Thursday, July 9, 2009
Wow WFD and the Drumometer: Impressing Your Girlfriend One Buzz-Stroke at a Time
Posted by D. Patrick Rodgers on Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 11:04 AM
From right here in Nashville, have a look at some champions of the WFD circuit. That's World's Fastest Drummer for the layman, and the organization's existence hinges on an invention mostly useless to anyone other than drummers--reminiscent of the the click-track detector. It's known as the Drumometer, and it's basically a practice pad that counts strokes.
Now, this Matt Smith character seems like a good, earnest kid. But when he says WFD's been getting slammed for "turning music into a sport..." I mean, I can see how that would annoy some folks. Beardy McSpectacles--Boo McAfee--says something about how speed comes from technique, and good technique is the cornerstone of becoming a great musician. And he's right. It's just that...well, are drummers ever going to realize that non-drummers don't often care about how quickly or proficiently we can perform various tricks? Would I be more likely to score a hot date if I could break 800 on the Drumometer? No. Probably not. Irony points: There's a clip from a Ratatat song at the end of the video. Ratatat don't have a drummer, but their name is appropriately onomatopoeic.
Comments (24)
Showing 1-24 of 24
like
dislike
I like Ratatat.
Agree with Steve. Snare doods are their own breed who often even annoy kit people. Drumming could be kind of athletic though if you think of it as weight lifting with super low weight and super high reps!
You know Pat (I can call you Pat, right?)after observing some of your own Internet playing I think it's pretty obvious that you could have used one of those Drumometer deals yourself when you first started banging away on those drums. Had you addressed the single stroke issue correctly, like these same guys you're trying to diss (which is what that drumometer deal is all about) your heavy hands wouldn't be dragging tempo ten seconds in. Besides, how old are you ...15? Aren't you a little young for this much overreaching?
That Matt Smith character as you call him plays over 100 concerts a year, is a regular feature at NAMM shows, shows up regularly in the magazine polls, and is currently at the Northsea Festival playing with jazz legend Kenny Garret, after just finishing his audition with the Smashing Pumpkins. He's out actually doing it while you're the blog kid. All that stuff you're babbling foolishly is endurance building. See, your lack of that is why your own playing drags. The contest is just a byproduct of that. And after watching Smith, Rabb, Mangini, Minneman (you've heard of these guys right?)you get the clue that they understand what it's about too. As for what nondrummers think, whose insecurity is that? Dude all you have to do is practice those drums and you won't be so snitty all the time ;)
You know, there's a lot more to this music stuff than buying a drum set and cracking wise on your own blog.
Goodness, Roger. You sure seemed to take a lighthearted blog post pretty personally. I wasn't trying to diss any of these fellas. They're all clearly well-practiced, extremely talented pros. We're just having a bit of fun in regard to the fact that these contests aren't exactly exciting or accessible for folks who aren't directly involved.
But if you want to critique my playing, you can always just email me directly with various exercises you might recommend, or videos of yourself playing. And good burn about me being young-looking! Are you the Roger Bannister who ran the four-minute mile?
Lol, you're a funny kid. Also love the passive aggressive reinvention.
Young Pat says: I wasn't trying to diss any of these fellas.
Young Pat's tag: drumtards
Critique your playing? Son, you have to fix your mindset first. And I wouldn't quite call that flailing around you do "playing."
Now reread what I told you the first time and try harder with the next response. Come on, I know you can do it.
What's interesting is how the author claims the whole thing is useless but does nothing to explain why he feels that way. Roger's right. Real players like Rabb, Tim Yeung, and Mangini are behind this while the amateur drummer trying to build a rep as an incendiary blog author believes otherwise. I can also understand why a term like drumtards is considered offensive.
Hmmmmmm...
I had Mike Mangini as an instructor at Berklee and I still think the drumometer is funny. So there. Also, have you ever been to a NAMM show? They're insufferable. A bunch a douchy reps trying to sell you on products while session pros masterbate in every corner of the room. Musician's music is the worst.
So Gold, let me get this straight.
Seeing as how a non industry rep has to specifically request or beg for a NAMM show pass, when you attended, you were pretty much the "hanger on guest" of the "douchy rep?"
Yeah you're right, that certainly validates your standing in this discussion ;)
Sorry guys, not much effort being expended here.
I think it's ironic to be using the word "troll" anywhere in an e rant that started off as making fun of a product the author lacked the sophistication to understand. I also just looked at his playing. So that's why I'm saying this. I'm not sure that anti troll statutes apply here.
I also looked at some of D. Patrick Rodgers' playing and yeah it's pretty bad. I think the whole deal here is pretty shallow when a guy like Johnny Rabb says yes and a bad drummer trying to speak for others while failing at being clever has the other view. I mean how do you speak for other drummers when you're barely one yourself?
I think it's pretty bad when the same guy posts under three different names in order to try and get his point across. Let it go, dude.
Ip, you're not that clever.
We've got 8 people here who really do play, all using the same computer. Check those different emails too slick. Besides, don't believe in a million years that no one else doesn't think the last 3 guys on the other side aren't Pat's posse. Did you really think you were the only IP Buster?
This is a kid's blog, not the Pentagon computer. The issue is about speaking for other drummers regarding something you're clueless about when you can't even play.
Pulling the fraud card here is just pot-kettle-black.
Glad I could help.
Now we all are gone.
Bye!
A) In response to your original statement, Roger: Patrick seems to play the Internet just fine.
B) Drummers who are competing to see who can masturbate the fastest are no different than sweep picking battles and strong man competitions. I'm sure the people involved have put A LOT of work into it, but that doesn't mean it's not pretty ridiculous.
C) Just because you practice your posture and rudiments doesn't make you a good drummer.
D) I don't know either of the guys that work for the Scene, but:
"..speed comes from technique, and good technique is the cornerstone of becoming a great musician. And he's right. It's just that...well, are drummers ever going to realize that non-drummers don't often care about how quickly or proficiently we can perform various tricks? Would I be more likely to score a hot date if I could break 800 on the Drumometer? No. Probably not."
That really does not sound like Patrick is slamming technique or speaking for ALL OTHER DRUMMERS does it?
Trolls, you're on the wrong page. Like every other commenter on here that slams the writers and the stories but still reads them every day.
Hilarious, since when are people who leave their actual email addresses and go after guys who use terms like "drumtards" trolls?
Malina,
Drop the hypocrisy and please try to get it this time.
1. No one here reads this guy's articles. Someone pointed out this one blog entry. But if you're going to continue foolishness you guys initiated, we have every right to respond.
2. No one is slamming the stupid comments here, we're justifiably slamming the questionable drummer who's making them.
3. The drummers you are personally slamming to make a joke are all acknowledged world class players with backup to prove it. That too is obvious, and we get to have our own opinions too, seeing as ours are actually credible.
It's that simple.
Frankly, I am a little disappointed in young Pat here. If he's going to talk like a big shot, maybe he should thicken that skin when it comes to his own real life back yard as a performer. There's already enough pretend in the world.
"We've got 8 people here who really do play, all using the same computer."
And the same hand to jack each other off. Or practice your Land Speed Record drumming. But I repeat myself. I'm sure things were way cooler back in the day when you played with Gene Krupa.
If you drum as hard as you write, your kit's a good place to stash breakables. Now go back to the Seven Dwarves and the only kind of heads you know how to use.
I think the most important aspect of drumming is your listening ability. Which has nothing to to do with speed or power. The best drummers are the ones who can fit whatever situation they find themselves in.
But debates are fun & I can't resist my 2cents:
Anyone can play loudly and powerfully. Playing with speed, agility, and accuracy at low volume as well, now THERE'S a challenge. (Once you master dynamics, you can practice anywhere.)
Dynamics, pocket, and taste are so much more important that power and speed. That's what we need more of.
You are correct burrito.
"Playing with speed, agility, and accuracy at low volume as well, now THERE'S a challenge. (Once you master dynamics, you can practice anywhere.)"
"Dynamics, pocket, and taste are so much more important that power and speed. That's what we need more of."
All the drummers who participate in this harmless activity have all that on a very high level. Too bad the critic and his pals can't say the same. I don't know, that's hypocrisy doncha think?
WOW! I studied percussion at NPI in Nashville about 10 years ago when they were just inventing the drumometer. I remember it in the very early stages of development around the school. Boo and Johnny Rabb going at it trying to break 1000. Johnny Rabb finally set the first ever Guinness World Record over 1000 strokes in a minute.
It's so awesome to see something not only actually come to life in front of you, but go on to be probably the most controversial instrument in the history of drumming.
Over 10 years later and the post and blogs are still as intense as they ever were, maybe even more so.
Randall
Vote here for best Band of the Week
Slideshows
Top Commenters
