Introduction to Drumming Evolution in Music
Drumming is a smashing way to express emotions in a liquefied form. Ever since
the early days, drumming has changed a lot, evolving from the use of a simple log
to a full set of clear-cut types of drums.
Many forms have emerged over the years, from concise drumming to metalcore
drumming. Drumming has changed significantly, from its initial style to the diverse
forms people now use.
Drumming is one of the most popular ways to create music, and it has been used
for eons. Ever since man could hold an object, he has been hitting it against
something to make a sound. The Africans have been using drums for an
indestructible period and still use them today for a variety of purposes, including
ceremonies and, at times, for finding food.
Back in the day, war drums were used to help soldiers march in unison. They were
also used in conflicts to aid armies. These drums were known as war drums.
Eventually, man started to use drums with other instruments to create various
types of music, such as Jazz, Swing, and modern-day genres like rock and metal.
Famous Drummers in History
Over the years, many illustrious drummers have emerged from all types of music
genres. Some notable examples include Danny Carey, Jimmy Cobb, and Blake
Richardson. These drummers are well-known for their bands and the styles they
have developed through their drumming techniques.
Danny Carey is from the band Tool and is known for his unique approach to
drumming, particularly his use of stochastic timing. His style was hard to grasp for
new drummers, but his music is widely recognized for its complexity. His approach
was unique because he didn’t follow a set timing; instead, he would throw his beats
where he felt they would sound the best, which set him and his band apart from
others.
Jimmy Cobb, from the 30s jazz scene, was renowned for being one of the most
famous drummers. He was primarily self-taught and is best known for his work on
the iconic album "Kind of Blue." He played at many famous venues, with Carnegie
Hall being the one that solidified his fame.
North Carolina is famous for many things, but today, one of the most renowned
drummers to come from there is Blake Richardson, who plays with the band
Between the Buried and Me. Blake and his band are known for their unique style of
music, and in 2008, Blake was voted the world's best drummer.
Metal Core Drumming and its Origins
A style that has become highly noticeable in recent years is metalcore drumming.
Metal drumming is a particular form of drumming that is often misunderstood.
Some consider it to be just random beats thrown together, but it is, in fact, a highly
organized and commercialized style of drumming. It involves complex rolls and fills
that require the drummer to stay focused at all times.
Metal drumming originated from some of the earlier forms of drumming, such as
swing and concise drumming. Most, if not all, drummers are trained in some form of
concise and swing drumming when they take lessons.
Metal has always incorporated concise and swing to help create solid drummers.
Jazz adds fluidity to drumming, while swing helps with speed and precision,
especially in faster tempos.
The Complexity and Speed of Metal Drumming
Metal drumming has evolved into one of the fastest and most complex forms of
drumming due to the speed required. This style of drumming features some of the
most complicated beats in the drumming world.
Some famous drummers in the metal world include Blake Richardson from Between
the Buried and Me, Danny Carey from Tool, and Matt Greiner from August Burns
Red. Each of these drummers has developed their own unique style of playing,
honed over many years of practice.
Blake Richardson took many lessons in concise and swing drumming. He says, "Jazz
and Swing are vital to any drummer who wants to become a great drummer, and
they help in many ways. They improve your stamina due to the continuous playing
at a fast tempo."
Swing drumming is a highly respected style, primarily because the music is fast,
and the beats are complex. It has been around since the 1930s and was developed
to keep up with the faster-moving dances of the time. By 1935, it had solidified its
own distinct style.
Swing Drumming and Its Influence
Swing drumming uses a technique known as double bass, which helps drummers
quickly pick up the rhythm of a song. The double bass is where the drummer uses
pedals connected together so that both feet can control the bass drum while the
hands play other parts of the kit, allowing the drummer to play faster.
Once swing drummers incorporated double bass, their sound became much
rougher. The style helped drummers develop a more aggressive rhythm and
increased their ability to maintain the tempo during fast songs.
The setup for drumming has greatly evolved since its origins millions of years ago.
When early humans first began drumming, their kit consisted of a hollow log and a
reasonably sized stick. In contrast, today’s drum kits are far more sophisticated.
For example, cymbals have undergone vast improvements, allowing drummers to
maintain the timing of a song while adding texture to the rhythm. When drummers
purchase cymbals, they need to decide how often they want to splash or crash
them. Splash cymbals, for example, come in various sizes, ranging from six to
sixteen inches.
Modern Drumming Innovations and Cymbals
The sizzler cymbal often provides a syncopated emphasis to the drum. These
cymbals are hit in such a way that they produce a sound with a distinct timbre.
However, this heaviness can sometimes reduce the overall brightness of the sound
they produce. Splash cymbals are essential additions to any drum kit because they
can add complexity to any genre of music, not just rock or jazz.
There are also crash cymbals, which are used for casual accents and typically add a
sharp sound to a song. The term "crash" was first used by the cymbal manufacturer
Zildjian, who has been making cymbals for over 40 years.
Work Cited
"The Recorded History of Jazz Drumming." Public domain. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.
Of, Editors, and Adam Budofsky. The Drummer 100 Years of Rhythmic Power and
Invention. Minneapolis: Modern Drummer Publications, 2006. Print.
Nichols, Geoff. The Drum Book: The History of the Rock Drum Kit. New York:
Backseat Books, 1997. Printed.
