Ride or HH?

I know how you feel.

Some bands I was in had their way of doing things (funny, none of them could play drums in the slightest) and wanted to hear certain things (get yourself one of those japanese drummers, you know, from either Roland or Yamaha!) from the drummer. I always felt music was something open to interpretation (at least a little) and did whatever I felt (without going completely overboard) until it was time to move on.

In some bands that time comes rather quickly.

Play it your way...

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L8R

Kelly

This is the first time I have ever heard of something like this, but my band just jumped my case at a practice for using the ride cymbal during a verse of a song instead of only on the chorus of the song. Is this basically a standard or more likely to just be the way they prefer that I play on that song? They basically just want me to play the HH during all verses and the ride only in the choruses and solos. This is supposedly a democratic band, not a support band for a vocal act like a dictatorship or something.

I have a problem with statements like this (sorry Benny, no offense meant). First I think that music is something that happens between a number of people. It's not what one musician likes but what sounds best for the music. Second, drums are primarily a support instrument. I know some people like to solo on them, and there are types of music that use only drums, but in general for most of us and for the type of music most of us play, drums exist in the context of a wider musical arrangement to support and enhance the rhythmic foundation of a piece. For a drummer to ignore the other musicians and play what he thinks is best is probably a good way to get fired in a hurry. And on the long run it's attitudes like that which gives drummers a bad name.

To get back to the original post, it is a pretty classic arrangement to play a ride pattern on the hi-hat during the verses and to go to the ride cymbal during the chorus and some instrumental bridges. As someone else said it's not a hard and fast rule and it doesn't mean it cannot be broken. Listen to the music and the song. Than decide what fits best. Do take advise from the other members in the band, it's also THEIR music as well. Generally speaking the ride cymbal is louder than the hi-hat, and has longer sustain (wash) and sometimes it tends to overwhelms the vocals during the verses for instance. Choruses are generally (not always) a bit louder dynamically and the ride cymbal opens up the sound and cuts through more effectively. During instrumental bridges, it depends on what instrument is soloing. You want to make sure your cymbal doesn't conflict with the soloist. For the usual guitar solo, the ride cymbal is fine but pay attention to other instruments to make sure your sound doesn't drown them. After all it is their solo not yours. You can bash all you want during your solo if you take one, and I'm sure you'd get upset at the lead guitar if he'd try to come in during your solo.

Just my 2 cents

michel

Exactly who is the drummer in your band? The guy behind the kit (yourself) or a guy behind a guitar? Play whatever the song/tune needs. That's not to say you shouldn't be open to input from other members - it's important to have a mutual understanding of what feel the band is trying to achieve - but certainly don't just stick to a fixed method of alternating between high-hat and ride for every song just because 'that's what you're supposed to do'. Listen to almost any record of any decent band anywhere and you'll hear that there's no 'right' way to do it. Just think about the dynamics, rhythm etc of the song itself, and be creative.

Get a paper copy of an ad for a drum machine. Take it to your next practice. When they start that crap again, show 'em the ad, and tell them 'This thing will play exactly what you tell it to', then find another band. Guys like that just want a drum machine they don't have to be a programmer to use. They will micromanage you to death. Quit, now. It is only going to get worse.