Concert Bass Drum 3: Playing Techniques / Vic Firth Percussion 101

[@swordwaycom]

As a composer, your videos are really useful. Thanks.

[@JonAhlquist]

I came to this video because I had watched a high school orchestra on KZbin where the bass drum sounded dead. As an amateur violinist, I wanted to know how the bass drum can be played and what sounds it can produce. This video along with your second video on bass drum tuning answered my questions with clear explanations and demonstrations. Thanks!

[@MrInterestingthings]

i'M A PIANIST, VIOLINIST BUT FIRST a composer. Nothing has made my scores more exciting than falling in love with the timpani /What a great sound and many different sounds one can get from this great drum .Mallets are very important.I will specify the types dependent on sound.after watching this video i now know more about the sounds and timbres possible 1 Thanks a lot !!!

[@nickdavis965]

Im a cellist. let me tell you the timpani in the Shostakovich concerto is probably the most powerful thing I have ever heard. It's like a howitzer going off.

[@AnkothOfficial]

Ehm this is Bass Drum not timpani.

[@absolutelyshmooie7086]

This is a bass drum

[@hisky.]

erm

[@thomasdinan9667]

This is so valuable for composer who are not percussionists. Thank You!

[@RosswogiPhone]

I love this kid! Thanks Vic Firth for the lessons! I love my Vic Firth sticks!

[@brentandmelaniekitchens3292]

Thank you! Too many Flutes in our community band this concert. I marched percussion decades ago in high school, so I volunteered to help out. I ended up in the bass drum for all the pieces!

[@Eric-hr5cg]

Well explained & fantastic demonstrations. You are a good teacher. Thanks

[@johnedreslin]

I love the sound of the bass drum.

[@emj2884]

This is extremely helpful. Thank you!

[@MrBruh2023]

Currently filling in vacant percussion positions at my college band, primarily a violinist. Good stuff!

[@Coolcat607]

Why is everyone talking about timpani? This is a video about bass drums...

[@sullengirl1698]

I know right?? They are two different things, I guess some people don't realize that lol. I used to think they were the same too.

[@aidanmallon9879]

They’re probably from Corps Style Marching Bands

[@aidanmallon9879]

Most of them

[@aidanmallon9879]

Complaining about how this Bass Drum “doesn’t sound like it should”

[@shanebaileycreates]

Very cool. Thank you!! ⭐ ⭐

[@amitnj8671]

Brilliant Video ! Thanks !!

[@badtzu.m]

2:20 for those who wanted to hear the sound

[@debagusadi3626]

Nice drum.. nice drum

[@Jay_Flippen]

I concluded a couple years ago that if I were ever able to spend some money on an instrument not central to the music I perform (somewhat) or write, that I would likely buy something large for my living room to play after going out boozing. What's that? After this beer you want to go back to my house and play my timpani drums?

[@iler859]

This I liked very much.

[@trasiano]

Excellent! Vic No sé NADA de Inglés pero entendí la técnica.

[@Km53367]

Nice job

[@Capcoor]

Thanks.

[@AaaAaAAa-jf7bq]

4:45 i tried that but the towel makes noises from the vibration

[@jaijohnston2635]

Cool video! What size drum is that?

[@tromboneplayer6132]

Trombone before bass drum

[@travellingwaveRN]

or is it?

[@Capcoor]

What do you do when you have to do a bass drum/cymbal attached part?

[@sillystrings]

For anyone who needs to replay the sound 1:16

[@dante3311]

thundering in my head

[@purplesandwich5847]

That's the kind of drum i'm using in my marching band

[@lordshitticus6265]

Same here. Doesn’t it suck?

[@MaskingTapeOYO]

Our bass drum player in our band during or recital when our conductor was doing something we were waiting for him to get some practice music and the bass drum player took the soft mallet and put it against the drum so lightly so it sounded lik thunder...we were scared

[@simonthetrainguy]

I played bass drum in band class today

[@elansleazebaganno]

Good for you son. You're a real big boy now, and maybe in a few years I'll let you sip my beer. Maybe.

[@dipankarsarkar6190]

Good

[@jeffanderson2653]

I play bass drum in band

[@kionekennedyj.houlstead3390]

0:09

[@parmati28]

someone knows how big is this Bass Drum?

[@davidturner9467]

Maybe more rock bands and rappers should be using these much deeper and more powerful than just a drum kit kicker bass drum. Isn't deep bass what these bands want yet they stay w just a small kicker bass drum.

[@TheRealSorav]

Concert bass drums are usually too big and too open tuned to be have clear note definition in those modern styles. It'll probably drown out the rest of the band

[@AnkothOfficial]

I had this idea too. I thought that more people should use these in metal. After all this sound is a deep and dark sound and it's very loud and roomy like a metal band. So I tried it out... I obviously don't have a drum kit or a real bass drum as I can't afford those. So instead I got onto Logic and used the orchestral percussion kit track, which has a concert bass. I programmed in some blast beats on a drum kit track then went to piano roll and copied the kick parts and pasted them on the track with the bass drum so that they're in time. I thought "wow this is the future happening right here right now" and then was disappointed. Because turns out that all you could hear from the whole thing was a load of rumbly noise from the CBD. That obviously would sound pretty cool alone but when put into a blast beat it sounds like turd because (and I guess that this goes for all the other rock bands out there (not sure about more modern stuff like rap)) but the reason for using a kick is that it has a sharp, staccato "thump" sound and more attack than sustain. And when it comes to blast beats and hardcore drumming, you need lots of attack. Too much overtones or sustain in the drums makes muddy and loud ringing when played fast. I mean if you think about it it's a little bit similar to the St Anger snare sound - it sounds awful because it has so many ringy overtones that when played fast merge into an annoying drone. When using kicks, these are played even faster and so if you where to use a CBD you would just end up with a loud rumble that would mess up the sound. You could try to muffle the drum and use harder beaters that give it more punch and attack. Then you would just have a kick sound but with a larger drum. I mean I may try the latter out, but honestly it is just so impractical IRL. Because you have a massive drum to haul around with your kit and you need bigger and harder beaters for it and it just is so hard to achieve as most kits come with a "normal" kick meaning more expenses. There is just lots of ifs and buts and also what I mentioned. I have seen people on YT try it out though, but not to my taste as they played slow and simple beats with a single pedal, meaning that they could get away with an un-muffled sound. It all really depends on you playing style. Slower stuff with more leniency to sustained sounds and long notes can have it, for example a CBD is used in the song Radioactive by Imagine Dragons. I don't listen to rap but I am pretty sure a CBD could be used there, but at the same time it has a bigger chance of appearing as a sample or as a sound on a drum machine rather than an actual CBD being played. Also in Hip Hop it doesn't fit with the style - orchestral elements are like never seen in Hip Hop. If it ever appears in Hip Hop it almost definitely will be a sample. In Conclusion: Rock: the CBD is either too ringy when unmuffled for fast paced playing (double pedal etc) meaning it can't really be a kick unless muffled then I don't know (I may attempt this). It also is really impractical for some drummers to have a big drum as a kick because of cost and transportation issues when touring and all that stuff. But say it's a really successful band like (*name of successful band*) they can have it and it is do able as long as they don't it doesn't get "spammed" - by that I mean played crazily fast with a double pedal. It is great for just as an additional drum in the kit - for crescendo rolls at the start of songs or just scary booms here and there. It is doable. I already mentioned Radioactive and it wouldn't surprise me if symphonic metal bands like Nightwish or Dimmu Borgir may have some as part of an orchestra. But in rock there is a desired sound required from a kick - the thump of attack and less bass. Hip Hop: again doable. I am not too sure about this though because I have little to no experience in the genre mainly because I don't really like it. I studied Hip hop at school and I know that, at least the old school 90s stuff, could utilise a CBD as a kick. But I also know that if that was the case then it would be most certainly be a sample of some sort, either in a drum machine or other. I am sorry for the long reply. I just felt like writing an essay about this because I remember having the same idea and so I share my knowledge. Its 23:32 where I am and I am just here writing an essay... anyway, it doesn't really matter but I am going to like your comment, because I know that a younger me would've been ecstatic at this comment to find a likewise thinking person. If anyone who has a CBD can try and muffle it so it has a staccato sound and then play it like a kick and upload it to YT then that would be great (I would like the video if that matters). Anyway hope that answered your question.

[@KuraSamurai]

Çalgı dediğin böyle olur.

[@sebastianzaczek]

I'm currently composing a piece where i literally have to have the bass drum completely horizontally… what exactly do you mean by "the Sound won't Project properly"? Does it simply mean that the Sound will be much quieter and more muffled? And can i "fix" this (aka will it Change anything) by puttling the Performers (yes, multiple ones around the same bass drum) and the Drum on Supporters so they stand About half a metre or so above the Floor? The Purpose of the Bass drum in the piece isn't to have a Deep, dark and resonant Sound by the way, but a slightly harder, brighter Sound with some slightly harder and smaller yarn mallets.

[@daultontemplet4016]

I was taught by a very experienced orchestral percussionist that turning the bass drum over is actually better for resonance and deeper, longer strokes.

[@smug16]

Can u tell me the name of the teacher? Thanks

[@akazunamiku7404]

the big bass drum

[@nandocordeiro5853]

The yellow school bus

[@hharquitectos4514]

I have a Bass drum

[@gendillhighway8956]

BOOM!! 01:16

[@SuperNguyenChannel]

Similar to a Gaku-daiko, the suspended drum used in Gagaku.

[@AnkothOfficial]

It sounds like an Odaiko

[@enabl3r]

Why is he using a downstroke into the head as you would on tam tam? Bass drums always need to sound dark... what??!

[@haxagonusdyad8981]

This guy is talk for 5 mins about how to play a big drum. Let that sink in.

[@nandocordeiro5853]

Epic sus moment

[@danielcuster7563]

LEL

[@djbassman6672]

Fucking talk !

[@dearsir5715]

reach around to muffle.. mmhmm

[@GoOKuSj33]

Checkout freepercussionlessons channel, he got an excellent video for that.

[@gabrialtome4478]

I think all percussions just hit things to make a sound like Boom Boom bass drum I know this is a stereotype and I not backing down until I backdown.

[@thehappypiano2985]

Who is also play overture jubiloso bass drum part because I am (;

[@garfieldandfriends1]

Why does he looks like Tom Scott?

[@matthewlewis8292]

Inexperienced percussionist would just hit the drum as they could:(

[@cosmicrows]

* when your in marching band and you are told to hit the bass drum as loud as you can to set the mood of the music *

[@absolutelyshmooie7086]

@@cosmicrows but this is a concert bass drum not marching

[@samuel.langhorne.clemens]

Talk talk talk talk talk

[@ericksiregar5445]

Mr big mouth just hit the drum, we dont need any explain

[@austinshoupe3003]

It's a tutorial for band directors and college methods classes.... there's going to be talking.

[@nandocordeiro5853]

@@austinshoupe3003 this vid’s fulla shit