SKF NOTE: A great 1968 photo of Buddy Rich. I’ve said it before, but photos like this one were drum lessons in themselves. Especially pre-internet and when opportunities to see Buddy and other great drummers live or on tv were rare.

How is Buddy holding the sticks in his hands? How has he positioned his drums and cymbals? Where is Buddy sitting in relation to his snare drum?

A photo like this would answer — and raise — many questions. And I remember positioning myself and my drums and cymbals like Buddy’s to see how I liked it. The horitzontal crash cymbals, the low ride cymbal, and the hi-hat cymbals the same height as the snare drum? None of that worked for me. So what? That’s how we learned.