Rhythm House Drums wrote:I'm noticing that the more I play, the less I have to hit the drum hard to get a good sound. I see lot of players (beginners and not so beginners) hitting way too hard, especially for slaps. Almost as if treating tones as ghost notes (or even regular notes) and slaps as being all accents.
Yes, I see this too. I think that's because, initially, most people find it harder to get a slap than a tone. (It was that way for me, especially when I still played a small djembe with a thick skin that was tuned low--quite difficult to get a decent slap out that, even with good technique.)
So, initially, the focus is on the slap and, because that's where the focus is, people tend to hit harder.
I'm finding a sweet spot so to speak with the amount of force I'm hitting the drum. I used to as well go for a harder slap to make sure it was heard. Now I find myself using more proper technique for the slaps which feels much more relaxed and natural, and perhaps even play them lighter than my tones now.
Same here. I found that, as time went by, slaps happened more or less by themselves and that it was harder to get a nice dark and fat tone than it was to get a crisp slap. I also agree that, the longer people play, the more relaxed they get and the less effort they spend for the same volume level.
The problem is that telling people "to relax" is not that useful (other than in an abstract sense) because true relaxation comes only with mastery. It is
because my technique has improved that I can afford to relax, not the other way round. (Mere relaxation doesn't create good technique--it only enables it.)
but I guess my point is, you don't have to play it hard to get good distinction between tones and slaps... a common mistake I see.
Absolutely. Just listen to the masters. They make perfect tones and slaps at any volume level
Cheers,
Michi.
