Music theory - how is bass drum typically used?

[Keebler]

I'm trying to prepare for how to use the bass drum pedal, but I'm not familiar enough with drumming to know exactly how the bass drum is used. Is there a standard use for it? For example, do drummers usually use it on the song's off-beat or at the same time as the toms/snare? Or does the use of it really vary? I'm just trying to get a better understanding of it.

[Jimmik]

It really varies a lot. Thinking about it there seem to be certain measure phrases that are more common than others but it's the phrases that are common, not each particular beat, ya know? Yea. You'll learn pretty quick I'm sure :P If you're a beginner, start off on easy and play through the whole campaign (If I'm imagining what it'll be like correctly). Drumming is all about foundations, when you have those down absolutely then you can move on.

But yea. It varies :)

[mltdwn]

Bass drum = the beat (pretty much). It doesn't necessarily hit with every down beat, but it almost always hits ON a down beat...

Ex:

Paradise City: the bass/beat is on the first down beat of each measure.
One: The Bass/beat is on the first, third and fouth down beats of each measure

[thrdeye]

I'm trying to prepare for how to use the bass drum pedal, but I'm not familiar enough with drumming to know exactly how the bass drum is used. Is there a standard use for it? For example, do drummers usually use it on the song's off-beat or at the same time as the toms/snare? Or does the use of it really vary? I'm just trying to get a better understanding of it.

Listen to "When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin and you will have your answer.

[wes_jett2008]

Or just listen to any AC/dc song...thats drumming at its most basic.Bass on 1,snare on 2,Bass at 3 and snare on 4.Keep in mind im not counting the hi-hat cymbals...which are usually 8ths or 16ths over that same beat.

Throw in simple variations of that,but you pretty much ALWAYS keep the snare on 2 and 4...unless your in a funky time sig but thats a different story.

Hope that helps
---Wes

[Bakkster]

Common beats:
H- hi-hat closed
O- hi-hat open
S- snare
B- kick

H H H H H H H O
----S-------S---
B-------B-------
1-&-2-&-3-&-4-&-

H H H H H H H O
----S-------S---
B-------B-B---B-
1-&-2-&-3-&-4-&-

H H H H H H H O
----S-------S---
B---B---B---B---
1-&-2-&-3-&-4-&-

Usually you can count on the 1&3 being kick, 2&4 being snare. Of course, there's lots of variability, so watch for those orange bars ;)

[vtjustinb]

Typically the foundation of most modern rock beats is the "backbeat" which is snare on 2 and 4. There are obviously deviations from that, but 80% of the songs you hear will have snare on 2 and 4.

With this arrangement the bass drum typically fills in the spaces (1 and 3). You'll often find "four on the floor" bass drum parts (where the bass drum actually plays all 4 beats) as well as more syncopated rhythms.

Syncopation in the bass drum part can server a myriad of purposes. Firstly it can simply make the part more interesting and add more "groove" to the pattern. Secondly it can often accentuate the dominant rhythms the band is playing. You'll often find this relationship is closest between the bass guitar part and the drummer. Because the bass drum is an instrument you really "feel" as much as you "hear" it can really make the tutti moments in the ensemble feel fuller and more impacting. Lastly it can be purely textural, as frequent in metal drumming where drummers simply blast fast notes on the bass drums for often no other musical purpose than being more "brutal."

The songs chosen in RB cover a pretty wide spectrum of drum beats and in particular application of bass drum hits. The game represents some of the most talented and creative drummers in rock, so you'll get exposed to some pretty great stuff. Enjoy.

[tombrady]

Needs more Danny Carey IMO ;)

[MJDoja]

Boom bap, boom boom bap!

YOU GOT IT!

[HeXcoda]

Man, this is great stuff. Thank you to the experienced drummers; this should improve n00bs like us in our Rock Band drumming!

I wonder if the tutorial mode for drums covers these terms and standards..? It's better to know it up front than to be given a pile of notecharts and have to feel your way through to the similarities and structures.

[tf5_bassist]

After a while, all of this "downbeat/upbeat/backbeat/whatever" stuff will meld together to where you'll completely feel the beat, the syncopation, the way augmented backbeats work, and you'll be able to hear a beat in a song (whether in the game, on the radio, on tv, etc), and just "know" the basic jist of how it's played. The important thing is, however, unless you're Danny Carey or some sort of weird abstract acid jazz/fusion drummer, it's all really based around the drumming basics as mentioned above.

But yes, I agree. Danny Carey is needed in RB. :D

[Jimmik]

Boom bap, boom boom bap!

YOU GOT IT!

i Lol'd for that one :P

[Bakkster]

Man, this is great stuff. Thank you to the experienced drummers; this should improve n00bs like us in our Rock Band drumming!

Actually, just being a bassist I had to know all of that. The way the drummer plays can dictate the way the bassist needs to play to make the rhythm section work. I'm just looking forward to being on the other end of the rhythm section :D


I wonder if the tutorial mode for drums covers these terms and standards..? It's better to know it up front than to be given a pile of notecharts and have to feel your way through to the similarities and structures.

I assume the tutorial will have you playing your standard backbeat to start you off, then slowly ramping things up.

[Spade0013]

The purpose of the bass drum is to suck a p*nis.

Enjoy the thought.

[MJDoja]

You dont have any proof of that.