What the hell is this new “wash riding” craze? It seems to be the new buzzword in the drum mags and on the interwebs. Sabian even has a whole website dedicated to it. Whether they’re behind this marketing marvel or just perpetuating it I haven’t a clue. Either way, they define it as “A style of drumming where the driving beat traditionally played on a hi-hat or ride cymbal is now played in an open crashing style, creating a penetrating ‘wash’ or roar of cymbal sound.”
Oh, you mean loud?
Why are we treating this like it’s something new and non-traditional? I have nothing against the act of “wash riding”; I just think it’s stupid to make a fad of it and make it seem like an all-or-nothing stylistic decision. Yo, I only wash ride! Only old dudes play ride cymbals with the tip of their stick! Unless I don’t know crap about playing drums, I was under the apparently mistaken impression that technique and nuance—a couple concepts of minor importance—would dictate how to hit a cymbal. No, not in a jazz nazi “I’m going to devote the next twelve months to practicing only how to make my K Constantinople speak in forty-seven distinct sounds, man” kind of way. I mean, hit the cymbal appropriately for the context. You know, play for the song?
In the November 2010 issue of DRUM!, in the “P.O.V.” feature, a question is posed: “Is Wash Riding or Ping Riding more effective for the kind of music you play?” [Holy hell, don’t make me write another post if “ping riding” is the next forced entry into the drumming lexicon!] This at least frames it as a stylistic decision, and a perfectly appropriate answer is offered by Tommy Clufetos:
As always the music dictates which drums I hit and when. So one is not more effective than the other in the animalistic outrage rock and roll bands I play in—it’s when one is called for more than the other. So use your ears and let the dynamics of the music be your guide.
No shit? But… I ask again: Why give credence to this?!
Ever since the first percussionist to accidentally smack a cymbal with the shoulder of his stick or spank a half-open hi-hat, the collective drumming hive-mind has known how to increase volume and sustain. So why is this only now something “the kids” are doing? It’s not! Some dingbat YouTube baboon just came up with a name for it.
I don’t get it.
In the spirit of this nonsense, I pose the following questions:
- Are sticks or brushes more effective for the kind of music you play?
- Do you prefer buzz rolls or double stroke rolls?
- Do you prefer rim shots or hitting the snare with the tip of the stick?
See? Stupid.
[I feel better now.]
