Le Cri - Tougoudoum Number 12

AN EXAMPLE OF COURAGE AND PERSISTENCE

Been born on January 31, 1951, Phil Collins is one of the more polyvalent drummers, among all generations, being as well comfortable in a Rock or Jazz context. Thus he felt very early the influence of Jazz drummers like Elvin Jones or Buddy Rich.

Let's continue our study with the emplyment of the beam with the thirty second notes.

Rick Allen was the drummer of Def Leppard, Hard Rock band of the years 70-80. If he is passed to the posterity, this is also because of a physical characteristic : he lost his left arm in a tragic car accident.

It is a matter here to hit the head lightly, without getting up the stick too much. The nuances and the possibilities are multiple, and the effect is guaranteed.

This music, where the electronics is very present, leaves nevertheless a rather large place to the musicians, notably to the drummers.

It is essential to feel comfortable while playing the bass drum pedal. It is true that the bass sounds are the foundations on which the sharper sounds come to put themselves.

Thus, the pedal do not must be too hard to play, to avoid tiring the ankle. On the other hand, it can be more difficult to mastery if it is regulated too loosens. It's up to you therefore to find the right adjustment, in order to feel good sensations. Nowadays there is a very varied choice, then do not hesitate to experiment, especially in the store before buying.

• if the good pedals have a certain cost, there exist numerous models, rather inexpensive (around 150 Euros) and of good quality. Take the time to inform yourself,

• some elements that we detailed above are very important, as flexibility, silence of the pieces in movement, and possibilities of adjustment,

• some pedals, said "progressive", allow the addition of a second drum pedal,

• put and transport your pedal in an ad hoc holster ; even if it is done essentially with metallic parts, the springs, the chain or the head of the beat can be damaged if you don't take care,

Genesis produced many albums until the middle of the years 80, getting together a very large public through the generations, with hits like Mama..

The notation is done with the mention "p" (for "piano") or "pp" (for pianissimo), or in substituteing the heads of the notes by a small head or a simple line. We will study later the different nuances. They can also be surrounded by parentheses (nevertheless do not confuse them with notes to play "in option").

The latter, after having been eclipsed by the rhythm boxes and other samplers, re-find a important role since the latter times, with a hyper dynamic play, marked by far fineness.

The Jungle draws its roots between other in the indian rhythmics and music (listen for example Asian Dub Foundation).

The principle remains the same, the thirty second notes being linked up by three lines, replacing the three hooks.

Besides the logic is the same that in our picture concerning the length of the notes in TOUGOUDOUM Number 2 : the sixteenth note divides itself to give two thirty second notes ; here four sixteenth notes followed by ... eight thirty second notes :

The rest substituteing the thirty second note is the thirty second note rest. Example :

• do not trust the look of your pedal (one does not see anymore the sole when the foot is put on it !), but rather your sensations and your style.

• First of all, look closely at the principal elements that compose the pedal :

1) The beat comes to hit the head of the bass drum. Its head is most often made of felt, but it also can be in plastic or wood for a more slamming (but also more aggressive for the skin) effect. Some beats have two or three heads for different effects.

2) The solemust be adapted to the size of your foot. Some are profiled, in foot form, for more comfort (that is not evident) ; the sole must be rather thick and solid to avoid folding itself under the foot. It can also be equipped with an anti-slipping covering and a piece of metal in the front of the sole to maintain the position of the foot.

This infirmity did not prevent him to remain behind the drums, thanks to the progresses of the electronics (revealing himself thus a forerunner of the drums of the 21st century), to hours of work and a lot of cleverness.

With the help of numerous pedals, he could play all the single stroke rolls and other possible fingerings while mixing the sentences hands-feet.

In most cases, they meet in a context of sixteenth notes. Here is a first example :

4) The transmission system is very important. It must not produce too much noise (gratings for example) under the action of the foot. The more current system today works with a chain, that reduces the noises and facilitates the

8) Most of the pedals have ball bearings at the rotation axis, that reduces the noises.

The name of Phil Collins is often associated with the band Genesis, "Progressive Rock" band in the years 70-80.

After the departure of the singer Peter Gabriel, he continued to play the drums parts of the trio all while holding the microphone. In additon, the presence of a second drummer allows him to complete the scenic side of the song.

The ghost notes are very present in the modern drums play. In other times, one called them the "piano" notes, as opposed to the "forte" or "fortissimo" notes. They give nuance to a rhythmic , but also dynamics by an "rolling" effect.

The following rhythmic figure is called the "4/1" by the players of caixa of the Brazilian batucadas (see the chapter"Afro-brazilian Percussions " ) :

Since Phil Collins continues to take various experiences in different domains, accompanying artists as J.J. Cale or forming a Big Band with 20 musicians, notably at the time of the Montreux's festival in 1996.

His singer vocation also allows him to follow a solo career and to record several "hits", more turned towards the variety, as On The Air Tonight, Against All Odds or Can't Hurry Love.

As many drummers, he devotes himself equally to the graphic art, between other with festival posters and portraits of artists, and appeared in several movies.

His drum play is rather demonstrative, with a very strong technique. The frequent employment of assymetrical measures in the music of Genesis is so fine that it feels rarely (not any "4 + 1" in a 5/4 rhythmic ...).

The rhythmics, mostly complex, are echos to energetic and constructed on several measures Fills, that denotes an exceptional mental independence.

His play gives an impression of big power and dynamism, with a heavy strike, denoting a strong personality, lacking no of fineness.

This power and this technique contrast somewhat with the modest and accessible personality of the musician.

Generosity and power, technical and musical intelligence, Phil Collins possesses qualities that make him one of the finest and endearing drummers of the "circuit".

In a rhythm, the ghost notes are principally played on the snare drum with the left hand, that asks suppleness and nimbleness(here in 7/8) :

Here is a Fill constructed with accents on the toms, the "holes" being filled by ghost notes on the snare drum :

These rhythms, of an extreme wealth, are often simplified in the Jungle (the measure most often being brought back to 4/4, while the indian music uses many measures in 11/8, 7/4...) but played at big speed (the quater note is often around 160), with a quick and very shaded left hand (see our chapter devoted to the ghost notes ).

5)The spring(s) allow(s) to regulate the flexibility of the pedal ; some drummers prefer a pedal a little hard to play, while others want to play it without effort of the ankle. Between both possibilities, find the balance. The good pedals are equipped with a spring stabilizer, to preserve the good adjustment.

As a rule, you can regulate the height of the beats and chain (or strap).

6) The fixing of the pedal on the rimmust be accessible easily, without moving. In certain cases, a small piece of plastic allows adjusting precisely the pedal (otherwise it can be necessary to put a wood or plastic piece "to wedge" well your pedal).

7) Some pedals have a stabilizing sheet, practical but adding weight and volume.

(most often in leather) is more supple but lacks power, while the cam system that equipped the first pedals is rarer today (his principal inconvenience being the gratings products by the action on the metallic parts).

The Jungle style was born in London in the years 90, in the evenings animated by DJ's.