What's up with some of these Kit set ups?!?!?!

[rjthakid]

Have you ever gone to visit another church and you KNOW you're going to play the drums, only to find the drummer has this completely retarded set up?

That's not referring to the quality of the drumset, but rather the angles of the toms, snare, etc.

I went to a church a few weeks ago where the kid had his Snare drum slanted towards him at a 45 degree angle, and his toms were practically FACING him. 

Why do some drummers do this?  Those who do this must work SO HARD, because they aren't letting gravity do any of the work.

I had to get on the kit a few minutes before it was time for them to sing because I had to adjust everything. 

Normally I would try not to adjust another mans kit, but this one was so ridiculously set up that I didn't have much of a choice.  I can only conclude that these drummers have sought out zero instruction and/or knowledge.

Note: The kid was about 15-16yrs old, and told me he's been playing since he was 5 

[Eccentric-Rhythm]

I understand to each his own. And everyone should set up with how they feel comfortable. But then, there is just plain wrong ways of setting up, and I dont think that those fly very well.

[Mud]

Remember that clip of the dude with the tilt? Those cymbals were freakin' vertical!

Someone must find that again. That was the best clip posted, period! 

~Div

[Eccentric-Rhythm]

Remember that clip of the dude with the tilt? Those cymbals were freakin' vertical!

Someone must find that again. That was the best clip posted, period! 

~Div

haha. ya. that was Wild.

[erickicks]

the finny thing is when you work so hard to get it where it's should be for you, then he looks at you like you're stupid and don't know what's up. Then when you start playing and it looks so easy for you...he's like "wow that's cool but I like my ride cymbal tickling GODs feet"...so you'll have to stand on a chair to play it......LOL

[rjthakid]

the finny thing is when you work so hard to get it where it's should be for you, then he looks at you like you're stupid and don't know what's up. Then when you start playing and it looks so easy for you...he's like "wow that's cool but I like my ride cymbal tickling GODs feet"...so you'll have to stand on a chair to play it......LOL

 

[SabianKnight]

I understand to each his own. And everyone should set up with how they feel comfortable. But then, there is just plain wrong ways of setting up, and I dont think that those fly very well.

Set them straight E-R....

People should set up ergonomically, the way the human body works/moves, which is most times and in this situtation mentioned not how they feel most comfortable. This drummer has become corfortable in a wrong state, a less than optimal state, a state of not knowing the proper/correct way.  In most things we are comfortable doing we are not growing/developing etc... we are complacent in. This is an obvious example.

Drummers/would-be percussionists need to stop this non-sense of thinking/saying there is no right and wrong way and that it is what is comfortable  because that is a lie, a trick of ignorance/deception/fear of correction by the enemy. 

[pocket2829]

i'm with Sabianknight on this one, you never want to work too hard to get around your kit.  i believe that everyone went through that stage when u were trying to find "your set-up", but as Sabian stated you should set up ergonomically, the way the body moves.  You should be able to play on your toms, cymbals, snare, etc. without having to strain or stretch.  you don't want to get up from your kit, feelin like you just left the gym. 

[rjthakid]

I heard Mike Portnoy say that every once in a while he'll move things around.  Modify and adjust his kit.

And even though he's got arguably the most Ginormous Kit assembled

http://www.mikeportnoy.com/about/drums/siammon.asp?menu=about

He'll occasionally play on a very bare-bones kit to promote creativity. 

Since then I've occasionally moved things around on my kit, and it actually helps.  I'll find myself doing new things.

However some of these kits are impossible to play.  Even if you have NO formal training, or haven't really tried to get any knowledge, shouldn't common sense tell you that your set up should be comfortable to play?

[Mud]

Three cheers for small set-ups!! 

[rjthakid]

Three cheers for small set-ups!! 

Hip....

[Eccentric-Rhythm]

Hip.......

[Ibilddrums]

Hooray!!!!

[Eccentric-Rhythm]

 

[Metronome]

Yeah i      set ups like that.  When i was little i set up like that just to reach everything.  Then my Lil cousin's janitor gave him a Dave Weckl video, the one that talks about technique and how to set up.  I start wtih my bass, snare and hats.  Then i adjust everything off of that so that i let my body just flow.