60sec Tip Bits #6 – Gaffa Tape
60sec Tip Bits #6 – Gaffa Tape. This episode will highlight the importance of gaffa (gaffer) tape a.k.a. duct tape or mag tape. For drummers the possibilities are endless with this stuff. It will get you in (and out) of any sticky situation.
Drummer Aid
Most drummers will have a story or two about this particular drummer aid. The most common will no doubt be it’s handiness when dampening/controlling a drum sound. Gaffa has been used for decades to solve problems such as; annoying overtones from Snare drums or sustained notes from Tom Toms etc. It doesn’t end there. You can use gaffa to fix most drums and hardware. Other uses include:
- Keeping your drums in place when you’re without a drum carpet.
- Taping up your drum sticks/keeping your hot rods from fraying
- Helping your band mates fix their equipment
In my 60sec Tip Bits #2 – Cymbal Sleeves I use gaffa tape to create a makeshift cymbal sleeve/base.
Leave Some in your cases
You’ll be in need of gaffa tape at some point of your drumming career. So, leave some in your cases. There’s nothing worse than having some handy when you’re in need of it. You’ll never be caught short when the time comes.
Watch Out
Whether it’s intentional or not, you need to watch out for your gaffa tape. It/They can go missing when loaned out or indeed, stolen. There’s a real need for it – not just for drummers but crew members, staff and other musicians alike. Therefore if you loan yours out, make sure you get it back! Each roll is expensive and you’ll want to get the most out of it, so watch out in case it goes missing!
What about you? Tell me about your experiences with gaffa tape. Do you use it like in the examples above? Or may be you have a funny story to tell about it’s usefulness? Let me know in the comments section below.
