DRUMS
PLAYING FOR THE ROOM | Nicole Hickman
Five drumming hacks to help drummers adapt team help round off the harsh edges of your DRUMMING HACK #4
and thrive in any room. playing that might be getting in the way! PLAY FEWER NOTES!
There is nothing quite like the high velocity DRUMMING HACK #2 If a room has severe slap back (echo), play
crashing of a wooden stick into a sweet, light- STICK OPTIONS fewer notes! Don’t worry about as many ghost
notes, or fast and crazy fills. Simple, intentional
weight, ginormous cymbal! No wonder Psalm
150: 5 says, “Praise Him with loud cymbals; Thicker/Heavier sticks produce more sound, beats will shine when the room is hyperactive
praise Him with resounding cymbals!” As where a thinner/lighter stick theoretically should with slap back. Trust your beat, and keep
a drummer, playing with all your might and be quieter. I personally keep a pair of lightweight it tight.
passion feels like you are giving songs wings to 7a’s in my stick bag for this very reason.
DRUMMING HACK #5
fly into heaven!
Sometimes a real stick is still too much. If that is
The church congregation, however, may the case, invest in some stick alternatives. Here
not agree. are some of my favorites:
LESS CYMBALS! LESS DRUMS!
If the main complaint is too much crash/ride
cymbal, get rid of all but the best sounding
Vic Firth Rute: Tends to last longer, and I cymbal for the room. You will naturally hit the
the use of live drums, can be extremely difficult! can more easily still pull great sounds out cymbal less if there is only one to hit. Also, try
As a touring drummer, I’ve toured through of the drums and cymbals. investing in a smaller, lightweight cymbal that
Vater Monster Brush: If you’re carrying the plays well in smaller rooms.
Playing indoors, in rooms never designed for
hundreds of churches and played hundreds of
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vexing rooms. While, at the time, I was more rhythm on the snare, these brushes can irritated at the struggle of figuring out drumming sound great, especially if you need a softer Get in the habit of playing a simple kit every time
work-arounds for cave-like sounding rooms, sonic approach. you need to play quiet. Try a kick, snare, hi-hat,
ProMark Hot Rods: I love the variety of crash/ride only set-up. This way, when your
the pearls of wisdom that came from playing in dowel sizes they offer, and that most mind recognizes the change, it subconsciously
those musically challenging rooms. music stores carry them if I need to pick knows your playing needs to be lighter and
them up quick. simpler. Good drummers can play a full kit.
five years later I would love to share with you
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Great drummers can make a simple set up
And on that note sweet note of “pearls” and
“wisdom” I give you: drumming hacks!
DRUMMING HACK #3
sound just as good!
TAPE/MAGNET/MOONGEL CYMBAL DAMPENING
BONUS! DRUMMING HACK #6
DRUMMING HACK #1
BECOME GOOD BUDDIES WITH YOUR SOUND TEAM!
While some might cringe at the idea of any
DETUNE THE DRUMS!
sticky product on their prized cymbals, gaff tape
The sound team generally knows better than or moon gel can be a great option for getting Detuning the drums will help lessen their
anyone what it takes to make the room sound rid of harsh overtones or general loudness projection, pitch, and volume!
good! Trust them. If they recommend you hit on cymbals. As long as you intentionally take the crash cymbals softer, or ask you not to the moon gels or tape off before there is any Ask for feedback, be creative, be flexible, and
rimshot the snare drum every hit, do what you chance of residue transfer, this option has keep the faith! Drum on!
can to accommodate the request. personally saved me more than once!! The worship team, including the sound I also recommend checking out Meinl’s New team, has to work together to enhance the Magnet Cymbal Tuners! Same idea as tape, environment of worship! As much as you want but with magnets. Benny Greb helped design to feel good while worshipping, the goal is to them, so I’m highly optimistic.
lead the congregation in worship. Let the sound
July 2018
Nicole Hickman
Nicole is a 20 year worship team member/leader
veteran, and five year full time touring drummer/
guitarist/vocalist for Christian Pop artist Holly Starr.
She loves sharing tips, insights, and wisdom she
has picked up from many amazing people along
the way!
www.HollyStarrMusic.com
WorshipMusician.com
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