Today’s the day!
Today I am getting a real Paiste cymbal for my home percussion kit. I got a stand, some mallets, and some brushes too. I’ve very excited. I have used lots of things for percussion before. A ton of them weren’t even percussion instruments.
I love creative percussion!
Ever smack a big box and take the highs out of it with an EQ? Works as a kick drum in a pinch. Pots and pans have made it to songs. I recorded myself scratching my beard once like a washboard. I also collect little percussion doodads. They have a tendency to wind up in songs.
In moving away from Logic Pro’s computer drummers…
This is all big stuff for me as someone who has goals of moving away from computer drums. It’s not that I don’t think they’re cool. They just aren’t “me” in a few ways. I am a drummer from way back in school. Computer drums like mine in Logic Pro don’t give me a sense of accomplishment. They kinda’ make me feel defeated. I’ve got rhythm, I just don’t want a drum set. I don’t even like them for a ton of music I make. I like hand drums. Percussion kits. Triangles. Shakers. Chimes. Today I’m getting a cymbal. It’s a big deal for me. I am used to getting several sounds with each new acquisition. I am very excited to see what sounds a 14” crash from Paiste brings. (by the way, they are on sale at zZounds for around 50 dollars, if you needed that.)
As a producer, I feel part of my job is collecting percussion doodads.
Computer drums are cool, don’t get me wrong. But I do not get my musical rocks off selecting sounds from a menu. Sometimes, it’s even a little disheartening. I put countless hours into a tune, then match it up with a computer drummer. I just hate that. So I started collecting percussion. I think with today’s arrival, I might not need a computer drummer anymore. Certainly not for the album I’m working on. So that’s great for me. I get to intend it, do it, mix it, release it. No robots.
Have to train the ole’ noggin.
It’s very tough to navigate all of the choices thrown at you when you decide to make music. Many of them cost a ton of money too. For me, working towards making all the sounds and recording them myself has been fun. It’s taught me a lot about the tools available. But these computer drums don’t know the music in my head. I have to try to match up what they offer, with what will work. That’s not part of the process in home percussion kits. After a short amount of time, I hear my percussion instruments in new material in my head. I feel like that’s more “me.” That’s what I want. I’ve been crazy about the djembe for a while. I blame it.
Cymbals are expensive and there’s tons of kinds. I went with a duller crash because I can use it for a few things. Also the price was hard to beat. I also had to get a stand, mallets, brushes.. So maybe next time on the expensive cymbal. Super-excited for the cheap one.
Some folks call us DIY musicians. I never liked working alone. But I have always been pretty poor too. Collaborating was as much about pooling resources as it was musical preferences. Now that I have my own band, I’d still like to collaborate. Maybe I can help someone out there like so many musicians helped me. That would make me feel alright. Gimme’ a holler if you want to make music. [email protected]
What are we doing with percussion, anyway?
I read this article from Audio Lover and they do okay. I asked the search bar “What’s the purpose of percussion in music?” I got a lot about rhythm and tempo. I got a lot about accents. I got a lot about beat. I think that all misses the mark or just focuses on a part of it. For me personally, percussion has to be interesting. It adds points of interest. Whatever you do to make things interesting by banging or clacking, it could be decent percussion. Good drummers are loaded with intent, surprises..I have even jammed with drummers who make me laugh with funny hits. I couldn’t even tell you now how they’re funny. But I have laughed a lot from their playing, their intent. To me as a producer, I want the percussion to be interesting always. I do not want a metronome. That’s why I am beating on things from now on.
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