A few questions for Dirk

[Diabolus]

Offcourse I know you guys! I think I saw you guys once at Kleudde Metalfest, great drumming! I'm not a very big fan of the straight-up death metal, pretty much the only stuff I like in that genre is Hate Eternal, Malevolent Creation and Origin.

I'm not in a band right now, I play together with a guitarist from time to time, but I'm into the technical progressive stuff à la Spastic Ink, Necrophagist , WatchTower, etc (Not that I can play any of it ), so it's hard to find people who can play this kind of stuff. Also, I'd love to join a jazz/fusion band, ever since my drum teacher started pushing me in that direction.

I just came up with yet another question for Dirk (or any other drummer who wants to share his opinion): I practice alot of rudiments on my hands and feet, and it's very clear that this has helped my control alot, but I'm wondering if you actually use rudiments in your regular playing? I find it very hard to use them while improvising since it distracts me from the melody, allthough I find myself using them when writing out drumparts.

[Wayreth]

To make it a bit easier i've copied the questions that were asked by Jared, and I will add one extra question (a stupid one, but i've been wondering):

- When playing odd-times, do you count, or do you just follow the melody? I used to count out all odd-time parts I played, but since my teacher said he never does that, I started paying alot more attention to the melody; I think it makes your playing more musical, and it's easier if you play stuff like WatchTower, Theory in Practice or Cynic.

- Do you tune your drums to specific notes? And, seeing that you're endorsed by Tama, do you use their Tension Watch? I heard it's great, and I'm going to buy one in the near future.

- Do you play German grip (ie: Palms to the floor) or French grip (Thumbs to the ceiling)? Or maybe something in between? And you ever play traditional grip?

- I practice alot of rudiments on my hands and feet, and it's very clear that this has helped my control alot, but I'm wondering if you actually use rudiments in your regular playing? I find it very hard to use them while improvising since it distracts me from the melody, allthough I find myself using them when writing out drumparts.


- Are drummers alowed to smoke (and more, Dirk, do you smoke). Or is it better not to smoke? (maybe a weird question, but yet something i've been wondering for quiet some time now).

Voila, anyone who feels free to answer, give yourself 100 %. But i'm curious what Dirk will answer to this!

[Wayreth]

Sorry, his name is not Jared. I got confused. My deepest apologies to Diabolicus

Therefore I will confess it (something I did not intended to do, but to make it up to him):

- Please teach me how to do rudiments!!!!! I heard a lot from it, but no one has ever said to me, THIS are rudiments so you have to play this and that with hands and feet!!!! Can you give me an example? Or maybe I can by some rudiments from you.

So my answer is: No, I don't play rudiments in my music (because I simply am not sure what they are, maybe I play it but I just don't know).

My question to Diabolicus:
How do you practice rudiments? (once I know what they truely are)
Does these rudiments really improve your playing?

Voila,

Again I feel a bit strange confessing that I don't know any rudiments (can you amaging what kind of drumming I really am, a complete screw-up!).
But maybe you can help me out here. And if you ever need help from me (but I can't really imagine why) don't hesitate to ask.


29/01 : NECROPHAGIST, MALEVOLENT CREATION AND BOLT THROWER AT MOD / HASSELT. Really looking forward to Necrophagist.

Sorry for the long replys.
Greetz

[Diabolus]

Rudiments, in essence are just simple sticking patterns. The most used one is probably the single stroke roll, allthough many don't consider it a "true" rudiment. Paradiddles are probably the one that's being played the most. Just in case: it's sticking is R L R R L R L L . Now, this sticking can be used in various ways, so in different modulation (8th's, 16th's, quintuplets, triplets, etc). There are 40 rudiments, varying in difficulty. Some incorporate flams, drags and double stroke rolls.

You can get the 40 rudiments at http://www.drummingweb.com/rudiments2.htm Also check out http://www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.html

Marching drummers are masters at this stuff, but set drummers mostly use it to get some more control (check out the book Stick Control for the Snare Drummer) or to come up with new patterns. Guys like Thomas Lang, Marco Minneman or Terry Bozzio use these to create ostinato's, ie. playing for example a paradiddle on the feet, and soloing on top of it. Offcourse these guys can do the wackiest things with rudiments.

I myself practice them on a pad mostly. I also play them with my feet (allthough I have a little technique problem on my right foot, so I have to correct that first) and try to play them as ostinato's. My teacher also likes to split them up over the kit, but I find that a little hard to incorporate in your regular playing.

And YES, they do help your playing, alot! It can be quite boring to play them for hours and hours, but it gives you alot more control (especially the day after), and it breaks you away from the single stroke roll that you would normally do.

Necrophagist RULE! So do Malevolent actually! I hope I can find someone to go there, because that's one hell of a show!

[Wayreth]

Diabolus,

Thank you very much for the explinations. I will have a deeper look in it for the coming years.

Well, hopefully you are able to come to Necrophagist so I'm sure there are 2 people there that know these guys.

My friends just are a little to narrow minded to really appreciate it. On the other hand, it doesn't come any better than this, does it?

But wa-ever, it will be kick-ass so make sure you get there.

Thanx again for the advice on rudiments.

Greetz

[enboomer]

This is about the only thread that i can read due to my beyond lacking skills in french. And boy what a thread! Awesome read

My question for dirk is what albums are you playing on more than:

Scarve - Luminiferous
Scarve - Translucence
Scarve - Irradiant
Soilwork - Stabbing the Drama
Phaze I
Yyrkoon - Occult Medicine
Taliandörögd - Neverplace EP
Taliandörögd - The parting
Aborted - Goremageddon



I'm a Huge fan from sweden and would like to hear it all Can't Wait for the upcoming Sybreed and Scarve albums!

[death metal holocaust]

This is about the only thread that i can read due to my beyond lacking skills in french. And boy what a thread! Awesome read

My question for dirk is what albums are you playing on more than:

Scarve - Luminiferous
Scarve - Translucence
Scarve - Irradiant
Soilwork - Stabbing the Drama
Phaze I
Yyrkoon - Occult Medicine
Taliandörögd - Neverplace EP
Taliandörögd - The parting
Aborted - Goremageddon



I'm a Huge fan from sweden and would like to hear it all Can't Wait for the upcoming Sybreed and Scarve albums!

No Return - No Return (2006)

[shagrath]

Il a aussi joué avec un groupe de prog francais Dirk, non? Mais je me rappelle plus du nom du groupe...

[shadowchild]

Il a joué dans Headline...

[Vinzholio]

How can you guys forget the 1st Phazm Opus "Hate at First Seed"? fuck*n rock'n'roll douchebags