Let's talk some metric modulation

[Manu]

I couldn't get this topic out of my head after Jojo's latest polyrhythmic thread.

Here is Vinnie explaining it http://www.vinniecolaiuta.com/articles/smm.aspx

How you use it? what are the best ways of switching between pulses? Let's talk about it.

[Manu]

I gotta say in all honesty, poly feels and modulations are the thing that always called my attention the most in drumming. For me drummers that can mess around with it in a musical way are the ones I hold in higher esteem.

[bstocky]

Check out Gavin Harrison. He has a book/dvd on this subject.
A lot of guys play the Vinnie example. They play a normal rock beat then triplet high-hats over the rock drum beat then switch the beat to match the triplet hands. I think that's lame and predictable. I don't know if guys need to play the "steps" to hear/feel the modulation or they do it so the listener (us) understands what is going on but it's really lame. It's like "Here it comes! I'm going to do something fancy!"
The best guys (Vinnie, Jojo, Gavin, etc) can instantly flipped from normal to the illusion and then back to the original feel perfectly. It's cool when they do it, really lame when most other people try it.

[Manu]

Yeah I get what you mean, but I guess most people don't get to own modulations at the level of the greats and just try their best. Same with the kinda licks everyone does etc.

Yet I must say, regarding your post, I do not hear **that*** many conventional drummers doing modulations. At the most they accent a bit of another pulse on the hi hat or ride, kinda like that recent sansalone vid someone posted (maybe you recall it), but trying modulations? i'd be scared and i guess so are most people.

We can't fail to mention our own Steve Holmes in this regards, he pulls some nasty modulations some times, I love it everytime, makes my jaw drop instantly

[Manu]

Here's Marko Djordjevic doing some modulations.

And also Gergo does some kick ass modulation right before the middle here

[electrizer]

Sometimes I tend to play some simple polyrhythms and, like Jojo said, I dont really count it. You have to have it down to a point where you instinctively know how two beats are intertwined and where 'one' is. But I noticed that whenever I play something like that it's the superimposed pattern that it's played mechanically, and I count the main, base beat of the groove. So you kind of 'forget' the modulation you're adding and let your hands play it, and focus on counting the beat so it fits the measures.

Probably what I just said is so straightforward and obvious it's silly but it was an important realisation for me and helped me approach those kinds of things right.

[Old Pit Guy]

... It's cool when they do it, really lame when most other people try it.

I'd say it's pretty much first degree wankery in most scenarios. The exceptions would be if it occurs during general wankery, where all wankery is fair game, or it's subtle and artfully done when it's the drummer's time and he or she choose a route of wankery that includes modulating. Otherwise, I'd just as soon watch someone blow cookies using hertas on youporn.

[Manu]

... It's cool when they do it, really lame when most other people try it.

I'd say it's pretty much first degree wankery in most scenarios. The exceptions would be if it occurs during general wankery, where all wankery is fair game, or it's subtle and artfully done when it's the drummer's time and he or she choose a route of wankery that includes modulating. Otherwise, I'd just as soon watch someone blow cookies using hertas on youporn.

funny

One thing I was wondering, anyone knows the sticking to play every 3 16th notes accents on the hi hat while keeping 16th note triplets underneath? Joel Taylor does it in this Jeff Richman cover of walking on the moon and I love it but I can't figure out the sticking to pull it off.

[Rodge]

We have to use the music for doing it, not just the drums, or just because we can.

Like would say Steve, it's not a toy.

[Clint Hopkins]

One thing I was wondering, anyone knows the sticking to play every 3 16th notes accents on the hi hat while keeping 16th note triplets underneath? Joel Taylor does it in this Jeff Richman cover of walking on the moon and I love it but I can't figure out the sticking to pull it off.

Manu, can you give a time in the song?