Articles by Eric Starr on ArticleSnatch.com

Techno To Jungle To Drum And Bass Music - History And Development Drum Guide

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The invention of electronic instruments such as the Theremin and the Ondes Martenot in the 1920s and 1930s introduced a new method of creating music. This new approach remained largely confined to classical composers (e.g, Stockhausen and Messiaen) until the late 1960s and early 1970s when ensembles such as Beaver and Krause and Kraftwerk began to replace acoustic and electric instruments (drums, guitar, bass, piano, etc.) with electronic instruments (synthesizers) producing "electronic music". By the 1980s, electronic musics influence had reached popular culture with artists such as Devo, The Buggles, Human League, Yaz, and Erasure, as electronically produced sounds became mixed with melodic pop songs. The term Techno emerged in the late 1980s, but the style only achieved popularity in the early 1990s (primarily in the UK) when harder, more powerful beats were merged with dance tracks to produce music which was heavily "dance driven". In addition to Techno compositions, another term and style associated with this genre is "Remix", which means adding new tracks to a popular song, subtracting original tracks, especially drums, and then "remixing the result". This usually results in a faster feel and a heavy, repetitive beat of the drum. **End Summary** Topics: techno]]> jungle]]> drum]]> bass]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Eric Starr. Learn all about the drum and its history, development of drumming techniques to professional drum kits to kids drum set arrangements - all about the drum is covered at Drum Solo Artist.

Fusion And Surf Music - History And Development Drummers Guide

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Not so much as style as a feel, the purpose of Half Time Standard Rock is to fill up the groove in slower Rock tempos. The addition of 16th notes from the ride hand creates the active feel in this groove, making it practical only for songs in slower tempos. The tempo range is narrower than that of the Standard Rock range, with quarter note equals from 60 to 96 bpm. The term "Fusion" refers to the fusing of many different styles into a distinctive sound. Predominately an instrumental form of music, Fusion is a mixture of Rock, jazz, Funk, and Progressive Rock, and involves advanced musicianship. In addition to the bands and musicians, important fusion drummers include Alphonse Mouzon, Rod Morgenstein of the Dixie Dregs, Billy Cobham for his work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and his milestone album, "Spectrum", and several drummers who have played with Chick Corea, such as Steve Gadd, Lenny White, and Dave Weckl. Contemporary drummers such as Will Kennedy Hakim, Dennis Chambers, Simon Phillips, and Vinny Colaiuta are all outstanding Fusion players. **End Summary** Topics: Fusion]]> Surf]]> Dw Drums]]> Gretsch Drums]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> dw drums and gretsch drums are often used in Fusion And Surf Music and are celebrated by many professional drummers world wide.

Polka And Rock And Roll - Development And History Drummers Guide

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Though the drumming patterns in the Blues and Surf are an accurate representation of Early Rock and Roll drumming, the grooves are the most practical to use when playing Early Rock and Roll. A drummer's main role is to lay down a solid feel to support the music. Standard tempos range from quarter note equals 60 beats per minute (for slow ballads) up to two hundred beats per minute. One of the first forms of Rock and Roll, Rockabilly emphasized a strong guitar and piano sound with a heavy back beat on the snare drum, similar to that of Jump Blues. Prominent creators of the Rockabilly sound were Bill Haley and the Comets, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley. Its popularity diminished by the resurgence through Dave Edmunds, The Stray Cats in the 1980s and, more recently, Brian Setzer (former Stray Cats guitarist) and the Reverend Horton Heat. Rockabilly has a swung feel and has a large tempo range of quarter note equals from one hundred and twenty to 240 beats per minute. The basis of Standard Rock and Roll drumming is simple. **End Summary** Topics: Polka]]> Rock]]> Roll]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. There are a lot of different Drum Samples and Drum Loops widely available everywhere, nevertheless Eric recommends using Drum Triggers for studio work, triggers will help both the drummer and the engineer to achieve greater results.

Utilizing Polyrhythmic Technique With Odd Meters Drummers Guide

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The standard way of playing 9/8 is to count it as having three beats per measure, with three eighth notes equaling one beat. Another fairly common way to feel 9/8 is to have a predominant duple feel throughout the measure accompanied by one triple grouping of eighth notes at the end, essentially making it 2 plus 2 plus 2 plus 3/8. This approach is often found in Middle Eastern rhythms (Dave Brubecks "Blue Rondo a la Turk" being a perfect example of Turkish influence). When counted in this way, the count changes to 9 beats per measure and the 8th note pulse remains brisk. Another common way of breaking down 9/8 is 3 plus 2 plus 2 plus 2. Of course, there are other ways of breaking down 9/8, but 2 plus 2 plus 2 plus 3 and 3 plus 2 plus 2 plus 2 are the most practical options for the duple emphasis. As with the previous time signatures, the practical tempo range remains at approximately eighth note equal from 192 to 320 bpm. **End Summary** Topics: Time Signatures]]> Polyrhythm]]> Drums]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Eric is using Remo drum heads on all of his Used Drums, including his Bongo Drums and Conga Drums. Eric is a member of Drum Solo Artist where he is answering drum related questions, and helping drummers with tips and advices.

Arabic Music And Contemporary Pre Western Middle Eastern Music

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The music of the Middle East and the Arabic nations dates back thousands of years, and has influenced countless other musical traditions. Contemporary Middle Eastern music combines the traits of traditional Eastern folk music with popular music of the Western hemisphere, including elements of classical music. Ghazal, Qawali, Maghrebi, Kahleeji and Arabic Pop are just a few of the numerous styles of music emanating from Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the Persian Gulf in the musics early modern forms, Middle Eastern composers integrated their folk styles with Western influenced orchestras, though currently the trend has turned back toward smaller ensembles. Pre Western Middle Eastern music utilized smaller ensembles. The Arabic nations music along with Middle East music dates back thousands of years, and has influenced countless other musical styles during its evolution. Instruments such as the Oud - a pear shaped stringed instrument, Persian Tars - a plucked and strummed instrument, similar to an Oud, with a sound board of stretched skin rather than wood, Neys - wind instrument, Qanouns - horizontal instrument with many strings, resembling a dulcimer and Kamenches and Rebabas - both fiddle like, bowed instruments, still characterize this musical genre. **End Summary** Topics: Middle East]]> Arabic]]> Music]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Eric is using Pro Mark drum sticks on Electronic Drums, and favors Roland V Drums and Tama Drum Throne . Eric is an active member of Drum Solo Artist where he is answering drum related questions, and helping drummers with tips and advices.

Brush Techniques Used In Afro Cuban, Brazilian And Jazz

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

When performing a ballad with brushes, another way to play is the "figure eight" method. Both hands perform a figure eight on the snare drum, swirling and rarely leaving the surface. Generally, the ride hand starts on beat 1 at the upper portion of the drum while the snare hand is placed toward the lower portion on the same beat. The hands move in contrary directions to each other, both in figure eight patterns, and end up on opposite sides of the drum on beats 2 and 4. This enables a drummer to lightly accent all four beats of a measure with both hands simultaneously. Musical transcriptions of each style are written out. One of the distinct sounds of jazz drumming is achieved with brushes, which are commonly used in both standard tempo songs and, especially, in ballads. The primary brush technique is to drag ("swirl") the snare hand in a clockwise circular motion on the snare while playing a consistent time pattern with the ride hand on the same surface. This requires proper coordination between the two hands. **End Summary** Topics: Afro Cuban]]> Brazilian]]> Jazz]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Eric is using Snare Drums manufactured by Gretsch Drums and Slingerland Drums. Eric is a member of Drum Solo Artist where he is answering drum related questions, and helping drummers with tips and advices.

The Odd Time music - History And Development Drummers Guide.

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Though most music is composed and played in common time signatures (2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8), it's not unusual to find music played or composed in odd time signatures (5/4, 5/8, 7/4, 7/8, 11/8, etc). For thousands of years, odd time meters have added richness to musical genres in every part of the world. Here we will explore the history of odd time meters in popular music, their role in music today, and the correct approach to understanding and playing them. It is important to understand time signatures, that is, what the numbers in them mean. The top number tells how many beats there are per measure, while the bottom number tells what kind of note lasts for one beat. So, in the most common time signature, 4/4, the top "4" indicates four beats per measure, and the bottom "4" indicates that a quarter note lasts for one beat. Further, the top number may be any number within reason, while the bottom number is restricted to a small range of even numbers (i.e. 2, 4, 8, 16, and less commonly 32, 64, and even 128), with "2" representing a half note, "4" representing a quarter note, etc. **End Summary** Topics: odd time]]> drums]]> drummers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Eric uses drum sets by Mapex Drums , Pacific Drums and Gibraltar Drum Rack . Eric is a member of Drum Solo Artist where he is answering drum related questions, and helping drummers with tips and advices.

Small Band Jazz - History And Development Drummers Guide Part Two.

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Though Avante Garde utilizes the ideas of the previous two styles, it requires more technically advanced drumming, because the time pattern is usually less apparent, and is sometimes deliberately obscured or even omitted entirely (as with much of the music of Cecil Taylor). As well, tempos may exceed even those of Be Bop; Avante Garde drummers often use polyrhythmic figures; and the form of a song is sometimes abandoned entirely-if there was a form to begin with (that is, if the playing isn't based on pure improvisation). Finally, with the popularity of FunkandFusion, jazz came to include straight as well as swung feels (e.g., Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage"). Today, a jazz drummer may utilize any of the styles and ideas of the previously mentioned eras. The role of the drum set player in jazz continues to be to establish the swung or straight feel, with improvisation on the drums complementing the other instruments. The following patterns, featuring time variations and bassand snare drum variations, are only the beginning of countless possibilities for improvisation. **End Summary** Topics: small band]]> jazz]]> drums]]> drummers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Eric is using Snare Drums manufactured by Gretsch Drums and Slingerland Drums . Eric is a member of Drum Solo Artist where he is answering drum related questions, and helping drummers with tips and advices.

Small Band Jazz - History And Development Drummers Guide Part One.

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Following the Swing era, the size of jazz groups decreased from large Big Band orchestras to much smaller bands. This trend began in the early 1940s and became increasingly pronounced in the late '40s and early '50s. Jazz terminology reflected this shift: terms such as "trio", "quartet", and "quintet", and styles like Be Bop, Cool Jazz, and Avante Garde all suggest a small band (some other later styles include Hard Bop, a more intensified form of Be Bop, and Soul Jazz which featured a Blues & Funk influence). These bands usually consisted of a lead horn player along with a full rhythm section (drums, bass, and piano) and sometimes an additional horn player. One of the biggest changes in the music was in the approach to improvisation. Though there is improvisation in Big Band music (horn solos or even drum solos in prescribed places), the Big Band genre is primarily based on highl~ organized, charted arrangements. A small band, however, tends to follow the form of a song rather than ,i chart, which leaves a lot of room to stretch. It's important to learn the characteristics of "Jazz form" when studying the small band format. **End Summary** Topics: small band]]> jazz]]> drummers]]> drums]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Eric prefers Dw Drums and uses various Drum Pedals , Eric is a member of Drum Forum at Drum Solo Artist where he is answering drum related questions, and helping drummers with advices.

New Orleans, Displaced, Linear And Ghost Note Funk - History And Development Drummers Guide

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

The primary components of a New Orleans Funk pattern are the repetitive accents derived from the "3" side of a clave rhythm mixed with the march style characteristics of a Second Line groove. The distinguishing feature of this style is the cyclical rhythm defined by the drums and augmented by the other instruments. Notable drummers include Earl Palmer who incorporated street parade drumming into Funk), ldris Muhammad, James Black, Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste, Willie Green, John Boudreaux, Johnny Vidacovich, Herlin Riley, Ricky Sebastian, and Chris Lacinak. Though easily interpreted in double time, the feel tends to be laid back and relaxed (with the eighth notes often played "in the crack"). The tempo range is quarter note = 152-208 beats per minute. "Displaced" refers to playing primary snare drum notes on counts other than the customary strong 2 & 4 back beats. Though creative and sometimes unusual, "displaced" patterns usually retain the repetitive feature of most drumming grooves. **End Summary** Topics: ghost note funk]]> drum news]]> drummers wanted]]> drum]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Eric recommends checking out Drum News , and Drummers Wanted sections of Drum Solo Artist, portal that covers all topics related to the Drum .

Gospel Music And Funk Rock - History And Development Drummers Guide

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Gospel Music brings the tradition of Blues into the music of the African American Baptist Church. It took the form and name of "Gospel Music" (originally called "Gospel Songs") in the early 20th century through the efforts of a single individual, Thomas A. Dorsey. Born in Villa Rica, Georgia in 1899, Dorsey learned to play piano as a youth in the African American Baptist Church. As an accompanist for such famed Blues singers as Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith, and after seeing Charles A. Tindley perform at the National Baptist Convention, he became inspired to compose church music with a Blues influence. Though these new sounds were initially rejected by the Baptist establishment, Dorsey continued to promote his music. After several years of Dorsey's struggling to find acceptance by the church, other singers and musicians such as Mother Willie Mae Ford and Lucy Campbell also began to promote Gospel Music. This, along with Dorsey's persistent efforts, finally led to Gospel Music's acceptance. By 1932, Dorsey had established The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, an institution which continues to flourish today. **End Summary** Topics: gospel]]> funk rock]]> drum store]]> drummer t shirts]]> how to read drum tabs]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Eric supplies Drum Solo Artist Drum Store with funny Drummer T Shirts and booklets on How To Read Drum Tabs .

Heavy Metal Music, Double Bass - History And Development Drummers Guide

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Heavy Metal music has been a driving force in Rock for over 30 years. The style developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s through classic Hard Rock and the louder Blues Rock bands. Since then, it has evolved into music featuring exceptionally fast, technically challenging rhythms and heavy drumming, frequently accompanied by growling vocals and heavy, blistering guitar tones. The style usually requires an exceptional amount of endurance from the musicians playing it. Terms associated with contemporary Heavy Metal are "Death Metal," "Goth Metal," "Black Metal," "Speed Metal," and "Thrash," which all suggest its sound. Bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and solo artist Alice Cooper are among the originators of the Heavy Metal style, which even at its inception featured louder, harsher guitar, more active bass and drum parts, and darker lyrics than in standard Rock. Another feature of Heavy Metal is that many of its artists put on live concerts involving elaborate stage sets, intricate light shows, pyrotechnics, and outrageous costumes (Kiss). The Heavy Metal sound initially relied on high pitched singers (Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin), but has since evolved to embrace lower range, roaring vocals. **End Summary** Topics: heavy metal]]> tama drum pedals]]> drum setup]]> drummer video]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Tama Drum Pedals were an important part of Eric's Drum Setup he featured in his Drummer Video at Drum Solo artist.

The Big Band Music Style - History And Development Drummers Guide

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

The Big Band style developed in the 1920s with Fletcher Henderson being the first band leader to attain widespread fame. Also important was band leader and drummer Chick Webb, who brought the drum set into the spotlight and inspired countless Big Band drummers throughout the 20th century. In the 1930s and 1940s, the Big Band genre dominated popular music in recordings, radio, and live settings. Prominent band leaders of this era included Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Benny Goodman, with prominent drummers including Louie Bellson, Jo Jones, Gene Krupa, and, later, Ed Shaughnessy of the Tonight Show Band. Big Band drummers developed powerful and fast technique, which they sometimes displayed through lengthy and frequent solos, the prime example of this being Buddy Rich, who performed this style of music for over five decades. By 1950, the popularity of Big Band music began to diminish. **End Summary** Topics: big band]]> marching tom drums]]> marching bass drums]]> drum competition]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Eric performed on Marching Tom Drums and Marching Bass Drums at the 2007 Drum Solo Artist Drum Competition .

Second Line Music Style - History And Development Drummers Guide

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Situated at the mouth of the Mississippi, New Orleans has been a major port for nearly three centuries. It's a melting pot of cultures: African, Cuban, South American, European, Caribbean and many others. The fusion of all these cultures created a new style of music, laying the foundation for all types of Jazz which followed. The end of slavery was a catalyst for a specifically New Orleans type music, especially what is known as New Orleans "Second Lyne". In the latter part of the 19th century, funeral and parade bands consisting of former slaves and their descendants became important musical and cultural activities. The first "line" of the funeral consisted of the hearse and immediate family while the "second line" was composed of musicians, dancers, and friends hence the name associated with this style. The basic drumming feel was triple rather than duple, though it was played "in the crack" (halfway between straight and swung), which is still the defining characteristic of Second Line drumming. The make up of parade bands in New Orleans was similar to the marching or parade bands that we are familiar with today, consisting of horns with a marching percussion section. **End Summary** Topics: second line]]> music advertising]]> sonor drum sets]]> sonor snare drums]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. There is a lot of Music Advertising that is done for Sonor Drum Sets and Sonor Snare Drums , but Eric prefers Yamaha drums.

Dixieland Music Style - History And Development Drummers Guide

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Dixieland combined earlier brass band marches, French quadrilles, ragtime and blues with collective, polyphonic improvisation. While instrumentation and size of bands can be very flexible, the "standard" band consists of a "front line" of trumpet (or cornet), trombone, and clarinet, with a "rhythm section" of at least two of the following instruments: guitar or banjo, string bass or tuba, piano, and drums. Dixieland gave birth to traditional jazz, and served as a bridge between New Orleans music and the Swing and Big Band era. Dixieland drumming is a somewhat simpler style of playing than busy (or improvised) Second Line drumming. In addition, Dixieland has more of a traditional swing feel rather than the "in the crack" feel of Second Line drumming. "Dixieland" refers to the music that developed in the Storyville (red light) District of New Orleans between approximately 1900 and 1917. Musicians responsible for creating Dixieland include New Orleans natives Buddy Bolden, Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton, Joe "King" Oliver, and Louis Armstrong. Due to the shutdown of Storyville during World War 1, musicians migrated north on the Mississippi River and ultimately ended up in Chicago, where the music gained national popularity. **End Summary** Topics: dixieland]]> drum library]]> slingerland drum sets]]> slingerland snare drums]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Eric's Drum Library contains many solos performed on Slingerland Drum Sets and Slingerland Snare Drums . Eric is an active member of Drum Solo Artist where he is answering drum related questions, and helping drummers with tips and advices.

Hip Hop And Rap - History And Development Drummers Guide Part Two

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

In late 1980s Rap culture began creating new styles of clothing, images, and dance ("Breakdancing") to accompany this rising new musical style. By the middle of the decade, the first forms of sampling appeared, a process incorporating a previously recorded piece of music into remixed form. The huge success of the collaboration between Run DMC and Aerosmith, with their revised version of "Walk This Way" in 1986, created the new path which Rap music would follow. The popularity of other sampled songs such as ""Wild Thing" by Tone Loc (borrowed from Van Halen's "Jamie's Cryin") and "Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer (borrowed from Rick James "Superfreak") produced Rap music's first superstars. Later sensations such as Public Enemy and LL Cool J helped elevate Rap to a dominant style in the music industry. The popularity of Rap became so great that by the end of the decade MTV established a program dedicated solely to this style entitled "Yo MTV Raps." In the early years of the 1990s, as the Hip Hop culture expanded in popularity with Rap music as a primary component, the term Hip Hop began to replace the more traditional term Rap. **End Summary** Topics: hip hop]]> rap]]> tama snare drums]]> tama drum sets]]> drum links]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. There are a lot of Drum Links to Tama Drum Sets and Tama Snare Drums , but Eric prefers Yamaha drums.

Hip Hop And Rap - History And Development Drummers Guide Part One

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Typically, Hip Hop music consists of one or more rappers speaking or chanting semi autobiographic tales, or coded information in an intensely rhythmic lyrical form, making abundant use of techniques like assonance, alliteration, and rhyme. Though rap may be performed a cappella, it is more common for the rapper(s) to be accompanied by a DJ or a live band providing an appropriate beat. The Popularity of Rap Music and the Hip Hop culture has increased immensely over the past 20 years. With its roots in the earliest forms of African influenced call and response vocalizing, Hip Hop and Rap utilizes the advanced technology of electronic sampling and sequencing and has become a leading force in the music industry. Hip Hop and Rap music can be traced back to two sources: spoken lyrics (usually rhyming) and a Rhythm and Blues and Funk musical base. The reasons for the rise of Hip Hop are found in the changing urban culture within the United States during the 1970s. Perhaps most important was the low cost involved in getting started as the equipment was relatively inexpensive, and virtually anyone could "Rap" along with the popular beats of the day. **End Summary** Topics: hip hop]]> rap]]> rogers drum sets]]> rogers snare drums]]> drum forum]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Eric often discusses Rogers Drum Sets and Rogers Snare Drums at Drum Solo Artist Drum Forum .

Funk Rhythm And Music Style - History And Development Drummers Guide

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Some of the earliest forms of Funk began in the city that gave birth to Jazz: New Orleans. Along with New Orleans native Fats Domino (whose recordings featured the grandfather of Funk drumming, Earl Palmer), one of the most influential musicians to contribute to this genre is piano player Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd, popularly known as "Professor Longhair." His style includes the sounds of early Rock n' Roll and Blues with the Afro Cuban clave influence of New Orleans Second Line (featuring Earl Palmer yet again). In the 1950s, another primary precursor of Funk arose Soul Music. It combined elements of Rock n' Roll and Rhythm & Blues, with Ray Charles being among the first to bring this new style to prominence. Near the end of the decade, another artist appeared who would become the driving force of Soul and Funk music for the next 40 years. James Brown ("The Godfather of Soul") created driving dance music which involved advanced musicianship utilizing the syncopated and displaced rhythms which have come to characterize Funk. In addition, in Detroit, beginning in 1960 Motown Records helped create what is now called "the Motown sound. **End Summary** Topics: funk]]> premier drum sets]]> premier snare drums]]> drum blogs]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Eric often writes about Premier Drum Sets and Premier Snare Drums in his Drum Blogs at Drum Solo Artist.

Drum And Bass Jungle - History And Development Drummers Guide

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Jungle was the first of the two styles (Drum and Bass compared to Jungle), emerging around the early 1990s and influenced by the UK hardcore Techno dance scene, specifically the Breakbeat style. Drum and bass began as an offshoot of the UK breakbeat hardcore and rave scene of the late 1980s, and over the first decade of its existence there were many permutations in its style, incorporating elements from Ragga, Dancehall, Electro, Funk, Hip Hop, House, Jazz, Heavy Metal, Reggae, Rock, Techno and Trance. Jungle borrowed the frantic, up tempo electronic rhythms of Techno, while mixing in Reggae bass lines and "Raggamuffin" style vocals (rapping with a Reggae accent and rhythm). In addition, the growing popularity of programmed Hip Hop beats and rhythms had a profound effect on Jungle music. Toward the middle of the decade, Jungle Djs and composers began experimenting with longer songs, fewer vocals, more synthesizer ambience, Jazz and Funk influence, and live drums, eventually leading to the creation of Drum and Bass (often written as "Drum n' Bass"). Drum and Bass provided a more intellectual side for the Jungle musicians, focusing more on the instrumental portion of the music rather than the song oriented features. **End Summary** Topics: drum and bass]]> jungle]]> pearl drum sets]]> pearl snare drums]]> drum magazines]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Pearl Drum Sets and Pearl Snare Drums are widely advertised in major Drum Magazines , nevertheless Eric chooses Yamaha drums.

Disco, Country Ballad And Country Waltz - History And Development Drummers Guide

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Disco incorporates stylistic musical elements of Rock, Funk and the Motown sound while also drawing from Swing, Soca, Merengue and Afro Cuban styles and groves. It is above all else drum driven dance music. Consequently, the role of the drummer is to make the beat prominent and unwavering at all times. Although some elements of Disco appeared in the music of Funk groups such as Sly and the Family Stone, the style really began to develop in the early to mid 1970s when dance clubs ("Discotheques"), such as the Peppermint Lounge and Studio 54 in New York City began to gain popularity. Major record labels began supplying clubs with dance music on the first known pressings of 12" promo vinyl records (developed by music promoter Tom Moulton), which offered longer mixes ("remixes") of 3 minute standard popular songs. Disco emerged on the radio with a series of early hit singles including "The Hustle" (Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony), "Love to Love You Baby" (Donna Summer), "Rock The Boat" (Hues Corporation) and "Never Can Say Goodbye" (performed by Gloria Gaynor, written originally by the Jackson Five). **End Summary** Topics: disco]]> country ballad]]> marching snare drums]]> yamaha snare drums]]> yamaha drum sets]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. For his Marching Snare Drums Eric prefers Yamaha Snare Drums from Yamaha Drum Sets . Eric is an active member of Drum Solo Artist where he is answering drum related questions, and helping drummers with tips and advices.

Country Western, Train Beat And Country Rock - Styles, History And Development Drummers Guide

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

The primary creators of the Country Shuffle were Ray Price and his drummer, Buddy Harman. Since its development in the 1950s, the Country Shuffle has come to be used in a lot of Musical styles like Honky Tonk, The Nashville Sound, the Bakersfield Sound, and Modern Day Country. Its main characteristic is the swung eighth note feel borrowed from jazz and Blues. Early examples of the Country Shuffle are "Crazy Arms", "City Lights", and "I've Got a New Heartache." Tempos range from quarter note = 80-126 bpm. Western Music's initial identification with Country music stemmed from its sounding somewhat similar to traditional Country and the use of the guitar as the primary instrument. Although it is no longer coupled with Country, a musician may need to play Western songs in a non traditional Country setting. The Country, Shuffle is the primary groove in virtually all Western songs, with the distinguishing feature being the slow tempo of virtually all Western tunes. So, a "Slow Shuffle" feel results. The tempo range is quite narrow, at quarter note = 80-92 bpm. The Train Beat is an indispensable groove in most Country gigs. **End Summary** Topics: country western]]> train beat]]> drum techniques]]> pacific drum sets]]> pacific snare drums]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Eric practices various Drum Techniques on Pacific Drum Sets and Pacific Snare Drums . Eric is an active member of Drum Solo Artist where he is answering drum related questions, and helping drummers with tips and advices.

Bluegrass, Western Swing, And Country Two-Beat - History And Development Drummers Guide

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Bluegrass, developed in Kentucky, it eventually came to be referred to by Kentucky's nickname "The Bluegrass State", attained immense popularity when Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys performed at The Grand Ole Opry in 1939, establishing them as the seminal force of this high-energy, primarily instrumental music. Traditional Bluegrass instrumentation is all acoustic and consists of a 5-string banjo, flat-top guitar, fiddle, mandolin, dobro, and bass. Eventually, the drum set became included in the Bluegrass ensemble as an integral instrument with the music of Earl Scruggs and Lester Flat. Ricky Scaggs brings Bluegrass up to the present day ("Country Boy" standing as a good example of his style) along with the Dixie Chicks, while its more traditional forms have had a recent resurgence of popularity, largely due to the soundtracks from the movies, Bluegrass songs may unlike songs in other Country styles intentionally speed up to add flare to solos ("passing a break," in Bluegrass terms) and a song's finale. Ordinarily, Bluegrass drumming is played with brushes on a snare drum, with faster tempos featuring a "two feel. **End Summary** Topics: bluegrass]]> western swing]]> mapex drum sets]]> mapex snare drums]]> drum tuning]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Eric favors Mapex Drum Sets and Mapex Snare Drums for easy Drum Tuning . Eric is an active member of Drum Solo Artist where he is answering drum related questions, and helping drummers with tips and advices.

Country Music - History And Development Drummers Guide Part Two

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

This hybrid style was popularized by Country artists such as Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, as well as Rock and Rollers such as Jerry Lee Lewis, and, of course, Elvis Presley. However, the louder, more raucous Rock sound tended to overwhelm the Country elements in Rockabilly, and today most Country enthusiasts insist that Rockabilly is a variety of Rock n' Roll rather than Country. Country went "pop" in the late 1950s with the "Nashville Sound" (which was dominant in Country for decades and, arguably, still is). This was essentially an attempt to reach a mass audience by taking the "twang" out of Country. The distinguishing features of this variety of Country are a very smooth, heavily produced sound, background strings, and vocal choirs. Early examples of this sound are the recordings of Chet Atkins and the more over produced songs of Patsy Cline. As a reaction against the pop Nashville Sound, and greatly influenced by the Country shuffles of Ray Price and his drummer Buddy Harman, the Bakersfield Sound arose in the early 1960s. The distinguishing feature of the Bakersfield Sound was that the "twang" returned there were no strings and no vocal choirs. **End Summary** Topics: Country]]> Drum Solo]]> Ludwig Drum Sets]]> Ludwig Snare Drums]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. For any Country Drum Solo out there Eric recommends Ludwig Drum Sets and Ludwig Snare Drums . Eric is an active member of Drum Solo Artist where he is answering drum related questions, and helping drummers with tips and advices.

Country Music - History And Development Drummers Guide Part One

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Country music stems from the Appalachian region where during the 18th and 19th centuries a majority of the population were of Scotch or Irish descent. These physically isolated mountaineers performed the Scotch Irish folk songs of their ancestors. The folk based musical formula consisted of ABAB rhyming quatrains citing personal experiences combined with the vocal and harmonic characteristics and subject matter of religious hymns. Appalachian and or Scotch Irish music centered around the fiddle, and this remained so even after the intrusion of railroads in the 19th century brought new musical influences and instruments to the region. Traveling minstrel shows imported the banjo, providing a unique sound to accompany the fiddle, Appalachia's primary instrumental voice. By the early 1900s, now affordable, mass produced guitars gave singers a broader chordal and rhythmic base than the less versatile banjo and fiddle. This new arrangement of vocals with primary guitar accompaniment provided the base of contemporary Country music. In the 1920s, radio broadcasts, most notably Nashville's The Grand Ole Opry (first broadcast in 1925), brought Country music to wide popularity. Recognizing commercial potential, recording pioneer Ralph Peer announced auditions in 1927 in the Bristol, Tennessee newspaper. **End Summary** Topics: Country]]> Drum Manufacturers]]> Gretsch Drum Sets]]> Gretsch Snare Drums]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Eric's have used drums from many Drum Manufacturers , but for live gigs favors Gretsch Drum Sets and Gretsch Snare Drums . Eric is an active member of Drum Solo Artist where he is answering drum related questions, and helping drummers with tips and advices.

Ska And Reggae - History And Development Drummers Guide

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

With the popularity of Blues already established in Jamaica, radio broadcasts from New Orleans introduced the music of Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, and other New Orleans singer, songwriters to Jamaica. The influence of New Orleans Second Line along with the sounds of early Rock n' Roll, Jazz and R&B were readily embraced and incorporated into a new Jamaican sound known as Ska in the 1950s. The first successful Ska musicians were Jimmy Cliff, Lord Creator, and Don Drummond and the Skatalites. Bands such as The Police, Men At Work, Madness, and currently No Doubt, 311, and The Mighty Mighty Boss Tones have all continued to popularize Ska. As with Reggae, a common characteristic in Ska drumming is a rim click on beat 3 of each measure. The outstanding differences between Ska and Reggae are a "straight" feel along with a "four on the floor" bass drum pattern in Ska. The tempo of Ska is quarter note = 116-192 beats per minute. The origin of the word Reggae is unclear. Some claim that the word stems from "Regga," which refers to a group of natives from the Lake Tanganyika region in Africa. **End Summary** Topics: ska]]> reggae]]> drummers]]> dw drum sets]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Eric Starg. Eric as many Drummers prefers to play Dw Drum Sets along with Dw Snare Drums . Eric is an active member of Drum Solo Artist where he is answering drum related questions, and helping drummers with tips and advices.