Unrelated: I woke up this morning and was fed pecan pie in bed. It was great.
But that has nothing to do with my struggle to learn the steel drum. Here’s what e-How e-says (slightly edited for your screen):
Step1 Have a basic knowledge of music theory and percussion before beginning.
Step2 Choose your first steel drum.
Step3 Purchase a guide book that has basic chords and tunes. The guide should also have an audio CD so you can imitate the sounds. If you can obtain a DVD, you can learn by watching the movements while listening to the music.
Step4 Set up the steel drum.
Step5 Strike the drum with a stick.
Noooooo waaaaaaay. I’ve been doing it all wrong!.I mean, I have a basic knowledge of music theory, if by basic you mean pages 1-17 of Music Theory for Dummies. I was okay on Step 2, but then FAIL Steps 3 – 5. Fail! I skipped step 3, then I went ahead and recklessly jumped to steps 4 and 5.
This failure inspired me to pick up my guitar and play all the easy songs I stopped playing a year ago.
11 responses to “Education on the Steel Drum”
“Strike the drum with a stick.” Um, thanks. Good thing there’s books for that.
You could approach the steel drum in a childlike way and start with step 5. Then just go from there. A child could (would) do step 5 for hours and never need the other 4 steps. Well, maybe step 4, but honestly you could start doing step 5 without setting up the damn drum. Just leave it on the ground and hit it!
gaoo – And I had been licking it! Silly me!Vince Gotera – I’m starting with my own step, go to the music store and buy decent mallets instead of the 4 inch dowels wrapped in rubberbands that came with the drum. It is a child’s steel drum set, Gary keeps claiming. For those children with $150 lying around? I ask. So I’ll be playing a childs steel drum with marimbe mallets, and it will sound good.
Do your neighbours live close? Just wondering. There’s a 12 year-old boy next door to us who has a drum kit. And an electric organ.
Unrelated: I have always maintained that pie is a breakfast food
big dot -they do and the daughter plays the big bass drum and has her own drum set.They never complain.
Kkat (hi big dot in Canada!) – it is indeed. I have put up with some shot from him this weekend and the pie carried me through.
unrelated -shit not shot -how do turn off the iPhone spell check?
Does he serve guests pecan pie in bed? If so, I’m totally staying over after GNO. I prefer my pecan pie slightly heated and served a la mode. Thank you.
Caroline – well, no, pecan pie isn’t served up in a pie slice wedge shape or anything like that. It’s still in the pie tin. Picky.
Like, a whole pie and a fork? Heaven! I’ll bring my own damn ice cream.
Caroline – Well , a five inch pie. He didn’t make me eat an 8 incher. And … Begin.