Drum Boogie

Just quick note as I've not been a good blogger since last fall. I am so glad that google is cool enough to allow this site to stand with virtually no input from me in six months.
Thanks blooger guys and gals.
I willBE BACK!

Long live drums.
LA

Back from the tour

Hey, we're back. Europe was fantastic. I'll be writing some new stuff as soon as I sleep for about three weeks.
Got some new tubs in jollly old England, will be really happy to get into the studio in October.
Gotta go right now as the kids are dragging old dad off to pizza. (American style - yeah!) sorry but the real tomatoey stuff is for the euros I guess.
Later
LA

drumcabulary

Drums, drummers, drumming, drummist, drum on, drummolator, drumajesty, drumonster, drumagain, drummore, drummenstien, drummaculate, drummatic, drumazing, drumtabulous, drumongous, drumoff!, drumme, drummulater, drumeloveloping, drumtacular, drumnivourous, drumbidexterous, drumability, drumtastic, drumnabulent, drummasaurus, drumdead.
Can you think of any more?
That would be drumtastic !

The History of Drums

Music and musical instruments are an extremely important part of human history. The use of rhythm and song has long been used to express meaning, and feeling and accompany rituals.

Music has been part of human life for as long as anyone can trace. Early civilizations of humans used music as a way to communicate and express feelings. Out of all of the musical instruments that we see in our society today and use on a regular basis, there is one instrument that stands out in musical history, the drum.

The history of drums is interesting and unique. When you examine this instrument historically, you will find that drums have had a place in almost all cultures around the globe. Variations of drums and drum sets occurred in many different cultures, the standard variety of a drum consisted simply of a hollowed out log or gourd with a piece of skin stretched taunt. Different sizes of gourds and logs created different sounds and beats.

The African Influence

In most African cultures, drums were very important in the use of rituals and religious ceremonies. The people of different African tribes relied on the use of drums to express themselves and when the slave trade began, the drums made the journey across the ocean as well.

African drums and drummers provided a unique sound that heavily influenced Western Rock and Roll music. Those same rhythms and beats still provide a strong influence in today's sounds.

The Early Drum Set

When it was discovered that one player could play two or more drums at the same time, people started placing groups of drums together for one musician to play. These groups were comprised of an assimilation of drums of different cultures and from all around the globe. Cymbals and tom tom drums were brought in from China and the size was adjusted to allow for ease of play when played with drumsticks.

In the early 1930's, musicians slowly discovered with the proper drum placement and a lot of practice, one musician could handle a set of drums, and an entire band of drum players was not required anymore. Thus, a basic kit evolved and took place.

In An Early Kit

The early drum kits were simple in their design, they typically consisted only of:

1) A bass and foot pedal
2) A snare drum
3) Tom Toms
4) A hi hat cymbal
5) One or two sets of hanging cymbals

The Evolution Of The Drum Set

In the 1930's the drum set was heavily influenced by the sounds of the time, and the early forms of Rock and Roll music. The sounds had a strong basic beat backing them.

In the 1950's as Rock and Roll music began to develop, the sounds became more complex and likewise, the drum sets became more evolved, with new additions added to them. Rockers began expanding the drum kits adding more cymbals and tom toms drums to them. In addition, as time went on, electronic drums were added to the drum kits as well. All of these additions allowed the musicians to expand their sounds and diversify their music.

Types Of Drum Kits

In the past, as drums evolved and drum kits developed, new companies were formed and products were fine-tuned and made better. The Ludwig Drum Company is known as one of the most influential and historical drum companies of our time.

The Ludwig drum company was started by a young man who enjoyed playing the drums. He could not find a bass pedal that would hold up to his intense drumming style. He shopped around everywhere and could not find an appropriate pedal, so he fashioned one out of wood. The pedal was superior to anything else on the market. His brother, felt that an even stronger pedal could be created out of a metal product, so they teamed up to create an even better bass pedal. Thus, the Ludwig Drum Company was born.

Ringo Starr, the famous drummer for The Beatles used a Ludwig drum set and was known for preferring the Ludwig drums. He is said to still own the original Ludwig drum set that he played with the Beatles.

There have been many other types of drum kits and company names that have played an important and influential role in the history of drums. Yamaha, Pearl, Tama and Gretsch are all famous brand names whose drums and drum kits have helped form the drum set, as we know it today.

The Future For Drums

What does the future hold for drum sets? No one can be sure. However, with the creation of more and more technology, we can be sure that the sounds will evolve even more. A combination of new sounds and traditional will always be found. And the limit for drum set creation will simply be the imagination of the musicians.

© 2005 http://www.drum-sets-now.com

Kevin Brown is successful author and publisher of many informative websites including http://www.drum-sets-now.com " http://www.drum-sets-now.com . His websites offer tips and advice on a wide array of topics including http://www.drum-sets-now.com " drum kits , African drums, percussion instruments and more.

Rock+Drums= sex

I believe the best example of sexual energy expressed in sound is Led Zeppelin. Whenever they played live Jimmy Page seemed to stagger around the stage as if he was drunk, but he wasn't drunk. It was just that the hurricane of sexual force that blew out of his amp was too much for even Jimmy to withstand. Now I'm sure that most people are aware that rhythmically beating drums awaken the sexual forces. Africans were despised and envied by white people because of the sexual way they danced to their own drum music. John Bonham, who was unquestionably the best rock and roll drummer who ever walked the face of this planet, pounded his drums with such power that Led Zep's sexual energy increased dramatically. Irresistible sexual energy in their music is only one of the many good reasons why I say that Zeppelin is the #1 Rock and Roll Band of All Time.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Drum Poetry

This is only part of it . . .Play your own drum No one else Can play it for you.

Shall the driver Drive the tailors sewing machine?
Shall the farmer Harvest with the surgeon's scalpel?
Shall the fisherman Paddle with the soldier's gun? Shall the nurse Inject with teachers chalk? Shall the chef Bake the mason's dough? Then play on other's drum But your own!

Play your own drum Play it well and loud Have a grip of it and Use your talent Enjoy your own tune and do not be surprised
Then, before the sum is done Every one will recognize The sound of your drum They will dance To the tune of drum And crown you!

FREELANCE JOURNALIST, DISTRICT POLITICAL PARTY SECRETARY AND AFRICAN CULTURAL ADVOCATE




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Drums are LIfe

Drums are Life. Tama Drums are life. Pearl drums are life. Ludwig drums are life. Slingerland drums are Life. Rogers drums are life. Allegra drums are life. Premier drums are life. PDP drums are life. Gretsch drums are life. Leedy drums were life. WFL drumswere life. Mapex drums are life. All the no name and even cheapo brands of drums are life. Zicko drums are life. Fibes drums are life, CB 700 drums are life ad infinititum . . .drums you or I never heard of, are life and always have been, our life force put to music in it's most primitive and it's most complex all at once.

Where there are drums there is life! From the earliest caveman days drums were the heartbeat of communication between people . . .The essential link that enabled us to cross vast distances; to reach out and touch someone! With the drum we were not alone anymore!
Drums came before tlelphones and telegraph, before semafore, before Morse code, perhaps even before fire! They are our pulse as a race, ever-beating in rhythm to our souls yearning to be heard and understood and counted..
Drums are our very experience as living beings shouting out to be noticed in a vastness no one can explain or understand. I drum - therefore I AM!

LONG LIVE THE DRUM


lah/'06

lah