Tag Archives: Eddie Bayers

the Nashville “hand drum”

by on 07. Nov, 2011 in 5 Minute Monday

This technique is used a lot in modern recording in Nashville. It’s a great one to have in your bag ‘o’ tricks. Eddie Bayers used this technique in Wynonna’s Only Love.  Check it out and let me know any other songs you hear this on.

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The Sidestick

by on 09. May, 2011 in 5 Minute Monday

Oh, man, what a video to not have footage from the third camera!  I really needed it on this one, but we were in a hurry to finish, because my wife and daughter (who owns the camera) had to fly to Denver.  So alas, when I discovered that the files were missing, it was too late, oh well.  Thank goodness for the flip video.

One of the frequent complaints from engineers is “he plays the snare hard and the sidestick too soft!”  This is something I learned early on, so I pound the sidestick when I play it, mostly out of habit, but I do get compliments from engineers.  “I never have to ride the faders on your sidestick, it makes my job easier.”  This problem is exacerbated in live situations.  A live drummer needs to totally be aware of this problem.  Many times I hear a live drummer play and they go to the sidestick, and it just disappears.  Not good.

Currently in country music, the sidestick is a little out of ‘vogue.’  You don’t hear it as much, although, all it will take is one Taylor Swift hit with a sidestick, and it will be popular again.  It was all over 90′s country music.  Examples are Martina McBride ‘Independence Day,” the great Lonnie Wilson used quarter note sidesticks on the verses.   One of my favorites is “Lovin’ only Me” by Ricky Skaggs.  The sidestick sound that Eddie Bayers got was amazing.

Back in the 90′s, a lot of the sidestick sounds that you hear on records were samples.  We would take these racks of electronics to sessions, and trigger the sidestick sound, with an Akai sampler and a pad.  Everyone had a bunch of samples and the engineers would take a line for the sidestick.  It was easier to mix, and it was also before protools.

Now, we are in an uber organic mode.  Everyone wants natural sidestick.  A great sidestick with a big, fat, meaty tone is amazing.

Another thing that really affects the sidestick sound is the snare drum.  I’ve got a 15″ John Robinson snare with wood hoops, the sidestick sound is great on that one.  Also, die cast hoops will give a stronger sidestick sound than flange hoops.  But the biggest sound for me is when I use non dense sticks, or lighter sticks.  The density of the sticks for sidestick is paramount.

One of my pet peeves is the sidestick block. You know, it’s that block that looks like a cowbell.   Hate..sorry,  no I’m not sorry, when I hear one of those things live, my first thought is, hmmm, lazy drummer??  please don’t use those stupid things,  again, just one man’s opinion.  Play the dang thing live.

I’ve been in a crazy Rush mood lately.  I can’t stop listening to them.  What’s wrong with me?

What do you think???  About sidestick, that is….

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The “Train” beat part 2

by on 20. Mar, 2011 in 5 Minute Monday, Drums!

This is a continuation of last week’s discussion on the train beat. This week, we talk about switching the backbeat hand up from RLRL RLRL to RRLR RRLR. This is effect treats the right hand on the snare as a “hi hat.” This is the same beat that I’ll use on a lot of straight ahead country brush songs, but we’ll cover that later. For a great example of this check out Randy Travis “Forever and ever Amen,” and Josh Turner “Long Black train.”  These are both great examples of brush train grooves.

The fills in the train beat (with sticks) is an interesting discussion.  My favorite approach is to treat the fill like an extension of the 2 and 4 time, with the voices transferred to other instruments on the kit.  In other words try not to drop the time, or make the lope degenerate just to play a fill.  Check out “Lovin’ Only Me” by Ricky Skaggs or “Liza Jane” by Vince Gill.   Eddie Bayers was the most influential drummer in Nashville since Larry Londin, there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t play something influenced by him.

Also, try shuffling the train.  This is a really fun variation on it.  If I think of examples of this, I’ll post later.  I just had a gout attack on my vacation in Florida and I’m pretty cloudy right now.

Lastly we talk about the “Cajun” beat.  This is great fun to play.  Check out Mary Chapin Carpenter “Down at the Twist and Shout.   Also, check out anything by Joel Sonnier.  This is a really fun variation to the train beat.  Can I say the word fun any more?   Hey, it’s not working the drums, it’s “playing” the drums!  blessings!!   Leave a comment and lemme know who you are and what you do!! t

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The “Train” beat

by on 14. Mar, 2011 in 5 Minute Monday

Obviously, the train beat is what is sounds like. Originally meant to mimick the sound of a train. It’s very fun to play! Start with a simple 2 and 4 on the snare with the with the “train” 8th’s and play 1 and 3 on the kick. Add different kick patterns in. Have fun with it!

Some of my favorite train beat songs are Ricky Skaggs ‘Life’s too Long” (Larry Londin-drums), Vince Gill “Liza Jane” (Eddie Bayers-drums, this one is amazing!!)  Ricky Skaggs “Hummingbird” (Eddie Bayers-drums, on this youtube video it’s Harry Stinson), Ricky Skaggs “Country Boy” (Martin Parker-drums)  Ricky Skaggs “Highway 40 Blues“, Brad Paisley, “A little mud on the tires“  (Ben Sesar-drums),  Sting “Love is stronger than Justice” (Vinnie Calaiuta-drums, it goes to train in the chorus).

Please watch these linked videos, and if you don’t see any of them, PLEEEEEEZE watch “Counry Boy.”  When I first saw this video, I couldn’t believe what I was watching.  This is some seriously amazing stuff.  Enjoy it!!

When you check all this stuff out, pleeeeeeeeeze leave a comment.  Tell me where you are from, what are your thoughts, what do you want to talk about.  Don’t visit this site and not leave a comment!!!  blessings!! th

 

 

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