X8 Drums Blog

Drumming is a lot more than just picking up two drum sticks and hitting a drum. There are nuances to drumming that the rest of the world knows little about, which lend to the stereotype of a drummer being, well, not entirely vital to the overall epic nature of music. When you got your first drum, or discovered your love of drumming and rhythm, you probably did just pick up a pair of drum sticks and start hitting a drum. It’s a pretty natural action, no different than picking up a guit …

Nothing beats the low, droning hum of a didgeridoo. As an ancient instrument that represents the aboriginal culture of Australia, the didge holds many mysteries that captivate us all to this day. Didgeridoos are used in drum circles and as instruments of healing for both the listener and the person playing it. But, let’s face it, a didge is pretty hard to transport, just because of its size. Plus, when you’re carrying around a didgeridoo, you’re probably getting stopped a lot and quest …

If you’re one of those music fans who scour the backside of album covers or the sleeve of a CD, you probably noticed that some artists are given credit for being a drummer, while others are labeled as a percussionist. You may even see both titles next to an artist’s name, causing you to once again question everything you ever knew about the world of music, rhythm, drums and percussion instruments. We feel your pain. There are legendary drummers who would never once say they’r …

There’s a certain allure to drumming that is best captured in the audio or video of a song, but is somehow lost in many of the photos of a drummer completely engaged in his or her passion for rhythm. Much like any other physical activity, the still shots of a drummer can reveal some unique expressions and faces, all of which can be taken out of context and shown as the next great Internet meme (or worse). Very few of us are stock photography models sitting behind a drum set or with a djemb …

On any given spring day, you can hear the soft jingle of a local band of tambourine players as they glide through the meadows, ribbons trailing behind them, punctuating each step with joyful sounds. Well, ok, that doesn’t really happen so much anymore, but, it is a great visual for anyone who sees the tambourine as more than just an accent percussion instrument, but, a true instrument in its own right. Tambourines have been around since ancient times, where they were mostly seen in the …

What do drummers love doing? We love to drum. We drum on our drums, percussion instruments, desks, steering wheels, and sometimes, on ourselves. Look at Kevin Bacon right there - he's playing a tambourine!  But, we have to sadly admit that drumming doesn’t always allow us to spend quality time with our family and friends. Or, if we’re sick or injured, we can’t necessarily pick up the sticks or grab our djembe and rock out. We’re only human, and once in a while, we have to put a …

We all know that shot of energy from a couple of Twinkies or a super-double-crunk-mocha-latte-with-a-twist-of-B-12 are two ways for any drummer to keep up the momentum during the hours of practice required to be great, up on a stage or in the throes of a drum circle. But, there is also a lot of talk about how drumming can be just as much exercise as running a marathon. Hours of drumming has an impact on your body – you sweat, you burn calories, you thirst and you hunger. Marathon r …

Have you ever noticed that Latin drummers are unnervingly happy? If you take a look at the great Latin drummers, they have a totally different vibe when drumming than so many other percussionists and musicians. They’re in the groove so hard, they almost become the focus of the song. Latin drummers are the sound of Latin music, and those rhythms are what make us all want to jump up and groove right along with them. One of the great things about Latin music is that the same basic rhythm …

The holiday season can make us all crazy. We’ve got families to visit, meals to cook, office parties and a whole lot of shopping to get done in just a few weeks. Because this is such an important part of the year for everyone, it only makes sense that at the end of it all, we just want to relax with our loved ones and enjoy the feeling of not running ourselves ragged. So, you should get everyone you know drums and percussion instruments for the holidays. Drums are natural stress relie …

Unless you’re a closet drummer, with probably the least amount of space possible for a full drum set, at some point you’re going to wonder one of the great drumming questions of all time: should you trust your beloved drums to a drum rack, or keep them safe on drum stands. With the love of rhythm and drumming comes the understanding that out of all of the members of your band, or your friends who play guitar, keyboards or saxophone, you have the most gear and instruments to care for. I …