Fusion And Surf Music - History And Development Drummers Guide

Not so much as style as a feel, the purpose of Half Time Standard Rock is to fill up the groove in slower Rock tempos. The addition of 16th notes from the ride hand creates the active feel in this groove, making it practical only for songs in slower tempos. The tempo range is narrower than that of the Standard Rock range, with quarter note equals from 60 to 96 bpm. The term "Fusion" refers to the fusing of many different styles into a distinctive sound. Predominately an instrumental form of music, Fusion is a mixture of Rock, jazz, Funk, and Progressive Rock, and involves advanced musicianship.

In addition to the bands and musicians, important fusion drummers include Alphonse Mouzon, Rod Morgenstein of the Dixie Dregs, Billy Cobham for his work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and his milestone album, "Spectrum", and several drummers who have played with Chick Corea, such as Steve Gadd, Lenny White, and Dave Weckl. Contemporary drummers such as Will Kennedy Hakim, Dennis Chambers, Simon Phillips, and Vinny Colaiuta are all outstanding Fusion players. Important Fusion groups and musicians include Miles Davis (who could be credited as the styles originator, with his "Ina Silent Way" and "Bitches Brew" albums in 1969), Tony Williams Lifetime, Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Weather Report. All Standard Rock examples and variations, as well as those from the Jazz, Odd Time, and Funk styles can be used when playing Fusion.

Tempos vary widely in Fusion, but tend toward moderately fast. Inspired by 1950s Rock and Roll, Surf music was created in the early 1960s, initially as an instrumental genre, by artists such as The Surfaris, the Ventures, and guitarist Dick Dale. Purists consider the most authentic form of Surf music to be instrumental, emphasizing the drums and guitar (typically very trebly, some what over driven, and with heavy reverb) to mimic the experience of surfing. When groups like Jan and Dean and The Beach Boys introduced lyrics (of a teen jock oriented type, usually sung in a high tenor or outright falsetto voice, with often extensive vocal harmonies), the style achieved mainstream popularity. Perhaps the most influential surfing drum song is the classic, tom tom driven "Wipe out" recorded by the Surfaris (with drummer Ron Wilson) and further popularized by The Ventures, while the most influential guitar driven Surf song is probably "Walk Don't Run", by the Ventures.

Vocal Surf classics include The Beach Boys "Surfing Safari" and "Surfing USA". In the mid to late 1960s, Surf was eclipsed by British Rock (The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, etc.) and the Psychedelic Sound (The Doors, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, etc.). However, the early 1990s reissue of Dick Dales early song "Miserlou" on the "Pulp Fiction" soundtrack stimulated renewed interest in Surf music. The style is currently represented by newer bands such as The Mermen and The Aqua Velvets, and still by The Ventures who are enormously popular in Japan. The drumming pattern in a typical Surf song is characterized by an alternate (to that in standard Rock) back beat pattern on the snare drum. In addition, many Surf songs include active and repetitive 16th notes on the toms, sometimes throughout an entire song. However, this technique tends to be used more in instrumental numbers than in songs with vocals. The tempo is brisk at quarter note equal to 138-184 bpm.

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dw drums and gretsch drums are often used in Fusion And Surf Music and are celebrated by many professional drummers world wide.

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