A DCI Corps is Marching Flub Drums. Here's Why...

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[@amazngdrummr27]

I said it once and I'll say it twice: FLUB DRUMS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT SECTION IN THE ENIRE MARCHING BAND

[@bimgus6672]

🗑️

[@jshock]

Oh Steven...

[@OdaKa]

Next comment - "I said it twice and I'll say it thrice:"

[@jojnokirk8035]

shut up steven

[@pear22]

Steven...

[@miless17]

Steven will be center flub there someday

[@jeffe_77]

The great 1993 Star of Indiana Drumline had a flub section for the closer and won high percussion.

[@Kchernek]

Flub sections sound like a completely viable section to consider for DCI groups not already at max capacity. In every corps I ever auditioned for, there were always way more percussionists auditioning than spots available, and the ratio was certainly higher than the hornline or color guard. If you have the room for more members, it doesn't make a lot of sense to turn away those kids who almost made a spot as is. During move ins or early season if someone gets injured, they would even be a viable alternate. And even if you don't have confidence they can fit in a snare or quad line, theres no reason to think at that level they shouldn't be heard at all. They can still play simpler parts clean, and designers can take advantage of the added timbre. I hope more open class corps take advantage of it. I think some lower world class groups aren't at capacity each year either, but im sure they get extra percussionist auditionees, so I hope they consider it as well. Thinking outside the box is the best way to grow the activity.

[@MysticGacha]

Ikr I hate seeing Flubs getting absolutely trashed on at times ;-; I mean it’s a really cool concept and wish more lines used them but people have opinions lol

[@squillz8310]

I agree wholeheartedly. You may not see them in any top 12 corps, but in some semi-finalist world class groups you would see some. Open class would be the best place for Flubs imo. That way, members can get that experience early on if they are rather inexperienced. I'm always for the evolution of the activity to enhance the experience for everyone.

[@bob5510]

At my smaller all-age corps, we had two young kinds show up late in the spring, both were younger brothers of hornline members. The corps made a deal that they could march flubs for parades (two or three cadences, five charts in the parade book) and they get a ticket to every show for their effort. These kids put the work in, were able to work with all of our drum staff. You'd hear them flubbing away no matter what else is going on in rehearsal, and they had a great time doing it. I'm sitting this year out but I'm pretty sure they're both in the line now, one on snare and one on bass. As an older horn player, one of my favorite parts of the activity is watching our members improve.

[@nickpisarczyk]

One of my friends could have made snare but she just played single tenor (basically same thing as flubs) all four years of high school.

[@n-man8208]

My high school, only our winter show has marching toms. It’s like that, because we have like 5 basses, 4 snares and 3 tenors but one tenor is broken plus we can’t cover the snare parts so we put two people on toms. So yah

[@iswm]

There is an argument to be made that while they might not contribute much musically they still contribute to general and visual effect, especially in the case of smaller bands where an extra 3-5 bodies on the field can make a big impact on the perception of the size of the ensemble.

[@singland5390]

The MCDC video was taken at my high school's football field.

[@kevingeeter8172]

A couple of guys marched 2-3 years on flubs in my college band, so it's not unheard of.

[@ObscureMachines]

Troy University marched timbales when I was there and they’d do scrapes and stuff which was dope. One went on to be snare section leader too. So it does happen. IDK, I’m on the fence, but leaning towards unless it’s a conscious textural choice ok, but if it’s cause we’re gonna do like t-ball and everyone wins and we don’t wanna cut anyone from the line so let’s throw em on flubs, then no.

[@Boulder_Betta]

7:02 So is nobody gonna talk about the rightmost snare's giant afro??

[@captainkiwi77]

Dci killed its own goal of being a music education juggernaut tbh. Used to be we turned people off the street into god tier musicians over a season... now... we get divided when a corps marches a training section

[@RoyalChant]

during the lean years of the mid-90s, when corps were folding left and right, we remember these conversations/debates start to appear, which is a roundabout way of pondering whether corps are here to train up youngsters with passion or should they just take the good ones and create a dream team (which we will call the "Blue Devil's effect"). Your "people off the street" description reminds us of the way people used to talk about some of the East Coast and Mid-West corps: really strong programs, but they did it through a lot of hard work rather than just cherry picking talent (aka: BD). We have no idea if that dynamic is even remotely true today, or if it ever was.

[@clarksummers4514]

I made Music city and I’m not sure if we are gonna have flubs again, not completely sure, we will see at move ins

[@lincolnpierce7895]

I can't wait for Saturday at Lucas Oil lol.

[@ricardoarana8259]

i need that shirt lmaooo

[@caleb_stpierre]

does anyone else's band see bass drum as more of a training tool than they see it as just a different section of the drumline?

[@moocowbees]

Yeah, for our program everyone (who isn't quite good enough) is supposed to start on bass before moving on to snare or tenor.

[@cactusfishy1596]

Although our other sections usually have stronger players in general, often our best player could also be a Bass drummer, Bass 1 in music city in this video was our section leader last year, and he was pretty good. Many do move from Bass to snare, rarely the other way

[@brianmalexander]

Bassline is the most important section of the drumline, musically speaking. It's sad that so many programs treat it as a a lower tier instrument.

[@ultra9349]

I liked the hihat idea so then it’s different

[@VS0097]

I almost lost my shit when he said flub tech

[@TheStickCollector]

Neat

[@76turner1]

So these are the new Tri Toms?

[@nwmusic2010]

Why didn’t they just march a cymbal line?

[@grantr7179]

Can we get shirts that say I hate flubs?

[@tannerhall588]

Instead of flubs, they should march cymbals...

[@nickisverykool8083]

all the dislikes are from flub drummers

[@xaza5625]

Why don't they make flub drums that are actually useful???

[@MitchellCollardPercussion]

I was the FE tech at a high school where we created a flub section by taking extra snares and ripping the guts out. So we had 5 snares, 5 basses, 3 tenors, and 3 tomline (flubs). I thought it was a very neat experience to see them grow. I would definitely recommend doing this if you have a large enough program. We have warmups where that tomline/flubline part can also be played with the aux percussionists in the FE with a practice pad. This way, everyone can learn and participate.

[@loganherren0615]

my current school (Timberland high in MO) has a tomline with 5 bass 3 quad 4 snare 2 toms. definitly is super cool to watch them grow and learn, and is usually just freshmen marching them, so it's a nice introduction to marching.

[@willcowgill]

I was on the timberland tomline last year and it was insane the amount of improvement I had throughout the year and it definitely set me up for success on snareline this year

[@Stretchwiz]

Our flub line is our old snares (10+ years old) without the guts and everything else is the same this year we had 5 snares, 5 basses, 5 cymbals, 3 (was 4 but someone moved over to baseline as someone quit) toms(flubs), and 3 tenors

[@Jmilillo]

I’ve never played flub, but I imagine it sucks. This last season, my school had 5 basses, 1 tenor, 3 snares, and 3 flubs. I played bass 1. This other freshman who is on flub (I’m also a freshman) is gonna play bass drum next year, and I’m gonna play tenors. During the marching band season I would always make fun of this kid (playfully) for being a flub.

[@sybrenroorda3865]

"Could you imagine if you could not hear the snare line?" Yeah, Rhythm X - 2019, and that was fucking awesome

[@mrnicknick02]

I was literally about to type that!

[@subbot8077]

Agreed, that was indeed fucking awesome

[@mantistoboggan2599]

That was completely different

[@sybrenroorda3865]

@@mantistoboggan2599 could you hear the snare line???

[@mantistoboggan2599]

@@sybrenroorda3865 you weren’t supposed to. Watch the show again.

[@MichaelPuterbaugh]

Honestly, props to Music City for using this year's unusual season to do something experimental like fielding an aux/flub section. It seems to me like DCI placements are often based on how well a corps repeats what the top corps were doing last season, and it's nice to see some groups using the absence of judging to try doing their own thing. And it also doesn't hurt that they can supplement a traditional drumline without overpowering a relatively small brass section.

[@bovts12]

Saw their lot in Allentown, and I have to say they sounded great. The flubs added a bit of depth to the parts without basses, and they were quite clean.

[@GrantDolanMusic]

It’s says something to the quality you are as a person to talk to the guys who are actually doing it and finding out if it’s worth it. Disagree all you want, but most people don’t take the time and talk to the people that it impacts.

[@kietey14]

Though DCI is the major leagues, it's still an entirely learning based program. The think Flubs are an amazing addition. They let members, who aren't quite good enough, experience marching in an amazing environment. Though I too am a dinosaur, I think this would have been amazing back in my day of marching DCI Open Class. As a person marching who is giving their all, you are only as good as your weakest member. If your weaker members are now in a learning position, not distorting your own sound I think that is good. It will be a good experience because you get to perform at a higher level without being held back, and members who aren't there yet still get to enjoy the process.

[@Lkease]

HUGE agree about open class. i know it's tough finding enough talent to field a full line in open class unless you're top 6 but putting a few on flubs is only going to help the corps grow.

[@squillz8310]

I agree with both of you. It's all about the experience, and the ability to grow and improve as a musician, athlete and a performer.

[@ironfossil9963]

Taught a large high school drumline once (6s-4q-5b) and no joke 15 in the pit. Still had three kids left over. Slapped some flubs (we called them duos) together out of old snares and spocks. Tuned to an almost "thud" sound. Yes, you could not hear them in impact sections. But I would do reps without them every once in awhile and the book sounded empty at times. Combine that with a few exposed ostinato groove moments in the show and my whole staff fell in love with the duo sounds. Sadly, never been in that position since. We all still talk about how we wish we could do it again.

[@dniul]

One of the really cool things about that flub line is that they have a legally blind marcher. As we entered the field to start to perform we heard the interview with Colby. He was given the opportunity to do something that he loved without anyone telling him no. That right there is commitment. Huge props to the people in the battery. He always gave them credit on how helpful they were to Colby and its just heart whelming. This kid is living the dream that other drum corps couldn't offer. We love you Colby. G5

[@caindrumming7823]

I marched an impact drum, which was essentially flub, for North Star Independent this last season. Wouldn’t do it next year, but it gave me a good idea of how much effort a WGI line requires and what skills I need for my audition this year. There’s definitely value to it

[@carwash9333]

Wait a minute why did everybody switch sides on their flubs opinions in the poll yesterday like we weren’t all shitting on them on the first flub video

[@redwoodofficial_]

We had flubs at our high school, the “tom line” because we had a large drumline and a small brass section. The tom line played traditional grip on a 14” tom similar to the tenor drum 4. Most people only had to be on the tom line for one season at most. Unfortunately for a member, he was promoted to snare for an outdoor season and was moved back to the tom line for indoor. That was his last season…

[@0Aquamelon]

when I found out music city had a flub line I literally shouted "IT HAS BEGUN!!" And proceeded to do an evil laugh

[@A.F.Whitepigeon]

You should make a flub wrap with those lance corporal insignias.

[@KitKensky]

in the short lived 2020 pre season, the Raiders DBC were fielding a 9 person snare line, with 3 flubs, or "impacts" as we called them. They were old snare shells, with no guts and a softer tom head on the batter side. They played a watered down version of the snare AND tenor parts, switching between the two wherever it fit best in the music.

[@ajwags05]

I'm a junior currently, but 3 seniors I knew two years ago are in that group. 2 on snare and 1 on flub

[@matthewwhaley874]

I do think it sucks that they don’t have their own dedicated tech (which is the norm that I often see in high school groups with flub lines) but I also understand one of the reasons drum corps have less cymbals lines is (as they claim) the difficulty of finding quality cymbal techs. More kids getting a DCI experience I have to see as a net positive, but I do believe the experience could be better.

[@tikala1]

The unfortunate truth is that some techs focus on pushing the visual aspect to the point that their rhythmic and sound quality goes down. This isn’t meant to trash on East Coast style, I started out and still prefer East Coast but we should never let our visuals compromise our sound. Once a line gets cut, it’s pretty hard to convince the design team to bring them back as that opened up four to five more brass or guard spots. Worse yet, when the battery head or arranger has literally no idea what to do with them and opt to play it safe and cut them to not hurt scores.

[@captainkiwi77]

As a drumset player, not having a dedicated tech doesn’t make a bad season, I have not once had a front tech who really understood how to properly utilize or play rack or set, so like flubs are just in the same wheelhouse. And on a high school level, I just straight had no tech at all for drumline. It could be done a little better, but I see very little actually wrong with this on the dci level. At least the battery techs all understand the sections and can help the flubs at any given time, it’s meant to take the basic skills the entire staff should already be on the same page about and apply those. They don’t have a dedicated tech, they have 3-5 great techs

[@TheUpAndComingNobody]

We didn't have a dedicated flub tech yes, but for the last week and a half of tour we had an extra snare tech. So our caption head "Cheese" tech'd the snares, and our snare tech Nathan Rearick tech'd the aux, so they had great teaching this season.

[@sp1ne674]

as a terminal bass drummer, I would not want to be a terminal flub drummer

[@Uncle_Yam]

Music city normally maxes out but all the corps are running low this year because not many people were into the idea of no scores

[@difficultkill3r636]

Yeah my drum corps had a super small hornline this year and we were a bigger battery

[@duelmaster33]

As a Front ensemble guy, going into my senior year I had wanted to see if I could get into the drum line for some other experience. I was put on the "tom line" which at most basically provided texture to the snare part especially for the show we were doing. looking back on it, I really liked the year for the one time experience to then just leave

[@triondrummers]

You should look into the Jacksonville State Southerners drumline for flubs. They have done some interesting things the past few years with the flubs.

[@dinkindane]

This video shows flub drums playing more prominently: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmTchKeMlN15d9k

[@ChrisPernaDrums]

Eric, are you aware that other DCI corps have marched flub lines in the past? There may be more, but these at least included Star ‘93 and Crossmen ‘98 that I know for sure. Granted, they weren’t in for the whole show for training - but I digress.

[@MattBeasley1968]

I just got my Drum Set t-shirt from your merch store yesterday (beige instead of yellow, though). Planning on wearing it on Saturday night to the DCI show. We got seats in section 140 ( near the 50 yard line) 8th row. See if you can find it when you are out on the field if you're, uh, not too busy. On second thought, you should probably stay focused on your performance. Looking forward to the show Saturday. See you there!

[@stokowski100]

I saw them live in Akron on Monday. They definitely added a different tone to the ensemble.

[@drumm3rbo187]

My school only has 9 people in the line this year. Our competition show only has a pit and we barely have enough people to have a full bass line. When they have 20 people, they just put the extras on cymbals. These are usually pit players who have less experience with battery instruments.

[@drummamama-qb5gu]

The CA highschools that took gold and silver for PSW during the 2023 WGI Indoor Perc in Dayton both had flub lines. Ayala HS had a 3member flub line and Chino Hills HS had a larger flub line.

[@holton345]

Terminal Lance: In the Army, we had the "E-4 Mafia". It seemed like everyone in the Army was a freaking E-4. We also had "Career Privates". Stay away from those Career Privates, as they are usually a bad influence on the youngsters.

[@ikurasake]

As a wind player I could see myself using flubs as an easier opportunity to march battery in the winter season

[@cactusfishy1596]

I’m like “what stupid drum corp would do this” and it’s literally the one that two of my friends are in 😂😂

[@mrnicknick02]

Who?

[@jacksoncolley6366]

At my high school, we didn't have any pit one year, so we put the pit people on flubs. It was something, not something good, just something.

[@stephenbyrnes7205]

Video 29 of commenting until EMC makes an entire battery percussion section out of spocks and 8 inch splash cymbals

[@gfcsdad]

Personally, I appreciate the idea of a training opportunity for ANY student looking to make a greater contribution to the ensemble as their level of skill progresses. That said, I reject outright the antiquated notion that ANY traditional component (i.e. bass drum, front ensemble, etc.) should be viewed as the place for beginners or those "not good enough" for the snare or tenor line. If a flub section provides a training opportunity while providing meaningful musical contributions, then I'm all for it. What I am completely against is any notion of "rank", hierarchy, or level of importance in the ensemble.

[@Matty.Travis]

I mean basicly as far as i can tell seems like a good way to get the most instuction in a shortened season while getting more dots on the feild

[@robby935]

My nephew is playing flub trumpet in the band next year. I am so proud!

[@theonetrueravioli1043]

So, we had this guy that wanted to be on the drumline. He started in pit freshman year, sophomore year he was on a flub, junior year, he was on bass 5, and senior year he said fuck it and took the drum kit part that was offered.

[@vvillv6995]

Flub drum merch lookin 🔥🔥🔥

[@EMCproductions]

Thank you! And good job on first comment!

[@HE360]

I like the idea of those flub drums. It makes the drumline look more fuller and if those drums are used to train new drummers, then that's great! And at least those kids get to march in a DCI corps and have THAT experience. A lot of DCI corps don't take beginners or mostly fill their ranks with more "talented" people. Thus, at least they get a chance.

[@nickromano7441]

I get it for this off season (considering 2021 isn’t competitive) but DCI is literally for the best of the best, especially when talking about top 12 World Class corps. You can still do drum corp if you’re not at that level, ie. DCA, Open Class DCI.

[@gaberobison680]

I always got a very elitist vibe from DCI lines. I’m primarily a mallet player but my small private high school didn’t have a front ensemble ( the whole band was 40 people, we also didn’t have a percussion instructor, just the band director) and it’s very easy to feel intimidated by the serious people with rudimental drumming experts assuming you are a garbage musician. I did manage to self teach my way to all state thanks to a really good natural sense for musicality

[@Content_Created_]

I hope my high school doesn’t add flubs when I’m there because It is dum

[@bigberd3680]

When our high school had some they played the same snare music and our drumline had some hard music

[@hunteralexander9791]

I have a few friends marching with music city this season and from what I’ve heard, their staff said that Mapex just gave them the flubs so they decided to field them. Thats the REAL reason as to why they’re marching flubs this season.

[@jak5187]

I SAW THEM YESTERDAY IN CENTERVILLE

[@bait-cz5uj]

Saw them in Akron on Monday

[@NAR-z3pd]

I disagree with flubs in DCI too

[@matthewrios2734]

i never understood flubs, i played flubs in middle school didn’t really feel like i got the real snare or tenor experience, i feel as if maybe a instead of flubs they use a cymbal line

[@oldmilwaukeesnarestandfrom4894]

To increase flub volume, cut the snare line down to 1 or 2. Tenors down to 1, and transition the others into the best flub line ever

[@Luke-vw3yk]

Saw Music City in Akron on the 9th! Great show!

[@JoshSaysStuff]

Are there any drum corps for adults who want to try it out? When I was young I went to a very small school that didn’t have a music program, let alone a drum line. But your videos make it look so fun! I wish I had gotten the opportunity as a kid.

[@dinkindane]

Flubs can be useful if you don’t have any more drums

[@RoyalChant]

we did the same thing here a few years ago here with our drumline here in Australia. We had some junior tenors (plus cowbells) that wound up functioning as a timbale/colour element of the line, and then some uni-tenors (essentially flubs) + woodblock that were literally "hype men" for various phrases. Whatever it takes, whatever works. I remember hearing about flubs from Star and then seeing it in their show, and then also vaguely remembered the old FSU drumlines from the 90s used to have quints in addition to marching bongos and marching timbales, so it's just kind of a way to get more kids involved from a broader range of ages and abilities (as well as deal with any budget shortcomings). Again: whatever it takes, whatever works.

[@TheBANDit_67]

My school uses the bass line as the training instrument. The actual show music always sounds fine, just with watered bass parts. Some people have enjoyed bass enough to stay for multiple seasons, but mostly people just play it for one season before moving to snare or tenor.

[@brianmalexander]

The bassline is the most important section out of the Drumline (this, coming from a snare player and tech). Why would it ever be used as a training section?

[@TheBANDit_67]

@@brianmalexander I don't teach there, I'm just a student. I disagree with it as much as you do.

[@lmaoitsmee1812]

End flub has a sick tat.

[@wyattthewafflefry3485]

In Dayton wgi finals 2024 season there was a high school marching a piccolo/ shorty snare as a flub drum and it made me so pissed because marching piccolo snares are awesome why did they ruin it by turning it into a flub drum

[@wariokanasta1772]

One of my friends and me when we were in 7th grade joined our high school marching band (We are an Open class team and this was the Covid year) Me, my friend, and another 7th grader all ended up playing flub that year (there was also 1 7th grader on bass 1, and 2 in our pitt being 2/4 of our pitt) Me and that other guy quit midseason, and we had this thing in our school called winter percussion and the same 3 guys came and played flub again, and the same other 7th grader left again. But midseason our Bass 3 ended up quitting moving my friend up (We had 4 basses in our school) and since my director hates flubs, he moved me to Pitt to play Glockenspiel. Next year in marching ban, as a 8th grader, I moved up to Xylophone and my friend stayed on bass 3 (We won nationals this year), and the next winter percussion season after that I moved to marimba and my friend moved to Snare. Now In our freshmen year I'm likely going to be Marimba 2 and my friend is gonna be Snare 2.

[@akaiyui9300]

Meanwhile, most DBCs in my city have so many flubs and they are always superimposed whenever these corps play.

[@iMacJames]

I've had several people march 2 seasons on Flub drums. Yikes

[@Ais4Drew]

Inb4 Xymox flub practice pads are available before Eric gets his replacement rims.

[@Tripp.tambores]

Would you be open to talking about the educational benefit and purpose of cymbal lines? Or maybe like a compare/contrast between cymbals and flubs and the reasons groups will do one but not the other.

[@sam.a.22]

I saw Music City in Akron a few days ago, and as soon as I noticed the flub line I immediately wondered what your thoughts would be

[@7rtdrums]

@EMCproductions what happened to your false hype and white boy smooth video?

[@ninjabuck2576]

Damnit...I don't watch the channel for a few months, and suddenly THIS SHIRT?!?! 😂😂😂

[@Copp.r]

We have cymbal quads which is our equivalent. Most of the time it’s a first year only instrument. Although we do have a senior that chose to move from front ensemble to cymbal quads?

[@austinvestal5094]

I’m marching MCDC this season (‘23) and we are not doing a flub line instead doing a cymbal line.

[@Marines_Dream_Adventures]

I LMFAO at the Terminal Flub Drummers. Puts the whole thing into perspective.

[@bruhsoundeffect9553]

There was this dude in my HS drum line that marched flubs for 3 years and didn’t do it his senior year because he quit band since he was pissed he didn’t get drum major. So 3 year flub and he was surprised he didn’t get DM

[@james_g_walt]

TwoSet and EMC Productions need to compose a flub drum/viola duet.

[@chrismcdonnell9106]

Maybe you should have used Flub Drums on America’s Got Talent! It may have been a different outcome.

[@EndlessLOL07]

I play flub drums in my marching band but I might be able to play snare with a little more practice

[@jacksonhall3151]

aw when the merch announcement happened I thought we were going to be able to buy actual flub drums with the I

[@cadenceanderson7523]

Saw you perform in Indianapolis this last weekend!! You were awesome!

[@adamkerr8353]

@Emcproductios Didn't Star of Indiana in 1993 have Flubs?

[@Jmilillo]

I don’t like flubs being in the drumline, but I like the fact that they give people an opportunity.

[@despicabledave9998]

I actually know the Noah Martin guy on flubs. He is from my hometown and is a damn good player.

[@perrywclifton]

Everybody forgets Star put two flubs on the field for their closer in 1993.

[@baribone98]

Bad vid sorry you still not doing the research across the cultures it's just another DCI comparison

[@JaxonCT]

Just copped my flub drum merch 🔥