logdrum
December 29th, 2005, 08:34 AM
I am no expert and I guess self taught in brushes. I am doing it a lot because of neccesity. With a day job and a demanding family and school -- I don't have time so I practice early in the morning or late at night and I have to be quite
Regal tip -- rubber handle -- the standard --- that's what you should use. I have Zildjian, VF (purple and white) --- promark -- I gave them all away except for the purple VF and the Regal -- I am sure there are others. I also like the Vater Poly Flex -- wood handles and nylon brushes -- darker than the steel brushes and very very good bounce. I slipped a rubber tubing (not a condom ok) so that the metal ferules are covered and you can do rim bounces with it.
I like that Philly Jones book not published anymore but Luvmyleedy scanned the photos-- but Jon Hazilla's book Mastering the Art of Brushes (berkley publications) has an accompanying CD and he uses a lot of the Philly Jones concepts and explains it much farther.
What works for me:
Trad grip -- you probably would like to learn how -- also fingers closer to the brushes (2 inches) -- awkward at first but you develop more control. RH semi-french grip thumbs up -- really helps.
Rusty inside rims -- no good - clean it or get a new hoop
Play the tips even though it sounds thin -- up front and recorded you may actually sound good -- well fat and dark. In the beginning - I put in more brush because I want a fatter sound -- my taps and coloring strokes cannot be distinguished
Hi -hat top -- lower it so the cymbals are just a bit open like 1/4 inch. Use for support.
Sometimes --- the BD feathering quarters gets tiring or boring. I feather with my LF heel -- yes. Especially if you have a wood floor and rubber soles. -- different sound -- syncopated just beause of the rocking motion -- you can still chip and splash on the hats.
My favorite patterns.
The Heart -- for slow tunes -- Luv said 12/8 40 bpm -- swung in the slow job thread by formalist -- do the heart (each hand draws a half of a valentine's card heart (not an anatomical illustration) .. start from the top and meet at the apex - lift start over)
Shoulder stroke/Wiperblade -- LH -- Circle 1 round/quarter) - RH just like a wiper blade (1 arc per quarter) -- the hard part is that the LH goes twice the speed of the RH --
Eyes -- two small circles drawn by each hand -- medium fast patterns -- when you are tired but have to keep going. This is Philly Joe's term. There is also a variation with larger circles but staggered. If you don't pay attention you'll clash the brushes.
Half Circles -- RH and LH opposite direction -- tap on 2/4 can flam or be syncopated
Standard -- LH stir the soup -- RH -- tap tap.
Philly Joe's -- LH -- stir the soup -- RH -- back and forth -- tap each end. When done correctly (I have few lucid seconds) really swings.
Elvin's left hand lead. -- RH -- diagonal back and forth -- LH tap tap but spang-a-lang.
The edge-- LH -Brush handle on the rim brushes on the drum -- don't lift ever. Use light twisting and scrapping motion. RH tap tap - sweep.
Guiro Philly. just like the philly but the RH goes up and down and lift instead of tap. LH stir is broken a third of the circle by lifting the brush off. Practice slow. It makes sense for fast tempos - the lifting off creates an empty feeling when going slow.
When I am riding -- I either keep stirring the soup, comp as if a stick or do the edge. When stirring - color by putting more brush or snapping with the wrist. The hardest part is the cymbals dynamics. If you crash using the rubber handles -- it could be out of place or too loud. Splashing the hats makes more sense. I also practice double strokes and single strokes with brushes. Translates well when you are using real sticks.
That's what I have -- there are tons more to learn. It is really gratifying for me. Also all you need is snare and hat's really.
EXPERTS -- please correct (I don't have the books to cheat on and I am sure I have developed bad habits). Add your favorite brush-isms!
Regal tip -- rubber handle -- the standard --- that's what you should use. I have Zildjian, VF (purple and white) --- promark -- I gave them all away except for the purple VF and the Regal -- I am sure there are others. I also like the Vater Poly Flex -- wood handles and nylon brushes -- darker than the steel brushes and very very good bounce. I slipped a rubber tubing (not a condom ok) so that the metal ferules are covered and you can do rim bounces with it.
I like that Philly Jones book not published anymore but Luvmyleedy scanned the photos-- but Jon Hazilla's book Mastering the Art of Brushes (berkley publications) has an accompanying CD and he uses a lot of the Philly Jones concepts and explains it much farther.
What works for me:
Trad grip -- you probably would like to learn how -- also fingers closer to the brushes (2 inches) -- awkward at first but you develop more control. RH semi-french grip thumbs up -- really helps.
Rusty inside rims -- no good - clean it or get a new hoop
Play the tips even though it sounds thin -- up front and recorded you may actually sound good -- well fat and dark. In the beginning - I put in more brush because I want a fatter sound -- my taps and coloring strokes cannot be distinguished
Hi -hat top -- lower it so the cymbals are just a bit open like 1/4 inch. Use for support.
Sometimes --- the BD feathering quarters gets tiring or boring. I feather with my LF heel -- yes. Especially if you have a wood floor and rubber soles. -- different sound -- syncopated just beause of the rocking motion -- you can still chip and splash on the hats.
My favorite patterns.
The Heart -- for slow tunes -- Luv said 12/8 40 bpm -- swung in the slow job thread by formalist -- do the heart (each hand draws a half of a valentine's card heart (not an anatomical illustration) .. start from the top and meet at the apex - lift start over)
Shoulder stroke/Wiperblade -- LH -- Circle 1 round/quarter) - RH just like a wiper blade (1 arc per quarter) -- the hard part is that the LH goes twice the speed of the RH --
Eyes -- two small circles drawn by each hand -- medium fast patterns -- when you are tired but have to keep going. This is Philly Joe's term. There is also a variation with larger circles but staggered. If you don't pay attention you'll clash the brushes.
Half Circles -- RH and LH opposite direction -- tap on 2/4 can flam or be syncopated
Standard -- LH stir the soup -- RH -- tap tap.
Philly Joe's -- LH -- stir the soup -- RH -- back and forth -- tap each end. When done correctly (I have few lucid seconds) really swings.
Elvin's left hand lead. -- RH -- diagonal back and forth -- LH tap tap but spang-a-lang.
The edge-- LH -Brush handle on the rim brushes on the drum -- don't lift ever. Use light twisting and scrapping motion. RH tap tap - sweep.
Guiro Philly. just like the philly but the RH goes up and down and lift instead of tap. LH stir is broken a third of the circle by lifting the brush off. Practice slow. It makes sense for fast tempos - the lifting off creates an empty feeling when going slow.
When I am riding -- I either keep stirring the soup, comp as if a stick or do the edge. When stirring - color by putting more brush or snapping with the wrist. The hardest part is the cymbals dynamics. If you crash using the rubber handles -- it could be out of place or too loud. Splashing the hats makes more sense. I also practice double strokes and single strokes with brushes. Translates well when you are using real sticks.
That's what I have -- there are tons more to learn. It is really gratifying for me. Also all you need is snare and hat's really.
EXPERTS -- please correct (I don't have the books to cheat on and I am sure I have developed bad habits). Add your favorite brush-isms!