[nagukush]

Hi All

Just wanted to ask a question regarding using Drum Tracks for Metal Guitar. Kindly help me out.

How do I choose a Drum Track, I mean how do I decide which Track will suit a Progression ?

Can any Power-Chord Progression be played over a Drum Track or should it be in Key ?

Should the Rythm of Playing the Chords depend on the Rythm of the Drum Track ?

Kindly excuse me if my question is a bit basic.
Kindly advice.

Lots of Regards
Kush

[Tekker]

Originally Posted by nagukush

How do I choose a Drum Track, I mean how do I decide which Track will suit a Progression ?

Unfortunately, the answer to that is it's very subjective. What kind of a sound do you want for the drums? You can do big and fancy or keep it very simple. When you play yoru progression try to get a mental idea of what kind of drums you want to go with the song. Then go through your library of drum sounds and beats until you find one you like. If you can tweak the drum beat further or even create one from scratch to fit the idea you had in your head that would be the best route (but more time consuming).

Can any Power-Chord Progression be played over a Drum Track or should it be in Key ?

Yes, you can play any progression over a drum track. Live bands have no choice as there is only one drumset and lots of songs in different keys.

There are those that will tune the drums to be in key for the song in the recording studio. But I wouldn't worry to much about it.

Should the Rythm of Playing the Chords depend on the Rythm of the Drum Track ?

It definitely helps. You can either play a rhythm that is similiar to the drum beat, or you can play a rhythm that is different but compliments and adds to the beat of the drums. Which ever one you do they should sound good together. If the guitar and drums don't flow together, then you should probably change one of them (or both).


When it comes to choosing drum sounds and beats, it's all about what you want your song to sound like. What I like maybe completely different from what you like, so you may not like any suggestions I give.... For example, I don't like metal, so you can bet anything I say won't fit with your metal riffs. Also listen to bands similiar to the style you want to do and see what they use for drums. What kind of sounds, and the style of the beats they use.

I play drums at my church and I always listen to how the bands that wrote the songs played them on their CD and I learn to play it exactly like them, then I "tweak" it in certain spots that I want to put my own spin on. Starting off by analyzing other's recordings is a great way to build a foundation for your own style.

-tkr

[Lcjones]

Tek's got some good information there, Kush.

Another thing to consider about the rhythm of your music.

Drums keep the beat. Like Tek said, they can be fancy and full of fills or straight forward and simple. But don't forget the bass! The bass accentuates the drums to the 'nth degree. The bass almost unconditionally plays off the drums.

As well, regarding drum samples and loops.... your editing software should allow you to change the tempo of any drum loop. It's pretty hard to find exactly the beat in the tempo you want. So if you find a beat that you like but it isn't the tempo (speed) you want, you can change the tempo to suit your needs. Don't be shy about experimenting with drum samples and loops.

**

[coldethyl]

I've found the information in this thread quite helpful too.
Thanks Tekker and Les, and thanks Kush for thinking of it in the first place!

[brandondrury]

There are no rules here dude. The key of the song has nothing to do with the rythm of the song. They are two totally different things. Go with that you like. Jam with it and see what happens. You are being way too cerebral about this!

Brandon