– (Gil Tokio/Pingado/)
DEAF
It is also a kind of drum, but used with the tom-toms in fills. Its sound is almost as low as that of the bass drum. Surdos made from mahogany or maple produce a smoother, crisper sound. But most drums have pine deaf pads, which are cheaper.
TOM-TONS
Drums usually have two: the one that produces a more acute sound and another that produces a more serious sound. Thanks to this configuration, which alternates the tones, it is the instrument most used when making fill-ins.
BOX
Generally used to drive the rhythm of the song. Its format is flat, most of the time, and the body can be made of wood or metal. What guarantees its characteristic, dry and striking sound is a metal strip, the “treadmill”, attached to the bottom.
– (Gil Tokio/Pingado/)
DISHES
There are two types: conduction ones (which dictate the pace) and attack ones (which mark transitions and finalize turns). The driving ones, big and thick, are most often on the right. The attack ones, smaller and thinner, usually on the left
– (Gil Tokio/Pingado/)
BUMBO
Produces the lowest drum sound. Its function is mainly to drive the rhythm of the music. Played exclusively with the pedal, it can be activated with both the right and left foot (depending on the drummer). It is also possible to have two bass drums in the kit
– (Gil Tokio/Pingado/)
CHIMBAU
Produces the basis of the rhythms and conducts them. The two cymbals are attached to a rod and are operated with a pedal. Separated they produce a more resonant sound, together they produce a drier sound. They can be played with a stick too. Its position depends on the drummer: on the left for right-handers and on the right for left-handers
– (Gil Tokio/Pingado/)
DRUMSTICK
– (Gil Tokio/Pingado/)
Wooden spikes – Generate a firm and at the same time smooth sound
Nylon tips – Enhance high tones and produce clearer sounds
felt tips – Create soft sounds and are used in quiet music and acoustics
BEATING WELL
In music, the beat is a unit of time that indicates the pulse of the song. Each song has a specific amount of beats per minute (bpm) – it’s the “tempo” or “tempo” of the track. Queen’s «We Will Rock You», for example, has 81 bpm. A measure is a group of beats – breaking music into measures makes it easier to learn to play. See below how to play the drums in a bar of “We Will Rock You”
– (Gil Tokio/Pingado/)
CONSULTANCY Ronaldo Prado Lima, professor of percussion at the Methodist University of Piracicaba (Unimep)