Playing Drums – Getting Acquainted With The Basic Kit

Every drum kit is different and makes use of different types of drums that make up a set. During drum lessons in San Jose, you will get familiar with different brands, sticks used, tunings, and sizes amongst other slighter modifications that will affect the overall sound of each instrument. Still, many drum kits employ basically the same fundamental pieces. Most basic kits include:

• A snare drum, which is usually located on the non-dominant side of the drummer and played with the non-dominant stick. It is a taut, bright drum with a band of rattling metal beads under the drum head.
• A bass drum, which makes the low-pitched booming sound when struck by a weighted mallet operated by a foot pedal.

Learn the different kinds of cymbals

There are numerous types of cymbals that you will be made aware of during drum classes San Jose. They vary in sound, shape, and type. A cymbal is a round, metal object that resonates when struck. The four most commonly used cymbals are the crash, the splash, the ride, and the hi-hat.

• The splash is a cymbal that creates a metallic splashing sound, similar to the sound a water splash makes. It dies quickly after peaking and is typically used in basic fills to ornament your beat.
• The ride cymbal creates a deeper and more subtle sound than the other cymbals as it is used to play very repetitively throughout the most music. The cymbal will usually resonate from one strike to another, featuring a very long reverberating finish to the sound.
• The crash is just like the splash, but generally produces a loud and long, sustained sound. Listen for the crash at the end of measures in pop music or especially in periods of heightened drama in orchestral music.
• The hi-hat is a pair of cymbals mounted on a foot pedal, which is usually played by the left foot and controls the cymbals, bringing them together when pressed and bringing them apart when released. You can strike the cymbal when it is closed or apart, and you can shut the cymbals with your feet at different rates of speed, each creating a different sound.

Professional drum lessons San Jose will familiarize you with different drumsticks and starter kits.