Drum Tips and Techniques Articles

The Drumometer™: The Basics

For those of you who aren't aware, a "Drumometer™" is a device designed to measure the number of stick or bass drum beater strikes made over a given time period. It is made up of a timer/counter "brain", and a triggered striking surface that provides strike data to the brain. Once you actually strike the designated playing surface, the timer begins to count down - as the total strike data increases. This is all displayed on the screen in real-time. The model II Drumometer™ unit incorporates a metronome mode and a foot trigger (that resets the unit to the last interval programmed, and makes it ready for use once again). The current maximum time interval you can program into a model II is fifteen minutes (900 seconds). The minimum program interval is 1 second.

Misunderstandings About the Drumometer™ and It's Uses

Think about it, essentially every electric guitar player uses a myriad of "devices" for practicing, recording and performing. These devices have been designed to make them sound better - and even to stay in tune. And that's okay. But a Drumometer™ is different. The device does NOT make you sound better by itself. Instead, you must use wisely to earn the benefits it can provide. It is first and foremost a personal practicing aid will provide true and lasting value to your ability - if you use it correctly.This is a critical distinction that can't be overlooked.

It's true that in a practice or instructional environment, a Drumometer™ "can" help increase your playing speed - and that's okay. However, hard work is still required to accomplish this. More importantly, the device also helps you balance hand-to-hand and foot-to-foot strength, improve endurance, improve dynamics, improve time and feel, and increase your sticking and "footing" accuracy. But you must earn it.

I am increasingly frustrated by the negative views I see on forums and blogs about the Drumometer; including some made by "big name" drummers. It seems to me that such comments are being made without personal knowledge of the device - as well as those who seem radically against speed drumming competitions. Well, if you're against speed drumming competitions that's one thing. But if you haven't even tried a Drumometer™ to see how it could help you, then how can you comment about it intelligently? You can't. Doing so only shows a complete lack of knowledge. If the drummers making the negative comments would simply try a Drumometer™, I believe they would see the many levels of benefits the device provides to the dedicated pro drummer.

Although many suggest that the Drumometer™ has no value in drumming, quite the opposite is the case. And I know this first-hand. I am not a competitive person regarding drumming or the arts in general, yet, I find the Drumometer™ a fascinating tool that continues to humble me. It also helps me discover how to improve many aspects of my playing. This is exactly why I feel every drummer should have a Drumometer™.

Forget whether you "approve" of the concept of a "world's fastest drummer" competition; instead, just try the Drumometer™ to see what it can really do for you.

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