What can i do to my drums sound unique?

Question:mY BAND WANTS A UNIQUE SOUND YOU CANT RECREATE ON A COMPUTER OR KEYBOARD. LOW BUGJET O CANT GET ANYTHING EXPENSIVE.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: mY BAND WANTS A UNIQUE SOUND YOU CANT RECREATE ON A COMPUTER OR KEYBOARD. LOW BUGJET O CANT GET ANYTHING EXPENSIVE.

Sorry dude, but any sound can be recreated on computer with the proper software.

If you want a unique sound, then you might approach the drum-set from a fresh perspective.

Go to http://www.haale.com and see what this Persian-American singer-songwriter has going for her on the percussion stool: her guy sits on a cajon which he uses for bass drum, has an ashiko in front of him for a different bass drum, has a bunch of bells and rattles on his right leg which he uses like a hi-hat, and plays a variety of frame drums with his hands. Technically fabulous, and entirely original.

Or look up the old progressive rock band Gryphon and try to figure out what their drummer used on their eponymous first album.

Consider that your set--however you configure it--will have to be able to do the things that a standard set does: bass kicks, cymbal rides, hi-hat beats, snare accents, and tom fills. Perhaps think about things that can do a ride that aren't cymbals (triangle? bell? metal bar? cowbell?), things that can do a bass kick (bodhran? djembe?), things that can do what the snare does (frame drums? tambourine? bongo?) and toms...and then you have to figure out how your hands and feet can work them all.

? My friend plays the drums. Ill ask him and tell you as soon as i see him

i know of a lot of pc equipment but if you want a unique sound do something with your drums.

my friend bought little gel pads.
unnoticable when playing.
it helps soften the ring of the drums.
(you don't hear the "beads shaking" after you hit it.)

he also sticks a heavy winter blanket in is bass.

If you use any answer you recieve, it's already been done
and won't be unique. But, if it were me, I would try some
different alterations. Maybe something like placing some
aluminum or tin or metal on or around the inner shells.
Maybe a bendable piece you can shape to rest against
the shell with the idea it might give a little when the drum is
struck and produce some sort of bright sound or buzz.
Different things, non-dampening, that slightly rest against
the head should also make for an interesting sound.
Anything you do to the shells and heads are going to
produce at least a slightly different sound, bad or good.
You just have to creative and experiment. But be aware of
the severity of any tinkering that will become permanent in
the sound such as drilling holes, glue, etc.

The drummer for Wall of Voodoo had
an alternate rig made up of pots and pans.
I think there song Mexican Radio made extensive use
of this kit.

I found a huge truck-size coil suspension spring
I use for great anvil-like sound.

And of course 5 gal plastic pails coupled
with some 50gal rubber garbage cans have
a nice timbre.

Anything you can hit with a mallet or stick
has potential. My favorite is a power pole support
cable. The ones that run diagonally from the ground
to about 3/4 of the way to the top of the pole.

If you happen to live near a metal scrap yard
you're half way there. lol