Vic Firth has a super useful page with audio and video of all 40 Essential Rudiments of the Percussive Arts Society. Drummers: bookmark this one!

http://www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.html

In an article at Musician.com, Daniel Glass tells you how to choose the right cymbals.

“Although they often play second fiddle to the drums, your cymbals are just as important in defining you as a player. Put as much care into choosing them as you would a new kit, a new car or any other “serious” purchase. Here are a few things to keep in mind when preparing to bring a new cymbal into the fold …”

Read the entire article.

Drummers! Get a free 10″ china splash from Zildjian just for purchasing those extra drum sticks you know you need anyway! To redeem this offer simply download the PDF attached to this post, print it out, and follow the instructions!

The offer is valid through the end of October!

REBATE FORM

In case you missed these posts, let me mention them again. I am working on making an indexed page where they can reside. Oddly enough the post on the Maxon tube screamer is the most visited of all our posts.

• Maxon OD808 = Ibanez Tube Screamer 808
  A post on how these pedals are the same, but you will save a chunk of change going with the Maxon.
• How to add a header image to your myspace
  It’s easier than it seems, though you could spend days looking for the myspace code for it.
• Downloadable tab files
• Sell your CD at your local record shop
  How to distribute an album yourself!
• The right way to grow your friends list on Myspace
  A downloadable PDF we put together that details some methods for (legally) adding tons of friends and keeping them up to date on all your shows.

Probably the hardest piece of recording is the drums. If you are trying to get a great drum recording on a budget, you should know that doing so “on a budget” is impossible. The sound of drums on a good recording usually comes from a great-sounding, acoustically-treated room and an experienced engineer using expensive gear.

Luckily, technology has afforded us several other options. In addition to the ability to use programmable drums like BFD or Drumkit-from-Hell, you might think about drum replacement software like Drumagog. This plug-in works in your computer recording program to analyze an existing drum track and replace each hit with a sample you choose. This means that, for instance, if you record and your snare (or whatever drum) doesn’t sound right, you can just use Drumagog to replace the sound with another.

Here are some other ways to use it:

• Use the included drum library to replace the natural sound of your drum! It’s still you playing, but it’s like you’re playing a high-priced kit in a great studio!
• If most of your drum track sounds good but a few hits don’t have the punch, or have clipped, or the stick hit the microphone, simply record an individual hit of your drum that is as punchy (or whatever) as you want it, and use Drumagog to replace the old hits with your new one. It’s still you playing your drums, but you get the best sound of your drum!
• Use Drumagog to replace your drum sounds with electronic or other samples. Suddenly you have the sound of a drum machine, but with natural feel of a live drummer rather than a stiff, quantized beat!
• Or use your imagination.

At less than $300, that’s a very powerful tool within reach of even the modest budget.

Find out more about Drumagog or feel free to comment below with your questions and maybe the community here can answer them!