Hello again all,
I’m starting to learn what works best for me when it comes to setup. I was experimenting with pad programming and what’s where on the controller. I had mentioned before that I had the hi hat open/close being controlled with a foot switch…but I’ve since went back to the QFG default “core” pad layout. I also color coded the pads (for now) were blue pads are the pad that would change to alternative setup if needed depending on the tune I"m playing. I do have to learn the Aruba better to grasp how to hit a button or foot-switch to change the pad assignment quickly.
I assigned one of the foot pedal switch for the cymbal chokes and that works great. The second foot pedals I would like to maybe assign it to the switching of samples on a particular pad but I’m still learning the Aruba.
Whatever I do it has to work naturally for me. Playing for the last solid month or two really has helped in my playing. I have a very aggressive drum track that needs to be recorded and this is what I’m practicing for…but it’s also become really fun.
There is two great songs that I was learning on drums just to get the feel for things. Since I’ve always been a piano and keyboard player and never played my drums on a pad controller simple drum fills were not all that clear how to do them property. With the help of Roberts great courses and paying much closer attention to songs that I really like, I’m staring to understand what to do in a song (on drums) when playing dynamically.
The songs that I’m messing around with (and I hope maybe somebody here has tried one of these songs) the song Black Velvet by Alanna Myles (seems fairly simply but if you don’t say in time the whole groove falls apart) which is a really great piece of work but the other one that is MUCH more challenging is Toto’s Rosanna. That shuffle beat is awesome. I freaking love the feel of the that song. Although I haven’t worked out all of the parts yet I think the QFG core pad layout will work for this as well.
A very important part of this drum track in Rosanna is the snare ghost notes. I can do it but, not that well. Partly because my brain is hitting that snare ghost too hard. The right index finger is hitting the snare at a normal velocity but the left hand thumb needs to be gentle to get that soft hit.
I’m curious if any of you have tried playing either of these tunes…especially Rosanna by Toto. I think this might be one of the more demanding drum grooves.
Also in regards to Rosanna, I noticed that this beat was play here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RidJvXCjoOM
with the pads programmed with four pads dedicated to hi hats. I’m curious if Robert has tried to play this groove with the standard QFG default pad layout or if it’s not practical or possible to play this groove with the default QFG pad layout.
I haven’t but just wanted to comment that it’s great you’re throwing yourself right into it. I made a good start late July but didn’t keep up the consistency and currently spending my spare time mostly with guitar.
Yes, you can play Rosanna. Probably want to develop Moeller technique a bit to comfortably do it, but here I actually play it on a Novation Launchkey mini (which has the same column of pads as with a regular QFG 4x4 layout) >> https://youtu.be/-S3rcnGmwas?si=2yvmXYWwd2-StnE2&t=44
Robert that was great man! Well that was impressive buddy. Ok I just wasn’t sure if the hi hat could be played with the three hi hat pads we have…especially since one is an open hi hat. I’m planning on starting my lessons over on your website and try to regroup…including the Moeller technique. Thanks Rob. Good stuff my friend.
Chris
Rob do you by any chance have a video of this shuffle being played on your go to NI pad controller? So you’re saying that it can be played with the standard QFG pad layout?
I understand that this is advanced stuff and I need a lot more practice for sure but this is one of those things that I think it would help with other beats and timing, so I think its worth learning.
C
I do not have it no, I can demonstrate it in the next livestream but what you’re looking at in that YouTube video is basically just the standard kick, snare, hi hat column I have on my regular layout. The only difference is that I skip one row to make the distance from the thumb to the other fingers a little larger since those pads are so small.
Ok…but on the “normal” pad controller with typical sized pads nothing needs to be change right?
I have the Nektar Aruba (previously called the Aura). I have the QFG layout.
So on this controller do you think I have to make any mods to the layout on a full size pad controller? Sorry for the confusion.
On this groove when played on acoustic drums the snare is used with a lot of ghost notes. Are you playing it that way? On the standard QFG layout the second snare is under our left thumb when playing any 16th notes on the high hat…because we are using two high hat pads to do this. I’ll have to revisit that video you linked me to to see how you’re doing this but since the little pad controller on that little keyboard is so different than what I’m used to I’m having to look a bit deeper to understand things.
I just checked out your video again. You are playing the ghost notes on the snare but you’re doing it on the same snare pad that your playing the normal hits on the snare. I assume you’re doing this because of the very limited pad in the layout on the keyboard/pad controller.
Rob do you have your left row snare set with less sensitive compared to the right row snare? I have to be VERY conscious of the ghost notes being played MUCH easier with my left thumb to get the affect of a light ghost hit. I was thinking about making this pad less sensitive for the left row snare pad than the right snare pad.
No it’s all very straightforward on a regular pad controller with the regular qfg layout.
The only thing I’m confused about is you saying the snare’s are under your thumbs? The snares are always index, middlefinger is usually hi hat and thumbs play the kick drums. That’s the regular layout.
Oh ok let me clarify.
With my right hand the snare is under my index finger, yes. But since I’m doing this groove my left hand’s middle finger is in the other high hat pad and then I just use my right thumb to play the left row snare.
I would play the left row snare ghost notes with your left hand index finger. Soft taps!
If you play this groove correctly with Moeller technique you’re not playing any hi hats with the left hand (except sometimes 2 open hi hats every 4 bars or so).
So you only need that left index finger to softly tap the snare.
But I have to record this on camera and explain it. I will plan a livestream for early January and if you can remind me to include it I will do so!
Ahh thanks! Ok I’ll have to retrain my brain to use my index finger for the left row snare ghost hits then. Crap! Right now I don’t have the light touch with my index finger as I do with my thumb BUT to be honest it’s not light enough. The first thing is to buy AD 2 because I have no clue right now how my Grove Agent drums compare to AD2. So right now we are not on the same page. After I get this up and running then I can see if my light touch is light enough. I’ve have struggle with the ghost hits since day one because I can’t get the pads or my left hand to have a light enough touch. Ok we’ll see. I’m going to get AD2 and get that up and running then try again.
oh Rob what are you using for the snare drum in that demo of the shuffle?
Disregard…Fairfax 1
I honestly do not remember… In Addictive drums I do know you can select a snare “shallow hit” or something. It’s probably good to do that for the left snare with the soft hits. That makes it a little more Jeff Porcaro sounding. I think one of the better kits for this type of sound is probably Black Velvet but I don’t think I used it in that video though.
No you didn’t. You used Fairfax1. You actually said it right after the shuffle demonstration.
Yes right now I don’t have the same kits until I purchase AD2 so I’ll do that, then I’ll get at least the sounds that I should be getting. I wish I could put what I’m using in your hands to see if you have trouble re-creating that. I’m pretty sure you would because this ghost hit is almost impossible to make sound anything like what it should sound like. I’ll get back to you once I get AD2. I think part of it is me and the other part is the fact that I’m not using any kit that even resembles what you’re using…so I can fix that part immediately then work on the technique.