Be Inspired: The Times They are a Changin’

The days of four track porta-studios are sadly gone. Those who can remember them will do so with nostalgia, but they will also rejoice at just how far technology has advanced in such a short time. A home recording facility is a great choice, particularly when studio costs can become very expensive these days. If you plan to record often in a studio it could become cost effective to get your own equipment rather than paying someone else to produce you.

Some people still believe that a musician has to go to [private_bronze] a ‘proper’ studio to achieve anything at all worthwhile. However, it has been practical to have a studio at home since the early 1980s and having your own studio can be very inspiring. You become the musician, the audio engineer, and the producer. All you need to do then is to learn how to use it, just the same as you would if wanted to learn how to play guitar online.

There are lots of very informative websites out there offering free information on setting up your studio and operating your new equipment. In the same way that a guitar player progresses and learns something fundamental to their craft such as pentatonic scale, your knowledge will grow the more you record, and soon you will be recording stuff as worthy as the rest.

The trouble with Musicians

Most musicians know what they want when it comes to the sound of their instrument, without a doubt. However, it isn’t always as easy as this if you want to set up your own studio sound. There are several questions that need to be asked, and none of them have anything to do with the musician, how good they are, or what instrument they play. As a musician it’s not always easy to see past this.

What you need to know

The most fundamental factor to remember before you buy pro audio equipment anywhere is that you should never buy without trying it out first! Listen to the frequency response, the overall tone and the available volume; you do not have to be an expert to know what you like. Too many people buy audio equipment because they have read a good review about it in a magazine, or someone else has recommended it to them. This is not unimportant of course, recommendations are an integral part of the marketplace, but what you need to ask first is: what exactly do I need?

Think about:-

• What instruments you are likely to record
• How many musicians you are likely to be recording at any one time (i.e. how many in one go, this is important for the number of channels on the interface)
• How loud are the instruments
• How much space do they require

This is just a small list to consider before you even contemplate going out to buy equipment for your studio.

When it comes to equipment, from the list above, the most fundamental thing to know is what you are going to use your new studio for. This sounds very obvious but it is one of the main stumbling blocks that potential buyers come up against and can often cost them hundreds of pounds. If you are recording acoustic guitar and vocals, using a PC based sequencer, it really isn’t worth buying a large mixing desk. Sometimes a better sound quality can be achieved by buying two preamps, and you don’t really need EQ or compressors as they now come as plug- ins within most software.It is important to talk about this with the shop assistant, they are (or at least should be) professionals.

Buying and Equipping

Concerning musical instruments and audio equipment it is usually the case that the greater the cost, the better the quality. As a general rule you should invest as much in your studio equipment as you can afford. Once you have a figure, try not to deviate from it; you will more than likely get something reasonable with a modest sum of money.

There are some primary items that all studios should have:

1. A recording system. This is usually a PC or Mac with sequencing software.
2. Monitors.
3. Microphone.
4. Headphones. (as it’s impossible to use a microphone without them)

Buy the best that your budget will allow, and take advice from experts. With a good mic, good speakers and a good recording system you will create a good sound

Do not overcomplicate things; remember that if you only want to record vocals then one high quality preamp/compressor is much more useful than a 28 channel cheap mixing console. Invest your money in the equipment you will use the most.

London Pro-Audio Centre

At London Pro-Audio we don’t want to sell you something you don’t need, and we do not pretend to know anything about your individual sound; we only want to advise you on your studio sound.

We stock an extensive range of goods. These include: active monitoring, analogue and digital mixers, audio interfaces and hand held recorders. We also have a mix of midi controllers available, keyboard workstations and some of the very best microphones on the market.

The Following three packages have been put together because our experience informs that they seem to be representative of what most people need. The price of pro audio equipment can vary so much, ranging from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand quite easily. These should give varying degrees of excellent quality sound, dependent on what the individual needs:-

Studio package 1:

Alesis i/o 2 audio interface + Cubase sequencing software
Audio technica ATH T22 closed back headphones
Audio technica AT 2020 condenser microphones
Adam Hall S6B Microphone stand
Stagg Pop Shield
Stagg 6 meter XLR – XLR cable
ESI near 05 monitors.

This Package is in the region of £400

Studio Package 2:

M audio Fast track pro audio interface
Audio Technica ATH M30 Headphones
Ableton Live LE sequencing software
Adam Hall S6B Microphone stand
Stagg Pop Shield
CVK 6 Meter XLR – XLR cable
SE 1000 Microphone
KRK Rokit 5 Studio Monitors
This package is in the region of £750

Studio Package 3:

M Box 2 Factory Interface
Audio Technica ATH M50
SE Z5600a Microphone
M Audio Oxygen 8 49 Key Midi Controller
Adam Hall S6B Microphone stand
Stagg Pop Shield
CVK 6 Meter XLR – XLR Cable
Genelec 8020 Studio Monitors
Reason Soft Synth Software
This package is in the region of £1874

(Prices are representative of London Pro Audio at time of publication)

Of course there are many different combinations to choose from and these examples are by no means prescriptive. Costs can be considerably reduced by making a few changes here and there, and fully qualified and experienced staff can help you. If you have never purchased pro-audio equipment before it may be prudent to buy something you can learn to use easily and practice with; you need to practice with the studio, just as you would learn guitar scales for beginners.

Good luck with your studio, and remember to ask a professional for advice when you are unsure; it’s worth it.
About the Author:

Dene Lingard lives in London and has a daughter. He plays guitar and drums, and spends much of his leisure time keeping fit, scuba diving and playing tennis. Dene is also constantly reviewing and developing his website LearnGuitarOnlineToday.com, a website devoted to guitar enthusiasts and people in search of a more suitable way to learn guitar. His long-time dedication to his music has given him enormous satisfaction and personal gain. His next project is to realise one of his dreams to put a band together.
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Another one of the genre’s alluring traits is its unique mixtures of qualities, ranging from Blues and Pop to Gospel and Folk. Indeed if you are a fan of [private_bronze] American culture you cannot but admire this music whose notes are etched onto the American landscape like painted canvass.

One of the most distinctive elements of playing Country Music by guitar is the wide variety of instruments and the sound. The most well known of these is the “slide guitar” style of play which produces a whining sound by sliding an object along the guitar strings. Other styles are the famous chicken pickin’ whereby the guitarist plucks the strings with the right hand and holds the other side of the string down (“damping”) with his other hand, thus producing a snappy rhythmic backdrop to the music.

If you wanted to learn how to play Country Music you will be well advised to learn the characteristic guitar scales that are unique to this style of music. In particular I refer to the following simple tips that are an important part of any learning modes which you may encounter:

1. The Major Pentatonic Scale is the dominant one for Country Music. The style lends itself to specific combinations which you will be well advised to learn by heart. For example

Sixth string, fifth fret, first finger
Sixth string, seventh fret, third finger
Sixth string, ninth fret, third finger
Fifth string, seventh fret, first finger
Fifth string, ninth fret, third finger

For a comprehensive list of the various combinations used in this style you could visit one of the many Learn Guitar Online sites that do a terrific job at outlining these combinations.

2. Beware the Chord progressions, as these have a marked effect on the sound and fluidity you are trying to portray. For example if you were to play a 3 chord song in D Key it would go something like D-G-A. Once you learn key progression by heart you will find the other parts of Country Guitar Scales are much easier as you won’t need to think about your every move. This will make the whole process much more fluid and enjoyable.

3. Unlike other styles of music such as the Blues, it is thought that there isn’t a specific “country scale” onto which the music orients. Whilst this might take away the discipline and rigidity which is important when starting out, it also provides a level of flexibility and to an extent allows you to improvise more. If you start with the basic chords such as A C and D you will be able to capture much of the sound that you seek.

Country music isn’t the easiest of styles to learn when you are starting out; however it is fast and energetic music that will add a level of entertainment rarely matched by other genres. And if you follow some of the tips described here you will play country music like one of the many pros that decorate those guitar posters we often see at the shops.[/private_bronze]

The guitar is a special instrument, and learning how to play a guitar is a special experience.

• It is the leading instrument in [private_bronze] pop and rock culture, providing a focal point for any band.
• There are many types of guitar- electric, acoustic and classical to name but a few, and learning how to play a guitar is a somewhat different and yet equally enjoyable experience with all types.
• It is versatile and sits well across different genres – you name it, the guitar is suited for it.

If you had by now decided to learn how to play a guitar, here are some tips for you:

Learn to read a music sheet

Many students neglect this part, with potential consequences later in their careers. Once you have mastered the notes on the fingerboard and how the frets sit on the instrument it will become easier, and you can start using your vision as well as hearing to get you on your way. Learning how to play a guitar is a little similar to learning how to play any instrument and mastering the knowledge of the music sheet will come handy for any instrument you choose later on in life.

Try learning online

The web has an interesting array of teaching methods such as DVDs and videos, allowing you to watch guitar masters at play, rewind the lesson and fast forward, zoom in and out. These are things you cannot do with a teacher and they will provide inspiration and knowledge that is important when starting out.

Master the basics and the rest will follow

Like any other discipline when you learn how to play a guitar you will need to master the basics and not pursue too many short cuts. If you learn where to find the various frets and notes, incorporate music sheets into you routine, work on your hand dexterity, and most of all remember to enjoy yourself, you will be successful.

Take lessons

You will also need the discipline that comes from having a physical teacher to correct your mistakes and provide tips – all important things when you learn how to play a guitar. There are many factors to consider when you learn to play – tempo, rhythm, mastering the chords, all of which are well suited to the individual attention which you can receive with a tutor.

Left handed? Don’t despair!

It used to be the case that those of us who are left handed found it nearly impossible to learn how to play a guitar. Guitars had to be re-strung or re-adjusted, resulting in a poor quality of sound and a frustrating experience for the learner. Nowadays if you are left handed and want to learn how to play a guitar the choices are much wider, with a large selection of suitable instruments and a wide variety of stockists.

Learning how to play a guitar is a life changing experience, and one which should definitely be pursued. No wonder it features highly on the list of skills that people would like to master. If you follow the steps above, have a little patience and perseverance, you too will learn how to play a guitar.
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Your girlfriend / aunt / grandma is coming to your house for tea. She looks at you questioningly and utters the magic phrase . . . “So I hear you’re learning to play the guitar?”

Do you:

1. Blush and run out of the room
2. Say, “Yes I am , but I’m no good yet”
3. Whack out your guitar and play like a pro

The cardinal rules for choosing the easiest guitar songs to learn

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Rule #1 – make it a classic.

She doesn’t want to sit through your rendition of The Curly Shuffle, oh no. There is one chance for a first impression, and your time has come. Make it a big one. Think back-up singers and full support band. The hair on the back of her neck has to stand up to attention when this baby rocks. It may be an easy guitar song to learn, but it has to be worth the wait.

Rule #2 – Less is more

Now this rule is important, for if you start with Led Zeppelin – Over The Hills and Far Away your chances of blowing it have just grown exponentially. So keep it with as few chords as possible, you will be amazed at the number of classics that few chords can bring up. Three is perfect, any more and you start running into problems. Its an easy guitar songs to learn that is only matched by its simplicity.

Rule #3 – make it one with which you can be confident

You will exert more effect if, when you show off your easy guitar song to learn, you don’t appear fixated with the frets. Looking at someone during this moment of great acclaim is important, for this is your moment. Be confident now, because moments like these do not come very often.

The easiest guitar songs to learn, fast

With this mind, these are the songs you should consider:

1. Knocking on Heavens Door – a Dylan classic made bigger than life by Guns & Roses is easy guitar songs to learn. You’ll note the slow but sure delivery of this song which erupts into a crescendo at the end. 3 chords here, G, D, Am7, played over again and again.
2. House of the rising sun – a simple classic made big by the Animals in 1964 and has passed the “tried and tested” test for a classic, and is also easy guitar songs to learn. Again, a slow and confident delivery will make your audience swoon. The chords are dead simple – Am, C, D, F, Am, E, Am.
3. A horse with no name - this is a slow and measured classic from the band America, made famous in 1971, it topped the charts with a platinum album. The song has a level of controversy attached to it because of alleged drug references, and its choice of words are simple to say the least. “There were plants, and birds, and rocks, and things…”. It is a great one to show off when you are starting because it’s a rare two chorded creature, with “E minor” and “D” rotating all throughout the song.  

 If you concentrate on the simplicity of these songs that is matched by their greatness you will no doubt be able to impress your audience only a few weeks after having embarked your journey.  These songs are easy guitar songs to learn, giving you the chance to truly shine.
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Next you would have probably dabbled with the chords, which are groups of notes that fit together to make a richer sound, embellishing upon the very basic building block of guitar playing.

This will most likely be followed by playing the guitar scales which is a more complex collection of [private_bronze] notes used in different songs, providing the song its inherent texture and depth. You now have to learn guitar scales.

 There are many scales, all used for individual purposes and different genres. A few examples are:

• Lydian
• Majors
• Pentatonic blues
• Ionian
• Harmonic minors
• Phrygian
• Melodic minors
• Chromatic
• Pentatonic neutral
• Dorian

…the list goes on.

Learn guitar scales – the tips, shortcuts and “how to’s” that will make it easier

1. Start with the chromatic scale, which is the easiest. Buy or download the sequence and start going up and the down the notes and than backwards. Use all four fingers, if at all possible one finger per fret, this will add to your dexterity and balance and will help you to learn the guitar scales
2. When learning the guitar scales think of them not as a collection of notes, but rather as an inherent rhythm which you should follow. When you do this you will find that the scales are in fact similar to walking on separate pavement stones which all point in one direction. Get a metronome to help you keep your rhythm, and concentrate on it instead of the actual notes. If you do this for a few minutes each time before you start to play,  soon the scales will become a part of your knowledge and you won’t need to think about them as you play.
3. Go up and down the frets, using the same scale across all 12 frets. This will give you the depth and confidence which you will require to learn the guitar scales. Don’t rush it, if you master the basics the rest will follow.
4. When learning the guitar scales remember the major, which is considered the most important of all the scales and is arguably the “root” of all guitar playing. C Major for example is comprised of C D E F G A B C, you’ll notice the simplicity without any flats or sharps. Do take the time to master it as it will form the basis for your guitar playing years.
5. As you become more and more familiar with your chosen genre you will find that various scales have their own hue, for example the Harmonic is predominantly found in classical music and has a distinct eastern favour. Other examples are Natural Minor which is heavily used in Rock,  and the melodic minor which can be found in Jazz.

 Incorporate these tips into your daily routine , sprinkle a dose of patience, mix a little perseverance and you will master learning the guitar scales in no time.
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But it’s really quite simple and should become a regular part of your guitar maintenance routine. Before you do anything though, take time to make some personal observations, such as:

• Which way do you have to turn the tuning keys to tighten or loosen the guitar strings?
• How are they aligned from the nut to the bridge?
• Where is the heaviest one?

Taking mental notes will probably save you some frustration and make the job much easier in the long run.
I like to remove all of the guitar strings during this process in order to give my guitar a thorough cleaning, but you can remove them one at a time if you prefer.

Below you will find some helpful step-by-step instructions to follow. Once you’ve done it a couple of times your confidence will begin to grow and you shouldn’t need to refer to these steps any longer.
 Guitar Care and Maintenance Tools:

- Needle-nose Plyers (to cut string ends)
- String Winder
- Soft Cotton Cloth
- Guitar Cleaning Polish (do not use furniture polish, oils, or wax)

Acoustic Guitar

 1. Using the string winder, begin slowly loosening the guitar string(s) until completely slack.

 2. With the needle-nose plyers, carefully grab the string from the capstan (the part it winds around) and pull through the hole until it is free.

 3. Taking the string winder again, use the cut-out at the end of it to grab the pin at the bridge. Gently pull the pin until it comes out of the hole.

 4. Clean guitar surface thoroughly.

Classic Guitar

Follow steps one and two above. When you come to step three, take your needle-nose plyers and carefully loosen the figure eight knot at the bridge. Pull the string free.

 Electric Guitar

Follow the same procedure as described for an acoustic guitar. However, if you have an electric guitar with a movable bridge you may want to take it to your local music store and have them show you how to do it safely.

If the bridge is moved from it’s correct position you will not be able to tune your guitar when you’re through.

Acoustic Guitar

1. Bend the ball end of the string slightly and place it inside the hole below the bridge. Some acoustic guitars do not have pins. When this is the case, just pull it through the hole.

2. Line up the string with any grooves in the pin. Insert the pin into the hole, making sure it is secure.

3. Take the other end and insert into the hole on the capstan.

4. Pull it through leaving a fair amount of slack between the capstan and the bridge.

5. Bend the string at the point it comes through the capstan to keep it secure.

6. Watching out for your eyes, begin turning the key with your left hand.

7. As you are winding, apply some tension to the string with your right hand to help keep it taught. Make sure you are winding in the right direction! On the bass strings you will be winding counter-clockwise (away from you). On the treble strings you will go the opposite direction.

8. Continue to wind each string until all the slack is taken up. Do not worry about tuning yet.

9. Cut off all excess length.

Classic Guitar 

1. Put the string through the top of the hole found just below the bridge.

2. Pull about 3 inches through.

3. Bringing it up over the tie block, pass the string underneath itself at the original point of entry.

4. Come down over the tie block again and wrap the end around itself in a figure eight type pattern.

5. Insert the other end down through the hole on the capstan.

6. Wrap the string around the back and then underneath itself in order to secure it in place.

7. As described above, begin turning the key with your left hand while maintaining some tension with the other until all the slack is taken up. With a classical guitar you will wind clockwise on the bass strings and the treble strings.

8. Always keep the guitar strings as straight as possible as they continue from the capstan through the nut and down onto the neck.
9. You should not have any excess string length, but if you do, cut it off.

Electric Guitar

Follow the same procedure as described for the acoustic guitar.

*Note – with some electric guitars, such as Fender, the strings are fed through the back of the guitar.

Kathy Unruh has been providing guitar lessons to students of all ages for over 25 years. She offers free guitar lessons, plus tips and resources on buying a guitar, songwriting, recording and creating a music career through her website at AbcLearnGuitar.com

It is amazing to think of all the people who, whether playing the guitar or not, don’t know what the guitar scales actually are. I can think of very few disciplines in which a sequence of pre-determined notes pave the way for the “right sound”. And this is precisely what the guitar scales are – a collection of notes that have been put together through time, which determine a certain sound or genre.

The guitar scales have therefore made playing simpler, shifting the emphasis away from innovation (creating the music) to execution. In other words, provided you learn the sequence of notes you will be, in effect, given a short cut to performing a good sound.

Like any discipline there are a few tips to give here which you will be well advised to [private_bronze] follow:

1. When learning the scales start with the major ones such as C and G. There will be plenty of time to go after the minor ones at a later stage, but you would get the most bang for your buck when mastering the most commonly used ones first, the pentatonic scale for example. If you choose to learn guitar online you will find that this part becomes greatly simplified.

 

2. Take your time and ensure that you learn each note beautifully. Avoid short cuts at all costs at this first phase. Every note must be well rounded and controlled. Use your fingers to feel the strings so you really get a feel for your’e playing, as this will also “force” you to play the notes properly with taking unnecessary shortcuts. This discipline will put you in good stead later on when combinations become more complex and you learn to play more than one genre and it is one of the most effective learning modes that exist.

 

3. Some people say that learning the guitar scales is like learning to speak. What do I mean by that? when I speak I don’t have to think about spelling the letters of the words I say, and the same should be true for the guitar scales. The sequences should be fluent and automatic, a level of mastery that will come very handy when you begin to improvise, as I’m sure you will.

One of the reasons novice guitar players fail, or don’t reach their full potential, is that they lose paience with the basics and attempt to “go for glory” in a short space of time. This seems to be a common thing – I have found the same to be true in writing, sports and amny other disciplines which lack a rigid mandatory qualification. My advice is simply don’t do it.

Time spent at the nascent stages of learning is an investment that will reap rewards many times over. The most important advice I would provide is remember to enjoy what you do – it is most likely that you are learning the guitar because you want to, and not because you have to.

So don’t rush, take your time when learning notes or frets or any other part of this wonderful instrument and you too can learn to play guitar like a pro. And who knows – you may just feature in one of the many guitar posters out there !
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All you need to do is read on . . .

Guitar students often wince at the idea of having to learn the scales. After all, if you can learn note by note, play basic music clearly and find your way through the fret board – why bother?

Certainly the thought of navigating the pentatonic scale has given many an aspiring guitarist a feeling of deep unease, even when they have attempted to learn guitar online which is considered an easier pursuit than the traditional teacher route.

This is a difficult argument to win, and one which should not be taken lightly. Like so many things in life, however, there is a reason for the way “things are done” and mastery of [private_bronze] guitar scales is no different. In fact there are a number of reasons why one would want to master the scales for guitar.

For starters the idea of predetermined sequence of notes, each with its own distinct hue and style, is one that allows both the student and seasoned player to concentrate on other parts of the guitar. For example speed, improvisation and the right hand movement. The effect on your guitar learning modes will also be profound.

And speaking of speed it is a well-known fact that by mastering guitar scales the pace and fluidity of ones music can increase dramatically.  This would make sense as the execution of a musical piece is now more automated, and therefore more energy can be directed towards the speed instead of memorising the sequence.

And also whilst on the topic of speed – please do not hurry it at the initial stages of your tuition. It is critical that quality comes before pace and that the budding skill is nurtured.

Another reason why you would want to learn the scales is simply because having to reach those far away notes instils discipline and provides an essential workout for your fingers. And using your fingers instead of a pick at the early stages is important as it will give you a feel for the strings.

You can always go back to the pick – I liken it to driving an automatic instead of a manual car– you would definitely want to start the learning process on the latter to ensure you really understand the basics.

You will also find a mastery of the fret board which will hard to come by unless you learn the scales from top to bottom. I can guarantee that all famous guitar posters music stars are in full control of their scales, as well as other parts of their instruments.  It is also the reason that they can switch genres almost effortlessly – you see many a star play acoustics in a live show where as previously they might have been playing electric or even bass guitar in a recording studio.

Whilst learning the guitar scales is no walk in the park – it will take time, determination and perseverance – it will be the factor that will eventually distinguish you as a professional from your fellow amateur guitarist who has not taken the time to master this very important skill.

My advice would be – do not hesitate in learning the guitar scales. It’s a decision upon which you should not spend time. Make the effort to invest in your life long hobby and the returns you will receive will be multiplied. [/private_bronze]

You may as well start with the King. Tips and ideas to help you learn the Pentatonic Scales faster

They say that the pentatonic scale is the king of the scales. It is certainly one of the most prevalent in the world of guitar playing and is used across a range of styles and genres such as the Blues, Jazz and Rock.

If you wanted to hear a simple rendition of the Pentatonic scale try playing or listening to the song “Lyla” by Eric Clapton.

You would probably know by now about scales in general and why they are so important, but in case you didn’t let me reiterate the facts. Guitar scales are a sequence of notes that feature to a wider or lesser degree in set combinations.

I would describe them as building stones for a musical piece. And whilst they are often learnt only by [private_bronze] ear, received wisdom is that it is better to learn to read them as this provides versatility and depth. Let me repeat this – I can assure you that although you may get good results by playing through hearing only, one day you will discover the world of written notes and regret all those years in which you could have developed your music reading skills.

One of the best places to see very knowledgeable people play the Pentatonic scales is online, and in particular places like youtube. They may not all be famous enough to be on guitar posters but they are generally adept at what they do and I will hazard to say that you will gain value by watching some of them play.

Indeed I would also say that you should learn guitar online as a viable option to getting you to where you want to be. Learning to play online has many advantages – its cheaper, you can do it at your own time and you can zoom in, rewind and pause.

As you get a little more advanced you will probably attempt to play songs that have both Major and Minor Pentatonic scales in them. The difference between these two is one of the most intriguing parts of the Pentatonic Scale, and that’s because they can sound remarkably similar to each other. What is more confusing is the fact that the fretboard patterns are the same for both these sequences.

So what is the difference I hear you ask? Without getting overly technical and reiventing all your learning modes, the difference is dependent on which root you start with, which in turn depends on which chord or progression you’ve started with.

Different roots thus determine whether you are playing the major or minor Pentatonic scale. Another difference is that the minor scale has a flattened 3rd interval. Even without much note reading and music theory you would be able to tell the difference as the minor scale sounds more darkly melancholic, the major lighter and happier.

Some examples of the latter are “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynryd Skinner and “All Right Now” by Free. If you wanted to compare this to the Minor try listening to Gershwin’s “Summertime”. Whilst most beginners concentrate on the minor due to its greater ease, I would definitely recommend that you pursue both as it will give you the depth and insight you desire when playing this wonderful instrument. [/private_bronze]

Brief History

The earliest form of the snare drum was the medieval tabor. The tabor is a double headed drum. It was often played along with a three-holed pipe in the Middle Ages. Today this combination can still be found in modern European folk music. The tabor gradually increased in size during the 15th century and emerged as a military instrument by the 16th century. It was popularized by the fife-and-drum corps of Swiss mercenary foot soldiers. Their snare was carried over the right shoulder on a strap. Unlike the modern [private_bronze] drum kit snare that uses: curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, these soldiers first used laces to increase the tension of the drumheads.

It was accomplished by lacing a cord in a W or Y pattern around the shell, and when the drum head was struck, it vibrated the cord against the bottom head producing a cracking sound. Snare drums were then primarily used as a military instrument and are still associated with the infantry.

And it is from these Swiss roots that the pipe band began life in the military, and we know from regimental records that pipers and drummers have served in regiments for centuries. The drumming in pipe bands is as ancient as the concept of formed military units; their original purpose on the battlefield was to signal tactical movements and keep pace on the march. There is little wonder that their power had such a profound, integral effect on contemporary music; the sound of the original Highland Snares, played by pipe band drummers is not unlike the contemporary backbeat snare of today.

The Birth of the Drum Kit

1. Bass Drum 2. Floor Tom 3. Snare 4. Tom’s 5. Hi-Hat 6. Crash & Ride Cymbals 

The drum kit evolved from these military beginnings by changing the conventions and playing styles, out of sheer natural progression. Conventionally, drums were always played separately in the pipe band. The bass and snare drums were played by hand, until the end of the nineteenth century when they began to experiment with foot pedals to play the bass drum. William F. Ludwig made the bass drum pedal usable in 1909, paving the way for the modern drum kit; Ludwig remains a well respected drum brand to this day. The move from the separate drummers in the Pipe Band progressed to what we see sometimes see in the street and categorise as “The One Man Band”. By WWI, very large marching bass drums with many other percussion items suspended on and around it became popular, subsequently becoming a central part of jazz music.

Style

There is a particular art to Pipe band drumming, and the associated skills are as important as Guitar Scales for Beginners. Pipe band drumming is a combination technique and feel. It focuses on technique, ensemble unity, and rhythmic interpretation or feel; not unlike Jazz. When we see a pipe band drummer playing the snare we can see and hear the skill involved. Timing and technique are of the utmost importance, just as important to a drummer as to someone who wants to know how to learn the guitar. Military playing of the snare drum was learned by rote and oral tradition into the 19th century, and it wasn’t until the snare’s eventual orchestral use that players needed any form of musical notation. Certain drummers in Basel, Switzerland, still maintain a particularly difficult traditional playing technique. Although still mostly playable by ear and with good rhythm, some modern compositions and jazz playing may require special effects, such as those obtained by releasing the snares, striking the rim, or using fingers, nonstandard sticks, or wire brushes.

Buddy Rich

No discourse on the snare drum, its origins, or indeed drumming in general would be complete without mentioning Buddy Rich. When considering the rolling snare rhythms of a pipe band drummer we can see where the contemporary styles of drummers such as Rich have derived; he is the epitome of this evolutionary drummer. Just watch Buddy Rich’s technique (in particular his snare work with the left hand) in this video and you can see what all the fuss is about.

Rich’s technique has its roots in military snare drumming, and his has been one of the most standardized and coveted in all drumming. His dexterity, speed and smooth execution are considered holy grails of technique. While Rich typically held his sticks using traditional grip, he was also a skilled match grip player, and was one of few drummers to master the one-handed roll on both hands. Some of his more spectacular moves are crossover riffs, where he would criss-cross his arms from one drum to another, sometimes over the arm, and even under the arm at unfathomable speed. Because drummers are improving and because learning the instrument is becoming much more technical these days, it does become more necessary to learn all the theory in the same way as a guitar player would benefit greatly by learning the Pentatonic Scale; particularly if the learner aspires to be as good as legends such as Buddy Rich.

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