DRUMMER CAFE

I have no idea.

Sometimes I try to be very consistent and hit in the center of the drum or just slightly off center, but since I'm in a fusion band, that would be for a rock song.  In a jazz tune I would be all over the snare dynamically, and a funk tune I'd really be popping the rim.  Dynamics are really awesome, especially if you can get the whole band on the same page...they are just soooooooooooo effective.  But alas, everyone has to be louder than the other person.  Anyways:

I usually treat a rim shot as a fff triple forte and in our more constructed songs, use it for climatic passages/ climatic endings to phrases.

I usually use softer dynamics and ghosting to thicken up the groove, it would usually be felt more than heard.  They also help me with my sense of groove.

The beauty of the snare is it is our individual voice and how we play it defines us as individuals/drummers.  It is the first thing people notice about the drummer.  So after this thread is all said and done, you might want to take our comments with a grain of salt and play what inspires you.

 

Just as important, when I practice I alway start very slowly (ie: 60 strokes per minute), accellerate to a tempo I can maintain (ie: 800 strokes per minute) for a minute or so and decelerate to the origional tempo

Hey there Rata-
 are you refering to double stroke rolls in a situation like this or singles as well (I suppose that would be maybe double sticking vs. single sticking (whether its a roll or not))?

I always go for consistency of sound when I play. Not to say that I don't use different methods of hitting the drum or striking different areas on the drum ... but I do remain consistent throughout a given song.

I play slightly off center; only about an inch. Dead center is just that ... DEAD (at least to my ears). The laws of physics would tell us that the exact center is a node ... a place with little or no vibration. My snare(s) seems to sound fuller when it's played slightly, and I do mean slightly, off center. If you were to check out one of my old snare batter heads, you would see a nice worn spot about the size of a 50 cent piece.

I use rimshots a lot with my backbeats. I rarely switch within a song unless I need a less aggressive backbeat in a verse or something.

We are all human, so even if you try to be consistent, you are going to have backbeats that vary slightly. In the studio, consistency is a must. Moving around the drum playing in different areas changes the timbre of the snare sound ... which to my ears is a real no-no. I find the sound I want for the tune ... then stick with it throughout the song ... except in cases which I mentioned above. I'm not referring to expressive effects and such ... but rather the drummer's main staple ... the backbeat.