I've played gigs with no toms, but if I had to choose between the rack or floor, I'd ditch the rack tom.

Wayne,

Play the next gig with both toms and note carefully which one receives the least amount of hits in the style you're playing. There's your answer.

Mike

Mike; Good point. After playing for over 50 years as a club drummer, and still playing I can say I have never been a "soloing chops" type drummer. I hated those "In the God of Davida" days, I was a Motown/ r&b drummer who just layed it down. There were 12 bar breaks I got to show off a little, but I never considered myself a "showman". For me, toms are used sparingly, fills, accents, endings, dynamics, etc. I find myself all these years later with the same belief that drummers not only control a band, but we make it what it is!

I agree with Wayne, I am not a solo drummer, I like to keep the beat and play "tasty". Fills when needed, etc. I have played in 3 and 4 piece night club bands where you show up and there is barely room for the kit so I typically would drop the floor tom and leave it in the car.

At one time I showed up and there was a cocktail kit there already if I wanted to use it (it was the owners that he kept there and used it to play with a keyboard guy on off nights). Was worried that I would have to stand all night but it had a sit-stand chair with it, was really kind of cool to use it for the night.

rack tom.....I use the floor tom for sticks,brushes and last but not leeest.a coffee cup rest area.Bad habit but that's how I roll

MME...So you don't use a floor tom?. That's good, you don't need another drum to tune. I assume you bring a coffee table to use instead?..

My choice would be to skip the high tom. I like to ride the toms and play Bo Diddley beats, and I think those both sound better on the FT.

Al

I'd definitely keep the floor tom and lose the rack. I've noticed since playing very modern contemporary Christian songs for my church the last few months that most of the songs rely heavily on riding the floor tom at times.

Vater; Could not agree more!!