Music Gizmo

Drum Machine or drum set is an electronic musical instrument designed to simulate the sound of a percussion instrument like a drum.

The original drum machines were referred to as rhythm machines because they only played preprogrammed rhythms such as mambo, tango and others. Drum sets are typically programmed by specifying which sixteenth notes of a bar a given drum will sound on.

By stringing differently programmed bars together, fills, breaks, rhythmic changes, and longer phrases can be created. Drum machine controls typically include Tempo, Start and Stop, volume control of individual sounds, keys to trigger individual drum sounds, and storage locations for a number of different rhythms. Most drum machines can also be controlled via MIDI.

A brief history of programmable drum machine

For more than a hundred years, mechanical devices have been used to help musicians keep the beat while practicing, but these had never been intended for performances.

In the 1960s, makers of home electronic organs began introducing the first drum machines, intended mainly to liven up home playing or to provide small bands of limited means a substitute for a live drummer. These early drum machines offered a narrow range of pre-set percussion sounds and generally did not sound much like real instruments.

The technology of digital electronic music took a new turn in the late 1970s, when the first programmable drum machines became available. The first stand-alone drum machine, the PAiA Programmable Drum Set, also happened to be the very first programmable drum machine. It was first introduced in 1975 and was sold as a kit with parts and instructions which the buyer would use to build the machine.

In 1978, the Roland CR-78 drum machine was released. It was one of the first programmable drum set, and had four memory locations which allowed users to store their own patterns. The following year, Roland offered the Boss DR-55. It was the first fully programmable drum machine.

Many musicians say that the real breakthrough was engineer Roger Linna LM1 of 1979, manufactured and distributed by his company, Linn Electronics.

Discussion on Programmable Drum set

Drum machines can either be programmed in real time or in step time, where the user specifies the precise moment in time on which a note will sound.

By stringing differently-programmed bars together, fills, breaks, rhythmic changes, and longer phrases can be created. Most drum machines can also be controlled via MIDI. If the drum machine has MIDI connectivity, then one could program the drum machine with a computer or another MIDI device.

By the year 2000, standalone drum machines became much less common, being partly supplanted by general-purpose hardware samplers controlled by built-in or external sequencers, software-based sequencing and sampling and the use of loops, and music workstations with integrated sequencing and drum sounds.

A drum kit consists of 13 pads x 3 banks equalling 39 sounds per kit. Sound sources can be freely selected and assigned to the pads. Fine-tune parameters such as pitch, level, and panning to create original drum kits. A large number of phrase variations including intro, fill-in, and ending patterns are also provided.

About the Author: Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, and synthesizers. You can find the best marketplace for guitars, drums, and synthesizers at these 3 sites: guitars, bass guitar gears , drums, programmable drum sets, and synthesizers, keyboards.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. The 5 piece drum kit represents one of the best available drum sets for the beginners.

Different manufacturers include different components in a 5 piece drum kit. Some manufacturer would suggest that a full sized 5 piece drum kit will include cymbals, bass drum pedal, throne, double-braced hardware, drum key. Whereas, other manufacturers would like to include Bass drum, Snare drum, Floor tom, Hi-Hat, Crash cymbal, and Ride cymbal in a 5 piece drum kit.

Most entry-level drum kits are made of basswood, poplar, or Philippine mahogany, which is cheaper wood that does not produce a high quality sound. It is perfect for a young teenager just starting out. Higher-end drums use more expensive wood such as birch or maple, which produce a rich, more resonant tone.

A brief history

Drums were the original musical instrument, dating back to at least 6000 B.C. Rhythm and melody are the two primary features in any piece of music, and drums function as a purely rhythmical medium unlike any other instrument. The modern drum set did not exist until the 19th century, with the addition of pedals to allow a percussionist to manipulate cymbals or drums with his feet.

Different components of a 5 piece drum kit

Though a variety of combinations are available in a 5 piece drum kit in the market, we would be discussing a standardized drum kit which normally includes a bass drum, a snare drum, a tom drum, a hi hat, a crash cymbal and a ride cymbal.

Bass drum
A bass drum is a large drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. There are three general classifications of bass drums: the concert bass drum, the kick drum, and the pitched bass drum.

Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a tubular drum made of wood or metal with skins, or heads, stretched over the top and bottom openings, and with a set of cords stretched across the bottom head.

Floor Tom
A floor tom is a double-headed tom-tom drum which usually stands on the floor on three legs. They can also be fixed to a cymbal stand with a drum clamp.

Hi hat
Hi hat is a core element in the drum set because it is used as the primary time keeper. It is actually a pair of cymbals mounted on a specialized stand. A hi-hat is a type of cymbal and stand used as a typical part of a drum kit by percussionists in jazz, rock and roll, and other forms of contemporary popular music.

Crash cymbal
Crash cymbal is a type of cymbal that produces a loud, sharp crashing sound and is used mainly for occasional accents. They can be mounted on a stand and played with a drum stick.

Ride cymbal
A ride cymbal is a type of cymbal that is a standard part of most drum kits. Its function is to maintain a rhythm, rather than to provide accents. The main ride cymbal is normally the largest cymbal in a drum kit.

About the Author: Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, and synthesizers. You can find the best marketplace for guitars, drums, and synthesizers at these 3 sites: guitars, bass guitar gears , drums, drum sets,5 piece drum kits, and synthesizers, keyboards.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

A 6 piece drum kit can vary from one individual drummer to another based on the kind of sound they like. This special kit consists of bass drum, floor tom, snare, toms, hi hats and cymbals.

Differing music styles implement the components of a drum kit in different manners. Those with a rock music set up will prefer a drum beat. Good and effective drumbeat can be created through bass drums and snare drums, which act as the primary instrument in a drum kit. In jazz set up, the ride cymbal and hi hats usually takeover.

Thus, a 6 piece drum kit can be created exactly depending on various factors like musical style, personal preference, and financial resources along with the transportation options of the drummer.

Origin of drums began with the emergence of human civilization. Drum beating as it is still popularly known has been associated with the birth of humankind. 6000BC is presumed as the time when the origination began. The American Indians used gourd and wooden constructed drums for their rituals and ceremonies. Hence, the drums were not always used for creating music. It has also been used for communication purposes.

It was in the 1930s that the evolution for a typical 6 piece drum kit began to take shape with the various instruments in its armory. The initial drum kit consisted of a foot pedal and bass drum, snare, hi hat and cymbal, tom toms, and large hanging cymbals.

The years in the 1960s saw the rise of rock drummers, who began the development of proper 6 piece drum kits that are the standard today. More toms and cymbals, as well as the accumulation of another bass drum were added to boost speed. Electronic drums then came into being with the intention of creating sounds that could not be created acoustically.

This very niche musical accompaniment is divided in two difference parts. The cymbal and hi hats are often referred to as brass ware and considered to be the part of the delicates. Drums, cymbals along with hi hat stands, bass drum pedals and drum seat are referred to as breakables. They are so named because most of the equipments named in this category here are quite prone to customization, adjustment, wear and replacement, especially cymbals and drumheads.

A few things to remember when buying a 6 piece drum kit

It is advisable that while buying drum sets stick with reputable dealers. Make sure you have a guarantee on your drum sets. It is common to go with lower line cymbals for the sake of affordability. However, cymbal packs in groups of two to four are a fine and inexpensive way to purchase starter cymbals. As you grow as a drummer you can always upgrade later.

Before you buy a drum kit, make a checklist and check the following things:

Be sure that both top and bottom heads are on the drums. Check to be sure that none of the tuning lugs on the drums are missing. Make sure the laminate or exterior drum finish is in good condition. Hardware should appear relatively sturdy and all locking mechanisms are secured. Before buying the drumheads check whether it is in relatively good and suitable shape.

The expense to replace them all at once can be sky high. If you are still a beginner, it is often safer buying from an older player, who takes better care of his equipments.

About the Author: Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, and synthesizers. You can find the best marketplace for guitars, drums, and synthesizers at these 3 sites: guitars, drums, 6 piece drum kits, and synthesizers, keyboards.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com