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History of Cymbals

The History of Cymbals When were cymbals invented? Here we are looking at the history of cymbals and when cymbals were invented. This is taken from my book The Drum: A History which goes deep on all aspects of the drum from the earliest evidence to modern studio recording techniques. The history of cymbals is a long and interesting one and it started in earnest with one of the oldest companies in the world: Zildjian with their origins being in Turkey. The area known today as Turkey is an interesting country due to its location between Asia and Europe as well as its history of…

41 Gift Ideas for Drummers

Gift Ideas for Drummers Check out these drummer presentsBefore we get into the list of drummer gift ideas for different budgets, you might also like to check out the Total Drummer branded merchandise offering everything from T-shirts to hoodies, caps, face masks, baby items, flasks and more. Just click the image below to check those out. Here we are looking at 41 Gift Ideas For Drummers to help you choose the perfect drum present for your drummer. Whether it's a birthday present, Christmas present or a different occasion there are many different gifts available to drummers in a range of price brackets.Below…

Roland TD17

Roland TD17 Electronic Drums The Roland TD17 has arrived! Let's see what the Roland TD17drum is all about What is the Roland TD17? The new Roland TD17 line is designed to replace the TD11 range which was launched in 2012 and has now stopped being produced. They are still a great choice for drummers and you can find very good second hand examples to get you into the Roland electronic drum products at a cheaper price. But the Roland TD17 line has some awesome new features to take things to the next level, both in the hardware and software departments.…

Drum Head History

Drum Head History A quick look at the history of our drum skins This is a small snippet looking at drum head history from my book: The Drum: A History Early Evidence The first drum head decomposed without a trace several thousand years ago. It is likely that it was a reptile or fish skin stretched over hollowed wood or even clay and may have been discovered by accident when drying a skin. A chance discovery of such a sound must surely have evoked great excitement and fascination, much as it still does today. Other skins were experimented with over…

Choose a Drum Kit – How to buy a drum kit

How to Choose a Drum Kit -Which Drum Set Should You Buy? A guide to help you choose a drum kit This Is The Drum Kit Buying Guide This drum kit guide is here to help you start your journey and choose a drum kit. There are so many options out there today that it can be overwhelming. This drum kit guide should help to answer those important questions when buying your first drum kit.Acoustic or electronic?Second hand or new?Often a drummer will start his or her drumming life with just a pair of sticks and a practice pad. This,…

Drum Stick History

Drum Stick History Learn what drum stick sizing means and when they were invented. I thought it might be interesting to delve into some drum stick history and discover where it all started. This is part of a chapter on drumstick history from my book The Drum: A HistoryIf you like this article and want to know more, or have an interest in any other part of the drum’s history, then you will probably find the book of interest. Although this article is focused on drum stick history, if you need help choosing drum sticks, check out this article. To…

Drum Stick Sizes – How to choose them

A guide to help choose drum stick sizes Learn which drum sticks you should buy This Guide Helps You Know Which Drum Stick Sizes To Choose It can be a nightmare trying to choose drum stick sizes. Walking into a well stocked music shop to purchase your first pair of drum sticks may cause you to stop dead in your tracks as you are faced with the huge wall of pigeon holes, each stacked full of different sizes and varieties of things with which to hit drums. It can be daunting but here is a little guide that may help…

How To Tune Drums

Learn how to tune drums This is a crucial skill that every drummer needs. It's crucial that you know how to tune drums. So many times I hear students tell me that they need a new snare drum or that their toms are terrible. Sometimes it might be true but before they raid their parent’s bank accounts I always offer to check out their existing drums. Often it’s a simple case of an a poorly tuned drum. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO TUNE DRUMS? A Drum Key Or event better Evans Torque Key HEADS If anything does need replacing, it…

Choose A Drum Head – How To

Advice to help you choose a drum head Which drum head should you buy? It's hard to know what to look for when you come to choose a drum head for your beloved drums. Drum heads are a significant part of the sound we produce on the drum kit. Often their role in the sound versus the actual drum shell is much greater than many people think. Of course the heads were previously called skins and were actually calf skins which fluctuated in temperature and atmospheric changes. Since the 1950s we have enjoyed the relative ease of Mylar heads and…