Mega Music Talent

Archive for the ‘Drums’ Category

No description for this product could be found, but have a look over at Amazon for reviews and other information.

You probably know the main problem with a proper drum set is the noise, if you live in a neighborhood that is close together or a shared house, then it will not be long before someone gets angry and tells you to keep the noise down. You can try putting dampeners on your drum heads but this doesn’t always work, plus you’ve still got the noise of the cymbals that will be heard through the walls.

An electronic drum kit overcomes the primary problem for persons who live within an high-rise – upsetting the neighbors. With an electronic set, you have the capability to lob on a pair of headphones and perform as loud as you feel like. The solitary sound your neighbors would be able to hear is your sticks hitting the pads and I promise you that your television or cd player gets noisier than that.

Space is another problem if your going to use an electronic drum set in an apartment. There is not an adequate amount of area to fit a drum kit unless you are willing to sacrifice your big pieces of furniture. With an electronic drum set, you don’t have the bulk that you have with an acoustic kit. If you need to, you may possibly even take an electronic set down once you have finished and keep it inside a cupboard or corner somewhere.

Electronic drums hold other advantages over acoustic sets as well. There is never a need to tune the set or be bothered about cold or dampness upsetting the overall sound of the set. You even maintain the preference to adjust the sound of the set to make it sound like you’re live in a big hall or a tiny jazz club. A good number of electronic sets allow you to connect up your iPod or mp3 player so that you can perform along with your favorite tunes and find the correct mix in your headphones. This is something you can not do with an ordinary drum set.

Electronic drum sets are not as expressive as an ordinary kit. The newer kits are getting closer, but the feel definitely isn’t the same. If you use brushes on an acoustic set, you won’t be able to on an electronic set.

Performing live can be a seem unusual at first if you are used to an ordinary kit. You are at the mercy of the pa sound system, but there again so is everyone else, but you’ll probably find it quicker to setup, due to not having to microphone the kit up.

There are a lot of advantages that electronic drums over ordinary kits and no more than a small amount of disadvantages. If you live in an apartment house and think that playing the drums has to take place outside your dwelling, check out a few electronic kits. You’ll practice often if they are around your home and you might now start to love the thought of playing on an electronic set as opposed to an ordinary kit.

Author Bio: Find out more about a electronic drum set by reading our electronic drum set reviews.

Who would have thought that a musical instrument fashioned out of an empty 55-gallon oil barrel could turn out to be the source of such pleasant entertainment? The steel drum (or steel pan) has become practically synonymous with the Caribbean these days and, often, people even refer to Caribbean music, in general, simply as ‘steel drum’ music.

While percussive in nature, and occasionally featured as a stand-alone instrument, most frequently it is accompanied by additional instrumentation, which provides a rhythmic backdrop for the pan steel melodies. Caribbean beats, such as Soca-Calypso and Reggae, are the most commonly associated rhythms and, indeed, these rhythms themselves ideally compliment the tropical music experience that the steel pan conveys.

The steel drum instrument can be played in a single-note melody but, because the twin mallet sticks can be struck simultaneously, a musical chord can also be played. Additionally, because of the ‘bouncing’ percussive attack the mallets provide, multiple notes can be repeated in quick succession, which can have the effect of hearing a continuous, melodic tone. These sustained notes can resemble the elongated sound that is an attribute of organ music, and the effect can be especially soothing to the listener.

The Houston, Texas-based musical group IRIE TIME features the steel drum sound predominantly throughout their performances. While the band also integrates a range of lead and harmony vocals in their repertoire, the group consistently features extended instrumental solos that rely, thematically, on the steel pan sound as intrinsic to the Caribbean ambiance they provide. The band is comprised of skilled musicians that maintain creative and varying instrumental passages throughout the scope of their performances.

IRIE TIME also features a host of additional tropical sounds that infuse variation into the melodic soundscape of the music. Vibes, marimbas, flutes, and brass can all lend themselves to a festive, tropical musical texture, and provide stimulating variety in the course of a sequence of songs that comprise the typical set of music. Yet, the sound of the steel drum returns again and again as the intrinsic basis and theme for the Caribbean music the band is noted for.

As stated previously, Calypso music (now known as Soca) is possibly the most common rhythmic accompaniment to the steel pan. This may be, in part, due to the fact that both Soca music and the steel pan instrument itself were invented on the Caribbean island of Trinidad! The percussive nature of the pan, along with the up-tempo, percussion-laden Soca are a perfect mixture. The spirit of the Caribbean shines forth in this pairing, and puts every listener in the mood for dancing and celebration. “It’s in the air ? celebration time; Music’s sweet ? captivates your mind” are the lyrics to the world-famous song “(Are Your Feeling) Hot Hot Hot.” Anyone who has visited the Caribbean is immediately drawn back to recollections of their tropical ‘fun in the sun’ when they hear this music. The steel drum sound is an instant connection to the beach, clear blue waters, palm trees and peaceful breezes blowing on an island paradise. One instrument that can transport the imagination of the listener to so specific a locale could not be more unique in all the world.

The band IRIE TIME has been performing Caribbean Reggae and Soca music for over a decade, and has released numerous all-original CDs, which are distributed worldwide. More information can be obtained at their website or by contacting IRIE TIME directly at 713-398-3798.

Author Bio: Visit IRIE TIME ! Listen to IRIE TIME Contact IRIE TIME

Any song or instrumental would be incomplete unless there are proper drum and bass sound added to it. Drum and bass are the most crucial factor when it comes to attract the individuals through your music.

It would be useless unless it captivates them and causes them to move their body with the rhythm. Rhythm which is the main focus of any music producer, can not be made catchy unless you add the proper or suitable drum and bass to it. Therefore drum and bass plays a key role in the success of any song.

Adding drum and bass samples to your music can be a bit technical. You should be having the proper know how about music production and you must be aware of the current beat or drum roll which is popular these days. Normally, it is wise to introduce a new trend of the beat or drum bass/roll.

However in most of the cases, usually a pre defined beat is followed with a little bit of transition. Therefore, this depends entirely upon you that whether you prefer to keep up the pre defined beat or you want to enter you own beat which might be come a new trendy beat.

There are many softwares which are available in the market that can help you with the production of your music. They come in form of samples and you can easily compile them and put together in form of a file and complete your own unique composition.

One of the most popular software which is used for drum beats and bass samples I none other than fruity loops. “Fruity loops” has been in use of many individuals who are related to the field of hip hop music. The software has a friendly user interface and any one can easily operate it.

Apart from this, there are many other softwares like Sony creative loops and acid loops which help you to get ready made drum and bass samples. These softwares normally do not cost a lot and are in the reach of any amateur or seasoned musician.

Today these softwares are being used by every genre of music. The only point that you should remember while using such software is, that you should be having definite knowledge about a particular genre of music and well aware of the beats. It would obviously not sound good, if you put hip hop drum and bass samples with a guitar riff for thrash metal.

Many of the software vendors provide a demo of the software for free, which can be used to try the software before buying it. For the amateur beat makers, it might be difficult to ascertain the usability of the software even after using the software.

While choosing the beat making software, various factors can be considered such as the number of features offered by the software or the ease of use and installation of the software. It is recommended that you should consider the quality and variety of beats that can be produced with the software; this will help you in deciding which software you can use.

Author Bio: Seth Willis is the webmaster for www.platinumsoundsets.com , a site dedicated to music producers, enthusiasts or anyone wanting to explore their creativity and Make your own beats. We provide Radio quality Wav Sound Samples for you to use , all are royalty free sound samples are ready for use.

Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead has an almost religious approach to playing the drums : In the way that others define themselves as a Catholic, a Protestant or a Jew, Hart defines himself as a drummer. “Exploring the spirit side of the drum has been the major adventure of my adulthood, if not my whole life, ” he writes in `Drumming at the Edge of Magic.’

As Hart recounts it, drumming has always had a spiritual and physical effect on him, including various degrees of ecstasy and trance. Touched by what he perceived as the primal power of the drums, he set out to collect and study the folklore of percussion instruments, especially in regard to their religious and ceremonial uses.

Although it often aspires to be a primer on the anthology of drumming, `Drumming at the Edge’ succeeds more as a history of his obsession than as a history of the drum. Among the book’s most engaging segments are his recollections of playing parade drums as a child; experimenting with fellow drummer Bill Kreutzmann in the Grateful Dead; playing the `tar,’ an African hand drum, with Egyptian musicians all night around a desert campfire; and attempting to replicate the `chilla,’ a ritual retreat of Indian drummers, by drumming nonstop for four days.

While convincing in relating his obsessions, Hart is on shakier ground when he tries to substantiate the mythic and metaphysical properties of the drum. In Hart’s cosmic scheme, the universe is built on noise and pulse rhythm and all drumming is an attempt to touch the universal. When Hart listens to rock & roll drumming, he hears the echo of Africa’s Yoruba drummers worshiping an earth goddess thousands of years ago. For Hart, each drum has a personality sometimes malevolent, sometimes good that drummers must coax out and meet; he describes gongs in his own collection as having monks and tigers “in them.” There are times when Hart’s absolute conviction is the spirituality of the drums is itself inspiring; at other times it seems so private as to be incomprehensible to anyone else.

Although a personal account, `Drumming at the Edge of Magic’ is not an autobiography. Yet it effectively uses Hart’s search for his own father, an accomplished drummer and con man whom he never knew as a child, as a counterpoint to his search for knowledge about the drums. Fans of the Grateful Dead should be forewarned that Hart has very little to say here about the group’s music.

If you are a practical kind of a person who has been enjoying Drumming At The Edge Of Magic A Journey Into The Spirit Of Percussion, it is certain that you would enjoy reading this article which tries to provide you practical tips on Drumming At The Edge Of Magic A Journey Into The Spirit Of Percussion.

Beginning and ending of any article are considered the toughest job and now when we have come to the end of this article about Drumming At The Edge Of Magic A Journey Into The Spirit Of Percussion, we would like to share with you that we have put every effort to make this article amongst the best and this could only be judged by you.

Author Bio: Want to take your drumming skill to the next levels check out here for the best drums learning course >> Learn & Master Drums For more about drums learning and drums training information you can find out more from this site.

“What Kind of Drum set should I buy?” or “What’s the best brand to buy?” are probably two most frequently asked questions. Even some professional players get it a little confused when it comes to making a decision on what to buy sometimes. This guide should help you figure things out and help you make the right decision.

First, for you beginners, let’s look at the different components of a drum set. First you have:

1. Bass drum
2. Snare drum
3. High tom
4. Low tom
5. Floor tom
6. One ride
7. One crash
8. Two hi-hats

Those are just the basics. Now we’ll move on to the hardware and accessories;

1. Snare stand
2. Cymbal stands (includes wing nuts)
3. Hi – hat stand
4. Foot pedal for the bass drum
5. Mount for the tom toms
6. Throne (this is where the King or Queen drummer sits on)
7. Legs for your floor tom (sometimes you’ll have a stand)
8. Drum keys used for tuning purposes

So now that you’ve got the basics down, let’s move on to making a buying decision. In an ideal world, you’d have just one main brand that magically works for everyone. You’d also have enough money to afford to buy it. Drum sets can cost you anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to several thousand dollars , depending on brand name and quality.

Now if you go online to places like Musician’s Friend or Guitar Center or even Ebay , you’re liable to find the following brands: Pearl, Remo, Tama, Gretsch, Mapex, Yamaha, Slingerland, Ayotte, DW, Ludwig, CB700, Premier, Sonor, TKO, Maxwin, Sunlite, and Thor. There are more name brands, but this is just a basic list here. Cymbals also have brand names such as, Solar, Ufip, Paiste, Meinl, CB, Stagg, Sabian, and Zildjian.

Again, you get what you pay for. When you’re making a buying decision, you want to make sure that both the bottom and top heads are on your drums. You also want to make sure that none of the lugs on the drums are missing. You need them to be able to tune your drums. Also, be sure that the exterior drum finish is in good condition. Your hardware needs to be sturdy and all your locking mechanisms need to be secure.

Another thing to look out for is to make sure the drum heads are in good shape. If all the drum heads are bad, then it’s going to be pretty expensive to replace them all.

If you are able to afford to buy a brand new set of high end quality, then by all means do so, but if you’re on a budget and you need to look for a used set, then be sure that you get it from an older player who takes care of his or her equipment. Sometimes you can get an older set that will still last you many years from someone who has given their drum set loving care.

Do a basic search on a drumset on google or look through your local classifieds. Just like buying a used car, if you’re getting a used set, you’re going to have to put some money into it. If you can, take an experienced drummer with you to help you check out your potential drum set. Also, listen to your gut instinct. If something doesn’t “vibe” or it doesn’t “feel” right, then leave it alone. Another thing you want to look for is external clues. What does their home look like. If it’s filthy and dirty, they probably don’t take care of the drumset you’re about to buy. On the other hand, if they are neat and clean, you’re probably in luck. This is not always the case, and there are exceptions, especially if people are renting or living with roomates, so use your head here.

Visit John Sandy at http://www.JohnSandy.net for more information drums and learning how to play drums. Free music and art lessons available!

Article Source: http://megamusictalent.com

Drums have been around forever. Another name for drums is called a membraphone. This is because drums are really an instrument that makes sound by striking a membrane. Drums consist of the body which is hollowed out. Then, a membrane of some sort is stretched over the end of that drum. Pegs are tightened and loosened to create different tones. Most people think that the body of the drum makes the sound, but it’s actually the membrane that makes the sound.

Drums date as far back as 6000 BC. Mesopotamian excavations have unearthed drums that date back as far back as 3000 BC. Markings on the walls of caves in Peru depict drums. The Native American Indians made drums out of gourds and wood. They used these for their ceremonies and spiritual rituals. Drums have played and important role in many ancient societies and were used for more than just music.

As the uses of drums evolved, drum kits were developed. A drum kit is basically a group of various toned drums. It was found that one person could play more than just one drum at a time. He or she could play several simultaneously. This is also called double drumming. Tom toms and cymbals were invented in China and they were then added to the regular drum kits. Later, more people got creative and added percussion instruments like wood blocks, cowbells, chimes and things. By the time 1930′s rolled around, the standard drum kit had taken shape. This drum kit consisted of a bass drum, foot pedal, large hanging cymbals, hi-hat, snare and tom toms.

Later on during the 1960′s, rock drummers expanded the drum kits, which are the normal standard of today. More cymbals and toms were used as well as another bass drum to increase speed. Electronic drums were also created. Electronics drums are cool in a way because they can create sounds that traditional drums can’t. So then, we had the synthesized drum sounds that you hear in many styles of modern music of today.

If you’re a beginner and you’re wondering what you should have in your drum kit, here’s a list of items:

1. Snare
2. 3 toms, high tom, low tom , floor tom
3. Bass drum
4. Ride cymbal
5. Crash cymbal
6. Hi-hat

If you’re wondering how much a drum set will cost, the answer is a little complex. Some drum sets can be as cheap as $100 or $200, while others can cost as much as $10,000 or more. As with anything, you get what you pay for. You want a drumset that’s sturdy enough to endure years of playing. If you’re planning on becoming professional and going on the road, doing performances, you’ll want to invest at least $700 and up on it.

On the other hand, if you’re just planning on keeping it a hobby, then you may can get away with $200 or $300 sets.

These are the basics. You can always add more things like Chinese cymbals, a cowbell, etc. If you don’t have a drum kit yet, don’t let that stop you from practicing. All you need is a couple of drum sticks (they cost about $3 to $10 at the music store) and a wood block. Main thing is that you practice your rhythm and the basics like paradiddles and basic beats. If you’re a complete greenhorn, then this is going to take you enough time to learn until you can save up for a set. Until then, keep on rockin’.

Author: Enigma Valdez

Check out http://www.JohnSandy.net for free drum lessons, art lessons and more!

Article Source: http://megamusictalent.com