X8 Drums Blog

Noted on Urban Dictionary as the “best looking member” of alternative band, Panic! At the Disco, Spencer Smith is a millennial drummer with the skills and attitude to embark on a drumming career without boundaries. Preferring to maintain his technical mastery over driving rhythms and strong beats instead of improvisational fills, Smith brings a strong dance groove to the music produced by Panic! At the Disco. At the age of 12, Spencer Smith began drumming in Pet Salamander with friend, Ryan R …

Described by some as a “drumming ninja,” Chris Coleman has drummed for legends like Chaka Khan, New Kids on the Block, Prince, Babyface and Christina Aguilera, as well as participated in Drummers 4 Jesus. He has traveled the world, and now calls LA home, but still gives credit to his earliest influences and shares his skills with others through his own drumming clinics and classes. Coleman began drumming at the ripe age of 2 and continued his musical education and experimentation through …

Want some cymbals? Want them for free? Can you shred like a metal maniac? This contest may be the answer to your drumming obsession, love of music or need to be part of something bigger than yourself: the release of a new line of cymbals. Grant McFarland, drummer for This or the Apocalypse, is teaming up with Meinl Cymals in an effort to award a set of Meinl Classics Custom Series Cymbals to one lucky winner. Entering the contest is easy, just download “Toro” from the This or the Apoca …

Zildjian has been a leader in cymbals for centuries, innovating the world of drumming, classical music and performance for over 300 years. Cymbals Direct is proud to announce its designation as an authorized dealer for Zildjian cymbals, bringing the quality, sound and dedication to music direct to customers around the world. Zildjian offers a wide array of cymbals and gear for the avid drummer, as well as for the beginner drummer looking for value and quality. Products include cymbals for …

Metal drummers are unlike all other drummers, throwing body, mind and soul into driving rhythms that can outlast and upstage even the most intuitive drum machine. For these artists, drumming is a commitment to music, to the art of thrashing, and a genre of entertainment that forces pop-flavored, auto-tuned radio peeps to cower, awe-struck and maybe a little jealous.Jon “The Charn” Rice of Job for a Cowboy knows the power and endurance required from metal drummers. Fast hands and extreme do …

When it comes to cutting-edge rhythm and unique sound, drummers often search for the latest and most innovative cymbals on the market to enhance and cultivate a personal drumming style. With the wide array of cymbals available today, the cymbal sound, decay and timbre choices may seem endless. The Generation X line of cymbals from Meinl, however, makes those choices just a bit easier. Known for mystifying tones that are experimental and innovative, Meinl Generation X cymbals bring rhythm a …

The right cymbal is just as important as the right drum when it comes to finding a style and sound that fits the drummer. When a drummer first begins to explore the cymbal options available, it can seem an overwhelming task, especially with all of the various types of cymbals available from manufacturers today. Experimenting with different brands of cymbals can give a drummer the insight needed to produce a unique vibe on the drums, but perhaps the easiest way to begin the journey to cymba …

Whether bright and shiny, subtly matte, lathed, dark or mysterious, the way a cymbal looks has more than a visual effect on a music performance. Cymbals are complicated instruments that are crafted according to standards that have been improved upon for centuries. From the angle of the cymbal, the size of its bell and the metal alloys used, a cymbal can produce a wide range of sounds, tones and harmonics to suit the drummer and music being played.The finish used on a cymbal has more than a …

Meinl, one of the leading heavy weights in the cymbal market, has come crashing through with another fantastic line of German made cymbals. The M-Series, created from B20 bronze alloy and manufactured through a high-tech computerized process, gives off a traditional vibe yet are as loud as you need them to be. Created with versatility in mind, the M-Series aren't cymbals that are pigeon holed into one type of music. Whether you are a professional that plays jazz or a metal drumm …

The unmistakable sound of a gong can accentuate the end of a song or phrase within music, or be a reminder of the cultural significance of instruments within spiritual circles. These unique instruments are a symbol of Asian culture and are deeply tied to the lives of those within countries like Japan, China and in South Asia. Gongs were once used as a means of communication over long distances, and represent success within the lives of those cultures.The process of manufacturing a gong is …