DRUMS
DRUMMERS – DEVELOPING BALANCE AND CONTROL | Carl Albrecht
I love to play loud when it ’ s possible . Unfortunately , church drummers are usually not in settings that will work for this kind of playing . If you are in big arenas or outdoor amphitheaters you may have the freedom to give it all you got . But in most other venues you have to play at lower volumes and still maintain a balanced sound .
When I ’ m in a totally unrestricted situation I quite often play with bigger sticks , bigger cymbals , and much more overall volume . I swing higher and hit harder . The big stage setting often calls for projecting more sound and energy . Although I really dig in when this happens I ’ m still listening to the balance of the sounds of the drum kit . I won ’ t hit the snare really hard and then wimp out when playing tom fills . I ’ m also aware of the balance between the kick , snare , and hat . Actually I pay close attention to the kit sound as a whole instrument . At any dynamic level you play you must keep the sounds balanced between every element of the kit .
Here are some exercises that will help . Start by playing your kit as hard as you can and listen for the overall balance of every element of your drums . You should use earplugs when you do this . I ’ ve used a dB meter at head level when I ’ m playing loud and it is very easy to reach levels of 100 to 115 db . Ouch ! Without hearing protection that is very dangerous . This level of volume is extreme in any band . But you have to be aware of the balance of sounds even at that level .
Besides playing at your top volume with control and balance you have to be able to do this at any dynamic level . Start by playing loudly again then gradually decrease the volume in levels . Come down to just what feels like one degree . And then come down another and then another . But , at each level , stay there until you feel it ’ s perfectly controlled and the sounds of your kit are balanced .
Another exercise is to adjust the volume of just one part of the drum pattern . For instance , focus on just the dynamics of your snare part . Play they whole kit pattern so that it feels natural to you without thinking of it . Then change just the volume level of the snare while keeping the other pieces at their regular volume . Start by lowering the dynamics of the snare first . Even to the point of playing it so softly as compared to the other parts that you almost can ’ t hear it . It may feel difficult to control your playing at lower dynamic levels , but that ’ s OK . Get it as soft as you can . Then start to bring it back up to the point that felt normal to you . Now gradually increase it ’ s volume until it completely overwhelms the other sounds of your kit . Then gradually bring the volume back to what felt like normal to you at the beginning . Apply this exercise to all the different parts of the drum kit .
One observation I ’ ve made about this balance and control exercise is that usually the cymbals and hi-hat are the hardest to balance within the drum kit . Playing all the drums at a consistent level seems to be a natural approach to playing . But when I move to the cymbals or hi-hat I have had a tendency to hit them too hard .
All of these focused practice sessions will help you keep your playing balanced and controlled no matter what style of music you are playing or in what size of venue you perform in . Always work closely with your sound team to get constructive criticism and over time you ’ ll find you ’ re playing and your sound will become more locked in and blended with the band .
Please let me know how this routine works for you . It ’ s good to update information as we learn how things work in a real world application .
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 LMAlbrecht @ aol . com