I want people's thoughts on metal items, for instance, brake drums, scuba tanks, sound plates, propane tanks, and others. Also, I'm looking for a new metal sound if anyone has something else other than what I listed please let me know!<P>Ryan

I think metal sounds are great in the pit. I personally think it accentuates the high points in the music performance. But I really hate it when I see a pit use a whole lot metal for gimmicks sake.<P>Most of the metal you've mention are the best used, because of it's sound, pitch, and projection. The only other metal I can think of that would be great for pit use is a thunder sheet.<BR>Hopes this helps....<BR>

me like break drum... i think break drums are awesome...i remember one year my high school band had the whole drumline come into the pit and they all did a breakdrum solo on like 7 different breakdrums...it was flarkin dope... but all else i could think of (besides those mentioned0 is a trashcan lid...theres not too much litterature for them..but i have seen it!!!...speaking of brake drums...what do <B>you</B> use to play on them? we use these hardware tack hammers that are usually 3-5 bucks a piece...<P>------------------<BR>-Kevin<BR><B>NHS Percussion</B><BR> <A HREF="http://www.drumlines.org/nhsdrums" TARGET=_blank>www.drumlines.org/nhsdrums</A> <BR> punk@drumlines.org

You can use hard phinolic or lexon mallets when playing brake drum.

What the heck is a brake drum???<BR>-----------------------------------------<BR>"Bow to Monkey Man"<P>------------------<BR>Sean Sicher<BR>Moorefield High School,WV<BR>Tenors 2000

its essentially the big metal piece of a car wheel...im not all big on cars, but im pretty sure thats what it is, its the base of a car wheel...<P>------------------<BR>-Kevin<BR><B>NHS Percussion</B><BR> <A HREF="http://www.drumlines.org/nhsdrums" TARGET=_blank>www.drumlines.org/nhsdrums</A> <BR> punk@drumlines.org

I prefer the hammers to the hard mallets. I have a big brake drum part at the end of our show and we need it to be psycho loud, and the hammers certainly are that! I'm not looking forward to doing that in a performance cuz I won't be able to wear my earplugs. The main problem with the hammers that it's kinda hard to play fast passages with 'em. I guess I just need to build up my brake drum chops! Oh, and the best thing about brake drums- they really annoy the woodwinds! <P>------------------<BR>pit_girl1<BR>------------------------<BR>NHS Perc. Co-Section Leader<p>[This message has been edited by pit_girl1 (edited 09-15-2000).]

If you're looking for a unique metal sound, try a garbage can lid like kevin said. It sounds crazy, but we played a Holsinger song with a garbage can lid centered on a hi-hat stand. It really made the piece exciting, and, if you know Holsinger, that's exactly what he wanted.

hey anybody out there...<P>ok, i know a few corps, if not atleast one or two have used this, and many high school bands ive seen.<P>what makes that loud high pitched, almost supersonic sound that goes "screetch!", sound like your scraping some type of metal surface, but i still havent figured it out yet, and if its easy to make such a sound, then we could use it as an awesome effect at the end of our show, so, what makes htis noise....anyone? (i thought either scraping a propane tank of a scuba tank, but i still dont know, what and how...help!)<P>------------------<BR>-Kevin<BR><B>NHS Percussion</B><BR> <A HREF="http://www.drumlines.org/nhsdrums" TARGET=_blank>www.drumlines.org/nhsdrums</A> <BR> punk@drumlines.org

Kevin, scrape a stick or mallet horizontally across some chimes. Ya know the ones I'm talkin about, the brass ones (although sometimes silver I believe), about 6 feet tall, pedal to release the damper. But don't depress the pedal when you scrape. Keep it dampened. But I don't recall seeing any chimes in your pit.<P>I know Great Mills has a set. So like, if yer ever down in St. Mary's, you just walk in and ask the band director, "Can I scrape your chimes dude?"<P>------------------<BR>Webmaster, Drumlines.org<BR>AIM: Drumlines