PERCUSSION
PERCUSSION HACKS | Mark Shelton
Percussionists have been masters of ’hacks’ includes both the sharp attack of a drum stick Fasten a length of small-loop chain from the
long before someone coined the term. Devising bead and the rounded tone of a soft mallet, but center post and allow the chain to drape across
methods to solve musical and logistical with no time for an implement change, a few the cymbal. You can also use adhesive tape to
challenges comes with the territory. While inches of tape can help you deliver both of the attach several coins to the top surface. Either
drumming through a few decades I’ve learned needed sounds. of these old-school methods will inject some
a number of ‘percussion hacks.’ Check out my
sizzle into your tone.
quick list of ten assorted tips—any one of which
might help you out of a tight spot or allow you
to play with greater accuracy and expression.
TONE DOWN THE JINGLES
It only takes a little tape to manipulate the sound
of a tambourine. If you want to darken the tone
of jingles, apply a tiny bit of tape to the discs.
This little trick will mute some of the higher
frequencies. To reduce the overall volume of
the instrument, tape some of the jingle sets to
the shell so that those discs remain stationary
(and silent).
YOUR ELBOW IS A THIRD HAND
A sweep of the bar chimes would add a tasty
touch but your hands are full. There’s a shaker
in one hand, a tambourine in the other, and
it’s too late to grow another arm to make that
glissando on the bar chimes. Solution: Keep
the tambourine and shaker groove cooking and
sweep the bar chimes with an elbow.
LIMIT YOUR CHOICES
If you want to
A timpanist could easily use three different
darken the tone
of jingles, apply
a tiny bit of tape
mallets in the course of a piece while a
xylophonist might switch between two pairs of
implements. Selecting the right stick, mallet, or
brush for a passage of music is certainly a part
of the percussionist’s art. When called upon
to multitask between several instruments on a
performance, cutting back on the variety can
save time and avoid confusion. If the multi-
to the discs.
percussion
switches
become
challenging,
reduce down to one set of ‘compromise
This little trick
implements’ per instrument.
will mute some
RIGHT WHERE YOU NEED 'EM
Time was tight moving from the congas to the
glockenspiel, but you made it just in time. Just
of the higher
in time to discover the glockenspiel mallets are
still over on the trap table just out of reach.
frequencies.
When playing multi-percussion parts, consider
leaving sticks and mallets parked on their
instrument so that they are at the ready upon
NO NEEDLESS JINGLING
your last second arrival
Preventing extraneous sound from the sleigh Take any drumstick and wrap some ‘cushion bells can be a challenge. A slight jiggle can tape’ set those little pellets into motion and cause Waterproof Tape or Dr. Scholl's Moleskin) There is a sweet spot on a drum stick for playing
unwanted noise—along with a glare from the around the shoulder area. That's it! Give this a cross stick rim shot. It feels so good when
conductor. treatment to a couple of sticks and you can that specific area of the stick makes contact
easily play a suspended cymbal roll and move with the rim. Have you ever had to fish around
Drill a hole in the handle, thread a cord through quickly to striking the bead on the snare drum for the spot during a performance? Use a felt
the hole, and suspend the sleigh bells from a or using the butt on the cowbell. tip marker to draw a ring around the shaft at the
(Examples:
3M
Nexcare
Absolute
boom cymbal stand or an overhead rack. This
JUST MARK IT
sweet spot and you will be able to hit the cross
'upright arrangement' allows you to easily bring QUICK SIZZLE the instrument into playing position without The part calls for a ‘sizzle cymbal,’ but there’s producing undesired ringing. no time to drill holes and install rivets into KEEP THE COUPLE TOGETHER
stick rim shot consistently.
your favorite metal disk. You could use an Drum sticks are often sold in matched pairs.
SOFTEN A STICK attachment such as Meinl’s Cymbal Bacon or The sticks can be pitch paired or matched
When confronted with a musical passage that just go the DIY route. according to weight. You can try to keep the
January 2019
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