What exactly is a "blast beat"?
- Thread starter Dreamer Deceiver
- Start date
Nugent Goes AOL
Crescent Fresh!
They may be overused, but let's give them more credit than that...Pierogi said:
When placed appropriately, blastbeats rule the school.
Alteredmindeath
Wasteland Survivor
If you want to know what a blast beat is go buy Emperors Anthems to the welkin at dusk or any Immortal album then you will have a basic understanding.
U may talk shit about blast beats but sit your ass behind a drum kit and try to do one then you'll truly realize the talent it takes to be in the major leagues of metal.
U may talk shit about blast beats but sit your ass behind a drum kit and try to do one then you'll truly realize the talent it takes to be in the major leagues of metal.
Natural Born Chaos
lost in graveland
As a drummer, here's my understanding of it:
When the music is too fast to do much else while still sounding musically coherent, the drummer simply plays bass-snare-bass-snare-bass-snare etc. Now this can be one of two things: a "blast" beat or a "thrash" beat.
What distinguishes a blast beat from a thrash beat is that in a blast beat, the accompanying cymbal (be it the ride or hi-hats, or even crash or china) is hit only on the bass notes or only on the snare notes. In thrash beats, the cymbal is hit on both the snare and bass notes. Usually a blast beat is what happens when the music is too fast for the drummer to be able to hit the cymbal simultaneously with each drum. I'm pretty sure that some blastbeats hit the bass and snare simultaneously and alternate only with the cymbal.
For example: Slayer uses thrash beats pretty often but I don't think I've ever heard them use a blast beat. Emperor uses blast beats pretty often but I don't think I've ever heard them use a thrash beat. Both types are challenging. Thrash beats are difficult because it is hard to hit the cymbal in perfect unison with each bass and snare note at a fast speed. Blast beats are difficult simply because they're extremely fast.
When the music is too fast to do much else while still sounding musically coherent, the drummer simply plays bass-snare-bass-snare-bass-snare etc. Now this can be one of two things: a "blast" beat or a "thrash" beat.
What distinguishes a blast beat from a thrash beat is that in a blast beat, the accompanying cymbal (be it the ride or hi-hats, or even crash or china) is hit only on the bass notes or only on the snare notes. In thrash beats, the cymbal is hit on both the snare and bass notes. Usually a blast beat is what happens when the music is too fast for the drummer to be able to hit the cymbal simultaneously with each drum. I'm pretty sure that some blastbeats hit the bass and snare simultaneously and alternate only with the cymbal.
For example: Slayer uses thrash beats pretty often but I don't think I've ever heard them use a blast beat. Emperor uses blast beats pretty often but I don't think I've ever heard them use a thrash beat. Both types are challenging. Thrash beats are difficult because it is hard to hit the cymbal in perfect unison with each bass and snare note at a fast speed. Blast beats are difficult simply because they're extremely fast.
