2 videos
@ 1:10:54
Produce Like A Pro
Playing shakers and tambourines with swing
Ash Soan shares a playing technique for adding swing to shakers and tambourines by leveraging the natural physics of the instruments. For shakers, instead of forcing a swing feel, Soan suggests playing straight 16th or 8th notes while adjusting your forearm position to control the swing. When the forearm is up, the shaker moves horizontally, resulting in no swing. By lowering the forearm so the shaker moves more vertically, gravity naturally introduces a swing. Any position in between allows you to find a sweet spot that is neither fully swung nor completely straight. This approach also applies to tambourines, where playing it left to right results in no swing, while moving it up and down allows gravity to create a full swing.
@ 1:21
Tape Notes Podcast
Layering drum samples with field recordings
Bonobo shares his creative process of layering drum samples with field recordings to create unique and engaging percussion tracks. He draws from a personal archive of favorite kicks, snares, and unconventional sounds like car compartments and coffee cups, which he records and samples for use in his music. To infuse his tracks with swing, Bonobo uses modular sequences and accents against the kick drum, manually adjusting the timing to achieve a natural feel. He prefers this hands-on approach over using groove templates, allowing him to craft a groove that feels intuitive and dynamic. Bonobo emphasizes the importance of non-repetitive sequencing, where elements like hi-hats and snares follow different patterns, avoiding exact repetition. This technique results in a more organic and less predictable sound, enhancing the track's overall texture and interest.