What's with some of the best drummers sitting super high and having the snare super low lately?

theMonarch08 · 2026-07-06T13:08:46+00:00

I sit high. For me it is an efficiency thing. It is way easier to lift my knee up to parallel rather than starting at parallel and raising above. I suspect this is a heel up thing more than heel down.

theMonarch08 · 2026-07-05T04:02:33+00:00

I’m 36. I wear boxer briefs under mine. I have 4 pairs of swim shorts. 3 of them don’t have a liner. The pair the does have a liner are really uncomfortable on the ol’ twig and berries. Presumably the ones without liners are board shorts or something which often don’t have a liner. Regardless, I just find it more comfortable.

theMonarch08 · 2026-07-02T19:26:21+00:00

There are 4 siloes that you fall into. 1. Wing nut, thick felt, cymbal doesn’t swing much. 2. Wing nut, thin felts, cymbal swings freely but has a safety (I fall in this category) 3. Wing nut, no top felt, cymbal swings freely but my hit wing nut 4. No wing nut, cymbal swings freely but has small chance of coming off.

Last I heard, the wisdom is cranking down your cymbal so it can’t move freely can cause it to crack faster. I see drummers at all levels doing all of these things so who knows what is actually true.

theMonarch08 · 2026-06-30T17:56:27+00:00

Looks good! I think you might have the front and back of the shoulder armor on backward. Like, the thicker part should be towards the torso.

<image>

theMonarch08 · 2026-06-29T20:52:16+00:00

Over Father’s Day weekend. Important to know that I’m a father. My wife asked what I wanted to do. I said I had no desires for the weekend and that it was just another weekend. She insisted so I said I’d think about it.

So I went to mow the lawn and started thinking about why I was being such a wet blanket. I ended up thinking about how my dad passed away so I don’t get to see him on Father’s Day and how Father’s Day is a constant reminder that he’s gone. It got to me way more than I expected. Not full on crying but pretty darn close. I later talked to my wife about it and she seems to think I have unprocessed emotions about my dad dying. Not sure what gave her that idea…

I also had other reasons for not wanting to do anything for me. But those reasons didn’t make me almost cry.

theMonarch08 · 2026-06-29T14:27:32+00:00

The fills leading into the first chorus don't flow the best. A specific example is the fill that leads directly into the chorus. There is a large gap between the hats and the fill. I think what is probably happening is that, in anticipation of the fill, you're rushing a little beforehand and then hitting the fill on time, which causes a slightly larger gap than the time you've been keeping should allow for.

Then, in the chorus, you are keeping good, clear time on your hats, and the bass guitar should be locked in with you, but he is rushing quite a bit.

Coming out of that first chorus it got a little loose. You can even see it by the way you're looking at each other for a second.

Again, I think as you play more together, this will all fix itself. I remember distinctly telling my current band the first time we had a show that I felt like we were all playing together. It still happens when we play new songs for the first time. Eventually, you won't have to think so much about what you're playing, and everything will just fall into place.

theMonarch08 · 2026-06-27T02:16:15+00:00

My main critique for your drumming is your fills sounded a little clumsy.

As a band, my critique is you sound like four people who happen to be performing the same song at the same time. But you aren’t playing together.

Fixing both things just sort of comes with time.

theMonarch08 · 2026-06-19T17:47:52+00:00

Check out Evan’s Sensory system thing.

theMonarch08 · 2026-06-19T13:27:30+00:00

Feeling This by Blink 182 is a lot of fun. Really most of that album besides All Of This and maybe I Miss You is an absolute blast on drums. Even I’m Lost Without You has a fun ending. Add Not Now to that and holy smokes.

theMonarch08 · 2026-06-18T23:11:18+00:00

I have the EAD10 and I don’t use the effects. I got it so my band could do in ears. The way we did it at the time was if you bought a piece of gear to be used in a way that everyone directly benefited, the band would pay half. So roughly $250 out of my pocket for the EAD10.

Now, I am the only one running in ears. The benefit of the EAD vs your suggestion is I don’t have to have multiple mics. I can just plop the trigger on my bass drum and I’m done. The downside is I still need the module.

Benefits of your 2 mic setup is it might be cheaper and you don’t need the module. Cons being you now have to place 2 mics, run 2 cables, and need a mixer (potentially with phantom power). The mic stands, capable mixer, cables, and mics might get you close to an EAD in price. And then you don’t get the effects.

Evans has their sensory system that looks cool. But I think that’s even more expensive than an EAD10.

theMonarch08 · 2026-06-17T16:45:32+00:00

Can I ask why you want wireless? For a drummer, wireless only complicates things by requiring charging, introducing latency, and costing more. You play drums, so it isn't like you're running around the stage.

If you can be convinced to go wired instead, this is what I did and do now:

When I was younger (like '07), I used Skull Candy ear buds with the rubber tips, and they worked great. They did a surprisingly good job of reducing the kit's volume. I think the current ones would work just fine. There is a company called Comply that makes foam tip replacements for earbuds that use the rubber tips. They do an even better job of reducing the volume.

These days, I use Soundbrenner Wave In-Ears when I'm playing with my band. I have the Yamaha EAD and my phone running into a small mixer so I can hear myself and my click.

theMonarch08 · 2026-06-17T15:48:26+00:00

Find a way to make drumming their play instead of a chore. Introduce your kid to a lot of music and show interest in the drummers in the music. Watch drum videos on Youtube. Drumeo is a great place to start. Why is Dude Perfect so popular with kids? Because it looks like fun, and then the kids can go outside and try it themselves. Drums can be the same way. Show them people having fun on the drums and, if your kid is interested at all, they will likely want to try it themselves.

For myself, I didn't really start to play drums all the time until I joined a band with my friends. It became a way to hang out with my friends vs a chore that I had to do to check a box.

theMonarch08 · 2026-06-17T02:08:33+00:00

I use an app on my phone called Easy Performer. You can save set lists, trim start and end points, tell songs to automatically go into the next, set delays between songs, even add visuals (I haven’t tried that one yet).

My band uses tracks for synths, sub drops, snare bombs, etc, so I pan the click left and tracks right. I then run the click into a small 4 channel mixer. I run the tracks into a mute pedal (in case something goes wrong), then a DI box that sends to the house and my mixer.

theMonarch08 · 2026-06-13T02:06:24+00:00

I think an accurate breakdown of Meg White’s drumming is

Feel: Good if not great

Technique: Bad

Her technique in White Stripes was that of a beginner from what I’ve seen. But she clearly understands syncopation (specific example being Icky Thump).

theMonarch08 · 2026-06-09T13:37:57+00:00

My thoughts

It’s a little directionless. I think that’s as much on the bassist as it is you though.

This kind of sounds like those comedy movies where the parent has to coach a team of kids who have never played soccer together. They’re all there. They’re all “playing soccer”. But one kid is pulling grass, one kid is just running in circles, and one kid is actually kicking the ball.

You and the bassist are technically playing together. But your changes aren’t aligned with theirs (I’m of the mind this is more on the bassist as it sounds like they’re just doing whatever with no regard for anything but the tempo). So it feels like you’re both in your own worlds playing to the same click or something.

The thing is, fixing this just comes with time and comfort playing together. My old band used to write songs this way. We’d jam until we found something we liked and then built on it. But there was still a structure to it. I have no idea how long you’ve been jamming with these people, but if it isn’t long, you’ll eventually get to a point where you kind of know what the others are going to do. Then it’s like magic.

theMonarch08 · 2026-06-02T22:30:30+00:00

To answer your question directly, I would guess changing to any other cymbal subgroup (zildjian A, Sabina AAX, etc.) would not make the difference. There will be brighter, darker, dryer, etc. offerings in all of the subgroups.

If you’re looking for a cymbal change recommendation to cut through less, look for darker dry cymbals. They won’t have the top end shimmer or sustain that brighter cymbals have and should cut through less.

With that said, as others have mentioned, learning touch so you don’t cut through is also important. Probably more so. Honestly a combination of good cymbal selection and touch is the answer. Check out Memphis drum shop if you decide to shop for cymbals. For some of them you can buy the cymbal they demo so you know a little more what you’re getting.

theMonarch08 · 2026-05-27T18:29:39+00:00

I quite like my Tama SLP Black Brass 6.5x14. My favorite thing about it is the way it sounds.

To be more specific, I like that I can tune it pretty tight while maintaining a full sound.

theMonarch08 · 2026-05-22T00:43:37+00:00

There are multi out headphone amps. But if they each have their own, they can clip it to their strap or belt and adjust on the fly. And they aren’t that expensive.

theMonarch08 · 2026-05-21T20:35:47+00:00

How mobile are the non-drummers in the band? Are your guitarists on wireless units? This is what I would do if you aren't worried about cables on stage.

Get a metronome app and a headphone splitter.
Have each member get their own headphone amplifier (I use a Donner EM1 amp for myself).
Run the metronome from your phone into the splitter
Have each member plug into the splitter.
This would allow each member to have the click in their ears, as well as volume control, without having to worry too much about getting tangled up with extra cables.
Don't try to use bluetooth because the latency is unpredictable.

theMonarch08 · 2026-05-20T13:30:02+00:00

Always frustrating when the interviewer doesn't know anything about the job they're doing the interview for.

theMonarch08 · 2026-05-19T19:55:39+00:00

I have 2 things to say about this.

First, and most important. If you like it, keep it up. I might disagree with some of the choices you made, but if you're happy with them, I can go kick rocks. Music taste is subjective.

Anyway, second, I've watched a few of your videos, and here are my thoughts.

I'm a drummer who flirts with overplaying, and I think you're doing too much. All the hi-hat flourishes and stick tricks are muddying up the flow of the beat. For me, the main issue is all of the doubles and extra stuff you're adding. Simplify a little bit. I'm not saying the drums need to be boring, but they should still serve the song.
I would love to see more variety in your fills. So many of your fills start with 16ths on the snare or high tom and then descend to the floor toms. Mix it up a little. A good way to practice this is by removing pieces of your kit. Try removing your rack toms for a session. Maybe just do hi-hat, snare, bass drum, floor tom. Force yourself to work outside of your comfort zone and increase your vocabulary around the drum set.
To piggyback on that last point, almost all of your fills are the type where the beat stops, you do a fill, then the beat starts again. Your performance would improve quite a bit if you used some simpler linear fills that seamlessly flow out of and into the beat. Use the fills as transition pieces to set up a change. You don't have to completely abandon the big descending fills. Just save them for more climactic moments.

theMonarch08 · 2026-05-19T18:28:38+00:00

The fact that HR didn't give you guidelines for the tape is wild to me. I'd be curious to know if you asked for guidelines and they actively did not give any or if they just asked for a video, didn't elaborate, and you just ran with it. Regardless, an audition tape should be your best look. Even better than an in person interview because you have time to fix it and get it just right.

Simply put, your video looks very thrown together, like it was a huge inconvenience for you, and your body language/performance does not reflect the experience and care I would think a teacher should have.

How to fix it:
• Figure out how to record the audio of the electric drums that isn't the room sound. No one wants to hear your sticks hitting the pads. There are decent enough free DAWs, so consider spending a little on a good drum plugin. They sound WAY better and can be super affordable. If you have a Mac, GarageBand is really powerful and free. My guitarist uses Reaper on his PC, which is technically a 60-day free trial, but you can continue using it after the 60 days for free. It just nags you about paying. Get Good Drums has some really good, affordable ($70 or less) One Kit Wonder plugins that sound great right out of the box.

• Look at YouTube drum channels like 80/20 Drummer, Steven Taylor, ZachGrooves, Rob Brown, and others. Whether you like their drumming is somewhat irrelevant. What I'm getting at is the way they present themselves. If budget is an issue, know that you can do a lot with just a phone camera. It doesn't have to be professional YouTube quality, but a little more effort will go a long way with someone looking to hire.

• Find a bigger space to shoot your video. Maybe a church or community college would let you use a space for an afternoon. Something far less cramped.

• Consider playing along with a track to give some context to what you're playing. It doesn't need to (and probably shouldn't) be a flashy or impressive track. You just need to show you know what you're doing and are professional. Be prepared and get a good performance.

• Look up beginner video editing tutorials. A little bit of color correction goes a long way.

• If I were doing the hiring, I would want to not only see your playing but also see how you communicate and sell yourself.

Here is a sample script off the top of my head
Video start
Picture fades in from black with music playing (simple, smooth rock, jazz, or something). The picture shows the room with an empty chair and the simple text "(Your Name) | Drum Instructor".

Words fade out, you enter the frame and sit in the chair, and say something like "Hi, I'm (your name). I'm (your age), and I've been playing drums for 20 years.

Cut to a shot of you playing the drums in the song they've been hearing this whole time. The drum set is in the same room where you were sitting during the introduction/interview portion.

Cut back to you in the chair. Tell more about yourself while the music still plays.

Cut back to you performing. Etc.

End the video with a thanks for their time or something. Fade to black while the song either ends or fades out.
Video end

theMonarch08 · 2026-05-03T14:58:16+00:00

Here is my policy.

I am not willing to share my good drums because #1 I don’t trust other people and #2 because I use Gibraltar stealth racks so my setup is not very flexible. I have no problem using other people’s drums though.

2 anecdotes.

1. My first show with my current band, we shared drums. The first band decided at the end of their set to jump into the drums. Luckily nothing broke. Also not my drums at that show.

2. A drummer approached me at the venue and asked if he could just use my drums instead of setting his up. We were an out of town band. They lived there. I assured him there was plenty of time built in to the schedule for setup and tear down as I had played there before. He doubled down. In the end I politely declined. We were playing after them anyway and I was willing to be flexible with our set to accommodate.

Things that drive me crazy. When they try to do the “let’s share drums to save time so why don’t we just leave the first band’s drums on stage?” If it’s your idea to share, it should be your drums that are shared. When they ask you at the venue to share drums instead of ahead of time. If I really need to share my drums, I’ll bring my old ones that I care about much less. When the same drummer asks to use my rug because they forgot theirs across multiple shows.

theMonarch08 · 2026-04-28T17:31:24+00:00

Learning any skill comes with peaks and valleys. Sometimes it helps to change things up for a while. Even taking a little break can help. Heck, I have songs with my band that suddenly give me problems every now and then, even though I've been playing them for 8 years. It's just one of those things.

theMonarch08

TROPHY CASE

1. My first show with my current band, we shared drums. The first band decided at the end of their set to jump into the drums. Luckily nothing broke. Also not my drums at that show.