How to Play a Two-Piece Drum Kit (Minimalist Drum Lesson)

[@demonicsweaters]

If you like this video, please like and comment (it helps the youtube algorithm). My band could use your help funding our studio session! Any amount helps! See this link for details gofund.me/d4cf7614.

[@Dsullivann]

Every serious drummer NEEDS to spend time behind a kick snare hat setup. Plus or minus the ride/crash. Those are the core features of the drum kit you'll always have to depend on, having a solid foundation on the drum kit as well as being forced think more creatively is such a huge benefit for a drummer

[@PoneyBirds]

As the eternal beginner I really like this approach.

[@GPO_Studios]

Back in my college band I played a setup just like this, plus a floor tom and a crash. The stripped-down kit definitely helped me find my groove and my sound more efficiently than a standard 5-piece or so. I'm now up to a 6-piece kit permanently set up in my studio (with a whole bunch of cymbals) but I always have a blast playing something simple like this. Addition by subtraction!

[@HighlanderNorth1]

❗😳❗ What? A 6-piece kit? That's awfully excessive, don't you think!? Let me guess, you also have more than ONE cymbal! Look, I can help you with the following advice; you must seek inspiration and knowledge from the purveyors of the ultimate minimalistic percussion movement, ie. the "alternative" rock drummers of the early to mid 90s! They launched a revolution against the "extravagant" drummers of the 80s. By 1993, almost no "alternative" drummers had so much as a single mounted tom, let alone 2-3 of them! They certainly didn't use any of the optional "bourgeois" percussion add-ons like rototoms or octobans! No way man! In solidarity with our Bolshevik comrades from the early 1900s, who ate only bland potatoes and moldy bread, we too must embrace extreme minimalism and blandness! 😁

[@edwardssistershands]

"just like this" but... different. This is why people make the dumb drummer memes.

[@zzzwy777]

Less is more, it encourages imagination and resourcefulness , plus it's not about quantity but quality. I keep noticing one can make a bigger impact sticking to simplicity in general .

[@JeffPenaify]

thats so true for me, the more options i get is just more distractions from me holding a groove 😂

[@Georg89]

Thank you, this was a great lesson. I'm still a beginner drummer and I was overwhelmed with all the possibilities, but by downsizing the kit in this way, I can start to focus on my playing and get creative. 🙂

[@demonicsweaters]

Glad you liked it!

[@Traveling_Tree_Dr]

I love this whole philosophy you just demonstrated, love it!

[@demonicsweaters]

Thank you!

[@handler803]

Cos of logistics (space, cost, setup/packup time), Ive always felt using less drums is the way to go. Solves lots of problems and forces one to be musical.

[@dewindoethdwl2798]

The demo was a great proof that the minimal kit is better than viable. 🎉🎉

[@llawliet3733]

Thats basically the Kit I use to play in the Band of our Church. I never saw a music School from the inside and learned most of the stuff I do today by myself. It isnt much, but enough to keep the People entertained. Thx for this Video.

[@vampirelogic]

Amazing demos here. After watching this i think playing on a kit like this could actually make someone a better drummer because there has to be a lot of intent behind most everything you do (or don't do) and you can't just be lazy and hit random toms or crashes. It would probably also make mistakes harder to cover for so again, more focus and intent.

[@demonicsweaters]

Thank you! I agree, everything has to be more carefully thought about to keep it interesting, which in turn makes all the drum parts more interesting.

[@papacos4745]

I totally agree 💯 I've been playing on a 3 Piece without the rack Tom & never looked back. Simple setup for me & makes me stay in the pocket

[@elle5021]

I adapted a similar approach because of space constraints. I even, although almost sadly and unwillingly lol, opted to use a cajon as my bass and throne, both to minimize floor space requirement and noise. It's all just being about creative, especially when translating songs that normally would need toms.

[@johntarleton6330]

I did the same thing with the cajon. Love my setup

[@iii2187]

I used to play a fully setup drumkit and now i reduced it to hihat, snare, bass drum, floor tom and crash/ride...i feel happy looks sophysticated and it made me realize about less is more and how to be more creative

[@fede170493]

This is a very inspiring and great lesson. Thank you for this.

[@demonicsweaters]

I'm glad you liked it, thank you!

[@JohannesLabusch]

THIS IS THE KIND OF DRUMMER I'M LOOKING FOR!

[@papacos4745]

Any luck on finding that drummer?

[@JohannesLabusch]

@@papacos4745 still Haven’t found what I’m looking for…

[@ILuvJazzNJava]

Love it! One more easy option - turn off the snare for Tom style fills

[@demonicsweaters]

Yes!

[@prhmusic]

I dropped the floor tom, mounted tom and a 2nd snare at a July 7, 2024, gig. I liked it!

[@danmcbmusic]

Very musical approach to drumming, great stuff

[@demonicsweaters]

Thank you!

[@MultiMaker_Studios]

This is basically the kid who drummed on the desk was doing

[@channelite]

Cool approach to drumming. I’ve streamlined my kit for space reasons. I’m using a five piece with just a hi hat and china cymbal.

[@lordgeyik]

This was really inspiring. Thanks for sharing these tips. And great playing, I enjoyed it! You have a really good sense of adding or removing the right amount of ingredients the song needs in each moment.

[@demonicsweaters]

Thank you!

[@Havasu1976]

Real neat ideas here, man!

[@ar15gator]

Pretty Dang Good, definitely like a minimalist setup myself, Nice Share!

[@MarieCorbo]

love when people play on the rim of the bass drum.

[@demonicsweaters]

it does sound cool

[@BrothaSubjek]

There are two reasons why I like and chose the two piece kit. One, it works for my live boom bap hip hop drumming style. Two, it doesn’t hog up my minimal practice space which is less than 100 square feet. Thanks for the inspirational video. Keep rocking. Also, your song is epically dope!!!

[@demonicsweaters]

Thank you!

[@BrothaSubjek]

You are straight killing it on the minimal kit. I got a lot out of this video. Thank you

[@demonicsweaters]

@@BrothaSubjek Thank you!

[@Six3rdy]

Also, that was some sexually appealing triple bass action. Keep up the good work! That was amazing! I hope I wasn't too out of pocket with that one. Yes? No? Anything, guys? 🤷🏾‍♂️ Ok, I'll take my seat. 🪑

[@UncertifiedAttorney]

😂😂

[@thedrspod]

i only have a snare a ride and tom so very simple but works enough for me

[@NATAGUILARMUSIC]

Great video man! I am moving from Washington DC to Queens New York this September, I would love to link up and catch one of your shows. Keep on Groovin!

[@MoustacheMedic]

This is a great lesson on what drumming is at it's core, I'll be mixing this method with Johnathan Moffats lesson of "lead the beat with your foot", gotta love a good bass beat!

[@demonicsweaters]

thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@benjaminwoodman]

I wanna get really good at the 2 peicer. Also I have that drum ring 🧐

[@bhaveshsolanki6485]

I think this is great, I hope to do this min imalist kit thing just like this and record myself just to know if what I play grooves or not and analise my playing!

[@demonicsweaters]

Very cool!

[@bhaveshsolanki6485]

@@demonicsweaters not as cool as you really enjoy your video's they help a lot man, I got to grips with musescore initially because of your first vid on it!!!

[@demonicsweaters]

@@bhaveshsolanki6485 Glad to hear that! Thank you!

[@Ivan.8067]

8:10 Alright 👏👏👏🥁👉👍🇧🇷

[@isabelmarcheselli]

Really helpful, thanks!

[@Prettynoise]

thank you! This is what I have been looking for.

[@demonicsweaters]

Glad you liked it

[@jamesadvincula6809]

Great insight - what can you take out or replace! Great share!

[@demonicsweaters]

Glad it was helpful!

[@douglasross4958]

Great ideas!

[@sierragold]

Great video!!

[@Six3rdy]

Mans is hittin' us with the Nate Smith!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 "This is only a fraction of my power!" "You haven't even _seen_ my final form!" "I left the rest of my set at home." "I couldn't find the rest of my set tbh. 🤷🏾‍♂️" But forreal, this is an awesome video

[@demonicsweaters]

Thank you!

[@spencernoffke8259]

2-piece is king

[@bobsondugnutt7526]

Are those sabian monarchs? You have good taste in cymbals.

[@demonicsweaters]

They are! Definitely interesting sounding cymbals. Though I sold them already. I’m going for a brighter sound these days.

[@bobsondugnutt7526]

@@demonicsweaters Cool. From what I've seen it looks like you go for value. What do you think of the Istanbul Xist series and Dream Energy?

[@demonicsweaters]

@@bobsondugnutt7526 I've never tried any Istanbuls, but the Xist sound great from what I've heard. I had one dream cymbal in the past and it sounded pretty good, though I wouldn't say great.

[@redblock3223]

Thank you for this

[@demonicsweaters]

You're welcome!

[@nicolassullivan7746]

I make sample based music i found this cause i want a real set sample. Kick snare an hat some cheap percs. An you could do a lot with a sampler or computer

[@spencernoffke8259]

Just got a 4 piece...I feel like I should work my way up to a two piece hahaha

[@bigted1953]

Loving this.... I'm buying a wood burning stove to burn all my toms...

[@demonicsweaters]

lol, maybe just put them somewhere haha

[@ClayDoogun]

Great video man

[@demonicsweaters]

Thank you!

[@DaniArrow]

Really cool video!

[@demonicsweaters]

thank you!

[@cebuguitartune]

nice video!

[@jamessullenriot]

Well .... this made me realize I have a weak right foot that i need to work on.

[@marcosvrech4794]

Muy bueno 👌

[@thepizzafiend]

This was so helpful!

[@demonicsweaters]

thank you! glad to help!

[@petermoeller5901]

The idea taking things away to have something later to add back in never occurred to me. Really helpful than you!

[@demonicsweaters]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mattallarie784]

Would a 2 piece kit be good for beginners or is it better to start with toms included?

[@demonicsweaters]

Honestly a 2 piece is perfect for learning. Less distractions for learning the groove.

[@joedeleon1901]

Much appreciated. Gracias!!

[@demonicsweaters]

Thanks for watching!

[@jameslabs1]

respect!

[@mrwhitemantv]

You can do all song without drums either 🤣

[@mysteriousplankton]

Less is more.