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Disco, Country Ballad And Country Waltz - History And Development Drummers Guide

By: Eric Starr Disco incorporates stylistic musical elements of Rock, Funk and the Motown sound while also drawing from Swing, Soca, Merengue and Afro Cuban styles and groves. It is above all else drum driven dance music. Consequently, the role of the drummer is to make the beat prominent and unwavering at all times. Although some elements of Disco appeared in the music of Funk groups such as Sly and the Family Stone, the style really began to develop in the early to mid 1970s when dance clubs ("Discotheques"), such as the Peppermint Lounge and Studio 54 in New York City began to gain popularity. Major record labels began supplying clubs with dance music on the first known pressings of 12" promo vinyl records (developed by music promoter Tom Moulton), which offered longer mixes ("remixes") of 3 minute standard popular songs.

Disco emerged on the radio with a series of early hit singles including "The Hustle" (Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony), "Love to Love You Baby" (Donna Summer), "Rock The Boat" (Hues Corporation) and "Never Can Say Goodbye" (performed by Gloria Gaynor, written originally by the Jackson Five). The genre reached its greatest popularity in the years 1977 and 1978, culminating with the movie "Saturday Night Fever," which pushed Disco high onto the music charts and into major concert venues, and greatly contributed to popularizing Disco's fashion and culture. The movie's soundtrack arguably stands as the most thorough compilation of Disco music.

The genre began to fade toward the turn of the decade, only to return in the mid 1990s with a trendy "retro revival" in dance clubs, sampling of it on popular songs, and through live Disco party cover bands. Since Disco is dance music, the drumming style is simple and consistent. Common drumming characteristics are a "four on the floor" bass drum pattern, a steady 2 & 4 on the snare, and hi hat patterns such as straight 16th notes or open hi hat notes on upbeats. The tempo range of most Disco songs is quarter note = one hundred and eight to one hundred and twenty beats per minute.

Country music has influenced Disco in many ways, and one of the most prominent forms of Country music is the slow ballad, with the 12/8 and 4/4 grooves which are the most common types and used throughout many Country Ballads, including Willie Nelson's hit "Night Life" and "Crazy," also written by Willie Nelson, but most famously performed by Patsy Cline. The tempo has a narrow range of quarter note = fifty and up to eighty beats per minute.

The Country Waltz spans the history and range of styles within Country music: traditional Country to Country Rock and Modern Day Country. A crucial characteristic which distinguishes it from the Jazz Waltz, Cajun Zydeco Waltz and American Waltz is that the snare drum is rarely played on beat 2. The Country Waltz beat is normally found in slower songs or Country ballads. Country Waltz tempos are usually slow, starting around quarter note = seventy six beats per minute, but may range as high as quarter note = one hundred and sixteen beats per minute.

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By Eric Starg. For his Marching Snare Drums Eric prefers Yamaha Snare Drums from Yamaha Drum Sets. Eric is an active member of Drum Solo Artist where he is answering drum related questions, and helping drummers with tips and advices.

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