DRUMS
MAKING THE KIT FIT | Carl Albrecht
It’s amazing to me how often I’ll observe Look specifically for any slouching forward. set so close to the pedals that your legs bend
drummers playing and their movement seems There should be no “hunchback” imitations back in. They should extend slightly more than
stiff or jerky. When bad habits and sloppy happening. Also look for leaning to one side a 90-degree angle.
posture are part of your playing it’s very difficult or the other. You should be sitting very straight to change. Being comfortable with your drum and solid. Think of a string coming out of the The snare drum should set squarely between
set is one of the best ways to be sure you’ll feel top of your head and that you’ve been set on your knees. Not too closely towards you. You
good physically when playing. It will also affect the drum throne by a master puppeteer. You should be able to hit the center of the drum
the way you sound. Smooth, fluid movements don’t want to be stiff, but you do want to be without reaching out or pulling back with the
will normally equal good grooving. sitting as tall as possible. sticks. The height of the snare should also be
just high enough to get a good rim shot without
So how can you tell if your posture is good and Another good tool for getting a picture of your hitting your legs. Angle the snare drum only
your playing is uninhibited? Well, at home you playing is a video camera. This is actually a slightly towards you if you like. That’s purely a
should practice in front of mirrors. At least one little better than the mirrors because you can creative call on your part. I just wouldn’t make
should be facing you and another should be on go back and observe specific moments in the angle too severe. You want to get a good
your hi-hat side. It’s a great way to tell if you’re a live performance to see how you do under rebound from the drum, so the flatter the better.
sitting straight and staying solid physically while pressure. It’s amazing how being in the you play. You’ll also be able to observe the moment of playing with your group will change Your hi-hat cymbal height is another personal
fluidity of your motions as you move around the all of that good discipline and control you’ve call. But I think it’s best to make them high
kit. worked on so hard in your practice time. The enough so that there is no interference
stress of the moment can cause even the most between the sticks when you play hi-hat and
experienced players to tighten up or to move snare patterns with a “cross-arm” technique.
a little awkwardly. Reviewing our performances And watch that the right hand doesn’t have
can help us correct problems before they to angle down too far when you want to play
become deeply rooted. the hats with the shoulder of the stick. You also
don’t want them so high that you feel like you’re
One of the first things I look for is the height reaching over the edge of the hats to play with
of the drum throne. I personally think it’s best the tip of the stick either. Go with what you feel
to set high enough to keep the hips slightly works best for this, but be sure to look in the
higher than the knees, even when playing with mirror to see how relaxed you look.
the heels up. This usually creates the feeling of
leaning into the kit more. If you set too low it Whether you’re playing a basic 4-piece kit or
feels like your center of gravity keeps pushing a huge, monster drum set, the goal is still the
back. This action has the tendency to make you same. Make the kit fit you! Don’t force your
want to lean forward into the drums creating a body into strange angles to play. Keep working
curved back. Not good for the health of your on your set up until you feel every element is a
spine. natural extension of your physical movements.
Also, be aware of the balance between your
hi-hat and kick pedals. They should set in very
symmetrical positions. Neither should be farther
from the throne than the other. You should have
the sense of setting centered on the throne
and just walking evenly side-to-side right onto
the pedals. No twisting or pulling to either side
should be felt. And finally, be sure that you don’t
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April 2020
Carl Albrecht
Professional drummer for 30+ years, playing with
Paul Baloche, Don Moen, Ron Kenoly, Abe Laboriel,
LeAnn Rimes and others. He’s also a clinician,
author & pastor. Contact Carl for coaching, online
lessons, producing, or sessions. I’m still growing too..
www.CarlAlbrecht.com
[email protected]
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