do something that Levon Helm does, which is put a cowbell in the place of that second rack tom.
I'd say that whatever works, works and that there isn't any kind of right or wrong way to go about things. Do whatever you want regarding your setup.
Much as I love that big 7 piece, I think we drummers all have to come to a painful admission:
Yesterday at worship, I switched that monster kit out with my little Cat Club 4-piece. NO ONE REALLY NOTICED!!! I asked around to see if anyone noticed a difference; the typical reaction was, 'Oh, you switched kits? I didn't notice.' Even most of the OTHER MUSICIANS didn't notice. The only reaction was from the sound guy, who said he missed the 'crisp high end' from the other kit.
And the trees are all kept equal by hatchet, axe, and saw. . .
i like watching portnoy with his beatles group. he plays the crap out of a 4 piece
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I do it because it looks cool. Not even going to front.
its easier to move to gigs (not as easy as my 2 piece right now is though lol)
and makes you focus on creativity more since you have less to work with
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the cool thing about it is easy ride cymbal and hi hat access, so everythings real reachable. i generally try to leave a space open for the ride and the hi hat stand to come real close, that way theres no straining or body aches as the time goes on.
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It is a fad going on right now for sure, but with any fad there's always people that would do it that way even if it wasn't a fad.
I'd personally prefer to have an even number of toms, being two up and two down. If I had a 5-piece I'd definitely offset the rack toms if I kept both of them (I'd take the 13" off if that was the set-up). It has nothing to do with creativity or limits. I just find having two or four toms more natural than having three.
"Life is backwards. Happiness isn't something you seek, it's something that finds you when you are doing the right thing." - Zone47
I went to 4 because of limited practice space and the fact that I'm having shoulder issues so less reach means more stamina.
Just because something is fashionable doesn't mean everyone does it for the same reason or that it's a bad idea!
Jesse
1986 Tama Crestar - Lacquered Piano White
2016 Roland TD-25K
2015 Tama Starclassic B/B - Indigo Blue Sparkle
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