andrew dodson

Here’s a few drumming bits:

• This month’s issue of Modern Drummer has several great articles.  Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin is the cover artist, and has a very good interview discussing his work on their latest album, Zeitgeist.  There’s another good interview with jazz drummer Carl Allen.  Other helpful articles focus on the importance of good ergonomics in your setup and helpful tips for quicker setups and tear downs.
• I’ve put to use the article on quicker setups and tear downs - I bought a multi-color pack of Sharpies to mark all of my cymbal stands and other hardware for height adjustments, tilts, and marking which pieces of equipment go on which pieces of hardware.  I’m also going to mark off my drum rug with tape, showing where each piece sits on the drum rug.  This all falls into the category of “Common Sense That I’ve Never Put To Use Before Now.”
• The article on ergonomics was good, as well.  Lately, I’ve noticed that when I’m playing a faster, louder type of song, anytime I go from the ride cymbal to the crash cymbal on the right side of my kit, I get an occasional pain that shoots from my wrist down my forearm (not good!).  So, I’ve lowered my crash cymbal on the right side so that I don’t have to reach as far to hit it.
• On the note of the wrist pain, it’s freaked me out enough to get back into doing serious warm-ups and stretching before I play.  I’ve developed the bad habit of not warming up well over the last couple of years.  The pain isn’t severe at all, and only happens occasionally.  But, wrist pain is a drummer’s worst nightmare.  Hopefully the stretching and warming up will prevent it from happening anymore.
• I’m switching back to a lighter stick as well.  Lately, I’ve been using the Zildjian Travis Barker signature model, but I’m going back to the Pro-Mark 747’s that I used to play.  I think another part of the wrist pain comes from hand fatigue of playing the heavier stick.
• Coupled with the lighter stick, I’m also trying out Gorilla Snot.  Yes, I said Gorilla Snot.  It’s a rosin meant to be used by guitarists (picks) and drummers (sticks).  I used it last night for the first time and was surprised that it actually helped my playing.  Since it gives me a better grip on the stick, I don’t have to grip it as tight.  I noticed I was able to play faster sixteenth note patterns and rolls than usual.

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