DRUMS
MORE EXTREME DRUM KIT MORPHING | Carl Albrecht
Photo by Dion Martins on Unsplash
I ’ ve been working on new ideas . Watching videos . Learning from other drummers and percussionists . And trying some things I ’ ve never tried before . I find it helpful to try crazy ideas on my kit setup in order to plunge me into a different creative mindset . The first rule of thumb for this adventure is – There are NO wrong ideas ; or BAD ideas ! Some will be very useful , and some won ’ t find their place … yet .
TUNING AND MUFFLING This is always a good place to start . Without changing your set up just work on changing your tuning approach to each element of your kit . Try with lowering the tuning of everything to the most extreme level . I mean the heads are close to flopping around like paper bags . Almost ! Then try playing at this low tuning with mallets , brushes , rods , paintbrushes , etc .
Now go to the opposite extreme by tuning as tight as you can . Be careful not to break any lug casings but get things as tight as you can without being able to turn the lugs anymore . Now use the same approach in playing with different sticks and gadgets . Literally trying things you ’ ve never tried . Maybe a couple of butter knives would be interesting . I ’ ve got two eggs whisks that work very cool . You ’ ve got the idea . Oh , by the way , I do recommend audio recording all of this while you ’ re working on your ideas . You might fall into an amazing idea and not remember it later if you move on without documenting the process . Taking pictures or videos is also a great idea .
As you ’ re experimenting with different tunings also incorporate a variety of muffling techniques . Yes , you can use the typical moon gels , O-rings , and tape , but also use cotton balls , bath towels , paper towels and anything else to set on the drums to see what happens to the tone and resonance as you mess with all kinds of muffling ideas . * I ’ ve even wadded up newspapers and put them inside of the kick drum and just let them rattle around in the drum with no other muffling . It gave the kick a sound of having snares rattling on a loosely tuned snare drum without using a snare drum . * Special thanks to my friends in Seattle that showed me that trick on a session . Be sure to also try muffling your cymbals in different ways too and see what happens to the whole sonic quality of your set up . Don ’ t be afraid to break “ the rules .” Be creative ! Have fun !
DRUMS IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES Yes , you can do this . I ’ m not saying you ’ ll do this on Sunday morning , but for the sake of stretching your creative muscles , you ’ ve go to try different setups . Be bold … move things around .
Put your snare to the left of the hat and the floor tom where the snare normally sets . Then try putting the toms in a different order . Move the cymbals around like you ’ ve never done before . Mix up everything . If you have a second kick drum , set it on its side , batter head up , and play it like a normal drum . Set up several snare drums and move them around in unusual spots so that your hitting things when you didn ’ t plan on it . Work on creating groove ideas with every set up change you make . Again , keep audio and video recording going at all times .
USE PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS AND NON MUSICAL ITEMS This can go on forever and it should . I find this experimentation very refreshing when I feel stale with my normal drum setup . I ’ ll add hand drums to the set up . Try timbales , congas , bongos … anything ! A djembe here , and doumbek there . A cajon on its side is a cool effect .
While you ’ re adding things to the kit try stacking things together . Like a splash cymbal on a snare drum or tom . Try stacking cymbals together . This has become a very common trick now . Also try putting tambourines , shakers and other small percussion items on your drums and cymbals . You might need to buy another
roll of gaff tape .
And finally add cardboard boxes , old suitcases , trashcan lids , some PVC pipe , trashcans of all kinds , etc . Think “ Blue Man Group ,” meets “ Stomp ,” meets modern worship . You can find them on YouTube and other sites . Watch and learn .
Let this be the start of a creative adventure in your worship drumming experience . You should also be praying and asking the Holy Spirit to teach you new ideas for your musical expression . The Lord loves to help us grow in the gifts and talents He has given us .
Blessings on your creativity .
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 carlralbrecht @ gmail . com
84 January 2025 Subscribe for Free ...