Drum Positioning

[poetmandrums]

Hi All:

I'm new to this place. I like the site's content and wanted to participate. I've recently started playing a gospel gig where the drums are provided. They're sizes 12/13/16/22, and being a jazz drummer first, and otherwise used to playing gospel on a 1/12/14/20 kit, I'm having trouble setting these larger drums up in a comfortable manner. I'm about 6'1 and like my snare a bit higher than most players. When I see photos of gospel drummers they seem like they're sitting high and almost playing down on the kit. Because my toms are so deep and are drilled into the kick, I can't lower them anymore. When I raise my throne, my feel feel awkward. Can you all offer some advice as to how you position your kits?

Thanks & God bless!

[baldeagle]

Here's some advice on how I position MY drums:

1. I put MY drums in the car.
2. I take MY drums to the gig.
3. I set MY drums up for the gig.
4. I play MY drums on the gig.
5. I break MY drums down after the gig.
6. I take MY drums home.


 

But seriously. My main kits are fusion kits. I hate playing on standard size toms (12/13) because they're so deep. My 1st personal set, and our main church set are standard kits. But I added a 10" tom, and cut the 12" tom from 10" depth to 8" depth. But I'm the drummer and the pastor trusted me to get it done professionally. I HATE standard size toms.

When I'm faced with having to play someone else's 12/13/16 kit, I usually don't even play the rack toms. I completely ignore them and use the snare, hats, kick, & floor tom. This may take some getting used to. What I did was break down my practice kit to nothing but snare, kick, hats, and 1 crash. You'd be surprised at how this limited set boosts your creativity. There are fewer toys to play with, so you're forced to think outside the box, so that your playing doesn't sound redundant.

My church is visiting someone else's church this Sunday, and our choir is singing. Whenever we visit this particular church, the guy's drums (12/13/16 toms) are always tuned like marching band quads: really tight, and high-pitched. I can't stand that sound, and won't subject myself to having to hear it while I'm playing. So I just play kick, snare, hats, and crash. We only sing 1 song so it's not worth taking my own set. But I still feel comfortable with my snare, so I can groove like I need to.

If you're playing more than 5 songs at these gigs, I would suggest taking your own set. Or, if possible, taking your own toms (I've done that before, too). But that requires that the other set has the same type of tom mounts as your set.

These are just some suggestions. Hopefully someone else will chime in and help you with your dilemma.

[xcalybur32]

Good Day Poet,

     I'm a relatively tall drummer myself at 6'4" and I found with the "Power Toms" or deep rack toms is to take the 13" off and use just the 12 and 16 tom.  I think you may find this setup a little more comfortable because of the room you leave open to maneuver the 12".  That way its not so much the level but the angle of the tom you can get yourself accustomed to playing at if you are going to use that drum set.

     Also have you looked at your throne height?  I found that this can help in being comfortable at a kit in any given setup.  Not having the right height can leave you unbalanced which will affect your setup and playing to a degree.  Like you said you see some drummers playing high and some playing low.  It has in my opinion to do with body proportions.  I'm 6'4" but I have a 32" seam which is kinda normal but I have a long torso. So if I set high I'm off balance because of my legs.  Some drummers are short so it looks like they are sitting high. I think they are what they call "pocket drummers" lol. So you have to set your throne to match the kit so you are comfortable.  Just some thoughts.

If others have a different opinion feel free to offer insight.

[musallio]

Interesting stuff here- The drummer at church has been teaching me a few tricks- I didn't know about all this throne jargon

I hope you find your answers Poetmand.

[SabianKnight]

Hi All:

I'm new to this place. I like the site's content and wanted to participate. I've recently started playing a gospel gig where the drums are provided. They're sizes 12/13/16/22, and being a jazz drummer first, and otherwise used to playing gospel on a 1/12/14/20 kit, I'm having trouble setting these larger drums up in a comfortable manner. I'm about 6'1 and like my snare a bit higher than most players. When I see photos of gospel drummers they seem like they're sitting high and almost playing down on the kit. Because my toms are so deep and are drilled into the kick, I can't lower them anymore. When I raise my throne, my feel feel awkward. Can you all offer some advice as to how you position your kits?

Thanks & God bless!

I have spent a lot of time working on the ergonomics of setting up drum sets of various sizes. I own a standard set as you described 12", 13", 16", 22" kick Yamaha kit as well as a 13", 13", 16", 20" late '60s Rogers jazz kit. I madeof the brands and age because that affects the amount of flexibilty you have with the hardware setup: tom mounts, bass drum mounts, floor tom legs, tom stands.

I am 6'3" with 36" inseam (long legs and long torso).

I generally play my 12", 13" 16", 22" set up with the 12" and 13" mounted on a double-tom stand to the left of my kick.

I do at times set up with my 12", 13" mounted on the kick. In all cases, be it playing my12", 13", 16", 22" Yamaha kit or my 13", 13", 16", 20" circa 1968 Rogers HOLIDAY series jazz kit my toms are the same height from the floor which is currently 32"-34"in from the floor tilted about 26.5 degrees. My throne height currently is about 20"- 22"in from the floor. My snare is currently set flat and at my navel (belly button). The batter hoop (top) of my toms is the distance of the tip my middle finger to between my thumb joint at the palm of my hand and my wrist joint.

I can lower the toms on my 12", 13", 16", 22" about another 1-2" without the bottom hoops touching my kick when the toms are mounted on the kick. Maybe 3"-5"in when on the tom stand.

[SabianKnight]

Hopefully the information and pics I posted above will help poetmandrums and others properly and comfortably set up 12" 13" 16" 22" standard size drum setups

NOTE: that using proper stick grip I am able to get around my kit with simple rebound and rotation of my wrists instead of having to lift my arms and reach out like most people have. When others play my kit they only have to adjust the height of the throne in order to play comfortably.


Sabe