Robotic drum "teacher" trains the next Bonham

An MIT researcher has developed a tool for students learning to play the drums which can speed up the time it takes for newcomers to pick up the instrument. The device, a robotic arm designer Graham Grindlay calls the "Haptic Guidance System" (or HAGUS), uses a drumstick fastened to a set of motors which a user holds while being led on beat. A brace holds the arm in place while the machine plays back a pre-recorded pattern -- in studies, Grindlay found that students with no drumming experience were able to hit the drum 18 percent more effectively after using the HAGUS. A spokesman from the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics at Stanford says the work does a "wonderful job" demonstrating the ability of haptic devices to train beginning musicians. So... can a Rock Band implementation of this be far behind?

[Via Digg]

[Jarhead2012 @ Mar 12th 2008 8:11AM]

I'm sorry, i had to do it...FIRST!

Now then, this looks pretty cool, but sorta pointless. If you can't hit the drums on time, then you really shouldn't be trying to play, anyways, IMO.

[John B. @ Mar 12th 2008 8:24AM]

If you can't play the drums, then you shouldn't try and get better? By your logic the world should have no drummers.

This isn't a device to aid drummers during a show or anything - its a device to help newcomers learn.

[Jarhead2012 @ Mar 12th 2008 5:51PM]

I was saying, that it's impossible to LEARN rhythm, I think. Also, for most people, something like this won't work. As soon as the machine is taken away from their arm, the user goes back to not being able to play in time again. This is restrictive, and the machine is drumming FOR the person. In my opinion, it probably wouldn't help at all, however I've been proven wrong hundreds of times before, as have we all. I was in no way implying what you're saying I was.

[EdZ @ Mar 14th 2008 8:29PM]

You think you're first? I think the University of Reading was first with a haptic drum kit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5nSC9j5rfY

[Kurian @ Mar 12th 2008 8:13AM]

Great, now there's a Rock Bank drum kit bot as well to cheat on the scoreboards.

[John B. @ Mar 12th 2008 8:27AM]

I have been a percussionist for 10 years and have played a set for 6 of those years, and this seems like a fantastic idea. I've taught a lot of people the basics of a drum set, just gotten them going on a simple 2 and 4 beat, and by far the easiest way to do it is to actually guide their hands for them. I tell them to hit the bass drum on 1 and 3, and then I hold both of their wrists and play the hi-hat and snare hits. I find that what most people have trouble with the most isn't keeping time or anything like that - its simply the concept of having all 4 limbs doing something different at the same time. Once I've guided them for a few minutes, though, their limbs know what it feels like to act independently, and they have very little trouble replicating what I've just done for them.

[dervheid @ Mar 12th 2008 9:03AM]

pass it on to the CIA. I'm sure it could be modded into some form of "legitimate" torture imploment, might even get GWB approval.

Either that or a sex aid if some kind!!!

[Brodie-san @ Mar 12th 2008 9:21AM]

@ John B

You literally described how a friend of mine taught the drums to me.

Hi-Hat = beat 1,2,3,4
Snare = 2,4
Kick-drum = 1,3

When you figure that out the rest comes naturally.

Robotic assistance is great and all but half the fun is figuring it out by yourself IMO.

[Jaroslav @ Mar 12th 2008 10:34AM]

Hmm. I thought the most basic rock beat was more like:

Hi-Hat = beat 1,2,3,4
Snare = 3
Kick-drum = 1,3

When I imagine yours in my head (not near a kit right now) it sounds like a polka. Not that there's anything wrong with that. :)

[Whiplash @ Mar 12th 2008 10:44AM]

Actually for us metal heads it's more like:

hats = 1,2,3,4
snare = 2,4
kick = 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5

:-)

[DG @ Mar 12th 2008 1:29PM]

@ Jaroslav:

That's a very weird pattern to be considered "basic." A rock beat is snare on kick on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4. Listen to nearly anything, really, and that's what you're hear.

Not quite sure why John Bonham is the guy aspiring drummers want to be. My idol growing up was Buddy Rich. In the mid-90s, other guys wanted to be Carter Beauford. I would have gone with Neil Peart as the guy to be, but I guess that's just me.

[RockinOscar @ Mar 15th 2008 2:59PM]

if this machine could help me play death metal like george kollias then ok money well spent

Hi-Hat = beat 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Snare = 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Kick-drum = 1,1.5,2,2.5,3,3.5,4,4.5,5,5.5

[OneLove @ Mar 12th 2008 10:24AM]

is that hand robotic?

[Harlo @ Mar 12th 2008 10:38AM]

This devices teaches you how to choke on your own vomit and die?? Sign me up!

[Asher69 @ Mar 12th 2008 12:30PM]

Harsh, dude. Harsh. :)

This all could've been useful when my wife tried learning drums a few months ago. We ended up giving the set away to a high school girl who wanted to learn.

[giuliop @ Mar 12th 2008 1:09PM]

I don't think so, but it probably combusts spontaneously

[giuliop @ Mar 12th 2008 1:11PM]

@Asher69

No one is harsh if he goes to 11.

[DESTOS @ Mar 12th 2008 11:32AM]

No way in hell am I bracing my arm against anything and holding onto a robot.

[ptzink @ Mar 12th 2008 12:29PM]

Ironically enough, I believe that John Bonham never took a lesson in his life. But we get the picture

[Tracy in Cary @ Mar 12th 2008 5:06PM]

Why would anyone want to be the next Helena Bonham Carter?

[Carroll Cadden @ Mar 14th 2008 11:38AM]

The robot needs to help promote better drumming ergonomics than what's pictured. That person's arm is going to be in bad shape after being hyper-extended like that!