[drumz4fun]

Just a little note to say hello.
Played drumz years ago, getting back into again.
Would like to buy or build an electronic set for recording.

Thnx
J.R.

[guss]

Build? Dont say you live in the desert, or in the redwood national park(Ever tryed a sequoia?)?

[drumz4fun]

Originally Posted by guss

Build? Dont say you live in the desert, or in the redwood national park(Ever tryed a sequoia?)?

Well, build is probably the wrong word. I am really justs throwing together bits and bobs to make up some sort of uniquely me sort of set.

For instance I really like the look of the vintage electronic drum pads, so I have been gathering these one or two at a time, I have the kick and the pedal for it, The brain.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to make e-cymbals from practice cymbals. A few false starts but I will figure it out.

At least I have a practice set with what I have gathered so far.
It's all clamped on a bunch of cymbal stands and one floor tom stand.

Thanks for asking and sorry for the long wait between replys.
More latter as I get closer to completion.

Drumz4fun

[juan (the ping-pong ref.)]

Thats cool. Whats your normal job? Electrition or something like that?

[chungiemunchin]

I played professionally (full time) as a road musician (in cover band) for several years in my early twenties and had been playing since I was 11 years old. Then I decided to quit playing to pursue spiritual things which led to having a family which led to twenty plus years of telling people 'I USED to be a drummer'.

Well world!!!!!!! I am back baby! My kids are grown and I found myself sitting around waiting to die (at 53 yrs. old no less). Then something hit me square in between the eyes. I hadn't ever lost my love for music but to play it had to be put on the back burner. Now, with a little disposable income and a burning desire to play again, I bought an electronic drumset (Roland V's with the mesh heads) and have been practicing faithfully since this past October (an hour minimally a day). I am so happy to see my rudiments coming back and my ability to relax while playing. I am studying interdependence and using several method books to expand my vocabulary. I will be the first to admit there is a little nervousness as I approach the time when I put my ad out there with the hopes of finding some musicians to play with, but excitement trumps that! I hope talking to you cats will help me get through the initiation.

I will be playing some Yamaha Absolute Maple Customs in the Vintage Natural finish - a jazz set with 16X18 bass drum, 10 and 12 inch racks and 14X14 floor tom. I am working on cymbal shopping and am thinking of duplicating Antonio Sanchez's cymbal set up or Jack DeJohnette's.

Ain't playing drums grand?!@!!! I love it and I love you guys! Thanks for listening!

	Yamaha Drums Shop for Yamaha Drums at Musician's Friend

[drumz4fun]

Juan

Thnx 4 your email, sorry this reply is so long in coming. I won't make the usual lame excuses. I am an engineer. However making your own electronic cymbals is actually pretty well documented on the net.
Basically if you can wield a glue gun and soldering iron you should be able to tackle it.

Thnx
J.R.

[drumz4fun]

chunglemunchin

So glad to have you back in the fold. The good news is . . . Once your a drummer . . . Your a drummer.

I too got married (no kids) and got away from music for a long time. That first marriage ended and with it my leave of absence from playing (mostly guitar).

I hope the music can take you where you want to go.

Thnx
J.R.

[chungiemunchin]

This time around I have a more realistic view of what it takes to become really accomplished on my instrument. As a youngster, I could certainly find ways to justify why I didn't need to really work on the areas of my playing that gave me trouble. If something was too challenging or I just didn't think I was ever going to be able to figure out, I would just focus on how Ringo never had to learn that stuff and he did alright for himself. I kind of saw myself as that support guy who played the simple but tasty stuff behind the rest of the band.

Now I recognize that all I have is time and that I choose to spend my time working on the things in my playing that will propel me into being the player I really want to be. I find that it is really fun to focus on things that I don't know how to do today with the confidence that I can accomplish anything on my instrument if I am willing to work at it and stay open to the learning opportunities that come my way. Sometimes I think that our own egos keep us from learning at the rate at which we are capable of learning. The healthy approach is to remind ourselves that our playing can be enhanced by our willingness to learn from anyone at anytime under any circumstance.

A great book upon which I've recently stumbled is "Zen Guitar". It's a great book for any aspiring musician......no matter his or her instrument.

Stay loose.......

Chungiemunchin

[slingerland59]

It's very nice to hear from you guys, drumz4fun and chungiemunchin. I'm in the same boat. I played for many years, then took a hiatus for families (two!) and career (I'm a lawyer). But I got the serious itch to start doing more than just bash my drums a few times a week, usually when I was angry. I knew it was time to bring the fun back in my life and to enjoy what I'm really good at.

I agree with your philosophies and frame of mind. I'm tackling skills I didn't know before -- double kick drum. And I'm facing my weaknesses head on -- I'm perfecting my timing by playing along with a metronome, recorded music and electronic drum patterns. In addition to developing my talent, I want to be a good example of right living for my three kids who are still young.

[chungiemunchin]

I admire the young cats who understand that music and the mastering of an instrument is a life long pursuit. I listen to cats like Jeff Ballard and Bill Stewart and I just know that these cats work on the things that keep them from being the drummers they want to be. They don't shy away from the more difficult things that might appear to be weaknesses in their arsenals today. As a result, these guys seem to be having so much fun when they play. That is my goal.....to play well enough that I know I can approach almost any musical situation and will be equal to it. The reward for becoming really good at something is the total enjoyment of its' doing (that's one of mine.....but you can use it if you want!)