November 2012

Jazz Drummer’s Workshop

Improve Your Bottom Line

Part 3: Bass Drum Comping in 5/4

by Steve Fidyk

Welcome to the third and final installment in this series on bass drum comping. This time we’ll be working in 5/4. The phrases included in the article are intended to help you develop dynamic balance with your bass drum foot in unison with your three other limbs. They are also designed to inspire you to improvise with your bass drum foot handling rhythms generally played on the snare drum.

When practicing the patterns, center your attention on the ride cymbal, hi-hat, and bass drum rhythms, keeping the sounds dynamically balanced as one unit. In addition, focus on keeping the bass drum beater rebounding approximately 2″ off the head to obtain a soft, round sound. (Don’t bury the beater into the head!)

 

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Check out the complete article in the November 2012 issue of Modern Drummer for additional insight.