Steve Fidyk
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.
Get on the Good Foot!
Part 3: Hi-Hat Comping in 5/4 Welcome to the third and final part of our lesson on hi-hat comping. This article explores hi-hat rhythm variations in 5/4. The phrases included are intended to help develop dynamic balance between your hi-hat…
Get on the Good Foot!
Welcome to the second part of this three-part series on hi-hat comping. In this lesson we’ll explore repetitive hi-hat motifs in 3/4. The phrases included here are intended to help develop dynamic balance between the hi-hat foot and the other…
Get on the Good Foot! Part 1
Hi-Hat Comping Riffs in 4/4 Jazz drummers depend on the hi-hat to help propel the band and provide strength to the weak beats of 2 and 4. When played in sync with the ride cymbal, a dynamically controlled hi-hat pulse…
RECORDINGS
Haken Virus The U.K. prog-rock sextet’s latest album may adhere to a lyrical narrative, but according to drummer RAY HEARNE, they’re still dedicated to evolving their sound. Embracing the mystery of their curious Cockroach King character, Haken’s new release, Virus…
The Big Beat of Hard-Bop Great Art Blakey
In both deeds and words, Art Blakey was the definition of a dedicated jazz musician, mentor, and musical messenger. His driving, thunderous, and propulsive playing style synthesized the rhythmic approach of West African drumming coupled with American blues. TO READ…
Funkify Your Swing
As mentioned previously, combining funk rhythms into a swing style can be helpful for players looking for new accompaniment language.
Rhythmic Conversions - Part 5: Brazilian Grooves and the Half-Note Triplet
In this lesson we’ll superimpose a new tempo over an existing pulse using a half-note-triplet subdivision. We’ll then manipulate the subdivision to create Brazilian grooves in the new tempo. I recommend that you practice these patterns with a metronome and…
Beyond the Noteheads - Part 3: Varying Your Transcriptions
This month we’ll apply variations to some of the transcribed phrases from Part 2 of this series (March 2017). This process truly has no limits. I find that being opened-minded to practicing transcriptions with this method helps energize my practice…
The Collapsing Concept - Crushing Roll Rudiments to Create Contemporary Swing and Solo Ideas
The late, great author and educator Jim Chapin gave me this exercise in a lesson a number of years ago. It deals with the seven-stroke roll and Jim’s concept of collapsing the rudiment to create a six-note grouping. In our…
IN THE POCKET - The Collapsing Concept in 6/8
The legendary drummer and long-time member of Tower of Power, David Garibaldi, emailed me last year with variations on a lesson I wrote for Modern Drummer’s March 2015 issue. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Beyond the Noteheads - Benefits and Strategies for Transcribing, Part 2
I lead a lab at Temple University, and at our first meeting of each semester I ask my students what music they have an interest in learning more about. Some want to gain a deeper understanding of a particular style…
December 2003 - Volume 27 • Number 12
Morgan Rose, Ed Toth, Sherrie Maricle, Charles Collins, Earl Young, Chad Sexton, Zach Danziger, John Stanier, Evan Stone, Steve Fidyk, John Bonham, Art Blakey, Josh Freese, Tony Royster Jr., Jeff Hamilton TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG…
