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That's good stuff man. It's rare to find rock/metal drummers who know how to hit a cymbal properly. Do you use the swipe technique or the light touch crash? I've found myself jumping around both of those for years.Originally Posted by PeterBowman
Re: How hard do you hit?
Given that I generally play metal, I am a very hard hitter. But thankfully for using proper technique, I haven't cracked a cymbal in almost 20 years. The heads hold up very well too.
Sticks, on the other hand, are a very different story lol.
Re: How hard do you hit?
That's good stuff man. It's rare to find rock/metal drummers who know how to hit a cymbal properly. Do you use the swipe technique or the light touch crash? I've found myself jumping around both of those for years.
"Now you're singing with a swing"
Re: How hard do you hit?
I used to beat the ever living snot out of my drums. But twenty years later, I am a bit more gentle. I used to break 2b sticks, dent and break heads all the time, but was fortunate not to crack any "good" cymbals. By "good" I'm referring to cast cymbals. I did do plenty of damage to sheet bronze cymbals. Now I'm actually excited when I break a stick!!!!! Although it's usually just the wood tips breaking, and not the stick snapping in the middle. I agree with other posters that you have to HIT the drums to get the full tone out of them, but at a certain point, cymbals do not get any louder by striking them harder.
Re: How hard do you hit?
Funny, because I can draw sweet tone out of my Gretsch USA drums at any volume. I'm hoping that one day I can be so disciplined as to be able to play diplomats on all the drums.
all the best...
Re: How hard do you hit?
I'm a firm beleiver that if you go in belting the hell out the drums, you have no where to go with it. I try to play to the song, some songs call for more drive than others, so I will hit harder where its necessary, but almost never break sticks or cymbals.
Interestingly went to watch a friends band a week or so ago, who had a dep drummer. Their regular drummer is vary tasteful, with some awesome chops. The guy they had depping was a thrasher, hit the snare like he was beating the poor thing to death!! Totally changed the dynamic of the music, and not in a good way. Tunes that normally have feeling became shouty, and a lot of the dynamics were lost as the other musicians played harder/louder to compensate. The drummer was technically reasonably good, just not appropriate to the music.
I guess thats the key for me, each to their own. My style is not hard hitting, other peoples is (and thats cool), but play the song. Just cos you can hit hard doesn't mean you have to!
Another point is about hitting smart. You don't have to hammer a drum to get a shout from it. Hit it properly in the sweet spot, whip the the stick and hit through the head, you will get a much louder bark than taking a run up, bringing your stick over your head and belting it so hard your feet come off the floor!
Last edited by mauned; 04-14-2015 at 06:47 AM.
Re: How hard do you hit?
actually, I think it's a combination of having good quality cymbals, having them tilted correctly, and not bashing the heck out of them. I use pretty much all wrist action. Back in the day, I would look like Dave Grohl in his Nirvana days when I played, but I'm muuuuch more reserved now. And I actually play just as hard now but properly....save energy AND equipment.
Also can't afford to shell out $200 for a crash cymbal lol
I go through sticks pretty frequently (always seem to break in the middle)...but I can replace them muuch easier than cymbals, etc.
Re: How hard do you hit?
I don't hit hard at all. In my teens I think I did. But one thing that I learned over the years is that you don't need to hit the drums hard to get the sound you need. I also think striking hard tenses you up (it did for me at least in my teens, which is why I got out of doing it). I've been playing loose and relaxed for the past 20 or so years and I still get the same volume that I did when I was hitting them harder. Only now I can play more fluently, faster and for longer periods of time.
Re: How hard do you hit?
Last edited by EyePea; 04-14-2015 at 12:49 PM.
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Pearl Prestige World Series WLX 1988
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Re: How hard do you hit?
This basically sums up what I was going to say!
Re: How hard do you hit?
I play fairly loud at times but not to the point of breaking a head. I'm a firm believer in not beating the snot out of my instrument.
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Re: How hard do you hit?
+1 If you want dynamics in your playing, you can't always hit them hard. I guess I would rate myself as generally in the medium category - good solid stroke, but with some restraint. I can play light for those situations that require it. I find it much more challenging to play 'harder'. Technique starts to suffer - not keeping the wrists loose etc. - usually end up cramping somewhere. I also find the best tone is realized from my drums with a medium stroke. To my ears, nothing is gained by hitting the drum as hard as I possibly can.
Re: How hard do you hit?
Granted, I'm still a relative newbie, but I simply can't imagine hitting the drums very hard. It's a combination of thinking that it won't get them much louder than just solid strokes, and the thought that I don't want to beat the heck out of them. After all, what did they ever do to me ��
Now, just a tiny bit less than an absolute drum newbie
DW Collectors Cherry kit, Ludwig Black Beauty Snare, DW SuperSolid Oak/Cherry Snare, DW Sabian Vault Edge Snare
Re: How hard do you hit?
"After all, what did they ever do to me ��"
Give them time.
Re: How hard do you hit?
I'lll be the first to admit... I'm a heavy hitter.. sometimes I get excited and just pound on my drums. Poor things...
Re: How hard do you hit?
That's me.
-Mike
Re: How hard do you hit?
When I first started I would bash the heck out of my drums…id lose drum sticks after 5 minutes and cymbals didn't last and cracked. I literally had to start over and began training myself to play with proper technique. Since I have got to the point that my technique is good I haven't broken a drum stick in over 15 years! Technique allows you to play with power but not hammer the crap out of the drums.
Re: How hard do you hit?
You hit hard (or soft) enough to make maximum effect of the dynamics of the song you are playing.
No more, no less.
Anybody, regardless of the style music they play, should play only as loud as the music calls for, or as soft.
Re: How hard do you hit?
Simple
all the best...
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