Hi CameronADD
Thanks for getting back to me on the Monkey Puzzle Studio thing. Bonnie the Cat was named after Rupert Matthews' cat, right?
Correct!
Also, just a quick question, do you ever clean your cymbals? If so, how often, and how do you do it?
I never clean my cymbals.
Hi supermac
As a 'master of beat manipulation', I'd be keen on some advice from you on five-note groupings.The latest Rythmn magazine has a nice linear fill exercise where a group of 32 16th notes is broken up into six groups of five notes and then two notes, equalling, of course, 32 notes. I pretty much lose track of the underlying 4/4 groove totally.
Any tips on 'feeling' the excercise as opposed to counting it?
Try tapping on your legs RLRLL x 6 plus RL whilst tapping your foot in quarter notes. See if that makes 'feeling' 5's any easier.
Hi Nickropolis
The Sonor Prolite sounded great, 10-12-14-16-18-20 14 snare (I think).
thanks for the pictures. The set is actually 8,10,12,14,16, 22 bass drum and a 13" snare - apart from that you were spot on !!
Hi DsDrummer
I chose The Sound of Muzak. I have a question about what you're doing during the guitar solo towards the middle. A few measures before you going onto the ride you do two little fills with open and closed hi-hat and the snare drum. Can you help me with what your really doing. I watched the Modern Drummer DVD several times and it just goes by way too fast for me to understand what's going on.
Really, I think it would be better if you came up with your own fills - it would add more of your character to the performance. The fill you're talking about is basically flams between the tom and snare and then the right hand goes over to the opened hi hat (plus a bass drum I think). I'm using groupings of 3 or 5 sixteenths.
Hi Juan Exposito
What is your thought about using a drum riser in your home studio ?
it's just so I can move the kit around my room for a different sound - and closer or further away from my live room where I have separate mics set up to catch the ambiance.
Hi cramin2
I recognized that you made a big band version of Futile, but I stopped trying to identify the second PT song for big band halfway through and focused on your inspiring drumming. What was the second big band song you played?
Cheating The Polygraph. Glad you enjoyed the clinic!
Hi euphoric_anomaly
What are the differences between your "Futile" double bass pattern (you know, the one that leaves the audiences jaw on the floor) and Meshuggah's "Bleed"?
"cwoodruff" kind of got it right. The pattern during that section of Futile is four 32nd notes in between each hi hat note (which itself is playing dotted 8th notes), whereas Bleed is (primarily) continuously two 32nds followed by two 16ths in a 4/4 feel.
Hi TKIE
Just curious to ask - the cymbals (asking for hats and ride) in your last posted video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCzpafGE7Qk are 13" k hats and 20" ride?
yes that's correct. They're good all round versatile cymbals.
Hi Alex Temperley
I was wondering if you could tell us a little about how you tune your drums. The rest of the band changes key fairly often so how do you manage to make the drums sound so good all the time? Do you tune to any specific notes or rather where you feel each drum sounds best (individually and in relation to the other drums).
I don't tune to specific notes - if you look back through this forum thread you'll find the relative intervals. I don't think my toms have such easily identifiable pitches to them - so it doesn't matter what key the rest of the band are playing in.
Also in the pics posted above I see you're using the Tama Speed Cobras. Have you switched to them from Axis or was it just for that masterclass? If yes, why?
I switched to Tama Speed Cobras almost two years ago. I just felt I could get more power from them with less effort. I can't play any faster though.
Hi dr_flam
I was wondering how you prepare for performance. I am referring to mental preparation before the show..... like Yoga, Meditation or so.
No I just try to be in an atmosphere that is void of distractions. I don't really want folks outside of the band in the dressing room for 30 minutes before the show. That way I can focus on the job at hand and not have to sit there listening to someone telling me about their sister's eye operation or the fact that their uncle has hemorrhoids.
cheers
Gavin