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Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Approaching Standards
Welcome to the second installment in our series on approaching jazz standards. This article reveals ways of using the melodic rhythm as the source for creating accompaniment (or “comping”) patterns. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Strictly Technique - Chops Builders: Hemiolas, Part 3
In this final installment of our hemiola series, we’re going to add yet another accent to the half-note-triplet patterns we covered in parts one and two. Part one had one accented note within the three groupings of four 8th-note triplets,…
Rock 'N' Jazz Clinic - Bembe-Inspired Half-Time Shuffles
The original inspiration for these patterns came courtesy of Brady Blade’s wonderful groove on the tune “So Damn Lucky” from Dave Matthews’ 2003 solo album, Some Devil, and the parts have roots in traditional rhythms found in Afro-Caribbean bembe music.…
Rock Perspectives - Part 5: Paradiddle-Based Hand Patterns
In this lesson we’ll explore double bass groove ideas that incorporate paradiddle-based hand patterns. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Jazz Drummer’s Workshop - Stick Control Revisited Part 3: 5/4 Variations
Welcome to the third installment in our series on drumset applications of George Lawrence Stone’s classic book Stick Control. The following variations utilize the “72 Single Beat Combinations” found on pages 5 TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS…
Don't Make It Harder Than It Has to Be by Russ Miller
Leave Your Attitude at the Door by Russ Miller Strife happens in life. It’s almost a guarantee. It happens in every business, like when somebody gets a new position in a company and brings his or her own agenda. And…
Attack of the Juh-Ba with Rich Redmond
Basics Attack of the Juh-Ba Harness the Power of the Flat Flam Followed by a Kick Drum by Rich Redmond Flat flams are executed by playing two limbs simultaneously. My favorite orchestration of the flat flam is on the snare…
Following Groupings and Fill-Ins with Bill Bachman
Strictly Technique Following Groupings and Fill-Ins Exercises for Increased Single-Stroke Control by Bill Bachman This month we’re going to work on playing flowing groupings of notes with one hand while gradually filling in the spaces between the notes with the…
Grooving in Form with Mike Johnston
Rock ‘N’ Jazz Clinic Grooving in Form Part 1: AABA Beats by Mike Johnstonb One of the first things you learn when you begin to play in bands is song form, and one of the most popular forms is AABA.…
Elvin Jones-Style Triplet Fills
Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Elvin Jones-Style Triplet Fills Part 3: More Two-Bar Patterns by John Xepoleas Welcome to the third and final lesson in our series on creating Elvin Jones–style triplet fills. This time we’re creating high-energy two-bar fills. Let’s begin…
Progressive Drumming Essentials, Part 1: Understanding Odd Time Signatures
Rock Perspectives Progressive Drumming Essentials Part 1: Understanding Odd Time Signatures by Aaron Edgar Before we start playing sick proggy grooves in 17/16, let’s start at the beginning and define time signatures. Time signatures tell us the length of a…
Beware of the Chi-Ga-Da!
Basics Beware of the Chi-Ga-Da! Exercises for Harnessing a Powerful Funk/Fusion Sticking by Rich Redmond The main sticking used in the exercises in this article, RLL, is very popular in funk/fusion playing styles. The hands are split between the snare…
Antonio Sanchez - The Meridian Suite
by Terry Branam Contemporary drumming giant Antonio Sanchez’s The Meridian Suite takes the listener on a spectacular journey through a nearly hour-long composition that’s divided into five parts. This epic long-form piece features some of Sanchez’s most refined yet most…
Progressive Drumming Essentials, Part 2: Demystifying Polyrhythms
Rock Perspectives Progressive Drumming Essentials Part 2: Demystifying Polyrhythms by Aaron Edgar Polyrhythms, which are two contrasting subdivisions played simultaneously, can create beautifully hypnotic, entrancing patterns that dance around the pulse. They can also weave themselves into complete and utter…
