Look what Rock Band made me do!

[Tarzanman]

I just got this today. Yamaha DTX 2.0
Playing the drums in Rock Band is responsible (I already own a guitar and some basses).
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg49/TzanDrums/newdrums1.jpg

So far I really suck... I know a few basic patterns (from rock band), but instead of getting visual cues to play the rhythm, I am having to rely on my memory and sense of timing (which is much trickier).

Unfortunately, one of the pads doesn't work, and the kit was missing a ride cymbal.

Even so... not a bad purchase for $300.

[pmpboarder]

Awesome! You gonna upload some vids? I'm curious how it sounds.

[kleners]

get that thing wired into rock band and rock it HAHA

[John Locke]

sweet thats awesome!

[keith921]

That'd be awesome if you could hook that up to Rock Band.

[Tarzanman]

Heh, I keep my PS3 in my bedroom and there there is no room for this electronic kit up there (not that it would work with rock band anyway).

I have it running through an el-cheapo crate amp which makes the kit sound like bhutt. I'm going to get some headphones for it tomorrow and start practicing some basic rhythms. From the game (Maps, Here We go, Dani California, maybe some Celebrity Skin).

I hope I don't start neglecting my bass playing as a result!

-kevin

[CJ452]

Nice setup

[davidshek]

Unfortunately, one of the pads doesn't work, and the kit was missing a ride cymbal.

So in other words, it's just like most people's RB drum kit? :D

[sa_nick]

$300? thats an awesome find, even with the few problems. Ive been looking into getting a small setup, probably one of the compact rolands, theyre like $1500+ though. Have to wait til i can find something good on ebay.

[Tarzanman]

The cheapest Roland set that I looked at was the TD3. (The TD1 is smaller but not a good buy because you can't adjust the pedal locations, and there aren't any interchangeable parts).

The TD3 costs bout $700+ in music stores. There is a guy selling one locally for $550 that I was going to go look at.... It has nicer pads than the Yamaha I bought, but ionly came with an Alesis module (brain) and didn't have the electronic cymbal triggers. Also it is also $250(!) more, so I decided to save some cash.

I'd like to replace my snare with that roland mesh v drum trigger, but I don't think that he will split it up.

[jcardona]

I saw that set at Sams Club yesterday. I almost bought it. I don't play any instruments but Rock Band has inspired me to learn one.

How do you like it?

[NismoRR]

Looks like a sweet setup! I'll probably be doing the same thing in a month or so. Enjoy it!!

[JimJolly]

I saw a cool website for beginning drummers. Check it out if you want some free lessons.

http://www.freedrumlessons.com/

I used some beginners tips to improve my RB drumming.

[elite04]

Anyone Has The problem They Cant Get Comfortable With The Rockband Drum Placements? Hieght Spread Etc? Seems A Bit Short For Me. and i cant seem to get a good chair hieght in my living room..is this just me?

[zolon]

elite04, off topic, but I am going to run with it.

Yes! I'm 6'6" and I used to play quads in marching band during high school. The angle is bad, the slope is bad, and the places you can put that WAY to high angle pedal are bad.

I have been messing with my setup since day one, and ALMOST have it useable.

Anyways, back on topic.

Good luck with learning the real drums. (Yes I know, they are still v-drums, but the skill is easier to move to real ones.)

I am actually going to pull my drum set out of storage that I haven't touched in 10 years.

[Tarzanman]

I saw that set at Sams Club yesterday. I almost bought it. I don't play any instruments but Rock Band has inspired me to learn one.

How do you like it?

I'm barely into it so far. *DEFINITELY* get a used set (if you can find one) as a first set in case you decide that you don't like it. There's lots of finagling with the settings to try and get the right sound/kit... what's been mostly confusing so far has been to figure out what pad to hit for the right sound since the RB pads pull a lot of double duty (as toms and cymbals or cowbells, etc).

It has also made me realize how HUGE a timing window there is for playing drums on RB. I have problems holding a steady tempo even on a basic rock beat. I tend to get faster after I get comfortable.

[Tarzanman]

Just an update:

I've been playing around with the kit and attempting a few songs that I can already pass on expert in Rock Band.

Man, drums are hard and tiring! For the most part I can only play bits and pieces of songs due to not being able to pick out specific drums used for certain beats.... as you already know, RB 'condenses' the beats by having the pads double as toms/rides/high-hats/etc (although the red is pretty much always the snare and the green is pretty much always the crash cymbal).

Its a lot more confusing when you have 4 toms and 4 cymbals (hh open, hh closed, ride, crash) to choose from.... and then there is the problem of hearing the beats through the mix over the other members of the band. I am used to picking out guitar and bass parts, but picking out drum patterns is considerably more difficult.

Ah well.... i'm having fun doing it. I'm trying to perfect Reptilia, Here We Go, and Dani California first!

[cdarthvader]

I wish i could find out a way to hook something like that up to rockband. I think it's easier playing real drums than drums on RB just because i'm not used to the visual cues. It takes me a few tries to figure out what beat there trying to get me to play for me to play it :D. That and i want double bass so bad on RB.

[mikejl47]

The cheapest Roland set that I looked at was the TD3. (The TD1 is smaller but not a good buy because you can't adjust the pedal locations, and there aren't any interchangeable parts).

The TD3 costs bout $700+ in music stores. There is a guy selling one locally for $550 that I was going to go look at.... It has nicer pads than the Yamaha I bought, but ionly came with an Alesis module (brain) and didn't have the electronic cymbal triggers. Also it is also $250(!) more, so I decided to save some cash.

I'd like to replace my snare with that roland mesh v drum trigger, but I don't think that he will split it up.

Build your own mesh head drums. I converted my drum kit for about $130.00 http://www.edrums.info

[PhatDaddy]

I just got n Alesis DM5 for musician's friend.com for less than $500, with an extra cymbal and drum trigger pad. It's really fun to play, and won't wake the neighbors!

(BTW, it was RB that inspired me to start playing drums, as well!!!)

I've been playing the guitar since I was 8, off and on, and my youngest son starts guitar lessons Monday. I thought it would be nice to get a family fun band together one day... ;)

[shoutatchickens]

It has also made me realize how HUGE a timing window there is for playing drums on RB. I have problems holding a steady tempo even on a basic rock beat. I tend to get faster after I get comfortable.

Get a metronome!

Also, if you really get into it (even with your guitar and bass), going to practice mode in rockband does take out the instrument your practicing on. That makes for some interesting backing tracks :D

[AeroTrain]

There is a built in metronome in the DTX module, use that to help keep your time consistent.

My father-in-law recieved the same set for Christmas from my mother-in-law. I played around with it while visiting for a few days.

If you have a decent home stereo try plugging it into that. Something with some decent bass, preferrably a seperate sub-woofer. I found that using the 'phones out' worked best for plugging into the stereo. The 'aux out' level was a little to low for the set-up I was using, plus using the 'phones out' gives you some volume adjustability while sitting at the kit.

I found a nice 20' Spiral cable for this at wal-mart of all places (better than what they had at radio shack) with all the needed adapters for $10.

[SheGotGame]

wow dats hot can i have it lol j/k

[HMXJohnlok]

That is sweet ;D. Congrats on your purchase.