On an only barely-related note: Your playing has gotten more relaxed and creative in the few years I've watched you, Rob. It's a fact that someone who plays more often is going to evolve, but it's clear to me that you've seriously improved. Kudos... I totally agree with this "set up" vid. No one ever taught it to me, but it's literally just as important as technique is. I've always struggled to get my kit positioned so that playing it is comfortable. It was a revelation to me to play on a crappy kit that was set up perfectly, and compare it to a super expensive kit that was difficult to play; the cheapo-kit was clearly better for my playing.
Just got a kit to start learning. As an engineer my first thought was, "what's the best way to set this up?" These are great pointers and extremely helpful. Thanks :)
As a fellow who hasn’t played in 35 years I truly appreciated this video. I’ve just gotten a Alesis Strike Pro SE. Since it has a rack and not individual stands it’s a bit different. I’d love to see you do a kit like mine. I’m sure I could lean a lot from that instruction. Thanks!
My journey of 30 years playing drums is a constant shift in how my setup is. Playing different genras has allowed me to move my kit around to feel at ease. You hit the nail on the head with this vid. It's very important to feel comfort while playing and not reach for pieces. I found that when you do, you tweek body parts unnaturally and leads to injury. Great vid as always.
I never really gave setting my kit up one way until I watched a Billy Ward video one day.One of the most important things that came out was the positioning of my bass drum.Instead of it being straight mine is set up on an angle so when I set down my leg and foot just fall naturally. This has been life changing behind the kit. Second I make sure wether it's a drum or cymbal that my sticks fall natural to the center of the object I'm striking. There's no reaching,everything is in its place.It totally changed my whole way of drumming.Im very relaxed, and comfortable. I play so much better than b4. THANK GOD FOR MEMORY LOCKS ON EVERYTHING.!!!
This is an old video but as a new drummer I'm so glad it popped up in my feed. I've been struggling with the placement of my low Tom, my Ride cymbal, and the placement/height of my HH in relation to my snare, and snare in relation to my posture and Throne height. This video has really helped me a lot so thank you 😊
WOW!!THIS VIDEO IS GOLD TO ME AS A DRUMMER. BECAUSE ALL THAT YOU EXPLAIN AND DEMOSTRATE ON IT''I DO PRACTICE IT. I BEEN PLAYING FOR 35.YEARS AND IS VERY IMPORTANT TO WATCH VIDEOS lIKE THIS ONE.VERY CLEAR AND INFORMATIVE.I'M 63 YEARS OLD AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM PLAYING 1 OR 2 HOURS BECAUSE I PRACTICE AND LISTEN TO INFORMATION ON VIDEOS LIKE THIS ONE.VERY NICE '''KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND GOD BLESS YOU BROTHER. I'M FROM NEW LONDON CONNECTICUT USA. 😎🇵🇷
Great help... As a beginner, I really appreciate you addressing these sorts of topics. I thought I had my kit wired in where I wanted it. But, on the strength of your video, I'm reconsidering my symbol height(s) and the angle of my snare. I'm back and forth on where to best setup my ride. That may be something for you to touch on in the future. I truly appreciate your content. Thanks again.
All the videos I see on YT are very good and informative, you can't go wrong, but I just connect with this guy, he's what I would choose for a teacher. I love you Rob.
I could listen to that intro all day. I have to say again that your touch on the drums is as nice as any drummer I've ever seen- so clean and fluid and flammy. I try for more of that in my playing every day and I'm 60. I set my kick in a V-pattern with the hats and not straight-on to the auience. Much less contortion going to the floors. Thanks again.
Excellent! I ended up raising my throne about 2", my snare about the same, lowering my hi-hat about an inch and moving my left bass pedal and hi-hat forward some. I hadn't thought about this in a long time...thanks!
Yeah that thing is sweeeettt!. I have a pearl decade maple that I picked up around christmas and the snare is ok but im wanting to get either a ludwig supraphonic or a pearl beaded brass sensitone to go with it. Love your videos and lessons man.... thanks
Hi Rob, just wanted to say that every time I watch one of your videos, I feel like I'm actually there sat in front of you with a cup of coffee just hanging . . . Thanks brother
Funny. First way I set up a kit was exactly like what you just taught us. That’s hilarious!!! I felt like I shouldn’t have to reach for anything or stress any body part. Wow! Cymbals are low and tight. I’m amazed that all of this is so true. Excellent!
For me: I just sit down. Adjust the height so my legs are having an angle. My pedals need to go were my feet are. Then for all my toms and snares I just throw my sticks out and see where they land. That's where the middle of the drum needs to be. Same thing for the cymbals. Don't feel to reach anything, it needs to feel very natural.
you are the best Rob. I learn more from you than any other on line drummer. AND I learn it quicker. I have played for almost 15 yrs. Still I pick up things that really make sense.
Great insight, Rob. Neil Peart and Billy Ward both influenced my setup strategies at different points in my growth as a drummer. Each of them had different approaches to setting up, and my current approach reflects aspects of what I learned from both ideas. I’m glad to add your thoughts into the mix.
Hey Rob, I wonder if you want to add a step (I just followed your excellent suggestions; thank you again!). But when I was trying to position my second floor Tom I realized that my only option was to move everything back from my bass drum. I wonder if that should be t2nd step after getting a good sitting position on the throne. After I moved everything back I was better able to position my 16 inch without twisting. Just worked for me and much happier with the setup! Best.
You were spot on! Very useful tips. The snare even with the naval is a good one. Mine is a little lower and tilted up just a little bit. I'm going to try raising it to my naval.
Yes, at first I tried to adjust to the drum set cause that's how the set came from factory ( two toms on top of the bass) I. Found my "weak" arm was worse trying to reach the 2nd Tom cause it's further away. I set the toms up to me, with the 1st Tom to the left more and the 2nd Tom was almost in front of me, maybe off to the right just a tad and my playing was so easy, my weak hand improved cause I'm not stretching it effecting the grip or speed, it was very smooth playing and sounding better..
I really like your way to set up the drums but I do a little thing different: I set the bass drum and hi-hat pedals before the snare. I just sit comfortable on the thone, put the pedals under my shoes and then the snare in between. Also a good test to see if everything is in its place is to play something blindfolded haha. I've learned a lot from you, thanks and peace!
In Rob's vid he touched closely on healthy "ergonomics" as you have. Playing the drums is very physical and having fundamental knowledge of the human anatomy is crucial. Play and drum kit set up should be synchronous to avoid injury. Proper back, shoulder, arm, wrist and leg positioning will help prevent getting pinched nerves, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.
I will have to say that this drum fill solos you do on your videos hypes me up to continue to be better at the drums I own! I appreciate you and your real ness always man and thank you oh for helping reset my kit now that I have added another cymbal to my collection.
Great work, Rob. Love your comment, “Bad setup promotes bad technique.” Sometimes if I’m having trouble with a multiple drum/cymbal lick, I’ll check my setup and make sure I don’t have a particular drum or cymbal set up a little off. Love the in-close concept, where things are reachable at minimum effort. In December I had right wrist surgery, and it’s playing hell with my setup! I think I’m going to have to go with my floor tom more “in front” of me than it is. Painful to go to the right...thanks again for your help!
Another tip I got was to sit down and play without looking (as you do in the beginning here), where the end of the stick naturally falls on each tom, for example, is where it should be located.
Love these videos. Confirms lots of things I've adapted independently, which makes me really relate to the style of teaching here, but also teaches a ton of stuff i had no idea about. Killing it. Absolutely killing it.
I love your videos mr brown. The way you explain things about drums,techniques, and skill levels is so real and precise. Watching your video on backing tracks saved me a lot of time and stress at my cd release show. I bought the same track machine. Your setup was easy to use and maintain. Thank you Mr. Brown.
Hi Rob, Just wanted to compliment you and the good advice you give in this video. I'm a chiropractor (and drummer) and so have given some thought to the ergonomics of drumming. I thought the info you shared was well thought out and sound. I picked up a couple of tips that I'll certainly use going forward. Incidentally, I watched this video because I just purchased a Yamaha Stage Custom Birch based in part on your recommendations and have been tweaking my setup. I'm really enjoying them so far. Keep up the great work and thanks! Mike
You are so right about sitting a little higher up with thighs on a slight downward angle. It saves the back from injury. I play in a club with a house kit and sometimes the throne and snare are so low, I don't know how people play sitting two feet from the floor.
I've naturally been doing this, although you've given me some fine tuning so to speak. I've been moving things multiple times a day trying to increase the fluidity without having to over extend on anything. It definitely compacts the kit and takes away some visual appeal, but that was never my concern in the first place. (I say that about visual appeal due to my wife saying it doesn't look as pretty.) Once again, thanks for what you do. I love going through your material as though I'm sifting through a music library.
Antother great video Rob. Really good food for thought. I've always said Playing drums is like driving a car. No matter how long the gig or the trip is, you want to stay comfortable.
I’ve been guilty in the past of setting a kit up so it looks cool or the toms are the same height and angle are the same! Instead of setting the kit to my reach and comfort! Great tips, thanks Rob
I just went back to a 3-up from a 1-up. I can never get my ride and crashes on the right side just right. I did pick up the Tama Hi-hat aux that clamps to the tube on my Gretsh tom mounts, which are rack mounted. That is really working good from me.
Thanks Rob, for your awesome videos. I’ve noticed that for the snare height placement, relationship with where my elbows hang naturally is most important. I am female, short waisted (I think), and having the snare at naval height is too high for me. But this video provides a fantastic starting point, thank you so much!
Great, great video and even better channel. Rob, you’ve helped me not only improve at a quicker rate than I would have trying to wing it by myself, but you’ve given me the ability to enjoy playing the drums more because you’ve really limited a lot of the time I would have otherwise spent on getting the technical issues sorted out. I really appreciate it and I love your videos man. Best drum tutorials and drum channel on TH-cam period. That being said, at 9:16, what is going on with those sticks bro!!!!! Those are strait dangerous as far as splinters are concerned. 😂😂😂
Damn dude! I gotta go get me one of those shirts and support the fam! I super appreciate these vids man. Ur channel is super helpful for us self taught groovers and fillers 😋
Thanks. I'm old, and kinda starting out, ( I play guitar???), But I got a set of Yamaha rtc, double 24', and it has been wearing me out, trying to reach. This will help, but still have problems with 2 deep toms, and 2 bass drums. Have to tilt the toms quite a bit.
As a 65-year-old drummer I have a bad back, no surprise there! But I have learned one trick that helps. That is, sitting at the front of your drum throne near the edge that will make your posture and your back straighter and reducing the amount of spine curvature. Believe me this works.
Like you, I try to keep my toms lower on my kick. I find being “above” them makes transitioning from the snare much easier. A lot of my students also have a substantial gaps between their toms (rack/rack and floor/rack). I suggest avoiding this as is makes movement between the toms less efficient. Most import thing I try to pass along is that your kit set up should enhance or compliment you technique. How “cool” you look is really a secondary and ultimately unimportant consideration. Great tips Rob, thanks keep up the good work.
I try to get mine as low as possible, but I'm behind a 26" kick with a 13x10 (10 hight) rack tom, so I'm struggling a bit. Maybe I'll move it further left a bit, to get some room.
Another great vid. I'm guilty of this especially at auditions, and if there's not enough room on stage (it happens when you're in a corner, and elbows hitting the wall or something)
Mr.Brown-where did you acquire your wooden hoops for your tom shells?-I STILL have the Stock garbage aluminum hoops that initially came with my kit, but I have been looking to get the wooden hoops for my rack toms.-I have an older late nineties Pearl Export kit-Thank you sincerily, for your time-Groove Daddy.
Nice video Rob, very surprised to find that what I set-up my kit as pretty much just nilly-willy guessing it, with drummers I like's set-ups as my only prior knowledge on the subject, I set-up my kit almost spot on with what you're saying. It's all about what feels most comfortable, and, more importantly; natural.
How do you set up the toms comfortably? I have a 8-16 toms and the I can't get the 10 inch and 12 inch toms mounted comfortably for me, those 2 are mounted on my kick.
Stewart Copeland had a good tip on setup...Keep it as conventional as possible so that if you ever sit in on someone else's kit, you will minimize the adjustment.
A very helpful video, Rob - as always. Since the hi-hat shouldn't be too high, would you mind sharing a tip or two about how best to avoid colliding sticks when playing loud alternating strokes cross-handed on snare and hi-hat?
Good points for beginners but it's totally personal, I know chaps who play on seats so high they are practically standing! It's something you learn with time (like guitar players with strap lengths) what fits you, what makes you feel comfortable and confident. Drums are probably the only instrument where aesthetics are really prevalent. If you don't like the way your kit looks it has an impact.
I was watching 'Songs of Tokyo' recently and Miyavi was performing however behind him was his drummer a young lady whom I am assuming is less than 4 feet (1.2m) tall her drum kit was so low the 'rack, high or tom toms' were level with her snare drum
What hoops/rims do you have on your toms? They look sick! And vy the way, thank you so much for your videos! I love watching you play and learn a lot from you! As a fellow teacher, I've gotta say you explain everything in a calm, clear way. Awesome! :)
Man, I have some work ahead of me. First thing, re-position my 2nd kick pedal and hi-hats. Try to find a better set-up for fitting 6, 8, 10 rototoms in with a 6 piece Pearl (10, 12, 13 rack-toms, 16-floor). I might just have to trade in those rotos for a couple of rack toms.
You can point the finger and tell me my setup is wrong, because, well, my setup is wrong. Thanks for pushing me to fix it! I am wondering about your traditional grip and snare interaction. When I see you play, it looks like you lean in to the left a lot to let the stick hit the snare. I'd almost suggest to aim the snare away from you and to the right (so if you put a pingpong ball on the snare, it rolls forward and to the right to your floor tom) and raise it a notch to keep your back straight when you do the snare hits. Many traditional grip players look uncomfortable to me, or at least unergonomic (which might hurt in the long run), maybe I'm mistaken there.
On an only barely-related note:
Your playing has gotten more relaxed and creative in the few years I've watched you, Rob. It's a fact that someone who plays more often is going to evolve, but it's clear to me that you've seriously improved. Kudos...
I totally agree with this "set up" vid. No one ever taught it to me, but it's literally just as important as technique is. I've always struggled to get my kit positioned so that playing it is comfortable. It was a revelation to me to play on a crappy kit that was set up perfectly, and compare it to a super expensive kit that was difficult to play; the cheapo-kit was clearly better for my playing.
Right off, Rob's intro solo was super enjoyable. Creative and smooth. thnx Rob.
Just got a kit to start learning. As an engineer my first thought was, "what's the best way to set this up?" These are great pointers and extremely helpful. Thanks :)
As a fellow who hasn’t played in 35 years I truly appreciated this video.
I’ve just gotten a Alesis Strike Pro SE.
Since it has a rack and not individual stands it’s a bit different.
I’d love to see you do a kit like mine. I’m sure I could lean a lot from that instruction.
Thanks!
My journey of 30 years playing drums is a constant shift in how my setup is. Playing different genras has allowed me to move my kit around to feel at ease. You hit the nail on the head with this vid.
It's very important to feel comfort while playing and not reach for pieces. I found that when you do, you tweek body parts unnaturally and leads to injury. Great vid as always.
I never really gave setting my kit up one way until I watched a Billy Ward video one day.One of the most important things that came out was the positioning of my bass drum.Instead of it being straight mine is set up on an angle so when I set down my leg and foot just fall naturally. This has been life changing behind the kit. Second I make sure wether it's a drum or cymbal that my sticks fall natural to the center of the object I'm striking. There's no reaching,everything is in its place.It totally changed my whole way of drumming.Im very relaxed, and comfortable. I play so much better than b4. THANK GOD FOR MEMORY LOCKS ON EVERYTHING.!!!
This guy pisses me off because he's so damn good. His videos are great too. Got to keep working and I'll get there myself :)
This is an old video but as a new drummer I'm so glad it popped up in my feed. I've been struggling with the placement of my low Tom, my Ride cymbal, and the placement/height of my HH in relation to my snare, and snare in relation to my posture and Throne height. This video has really helped me a lot so thank you 😊
WOW!!THIS VIDEO IS GOLD TO ME AS A DRUMMER. BECAUSE ALL THAT YOU EXPLAIN AND DEMOSTRATE ON IT''I DO PRACTICE IT. I BEEN PLAYING FOR 35.YEARS AND IS VERY IMPORTANT TO WATCH VIDEOS lIKE THIS ONE.VERY CLEAR AND INFORMATIVE.I'M 63 YEARS OLD AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM PLAYING 1 OR 2 HOURS BECAUSE I PRACTICE AND LISTEN TO INFORMATION ON VIDEOS LIKE THIS ONE.VERY NICE '''KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND GOD BLESS YOU BROTHER. I'M FROM NEW LONDON CONNECTICUT USA. 😎🇵🇷
Great help... As a beginner, I really appreciate you addressing these sorts of topics. I thought I had my kit wired in where I wanted it. But, on the strength of your video, I'm reconsidering my symbol height(s) and the angle of my snare. I'm back and forth on where to best setup my ride. That may be something for you to touch on in the future. I truly appreciate your content. Thanks again.
All the videos I see on YT are very good and informative, you can't go wrong, but I just connect with this guy, he's what I would choose for a teacher. I love you Rob.
I could listen to that intro all day. I have to say again that your touch on the drums is as nice as any drummer I've ever seen- so clean and fluid and flammy. I try for more of that in my playing every day and I'm 60. I set my kick in a V-pattern with the hats and not straight-on to the auience. Much less contortion going to the floors. Thanks again.
Watched the video a few times, went to the drum set, made some adjustments, and instant difference in my playing! You’re the man!
Been playing for 40 years and I found it was good to review placements etc. Tx Rob.
Excellent! I ended up raising my throne about 2", my snare about the same, lowering my hi-hat about an inch and moving my left bass pedal and hi-hat forward some. I hadn't thought about this in a long time...thanks!
Yeah that thing is sweeeettt!. I have a pearl decade maple that I picked up around christmas and the snare is ok but im wanting to get either a ludwig supraphonic or a pearl beaded brass sensitone to go with it. Love your videos and lessons man.... thanks
Hi Rob, just wanted to say that every time I watch one of your videos, I feel like I'm actually there sat in front of you with a cup of coffee just hanging . . . Thanks brother
Funny. First way I set up a kit was exactly like what you just taught us. That’s hilarious!!! I felt like I shouldn’t have to reach for anything or stress any body part. Wow! Cymbals are low and tight. I’m amazed that all of this is so true. Excellent!
You got some good techniques and stuff I really enjoy watching your shows I'll continue to do so also
For me: I just sit down. Adjust the height so my legs are having an angle. My pedals need to go were my feet are. Then for all my toms and snares I just throw my sticks out and see where they land. That's where the middle of the drum needs to be. Same thing for the cymbals. Don't feel to reach anything, it needs to feel very natural.
TheUnbanned same here
Also I lift up my legs so I can feel if I sit neutral and not leaning forward or backward.
you are the best Rob. I learn more from you than any other on line drummer. AND I learn it quicker. I have played for almost 15 yrs. Still I pick up things that really make sense.
Great insight, Rob. Neil Peart and Billy Ward both influenced my setup strategies at different points in my growth as a drummer. Each of them had different approaches to setting up, and my current approach reflects aspects of what I learned from both ideas. I’m glad to add your thoughts into the mix.
This is an awesome Video and I truly appreciate the content you distribute as well as share it with others
Hey Rob, I wonder if you want to add a step (I just followed your excellent suggestions; thank you again!). But when I was trying to position my second floor Tom I realized that my only option was to move everything back from my bass drum. I wonder if that should be t2nd step after getting a good sitting position on the throne. After I moved everything back I was better able to position my 16 inch without twisting. Just worked for me and much happier with the setup! Best.
"Bad setups, just promote bad technique". I couldn't agree more. It took me so long before I realized that one. Love the videos man. ✌️👍🏽
You were spot on! Very useful tips. The snare even with the naval is a good one. Mine is a little lower and tilted up just a little bit. I'm going to try raising it to my naval.
Where it all starts...Sit down relax and groooove...Thanks Rob
Love the tip about floor Tom placement, definitely gonna look at that next time. Thanks Mr B 😉👍
first thing to do: sit down, be humble
AND THEN MELT SOME FACES!!!!!!!
PompousKatfish I think you just missed a whole half of the first step
Yes, at first I tried to adjust to the drum set cause that's how the set came from factory ( two toms on top of the bass) I. Found my "weak" arm was worse trying to reach the 2nd Tom cause it's further away. I set the toms up to me, with the 1st Tom to the left more and the 2nd Tom was almost in front of me, maybe off to the right just a tad and my playing was so easy, my weak hand improved cause I'm not stretching it effecting the grip or speed, it was very smooth playing and sounding better..
I really like your way to set up the drums but I do a little thing different: I set the bass drum and hi-hat pedals before the snare. I just sit comfortable on the thone, put the pedals under my shoes and then the snare in between. Also a good test to see if everything is in its place is to play something blindfolded haha. I've learned a lot from you, thanks and peace!
This comment was not helpful to me
In Rob's vid he touched closely on healthy "ergonomics" as you have. Playing the drums is very physical and having fundamental knowledge of the human anatomy is crucial. Play and drum kit set up should be synchronous to avoid injury. Proper back, shoulder, arm, wrist and leg positioning will help prevent getting pinched nerves, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.
Absolute carnage in the intro. Love it. So glad I found your channel
I will have to say that this drum fill solos you do on your videos hypes me up to continue to be better at the drums I own! I appreciate you and your real ness always man and thank you oh for helping reset my kit now that I have added another cymbal to my collection.
My dude ..watched several of your vids ..you are by far one of the best at what you are doing ..I like the laid back its not rocket science approach
Excellent! and thank you for mentioning seat height first,all very helpful .
After watching this I’m going to adjust my throne a tad bit higher and adjust every thing to that Thanks Man🤘🏻👍🏻🥁
Man I love you hear your advice, and to hear ya play
Such a useful lesson. Something a lot of teachers don't talk about, but yet is probably one of the more important things.
+Matthew Parsons Definitely in the top 3, yea. Thanks for watchin 🙂🇨🇦
Man...all of the simple things that I've wondered about for years, answered in a few short minutes. Love your channel, Rob!!!
Great work, Rob. Love your comment, “Bad setup promotes bad technique.” Sometimes if I’m having trouble with a multiple drum/cymbal lick, I’ll check my setup and make sure I don’t have a particular drum or cymbal set up a little off. Love the in-close concept, where things are reachable at minimum effort. In December I had right wrist surgery, and it’s playing hell with my setup! I think I’m going to have to go with my floor tom more “in front” of me than it is. Painful to go to the right...thanks again for your help!
Thanks for the video! The double floor Tom tip is a lifesaver.
Appreciate your service by sharing your years of experience,mistakes (or less efficiency,more like it) and sharing it with us.God bless you,Beat Down!
I'm new to drumming. This helped me thanks.
It’s amazing how every video you’ve made is relevant, especially to my playing. YOU DA MAN 🔥🔥🔥
New drum setup, new mic setup - new cymbals - looking good.....great lesson Rob, thank you
Another tip I got was to sit down and play without looking (as you do in the beginning here), where the end of the stick naturally falls on each tom, for example, is where it should be located.
Loved the playing in the beginning! Was a little mesmerized, should do a video for 10 minutes where you improvise!
Haha. I ain’t tryin’ to bore nobody over here, man 🙂
Thanks bro. Been trying to perfect the right setup for myself especially in terms of long sets. This really helps. Thx
Love these videos. Confirms lots of things I've adapted independently, which makes me really relate to the style of teaching here, but also teaches a ton of stuff i had no idea about. Killing it. Absolutely killing it.
I love your videos mr brown. The way you explain things about drums,techniques, and skill levels is so real and precise. Watching your video on backing tracks saved me a lot of time and stress at my cd release show. I bought the same track machine. Your setup was easy to use and maintain. Thank you Mr. Brown.
That's cool stuff, man. Glad it helped 🙂 🇨🇦
Hi Rob, Just wanted to compliment you and the good advice you give in this video. I'm a chiropractor (and drummer) and so have given some thought to the ergonomics of drumming. I thought the info you shared was well thought out and sound. I picked up a couple of tips that I'll certainly use going forward. Incidentally, I watched this video because I just purchased a Yamaha Stage Custom Birch based in part on your recommendations and have been tweaking my setup. I'm really enjoying them so far.
Keep up the great work and thanks!
Mike
Bravo more. I learn as much from you as all these "masters" I pay a lot of attention to (and I think your playing is outstanding!). Thanks yet again!
Whoops; Bravo "Man"...
You are so right about sitting a little higher up with thighs on a slight downward angle. It saves the back from injury. I play in a club with a house kit and sometimes the throne and snare are so low, I don't know how people play sitting two feet from the floor.
I've naturally been doing this, although you've given me some fine tuning so to speak. I've been moving things multiple times a day trying to increase the fluidity without having to over extend on anything. It definitely compacts the kit and takes away some visual appeal, but that was never my concern in the first place. (I say that about visual appeal due to my wife saying it doesn't look as pretty.) Once again, thanks for what you do. I love going through your material as though I'm sifting through a music library.
Antother great video Rob. Really good food for thought. I've always said Playing drums is like driving a car. No matter how long the gig or the trip is, you want to stay comfortable.
Great fundamental stuff. This dude is helping me so much. Had to subscribe.
I’ve been guilty in the past of setting a kit up so it looks cool or the toms are the same height and angle are the same! Instead of setting the kit to my reach and comfort! Great tips, thanks Rob
Cheers Rob! A really useful video for any drummer. I will share this with my subscribers now.
I just went back to a 3-up from a 1-up. I can never get my ride and crashes on the right side just right. I did pick up the Tama Hi-hat aux that clamps to the tube on my Gretsh tom mounts, which are rack mounted. That is really working good from me.
Best drummer on youtube!
Thanks Rob, for your awesome videos. I’ve noticed that for the snare height placement, relationship with where my elbows hang naturally is most important. I am female, short waisted (I think), and having the snare at naval height is too high for me. But this video provides a fantastic starting point, thank you so much!
Great, great video and even better channel. Rob, you’ve helped me not only improve at a quicker rate than I would have trying to wing it by myself, but you’ve given me the ability to enjoy playing the drums more because you’ve really limited a lot of the time I would have otherwise spent on getting the technical issues sorted out. I really appreciate it and I love your videos man.
Best drum tutorials and drum channel on TH-cam period. That being said, at 9:16, what is going on with those sticks bro!!!!! Those are strait dangerous as far as splinters are concerned. 😂😂😂
Damn dude! I gotta go get me one of those shirts and support the fam! I super appreciate these vids man. Ur channel is super helpful for us self taught groovers and fillers 😋
Thanks. I'm old, and kinda starting out, ( I play guitar???), But I got a set of Yamaha rtc, double 24', and it has been wearing me out, trying to reach. This will help, but still have problems with 2 deep toms, and 2 bass drums. Have to tilt the toms quite a bit.
As a 65-year-old drummer I have a bad back, no surprise there! But I have learned one trick that helps. That is, sitting at the front of your drum throne near the edge that will make your posture and your back straighter and reducing the amount of spine curvature. Believe me this works.
Excellent advice. I saw Anton Fig play with Chris Spedding & his snare is severely angled towards him.
Exactly what we need to hear !! Thanks Rob for saving us from verbose videos on the same subject
Thanks man! You helped me to reconsider my 2nd floor tom position
What a beautiful kit!
Rob you are awesome dude.So straight,calm and very informative.I do really enjoy your teaching.Thank you so much for this video.
Like you, I try to keep my toms lower on my kick. I find being “above” them makes transitioning from the snare much easier. A lot of my students also have a substantial gaps between their toms (rack/rack and floor/rack). I suggest avoiding this as is makes movement between the toms less efficient. Most import thing I try to pass along is that your kit set up should enhance or compliment you technique. How “cool” you look is really a secondary and ultimately unimportant consideration. Great tips Rob, thanks keep up the good work.
I try to get mine as low as possible, but I'm behind a 26" kick with a 13x10 (10 hight) rack tom, so I'm struggling a bit. Maybe I'll move it further left a bit, to get some room.
Rob you make look so easy!! You keep challenging me! Love your lessons. Thanks man!!
Great video, I enjoyed it, I used to sit higher than I needed until I saw myself playing on video. Every time I used double kick, I'd lean forward.
Another great vid. I'm guilty of this especially at auditions, and if there's not enough room on stage (it happens when you're in a corner, and elbows hitting the wall or something)
Mr.Brown-where did you acquire your wooden hoops for your tom shells?-I STILL have the Stock garbage aluminum hoops that initially came with my kit, but I have been looking to get the wooden hoops for my rack toms.-I have an older late nineties Pearl Export kit-Thank you sincerily, for your time-Groove Daddy.
Nice video Rob, very surprised to find that what I set-up my kit as pretty much just nilly-willy guessing it, with drummers I like's set-ups as my only prior knowledge on the subject, I set-up my kit almost spot on with what you're saying. It's all about what feels most comfortable, and, more importantly; natural.
Thank you for this one Rob. Great tips.
The second floor Tom advice was money! Thanks!
I have my kit set up with the toms in front of the snare drum, and my ride cymbal over the bass drum. It’s more ergonomic for me.
Snare angle is all preference...check out Phil animal tayler's snare from early motorhead...he had no problem and sounds awesome!
Excellent video. The video help me out a lot. Luv that kit by the way.👏👏
How do you set up the toms comfortably? I have a 8-16 toms and the I can't get the 10 inch and 12 inch toms mounted comfortably for me, those 2 are mounted on my kick.
Stewart Copeland had a good tip on setup...Keep it as conventional as possible so that if you ever sit in on someone else's kit, you will minimize the adjustment.
Thank you so much for this video man! Much needed 😢
A very helpful video, Rob - as always. Since the hi-hat shouldn't be too high, would you mind sharing a tip or two about how best to avoid colliding sticks when playing loud alternating strokes cross-handed on snare and hi-hat?
Good points for beginners but it's totally personal, I know chaps who play on seats so high they are practically standing!
It's something you learn with time (like guitar players with strap lengths) what fits you, what makes you feel comfortable and confident.
Drums are probably the only instrument where aesthetics are really prevalent. If you don't like the way your kit looks it has an impact.
Doesn’t questlove play super high up?
I know this video is old but mannnnn... That performance was beautiful
ooh! that intro groove was killer
Thanx again by the way your a good teacher. Appreciate your knowledge
I Really appreciate you !!! Support on the way !!
I was watching 'Songs of Tokyo' recently and Miyavi was performing however behind him was his drummer a young lady whom I am assuming is less than 4 feet (1.2m) tall her drum kit was so low the 'rack, high or tom toms' were level with her snare drum
What hoops/rims do you have on your toms? They look sick! And vy the way, thank you so much for your videos! I love watching you play and learn a lot from you! As a fellow teacher, I've gotta say you explain everything in a calm, clear way. Awesome! :)
Man, I have some work ahead of me. First thing, re-position my 2nd kick pedal and hi-hats. Try to find a better set-up for fitting 6, 8, 10 rototoms in with a 6 piece Pearl (10, 12, 13 rack-toms, 16-floor). I might just have to trade in those rotos for a couple of rack toms.
once again bro ,excellent video.i always find your videos inspirational and i look forward to each and every upload.
thanks mate
+Karl Myers Awesome. Thanks, dude 🙂👊🏽🇨🇦
Haha, I'm literally gonna go downstairs now to check out the kit! :D Thanks for the tips, man!
Thanks this was a great help
Thanks for another great video Rob
+Rob Martin No sweat, man. Thanks for watchin 🙂
Thanks for the post, Rob. I have needed to think about this for quite a while--my back has told me so :)
Great video, Rob!!
You can point the finger and tell me my setup is wrong, because, well, my setup is wrong. Thanks for pushing me to fix it!
I am wondering about your traditional grip and snare interaction. When I see you play, it looks like you lean in to the left a lot to let the stick hit the snare. I'd almost suggest to aim the snare away from you and to the right (so if you put a pingpong ball on the snare, it rolls forward and to the right to your floor tom) and raise it a notch to keep your back straight when you do the snare hits. Many traditional grip players look uncomfortable to me, or at least unergonomic (which might hurt in the long run), maybe I'm mistaken there.
I absolutely love the sound of the large FX cymbal above the hi hat Rob. I'd love to get one. What brand and model is it?
It’s a Paiste 18” Medium Alpha Swiss. Discontinued but it inspired the entire PST-X line which is available now.