X8 Drums Blog

The ancient techniques of cymbal making have produced a range of cymbal styles that appeal to different drummers across the music spectrum. For the earliest origins of the cymbal, these instruments have been strategically crafted to produce different sounds that accent music from rock to jazz, and classical to world music. The decay, attack and overall tone and sound quality of a cymbal are directly related to its size, shape and the alloy used in its construction. Until a drummer is famil …

Bringing different styles and techniques of drumming together is one of the most significant moves a drummer can make when it comes to building a long-lasting, interesting career. It is hard to find a great drummer that has not mastered drumming for several types of music, bringing a personal connection to the genres into the drummer’s own unique style of playing.Combining metal, punk and rock with Latin American flair, Roy Mayorga has earned his chops as a drummer with the style, ability …

Many times, the first experience a person has with musical instruments is through the band or orchestra program in school. From woodwinds to percussion, these programs expose students to the different types of instruments that have impacted music for centuries, and can lead to a life-long love of music in all its forms. Marching band is one of the most visible representations of the music instruction available in schools. Usually thought of as a half-time football act, parade entertainmen …

The world of music is full of a vast array of genres, artists, instruments and, above all, passion. The passion for creative expression drives many a musician to great heights, and usually, these amazing artists know from a young age that music is a chosen calling. Mitch Marine is one of those artists. A drummer who has played with bands like Smash Mouth and Tripping Daisy, Marine began drumming in eighth grade and has been a non-stop force of rhythm ever since. As the current drummer …

Cymbal choices are some of the most exciting and overwhelming decisions that must be made when customizing a drum kit. For the drummer ready to move beyond basic cymbals and start building a personal sound, or the professional drummer looking to enhance a drum kit with a brighter sound or a trashier vibe, a drummer has a wide range of styles, sizes and brands to choose from.Many cymbals are geared toward specific styles of music, and have descriptive terminology that can ultimately define …

Fans of Arejay Hale, of Halestorm, know his amazing control of both the drums and the audience during a concert.  Hale has been known to interrupt his own intense drum solos to ramp up the crowd, conducting from the stage with drum sticks, and orchestrating the crowd’s cheers and chants, bending them to his will. Hale may be one of rock’s more entertaining drummers, and a big reason why Halestorm is a non-stop force of metal, with humble roots as a middle school garage band from Penns …

When Las Vegas, Nevada, is mentioned, a visual landscape of gambling, outrageous stage shows and Elvis impersonators may come to mind. In February, 2012, however, drums will take over the imagery that is inspired by the city that never sleeps. Welcome to the John Wackerman 2nd Annual Las Vegas Drum Festival, an event that is ready to rock the world and take the drumming up a notch or twelve.In its second year, The John Wackerman 2nd Annual Las Vegas Drum Festival is proud to call Las Vegas …

Blake Fleming is a man who knows drums, and the rhythm and style it takes to create a new voice in drumming. His drum interest began at the young age of eight, leading him to several years of performance within orchestras, bagpipe bands and other experiences that led him straight into the world of experimental music. Known today as the drummer of Future by Now a New York-based experimental band that also features Andris Balins, Fleming is a prominent name in progressive, post-punk, math …

There is little worse than sitting down at a drum set, ready to rock, and noticing a crack, chip or break in a crash, hi-hat, splash or other cymbal. It’s not uncommon for cymbals to become damaged through normal use, storage or transportation, but the resulting disappointment a drummer endures can be the hardest part of moving beyond a broken cymbal. Because of the process a drummer goes through in order to find the right cymbal to produce a personal sound, these instruments can become …

With little biographical information available, the stereotypical mystery of a drummer is alive and well in Rich Beddoe, one of the members of Canada’s alternative rock icons, Finger Eleven. For fans of the genre, Finger Eleven brings its fans a look into the longevity of a band that was originally formed when it’s members were in high school. Today, with five released albums and a Juno Award for Rock Album of the year in 2008, Finger Eleven and drummer, Rich Beddoe, are proving that succe …