Double-bass drumming...

schizoid_man77 wrote: rileydog22 wrote: A double-kick drum or pedal can be useful, but not when just playing 16th or 32nd notes.  If you're using it to play creative parts that also happen to be fast, that's fine.   But if you're just playing straight-up 16th notes and not doing anything artistic, that's not fine.  That's just boring.     Agree   Most mainstream metal and hardcore bands usually slaughter the artistic value a double bass can give and just play the "I can play faster than you" game. Even Tool falls into that trap... sometimes.

BaldFriede wrote: There is a certain trick in the way you kick the bass drum that can give you the effect of a double bass drum, although not for these minute-long thunders some drummers produce with it. But it is all I need to emphasize certain parts of the bass drum. And I would feel ashamed of myself if I had to use a double bass-drum for that. On the contrary; I am glad I can juxtapose the effect with playing the hi-hat at the same time. It is hard to describe that trick but easy to demonstrate.

I've heard of this technique, Zach Hill of Hella is quite adept with it.....however it is really difficult from what I've heard

have you ever listend to tribal drumming? if yes, you may have noticed that the drums in the lowest register are never played as fast as the drums in the higher registers. there is of course a reason to it; there is a lot of sexuality in tribal drumming, even if it is done for ritual reasons, and the lowest register beats the basic beat of the sexual act.
you may say this is not the intention of drummers who play like that, but unfortunately that does not matter at all; the message remains the same. let me make an analogy: suppose someone listened to Morse code without knowing what it means, and also suppose he has a device for sending Morse code himself. suppose he hears an SOS signal from somewhere and is intrigued by the rhythm (dadada daadaadaa dadada) and decides to send some of that himself, without knowing what it means; you can be sure people will try to locate him and come for the rescue nevertheless.
so whether a drummer does this consciously or unconsciously or has the intention to communicate what I spoke of does not matter at all; it is how it comes across. and for me this simply is ridiculous


Edited by BaldJean - April 01 2008 at 06:19

I think BaldJean that even if what you say may have some truth (stretching it in my opinion) to it, in the end you're just trying to rationalize and give reasons for something that is entirely and 100% subjective: you don't like double bass drum. That's perfect. When you try to convince people of how "macho" or pre-historic double bass drumming is, you lose it, because you're trying to be objective with something that's not objective at all. You don't like double bass drums. That should be the end. I don't like, say, Sigur Ros. I can explain the reasons why I don't like it (slow, the voice, repetitive, etc) but I won't pretend those reasons are applicable and objective to everybody. Those are MY reasons. So after saying why I don't like it, I wouldn't try to convince people of how right and tru my vision is. It's impossible. Millios love double bass drum and are NOT the type of macho guy yo paint with words, some hate double bass drum and actually are what ypou mention. That it starts as a tribal or sensual move... hell! Don't leave it at that! Every musician is, in the end, trying to get laid! (I don't vbelive this but if we agree with you, then we can apply the concept to everybody...). Not only metal doulble-bass drummers....

MikeEnRegalia wrote: BaldJean wrote: have you ever listend to tribal drumming? if yes, you may have noticed that the drums in the lowest register are never played as fast as the drums in the higher registers. there is of course a reason to it; there is a lot of sexuality in tribal drumming, even if it is done for ritual reasons, and the lowest register beats the basic beat of the sexual act. you may say this is not the intention of drummers who play like that, but unfortunately that does not matter at all; the message remains the same. let me make an analogy: suppose someone listened to Morse code without knowing what it means, and also suppose he has a device for sending Morse code himself. suppose he hears an SOS signal from somewhere and is intrigued by the rhythm (dadada daadaadaa dadada) and decides to send some of that himself, without knowing what it means; you can be sure people will try to locate him and come for the rescue nevertheless. so whether a drummer does this consciously or unconsciously or has the intention to communicate what I spoke of does not matter at all; it is how it comes across. and for me this simply is ridiculous wow, it's really all related to sex for you. I'm sure that not all music is about sex ... in fact I think that most prog music isn't. And death/black metal most surely is not!

Wait, wait, wait, what's the issue here, double bass sounding like a sexual act to someone? In Meshuggah, Necrophagist, Hate Eternal, Nile... ouch! Now that could inspire quite a grindcore lyric  not the most healthy speeds and tempos to make love in, I guess.

And I will quote the opinion of a friend of mine on Freud's theories:

".................................why."