I never know what to do with more than three toms, even three sometims seems too much to me (I usually have just two (TT and FT). I use two crashes and sometimes I ask myself if the second crash is really justified...
Sometimes I like to pretend I'm Ginger Baker, though, and have fun with a bigger kit - but I usually revert back to a 4-piece quite quickly.
I have to agree with Wayne, jonny r and others that the big monster kits are cool an look impressive but really not necessary unless your going to do a ten minute drum solo or something. I play one up, two down and often wonder if I need ethe second floor tom. It looks cool set up and I do use it. But then I have always thought that if I could produce a lot of sounds and do impressive fills without it then people might think hey he is a great drummer considering he only has a few drums. So me, yes, less is more.
yup
[IMG]https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/10653611_712931917382_1231190288532478916_n.jpg?oh=00c21c8bb7ac5a67be245e951897bb9b&oe=573AAE7B[/IMG]
I remember going to an audition for musicians Sea World was having. This kid and his friend took almost an hour setting up a monster kit, complete with a cage like rack system. The instructor had him play a few rudiments on the snare, he never touched any other drums or cymbals. I don't know if he got the gig, but he sure went through a lot of trouble for nothing. I believe a lot of drummers with huge kits, especially the guys in bar bands, think it looks impressive to have as much gear as possible on stage and that goes for other musicians as well. I never understood this concept, you can be much more creative on a small kit, not to mention the loading, unloading and small stages most small clubs provide.
We have tonights winner!!
As far as my Monster kits went, those were always the home kits. Never brought them out, never really needed to. Aside not having the stage room, most of my bands didn't need all the extra goodies,but I've brought out larger kits when I was in Progressive bands.
As far as creativity I think it honestly goes both ways. I can come up with things on a small kit that I may never think of on a large kit, but for the same token I can get sounds and textures from a larger kit that a 4 piece simply cannot provide. Again I've always been about the music, and play what is required. But for my own personal enjoyment, and personal growth I love expanding and contracting my kits.I look at my drums like a painter. Sometimes you just need the basic colors, other times you need to expand the pallet.
I have never used more than a 6 pc kit.
Lately, a 4 pc kit with 1 up and 1 down, along with an 18" crash/ride and hats, is my favorite setup. I sometimes add another crash, but I can do without it.
I like it when I see a drummer with a relatively small kit and a killer groove. Big kits , and drummers who overplay, do not impress me anymore.
This is one of my favorite videos of a less is more drummer.
[ame]http://youtu.be/0WywheQPHHI[/ame]
Great. Goes to show that strict rules are nonsense.
However, speaking of preferences.... In most (not all!) music I listen to, the drummer plays a minimal kit. I have the uttermost respect for a band like Rush, and I think their songs/compositions are brilliant, and I think Neil is a great drummer, but I can't stand listening to them. Same with other complex bands. So for me, less is more, most of the time, but it's not a strict rule.
In my band I play a little simpler every year. In some songs I stopped playing fills over the toms. It kind of got in the way of the flow and breath of the song. I was inspired by the drumming on Tom Petty's latest album. I must say I'm a pretty limited drummer (only started at age 24), with not much time to practice, so even if I had a more complex kit, there's not much I could do with it.
For sure. I brought all this to our NYE gig on the bus & subway, by myself. When I'm feeling Neil Peart-ish, I'll bring the 12" tom and 14" floor
LoLoLoLoLoLoLoLoLoLoLoLo
Personally, I don't care. I'm more interested in the playing than WHAT kit the drummer is playing.
Three other thoughts on this….. Soap Box
1) Do guitar and bass players do this? "I can't believe he's only using a combo amp." Or " Can you believe he brought a guitar that has so many strings?"
2) Do you think the engineers *****ed about Hal Blaine's kit? Here was a guy known for having 7 or 8 rack toms and was THE guy for studio work. They were more confident in him playing the right part to fit the song or jingle than how many drums he brought in.
3) Do drummers who complain about having to carry all of this heavy gear sit back and rethink their instrument choice? If you choose to play the drums, just looking at them, you know there is some gear there, whether a 3 pc or 20 pc kit, you are going to have slug some gear.
