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8/8/2024 

Analysis of Snare Drumming Technique via Applied Linguistic Theory

The research for motion capture analysis of snare drumming technique (IRB #2016-02-0031) applies aspects of linguistic theory to the displacement data derived from the motion trackers found on the subjects. The Vicon Motus system allows for an analysis of snare drumming technique via a 3D coordinate plane. This 3D data gives insight into the movement patterns of the snare drummers analyzed under the IRB project. 

Linguistic Theory

The linguistic theory used in this 3D data analysis is derived from Saussure; the idea of the signifier and signified. For instance, it can be said that the word tree has an image associated with the word (Saussure, pg 11). This can be said for snare drumming as the rudiments can be seen as words, and they have an image associated with them which is the film; and thusly, the 3D data set. 

In addition to a structuralist view of snare drumming, a function of snare drumming is the resulting sound wave associated with the movement of the snare drummer. This portion of analysis can be viewed through a phonetic lens; meaning, the body of the snare drummer can be seen as the vocal tract for the resulting snare drumming sound; similar to speech and the vocal tract (Saussure, pg 41). 

Set Theory as a Tool for Organization (Cantor)

As the data is viewed through the lens of linguistic theory, there are some phenomena that occur; the manner in which each stroke is sectionalized is an example. Each stroke contains three positions: up, tap, and rest position. In other words, different arrangement of positions in time yield different basic stroke types: full, up, down, tap, and buzz stroke. 

Basic Strokes as Arrangement of Positions in a Sequence:

Full: rest, up, tap, rest

Up: rest, tap, up, rest

Down: rest, up, tap, rest

Tap: rest, tap, rest

Buzz: rest, up, tap(n), rest

NOTE: (n) refers to the number of taps performed for the buzz stroke. Also, the difference between the full and the down stroke is that the stick is free to rebound on the full stroke while on the down stroke, the hand stops the upward momentum of the stick directly after the stick hits the head of the drum.

In the same manner, the rudiments are comprised of different arrangement of basic strokes. For instance, the paradiddle:

Paradiddle: Down(r), Up(l), Tap(r), Tap(r), Down(l), Up(r), Tap(l), Tap(l)

NOTE: (l) and (r) refer to left and right hand respectively. 

Each rudiment contains a unique sequencing of the basic strokes much like the tongue in the production of speech sounds. These sets of movements are then analyzed through a linear reduction with a sinusoidal function as a framework for comparative analysis across rudiments of one experimentee, across different experimentees, and across time for one snare drummer (motion capture studies). 


Works Cited

Cantor, G. (1970, January 1). Contributions to the founding of the theory of transfinite numbers. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.152602/page/n93/mode/2up 

Saussure, F. de. (1970, January 1). Course in General Linguistics. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/ferdinanddesaussurewadebaskintrans.courzlib.org/page/n65/mode/2up 

Saussure, F. de. (1970b, January 1). Course in General Linguistics. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/ferdinanddesaussurewadebaskintrans.courzlib.org/page/n65/mode/2up 

Wesley, A. (2019, February 28). Swiss Army Triplet 60 Data. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBhRLwyzjAg 

Wesley, A. (2024, August 6). Full stroke development through motion capture. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT7K34RycSZeLK_14b76QqvD5WgXnutE4 

Wesley, A. (2024a, August 6). Down stroke development. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT7K34RycSZdC7nEeXh05ZlvYYvQHnZU-