Getting into Rock Music: The Ultimate Drumkit Guide
Playing Rock music authentically on the drumkit requires a few things. Knowing about the sizes of drums, and sticks, and what series of cymbals are the loudest will help you achieve the best sound when playing rock.
Here are some important things to look for:
The Bass Drum
Everything starts with the bass drum. I recommend getting a bass drum that will produce a great sound in clubs, pubs, and the studio.
A 22-inch bass drum will automatically give you a loud sound. You won’t have to use extra effort when playing the bass drum pedal as a 22-inch bass drum is set up for volume.
A 24-inch bass drum would also be great for rock. The only downside is it takes up a lot of room in your car and may be difficult to fit in a small-sized car.
Check out these bass drums:
Gretsch Drums 24'x14' Bass Drum Brooklyn -GO see price
Yamaha Stage Custom 24'x15' BD HA see price
DrumCraft Series 6 20'x16' BD SN-NM see price
The Snare Drum
I suggest using a snare with lots of depth for rock music. Probably 6 inches or deeper. Although a metal and wood snare will both work, I feel a wooden snare is more versatile. Especially in the studio.
Having a high-pitched ring on your snare can kill the rock feel. Try using an O ring to mute the snare drum. I also suggest tuning the snare low for more bottom end.
Check out these snare drums:
DW PDP 14'x6,5' Walnut Snare see price
Pearl 14'x6,5' Special Reserve Snare see price
Sonor AS 12 1406 BRB Artist Snare see price
Tom Sizes
When playing rock you don’t want to use small toms like 8 or 10 inches. When Dave Grohl was playing with Nirvana his first rack tom was a 14-inch! Having bigger size toms will increase the volume and power of your sound.
Also, remember to tune low for more impact.
Check out these rock-sounding drum kits!
Pearl Export Double Bass Set Black see price
Mapex Venus 5295 Drum Set Bundle VC see price
Gretsch USA Custom Satin Dark Ebony see price
Cymbals
Early in my drumming career, I was breaking a lot of cymbals. A guy who worked in a drum store told me it was because I was using ‘Hand Hammered’ (or HH cymbals). He said Hand Hammered cymbals created low tones that were great for jazz and funk but didn’t have the volume for rock.
Always look for ‘bright’ sounding cymbals if you want to play rock. This means you won’t have to hit them as hard to create volume. This will ultimately save you from breaking cymbals and save you money!
Check out these cymbals:
Zildjian 21' A-Series Mega Bell Ride see price
Zildjian Thomann Anniversary Cymbal Set see price
Zildjian 19' A-Serie Ultra Hammer China see price
Skins
When playing rock you will be hitting hard to give the music attitude. Don’t get single-ply drum skins! You will damage them in a few rehearsals.
Getting double-ply heads will not only save you money but give you a fatter sound. Tune low to achieve a legitimate rock sound.
Check out these snare drum skins:
Aquarian 22' Super Kick II Clear Bass see price
Evans 20' EMAD Coated Bass Drum see price
Sticks
Sticks are super important when playing rock. The one thing that people never account for when buying sticks is the size of their hands!
Most people will tell you that you need 2B sticks or larger for rock music. I disagree with this simply because if you have small hands, you will struggle with oversized sticks.
5Bs are heavy enough that you won’t break them in one gig.
Check out these sticks:
Vic Firth 5B American Classic Hickory see price
Vater 5B Power Drum Sticks Wood see price
In conclusion, remember that rock music is all about attitude. Play loud and have fun. Keep your beat steady and in the pocket.
Having the right gear will give you a more credible sound and save you money. Listen to bands like Black Sabbath, Metallica, Tool, and Foo Fighters for great examples of Rock Drumming.
Keep practicing!
About Magesh Magesh
Magesh is a musician and producer who has worked with Rihanna, Lionel Richie, Ricky Martin, Chris Brown, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Nelly Furtado, and Vernon Reid of Living Colour.
He released an instructional drumming DVD called "Unique Beats" where he mixed the drum kit with electronics and Indian hand percussion. He recently moved from Australia to the UK to explore new musical opportunities.
Website: mageshdrumteacher.co.uk
Contact Magesh Magesh at magesh.magesh7@gmail.com
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