DRUMMER CAFE - Community Forum

A few weeks ago I was involved with a live recording for a local church. I played percussion and created a unique set-up specifically for the event.


It was nice working with a scaled back set-up; typically I bring a ton of stuff, even if I don't use it all ... when the event is also going to be video taped or aired on television.

Since we've been talking about various snares, ethnic drums and unique set-ups, I thought I would share this with you all. For the live recording, 90% of all the small hand percussion I played was done on my drumKAT, triggering samples from my AKAI S6000. In an overdub session I went back and added more to the tracks, but kept all the sampled stuff.

In particular I wanted to share a LIVE loop I created for the opening tune. You can listen to a few bars of the loop by clicking HERE (http://drummercafe.com/download/LOOPER.m3u). This is just a rough board mix, no effects or EQ. It's hard to hear the hihats with this MP3 version; sorry.


Here's what I used; all played live ... no overdubs ... so it's RAW.

• YAMAHA 4x12 Peter Erskine Signature Snare
• My own creation of hihats. The bottom cymbal is custom-made effects cymbal called a Splivet. It was made from a cracked crash cymbal; cut down to 9 inches with two rivets inserted. The top cymbal is an antique, 6 inch Bell cymbal. The combination is unique to say the least ... very nasty sounding.
• For my kick drum I used an African Djun-djun, which was approximately 14x16 in size, wrapped in goatskin (with hair) and antelope skin heads.

(http://drummercafe.com/images/PBC_perc2.jpg)

I played the Djun-djun by creating a foam platform for it to craddle in. It worked perfectly since I was using my DW 5002AH kick pedal, which has a base plate, so I didn't have to mount it or clamp it to anything. I'd like to get the DANMAR Tom Riser or something like it sometime so that I can use it with a variety of ethnic drums and toms. The foam contraption I made worked VERY well however. I was able to make it so that the drum never moved or rolled on me; works great with my 16x16 floor tom too.

You know when I started drumming I had a few lessons and the teacher gave me the choice to learn the drums, or the drums and some percussion. I chose the drums, but now I feel sorry, because I'm getting real interested in percussion. As a matter of fact one of the coolest setups is that of Horacio Henandez, even though he plays a completely different style than mine. Your setup looks almost as cool as his, but I don't want a percussion only setup like you have there. I want to integrate them into my existing setup.

So Bart, where should I start with percussion? I was thinking about getting a Djembe, because of it's wide range of possibilities.

Great sounds...I hit the high eq on my mp3 player and it really brought out the hat sound.  They sound like pretty sleigh bells.

Thought I would also share a rough mix (no effects or EQ) of another track from this same project. This is a quasi Samba Batucada thing I did ... trying to sound like a Brazilian ensemble.

The reason I wanted to share this is that I played the following things LIVE and overdubbed the rest later.

• Surdo ... I used my Djun-djun with the foot pedal for that.
• Repinique ... I used my 4x12 Erskine snare for that ... with the snares off and a timbale stick (left hand).
  
• Caxixi ... which is a Brazilian basket shaker (in right hand).
  
• Apito .... the Brazilian whistle (hanging from my mouth) to signal the breaks.

I overdubbed the following: Cuica, Tamborim (although I played it live in other sections of the song), Chocalho, Agogo Bells, Atabaque, and Cabasa. No Pandeiro this time; the mix was very full ... especially with the drumkit in there.

I have a wide range of set-ups ... they all change depending on what I need to do ... although I do have a standard drum set-up and a standard percussion set-up. I have diagrams showing these set-ups on my web site.

This is probably what you are talking about; incorporating a lot of percussion into a drumkit set-up.

(http://drummercafe.com/images/Bart4.jpg)

Here I'm using a scaled back version (5 piece) of my YAMAHA Recording Custom kit, 4x12 YAMAHA Erskine snare, Djembe, Congas (2), Bongos, Timbales, and a few assorted shakers and rattles.


I did a series of solo performances with this set-up back in the Summer of 2000. It was a multimedia event with lights, smoke, video, etc.; I created a 10 minute accompaniment track which I played along with. Some sections I was playing both drums and percussion.

 :D That's exactly what I mean! Great! Thanks Bart, that was a big help.

Search64 ... I never answered your question really ... about the djembe.

I think getting one is a great idea ... plus a stand to go with it. I use mine a lot, substituting my snare for it at times. I play it with my hands, brushes, blasticks, etc.; even rig it at times with snare wires so I can turn them on or off. Fun stuff.

There are countless possibilities and ideas ... so experiment.

I know you never reacted on the djembe, but the reply still was a big help, with the pictures, giving me ideas on how to setup and such.

On the djembe, what is a normal size for a djembe, cause I don't really know a lot about percussion. My drumstore has an LP Djembe (12" I think) for sale for about $225,- is that a good deal?

Cool sounds Bart, I like it! I am gonna have to get into Percussion as well as drums, its really cool! more intersting in some ways too, so many things that make nice noises when you hit them! ;D

Misenko.

SEARCH  -I always thought that the Djembe was a great place to start for percussion set-ups.   Timbales and/or conga's are other good starting points.    It is, however, very subjective as to what you want to hear from your set-up.  At the same time more objective if you have a particular style you plan on approaching/ studying.  

For the first time ever, I'm forced to put together a percussion set-up for three shows I'm doing in PEI this coming weekend.   I'll be using my new 12' by 4' Peter Erskine signature snare; an 18" maple custom bass drum; my Moperk Djembe;  a Remo Tombek; two tambournes (one on hats)  2 jam blocks and a cowbell with a foot stand and pedal I picked up from Paul DeLong.   Being my first time to play two-hour shows with this conglomeration -it should be interesting!!  

My playing style would easily define itself should we be playing Latin or African influenced music.   We're not.  Most of it will be traditional (Celtic) music and folk.  

I'm looking forward to it and already have some repeat engagements so it's something I HAVE to nail down quickly!    I'm thinking I'll play much of the night Alex Acuna style -left hand on the Djembe/Tombec/ percussion and the right hand with a stick/hotrod/brush alternating between ride/snare/floor tom.  

May the drum gods be with me!!   I'll post a pic after the weekend.