Behind The Kit 35
The Evolution of Drum Sets: The Early Years
Just like humans, the drum kit has evolved over the years. And just like humans, drum kits have made their biggest strides in technology and refinements in the last century. The modern drum kit has only been around for about 100 years, but humans have been drumming forever, so why have the last 100 years […]
Sabian Launches Updated, UNBOUND AAX Cymbals
Sabian’s AAX family of cymbals has been one of the most popular and widely available cymbal collections on the market since their launch in 1993. But those AAX cymbals back in ’93 were much different from the ones proudly listed in the zZounds Drum category today! During NAMM 2019 Sabian launched a new logo and […]
Experimental Drumming Ideas for Beginners & Intermediate Players
One thing that made learning drums harder for me at a young age was that it felt more like homework than having fun. Below, I’ll list a few approaches to drumming that helped me to spice things up a little bit (and later, applied to my life as a drummer in bands). DJ Snare Wire […]
Andrew Marshall Talks Drumming for Billie Eilish and His Monster Live Kit
Andrew Marshall is a working drummer who has played and produced for dozens of artists and bands. Currently he’s supplying beats and live production on Billie Eilish’s When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? tour. zZounds sat down with Andrew in the depths of the United Center during their stop in Chicago to […]
How Drum Heads Affect Your Tone
Drum heads: an oft-debated subject for drummers in which hard-and-fast opinions abound. Clear or coated? Single ply or double ply? Let’s dig into this debate and learn what impact drum heads have on the sound of your kit. Ply Put simply, the ply refers to how many layers of material your drum head has. More […]
Cymbal Cleaner Shootout
Cleaning and polishing your cymbals not only preserves their look and shine, but also extends their life and tone! We all know that nearly every cymbal maker and tons of third-party companies make polish, but what works the best for you and could a D.I.Y. solution work just as well? Probably not. But that’s okay! […]
What Gear Does Your Favorite Drummer Use?
Most drummers can remember that first moment when we understood our destiny. For me it goes back to the time I strolled into my middle school friend’s basement where his older brother had a Pearl Export kit set up, ready to rock. I more than anything in that moment wanted to climb behind the kit […]
Cymbal Anatomy Collection
In Cymbal Anatomy, we’ve covered the structure of cymbals, from the bell down to the outermost lathed ring. With shape, thickness, and material (among other attributes) all making an important contribution in each cymbal’s unique sound, use this as your guide and reference to find the ideal cymbals for your kit! Hammering Those small divots […]
Cymbal Anatomy Part 7: Effects
There is an entire world outside of your hi-hats, crash, and ride cymbals that you might be ignoring. From the brash to the subtle, using effects cymbals can add a lot of personality to your sound. With an ever-expanding product category, it would be impossible to cover it all, so here is a look into […]
