Do You Think As A Drummer, You Could Still....

[bigblackdrummer]

It doesnt take much when you know what you're doing.

I do it to keep myu creative juices flowing.  Its harder to create with less.

 had so much fun doing those gigs like that. I created new grooves, fills that grooved instead of just filling space...IT WAS AWESOME!!!! You all need to try it, its refreshing!!!

[SabianKnight]

It doesnt take much when you know what you're doing.

I do it to keep myu creative juices flowing.  Its harder to create with less.

One of the greatest things said at the Jojo Mayer clinic I recently attended was that he got to his state of playing by taking stuff away, not adding anything. He even suggested working on practicing with just k, sn, h-h and also working on solos using eighth notes as you smallest subdivision for like 20 minutes or more using various dynamics. This makes the sixteenths etc more meaningful and powereful when you finally add them in. These things as well as fully investigating all the possible sounds within each instrument and  also suggested spending time wthe rhythmic possibilities builds your vocabulary.

[seemunny]

One of the greatest things said at the Jojo Mayer clinic I recently attended was that he got to his state of playing by taking stuff away, not adding anything. He even suggested working on practicing with just k, sn, h-h and also working on solos using eighth notes as you smallest subdivision for like 20 minutes or more using various dynamics. This makes the sixteenths etc more meaningful and powereful when you finally add them in. These things as well as fully investigating all the possible sounds within each instrument and  also suggested spending time wthe rhythmic possibilities builds your vocabulary.

Interesting stuff Sabe!

[StraightPockett]

All I need is a kick, hats, and snare. I don't use much more on Sundays anyway.

[Blitcenary]

I've said this in another fourm but, you just need a hi hat, snare, and bass drum.  Semi open hi hat for crash symbol, fully open hat for ride, and bass and snare for fills.

[BigFoot_BigThumb]

I have recorded with that setup.  I've also done a few 4-hour gigs with that setup minus the tom.  A  musician can do plenty with that setup.  It forces discipline.

[djdavis]

yup i could play with just that

[baldeagle]

To answer the initial question, I can hold it down with a simple kit.

It doesnt take much when you know what you're doing.

I do it to keep myu creative juices flowing.  Its harder to create with less.

This is what I love about Mark Simmons (from Houston, toured with George Duke and Al Jarreau). He pulls the sounds out of ALL of his drum equipment. We forget that wood (sticks) makes a particular sound when striking metal (rims, stands, etc.). Not to mention that there are about 10 different sounds you can get from your snare just by changing WHERE on the snare you're hitting, and by changing the ANGLE at which you're hitting it. Nat Townsley played around a bit with this concept on that MD vid, at the beginning of his last song.

The least amount of equipment I've ever used, though is a lunch kit, the base of my palm (kick), and my knuckles (snare/hi-hat). I used to rock the kids on the bus all the way home. And I'm not lying... They used to ask me to hit that beat on my "Mr. T and the A-Team" lunch box. Straight groovin'!

One time at my church, we were rehearsing and we were messing around with an old hip hop beat and people were wondering where the vinyl "scratch" sound was coming from. My snare head was fresh (coated) and grazing the tip of the stick across the head gave a light scratch sound. It was crazy.