Practice Fatigue....

[vartand]

I have noticed that if I have been practicing for a while on a drum kit whether i am playing on a hi-hat or a ride cymbal for too long the nerves in my arms begin to send signals of discomfort.

Should I switch my position to another cymbal, take a break, or allow it to stretch out into that position. It's not an unbearable pain, but I am more conscious of the strain that is being put on the limb.

Thanks for the help.

[PocketPlayer]

How old are you?

Practice correctly...technique is key. Steve Smith in clinic last year said he could play all day because his technique was right. I agree with this. My neighbor came over last week with blisters all over his fingers, almost proud that he was playing hard. I'm sure he wanted to impress me. I tried not to deflate his balloon, but after I went over and tuned his whole kit, I told him he could avoid those blisters with proper technique.

I have been exploring ith ergonomics a lot as of late and mastering a proper rebound stroke. Like Andy said in a recent post in a lesson with Weckl, "Nope, nope, right, no, nope, almost..." I am probably in the nope category most of the time, but still have had a tremendous amount of ease with the results. This motivates me to practice properly so I can apply what Thomas Lang says, "Practice when you're supposed to practice and play when you're supposed to play."

Lang's DVD is insane...that guy's a monster...like his "groove" or not, his level of mastery in what he is doing is AMAZING! I eat the melon, spit out the seeds and have focused on about 5% of the DVD, mainly the singles & doubles with the hands around the kit, the heel up and down practice, and going slowly to lock in proper muscle memory to play patterns.

[Vdrummer]

Your cymbals simply could be too high or far away from you. You may be putting strain on your shoulders. That's the main reason Jazz drummers often play a 4-piece kit and keep their ride in the place that a mid tom would otherwise occupy.It keeps it close to their body and allows them to keep their shoulders relaxed.

[GoMan]

how do those guys with their rides really high do it!? i dont get it! like Ndugu Chnceller has his ride very high... and so does old vinnie. i think old weckl too? do you just have to kinda get used to it? also what do you guys think about ride angles? My teacher likes it pretty flat... i like it as close to vertical as i can get it while still being able to a) reach the bell nicely and b) crash into it confortably. and obviously the ride not being too high or far out.

Im really thinking about this too.. because some times when i play fast jazz tunes... not that fast maybe like 230 or something.. for about 10 mins... my right arm gets really uncomfortable. I was thinking it was just that i wasnt used to playing fast stuff like that like Jazz for extended amounts of time... but maybe its a technique thing... during one gig i was playing so loud (i guess that means stiff too... for me) that when i had to play a song that as lik 7 mins long and almost on the bell the whole time... my arm slowly started to slip down and wouldnt go back up... that was a bad gig... 4 hour night too!! but apparently i was draggin in some songs when i had to use the ride /bell alot for a long time and had to do it fast too.... prob because i was tired and achig... i had muscle pain the next day and was misreable!!!

now i can play gigs loud without hearting myself or becomeing super fatigued... but i dunno... maybe itll happen again if and when i join a metal band or something!

[troutbrooke]

The ride will sound different and also feel different at different heights and angles. Its motion will be restricted or unrestricted depending on how it is positioned. Its location relative to your ears will also contribute to a change in sound. Experiment.

[vartand]

I am 18, I don't really play to a specific style, but I can say that I have not been formerly trained in Jazz, my style is a hybrid of rock/world/experimental. Anyways, I constantly experiment with the setup of my kit.

Does this technique you all speak of consist in stick control or just equipment placement? Because the fatigue I am experiencing doesn't seem to be a result of stick control.....

[Suspiria]

I think for the most part, the set up of your drums/cymbals is the deciding factor.
Let me ask you this:
Have you had formal lessons? I would assume that early on, your instructor would have advised you about how to set everything up to make you feel comfortable.
If not, get in touch with a professional and let him/her help you out. Once you have your drums like you want them, STICK TO IT. Constant fiddling will really slow down your learning progress. It's so important to have the same conditions every time you sit down to practice.

[Rhythmatist]

It's a combination of proper technique and placement in relation to natural body movements. If you are using physical motions that are not natural to the way the human body is supposed to move you WILL feel pain. If something is set up too far, too close or at a height or angle that causes you to reach or lean too far, pull in too close or unnaturally have to turn your arms or wrists then it is set up incorrectly. You set your kit up to you not you to the kit. That's ergonomics 101.

You may not be playing relaxed. That can also cause undue pain. If you're holding the sticks tightly you'll wear out very quickly.

Pick up some of the videos and DVD's out there. Weckl's Technique vid, Steve Smith, Lang, JoJo Mayer, Billy Ward, any of those cats can demonstrate techniques and physical motions conducive to good, healthy drumming. And, like Suspiria suggests; find a good instructor who can help you along the way. Keep at it. Identifying the problem is a good start. No pain drumming is so much more enjoyable.