Uneducated???

[Andy_was_here]

i have been playing since the start of 2000.
I try to get in an hour or two every day. And then 4 on Wednesdays and 8 on sundays (jamming with bands)
So i feel like i am a fairly good drummer. I know all about theory and technique yadda yadda yadda.
However, it has occured to me that i have noooo idea about drums(as in, the physical instrument)
The only skins I've ever used are my drum teacher's old heads. The cymbals i use are from my old drumkit, and they are so worn that i cant read the brand name, nor can i remember it.
I usually just play with whatever drum sticks are my size (Couldn't tell you size.. just whatever feels comfortable)
And sometimes use brushes.

So yeah, i feel really retarded when i hear people giving specs of their kit when i dont even know what the dimentions of my kit are!
I know it's teal coloured pearl export, and thats about it!
And when people say things like "man! all those n00bs using AHEADS and pinstripe heads! hahaha" I have nooooo idea what the hell they're talking about.

I guess you can be great with technique, rythm, groove, and all that but do you think you also need an understanding of all the differant brands, sizes and shapes of drums?


I'M FREAKING OUT!

[keeferz]

Well, it goes back to the age old adage of it helps to know what you're talking about. Basically, its all a learning process. I pick up alot of stuff from my drum teacher, from magazines and from this good ol' forum. Your drum teacher in fairness should be telling you these things however. You need a basic understanding of the kit to progress when you either upgrade or lets say you want to tune a new snare etc - Its not essentiall but damn does it help!
Just keep playing and make an effort to learn about the rest along the way.

[mysticalyeti]

Spend more time forums like this, or fantasize about gear... it'll come to you.

My love of drum stuff (as most drummers have >_>) has lead to knowing a lot about it.

[Tim]

I learned about more than half of what i know in here...(product wise and all that)

[AndyEdwardsMusic.com]

Gear is not as important as it is made out.

Sometimes my students complain about their kits and I always say . What would Vinnie sound like on your kit and they go 'Oh, amazing probably...'

[Kosmos Tree]

^^^
Absolutely, it's important how you play not on what.

[Loyton]

You should feel lucky, many MANY a materialistic child are the polar oppisite of you, and be lucky it isnt the other way around! Gear specs good/bad can be taught easily and learned easily, takes many years to get technique and playing such as you currently have (or so i assume):thumb:

[aznriceball]

forums like mx D&p are topnotch in the gear knowlege department

[drumbum562]

Hang out in music shops and study the brands and sticks and what not, forums like these dont hurt either.

[Killjoy]

:lol: wtf

[mysticalyeti]

I don't see how just being interested in drum gear automatically makes you materialistic, unless you didn't mean it that way >_>

[Skin Beater]

Gear is not as important as it is made out.

Sometimes my students complain about their kits and I always say . What would Vinnie sound like on your kit and they go 'Oh, amazing probably...'

123123123123123123123123123123!!!!!!

I have been saying this for a long time. People get way too caught up in this brand sucks that brand sucks, I guarantee you 99% of the people on these forums could not tell the difference between a maple and a birch kit if they were blindfolded, but you always see these kids on here saying maple sucks birch sucks.

[Double Bass Jim]

Haha yes sir you got that right.

People get all worked up over equipment instead of actually playing.

[ToneDef™]

I think you're all missing his point. He clearly has never been too 'materialistic' because he's got this far without worrying about it. I think he's just worrying about how much it helps to have a KNOWLEDGE of different gear, brand names etc.

If you ask me it helps a great deal. You can be the world's best drummer but if you're having a conversation with another drummer and you don't know your own kit specs or who made your cymbals you will come off as an amateur. You walk into a shop to buy a new cymbal, you're not going to know what to ask for, what size, what weight etc.

It's all fair enough to be a brilliant player. But to be a part of the modern day drumming community you gotta know your DW from you CB.