X8 Drums Blog

At age 49, Jeff Hanneman had made a huge name for himself in the music industry. As the "other guitarist" for Slayer, Hanneman left his mark on music that continues to inspire today's rock musicians. According to ComplexMusic, Hanneman was more than just a guitar player, he was the backbone of Slayer, honing the overall message of the band from that of death and destruction to more political and artistic means. In an era of metal bands dominating the scene, Hanneman's direction in the band gave …

Drumming is a fantastic way to encourage a group to get together, form bonds and make a statement - whether political or personal. Unfortunately, sometimes, drumming can be noisy, and for those trying to work, relax or act on stage, the noise can be too much. The Sun reports that actress Helen Mirren, starring in The Audience as The Queen, had her performance drowned out by a parade outside the Gielgud Theatre in SoHo. In response, Ms. Mirren gave the band and conductor a piece of her mind, halt …

In the battle of the sexes, drumming may be the latest frontier for women to conquer, at least in the world of music. Despite inspirations like Sheila E., Meg White and Karen Carpenter, the ability for a female drummer to get a gig can be difficult. Syracuse.com reports that four central New York drummers, Liz Strodel, Cathy La Manna, Sue Royal and Lisa Nojaim, are busting through that stereotype and forming careers in drumming, notably as the only female in the bands they play with. While most …

The doumbek is a goblet shaped drum that comes in two main varieties: Egyptian and Turkish. It is a small drum, typically eighteen inches high. It is traditionally played by laying the drum on its side and placing it between the drummer’s arm and thigh, with the head resting in or just above the lap. The thigh you place it on depends on which is your dominant hand. Right-handed people should play the doumbek with it placed on their left thigh and left-handed people place it on their right thigh. …

The Daily Athenaeum reported that WVU recently held their World Music Showcase Concert and drumming rhythms from all over the world were enjoyed. Various ensembles performed, with dances choreographed to drumming from Bali, Trinidad, Ghana, and Brazil. There were two steel band performances; one of which featured a stunning performance by students who had never played steel drums before featuring music and arrangements by graduate assistant Rafael Smith. The Balinese Gamelan Ensemble consisted …

The man Johnny Cash called “The Father of the Drums” is being memorialized in a documentary. On Kickstarter, we can see that W. S. “Fluke” Holland’s story is one fans wish was more prevalent in the world of music. Fluke is internationally known as a pioneer in the world of rock and roll. When he first went to Sun Studios, where he drummed for artists like Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis, Fluke didn’t even know how to play the drums. For nearly forty years, though, he drummed for …

The day has finally come. You have met the love of your life and you both want to spend the rest of your lives together. You are planning a wonderful ceremony so that all the people you love can share this momentous occasion with you. But, what kind of music will you have? For some reason, this seems like the most important question. After much debate with your partner, you both decide upon drumming for your wedding ceremony.Drumming has been used as part of ceremonies for thousands of years. Fo …

Daniel “Tatita” Marquez hopes to make candombe music a part of the New York Latin jazz world. ABC News ran a story on Tatita, who is from Uruguay and plays the Afro-Uruguayan music with the tamborile drum. The drum is shaped like a barrel and is played while walking. The drummer carries the tamborile using a shoulder strap and a stick, beating both the drum head and the body. Tatita has studied percussion since childhood and visits New York regularly to study various types of world music. Tango’ …

A new study has shown that knowing a language that uses tones to convey meaning can help with learning music. The study was conducted at Baycrest Health Sciences’ Rotman Research Institute with a group of musicians and two non-musician groups. The non-musicians included English and Cantonese speakers, since Cantonese involves understanding six different tones. The participants in the study were given complex musical and cognitive tests. The Cantonese speakers did practically as well as the music …

The Harvard Undergraduate Drummers, or THUD, will perform their end of the year concert this Friday. According to The Harvard Crimson, THUD’s mission is to make THUD so popular that it becomes an inherent part of conversations about Harvard’s music and extracurricular programming. They are currently known for their red Solo cup arrangement, which anyone can see on youtube. In general, THUD describes itself as a combination of STOMP and Blue Man Group. THUD began in 1999 and tends to play using e …