Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

bkirbas1@... said:
> Hi,
> I have been playying drum for 13 years and I want to buy an
> electronic drum. I have never tried plyying it dough. I can pay
> around 1000USD. I am concerned abouth the pad sensivity and
> triggering performance regarding the e-drum and roland-v. Thank you
> in advance.
>
> Baris
>

(This is a repost, I know, but it took me so long to write the first time
and it seems spot on for what this guy is getting at... ;)

I've seen this question go by and I always think the same thing. Acoustic
drums and electronic drums are *Two* *Different* *Instruments*! Just as
different as a piano and an organ, an acoustic guitar and an electric
guitar, etc. To take this line of reasoning farther, you wouldn't *need*
to learn to play the piano before you could play organ, but there is a
certain transferability of the skills acquired on each.

For me, I found the move to edrums fairly easy, but then again I never
expected to *replicate* acoustic drums with the edrums, I came into it
thinking about learning a *new* instrument. There are advantages and
disadvantages to each instrument, but for the most part they will each
require you to learn new some new skills and adapt some old skills in
order to be successful.

For me, some of the things I discovered on my new instrument was learning
the dynamics of the edrum set. I found that I was hitting harder than I
needed to and that simply turning up the volume on the module made it
easier on my arms. (Picture a piano player trying to get the organ to
play louder by hitting the keys harder!) :) I also learned I didn't need
to play with the butt-end of giant sticks to get the "big rock sound" I
was used to.

I'd say one of the most difficult learning issues was the hi-hat. For the
most part, the toms, cymbals, kick and snare react and respond like their
acoustic counterparts, so my skills transferred over almost directly.
However, the hi-hat not flexing, giving, moving and changing pitch as the
tension of my foot changed required the most "re learning" and I still
haven't gotten to a point where I'm completely happy with what I can get
out of the set.

However, I picture it as a limitation of *my* playing style, and not of
the kit itself. When I play *just* the hat and concentrate, I can usually
get it to make the sound I am after. This is part of learning a *new* and
*different* instrument. Approached with this mindset, you may find you
gain a new skill (that of being able to play edrums) to add to your
existing acoustic drum playing ability. :)

Vern


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