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Dagwat -> RE: Are SG Groups using too much extra instrumentation? (7/13/2008 8:55:13 AM)
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ORIGINAL: kyleboreing
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ORIGINAL: Dagwat
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What I really hate in instrumentation are the "instruments" that you can't play a tune on. SUCH AS DRUMS. It's just a beat, noise, distortion..... in my opinion it requires no talent, just a couple sticks to bang with. I also realize I am VERY MUCH in the minority on this one, as about everyone else loves the stupid banging things, so I'll shut up now.
Dagwat, do you know the difference between a 3/4 and a 6/8 meter? Are you familiar with a triplet? Do you know the significance of a high hat and a ride? Could you properly tune the bottom tom?
I have been playing the drums since elementary school. My mother signed me up for private drum lessons in the 4th grade, and I started out with the basics of rhythm and tempo. My teacher is a very well-respected musician in the area, having taught for 30+ years (his father was also a music teacher). If it were not for these lessons (and the teacher), I would not have the love of music that I have today.
Give a listen to a song like "This Ol' House" on the Cathedrals' "Symphony of Praise" album. I guarantee you that drummer is NOT just banging along. That is a VERY uptempo song, and requires great skill to keep that tempo steady, especially when you are LEADING (yes, LEADING) an entire orchestra. If not for the drums, the tempo would be incredibly hard to dictate.
Now, let me ask you this....why do you think that the Cathedrals added a bass guitar to their show? They got by originally with just a piano, and could have easily continued to do so. The reason is so the piano player can have more room to "show off" a little; add a few licks here and there for style. When the piano is the only instrument, it's number one responsibility is to carry the tune. If you add a bass guitar, that is one more instrument that can help carry the tune while the pianist is "doing his thang." It is unnecessary, but it ADDS to the song. Just like drums, guitar, etc.....they ADD to the song, giving a fuller, more unique performance. If every group sang every song the same way with just a piano, eventually, it will all start to sound the same. You can only do so much with 88 keys, you know....
Ok, I guess I opened a can of worms with my casual statement that IN MY OPINION, drums require no talent. Yes, I understand what everyone is saying and there are obviously ways to play them right and ways to play them wrong, but for those of us (few as we are in today's world) who hate drums, the most talented drummer in the universe would still leave no impression on me for the simple reason that that stupid BEAT distracts from the music. For those of you who like drums, you can appreciate the difference between drummers. TO ME one drummer sounds just like another.......noise.......distraction.... distortion.
I really don't CARE the difference between a 3/4 and 6/8 meter. But I do know that a triplet is one of three babies born at the same time to the same mother. LOL. And a high hat looks good on a man riding a fine stallion. You can tune the bottom tom all you want but to me it is still going to sound like a three year old beating on his mother's cookware with a ladle. Simply because I HATE DRUMS. TO ME they add nothing to the music. But then again I did say that I KNOW I AM VERY MUCH IN THE MINORITY ON THIS ONE. There are a few of us out here who just don't see anything good about drums, but WE ARE FEW. That beat just makes my head spin and most of the time the drums and bass guitar are way too loud. If it was very soft so only the other musicians could hear it, I could understand your point.
I know the younger generation really likes that beat. It just makes me nervous and I feel I'm in a rock concert or something. I PERSONALLY find drums offensive. I like an instrument you can play a tune on. Now THAT I can listen to all day if played well. Piano, steel guitar, or even violin in the masters hands. There's only so much you can do with drums for those of us who hate the things. Bang Bang Bang. Of course I feel about the same way about a tambourine. But hey, it's just an opinion! No offence to drummers who have studied all their lives to find just the right bang to hit on the silly things. I prefer a metronome to keep time with LOL!
I know many people feel as you do, and that's ok, I'm just not one of them. I would also like "This Ole House" better without the bass guitar too, but at least with a bass, you CAN pick out a tune if you have to. Especially a bass fiddle, not we're getting somewhere........ On my job I hear an incredible amount of loud rock music played on radio's with a bass boost feature, and that beat drives me stark raving nuts, so when I hear a beat like that in Southern Gospel, I find it offensive. It sounds too much like rock and roll and it becomes all I notice. It makes me want to get up and leave. I prefer the groups who don't use drums. Much more calming, and less distraction from feeling the presence of God through their ministry. It's not about the "music" but rather the message and the STYLE of music that makes me a fan of SG.
All I am simply saying is that no matter how much TALENT, training, skill or whatever else it might be, that it takes to play the drums right, to those like me, it ain't gonna matter. It's still going to sound like noise. For those who "appreciate" the drums it can be a whole nother matter. Mine is obviously a minority opinion, but it's not going to change. I am also not a musician and have no desire to be one. Just one man's opinion.
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