Rock 'n' Jazz Clinic
Modern Drummer is the world’s most widely read drum magazine, is dedicated entirely to the art of drumming and caters to the needs of amateur, semi-pro, and professional drummers.
Balance
One of the most important aspects of playing the drumset, and one that is often neglected by many players, is that of balance. Too many times rock drummers play with no bottom (i.e., too much cymbal volume, and too little…
The Shuffle
One might be hard pressed to find anything more musically exciting than a good drummer setting fire to a band by laying down a strong, straight-ahead shuffle beat. The shuffle is a very dynamic rhythmic feel. It has been used…
Artificial Groupings For Fills
In the July, 1984 MD, in the Ask A Pro column, a reader asked Steve Smith about a fill Steve played on the Journey song “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart).” The notation looked like this: Now, if you were like many…
The Quarter-Note Funk Hi-Hat Style
The quarter-note hi-hat style has a distinctive sound and feel that makes it well worth the extra effort required to perfect it. I first heard this style played by Clyde Stubblefield on James Brown’s recording of “Mother Popcorn,” and many…
Phrasing With Triplets
This article deals with the use of triplets within a compound phrase to embellish and create more interesting patterns. By inserting the 16th-note triplets into the duple feel, these patterns become more exciting to the ear. Practice each exercise at…
The Benefits Of Left-Hand Ride
What do Billy Cobham, Simon Phillips, Kenny Aronoff, Daniel Humair, and Lenny White have in common? They all play ride patterns with their left hand. Left-hand ride refers to the technique drummers use who play drumset in a normal, right-hand…
Simulated Double Bass
Double bass drum techniques have increased the repertoire of drummers, both in playing beats and soloing. Here are some ideas which can give a player with a single bass drum setup the opportunity to effect double bass drum sounds. By…
Adding Variety To Simple Grooves
A popular remark among drummers has always been that “simple is better.” Many drummers, especially beginners, tend to over-play, failing to realize that in most situations the drummer’s role is to lay down a foundation—a background for other musicians to…
Funk With 32nd Notes
In this study I’ve applied single and double strokes in 32nd-note value to the funk style. Because the rock/funk feel is based on straight 8th notes, the 32nd notes work very well. The tempo is slow (quarter note = 72-80…
Great Grooves — Part 2
Here’s another selection of grooves for you to try. Concentrate on developing your coordination, along with the fluidity and smoothness of performance that will put these patterns “in the pocket.” The key is to be clean and precise, yet comfortable…
Great Grooves, Part 1
From a general viewpoint, the word “groove” suggests a certain rhythmic precision in group playing, not unlike the word “tight” or the phrase “in the pocket.” From a drummer’s perspective, groove can also indicate a particular rhythmic motif, which, when…
Percussion Colors, Part 2
Last time we discussed how the use of hand-percussion instruments can add color and spice to the music you create. We outlined a few of the items that make up the percussionist’s “pallet,” including cowbell, tambourine, and the afuche. This…
Percussion Colors- Part 1
You’ve been cooking on the traps in the studio and you’re listening to the playback now. It’s great, but there still might be room for improvement—more color, more spice. How? With the addition of a layer or two of hand-percussion…
An Approach For Playing In Odd Time – Part 3
In the previous two articles, we’ve concentrated on executing written exercises which have been designed to facilitate the playing of odd time. Another effective approach to learning is through listening and transcription. The following songs have one thing in common:…
