Drum Addiction
Playing Time Vs Playing Within The Time
by Mat Marucci
There is a definite difference between playing time and playing within the time. To illustrate, let's look at a couple statements with which I think everyone reading this will agree. First: Every musician should be able to play in time. And: Not every musician is able to play in time. Now, a controversial statement, but one I think you'll also like: The drummer shouldn't have to keep time for the other band members. Personally, ...
read moreGoing Forward... Or Is It Backward?
by Mat Marucci
This title came from a saying I heard long ago, and many times since, but can't think of where I originally heard it. The saying is “To go forward, you have to go back" and the meaning of this saying will be very obvious by the end of this article. To begin, I will relate a short story: Years ago a young guitarist who I was working with in a rock band was sitting in the living room ...
read moreThe Groove
by Mat Marucci
The groove, feel, pulse, beat, pocket--whatever it is called--is the essence of the feeling of the music being played. Musical genre has its own concept and texture--almost a personality. (In classical music the composer is the main force in the music's texture and interpretation. Very specific instructions for the feeling of a piece and dynamic markings are included by the composer to guide the performer's interpretation of the music. Percussion is used mainly as a coloring for the ...
read moreGetting The Hi-Hat Sound
by Mat Marucci
The hi-hat sound is possibly the most used and abused part of the drum set. While other parts of the instrument are generally played with the hands or the feet, the hi-hat is played with both--the hands for a “ride" effect, the feet for the “chick" sound and with both for “barks." The focus of this article is achieving the “chick" sound. Many drummers play the hi-hat with a heel-down rocking motion, using the foot much in the ...
read moreThe Jazz Instrument
by Mat Marucci
As the old saying goes, “You have to go back before you can go forward." And that means you should learn the tradition of the instrument to gain greater knowledge and bring more depth to your playing. Let's start at the beginning. Bear in mind that the drum set is the only instrument that was specifically created to play jazz. Originally, the various components of the jazz drum set were used in various ways in marching, concert, and symphonic bands. ...
read moreLess Is More? Really?
by Mat Marucci
There have been popular views by certain so-called experts that seem to have been accepted as dogma, the term “less is more" being one of them. However, as in any subject from sports to politics to science to religion, every pundit has an equal who has a contrary opinion. I, for one, am bothered by some of these views and not only have a contrary view of them but feel many are either misleading, questionable, or downright wrong.
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