Lessons In Counting and Stretching Rhythm For drummers, the rudiments are often likened to scales for other instrumentalists, but we have scales too. These “rhythm scales” give us access to new percussive “notes” like the quintuplet. The results we get from playing these new notes on the drums is similar to the contrasting sounds a guitarist, pianist, or saxophonist makes when throwing in a major third where before there were only octaves and fifths. Our first study deals with these new notes. In the second study, continuing the analogy, we’ll gliss between notes, like what can be done on fretless bass or trombone, in an introduction to rhythmic stretching. Study 1 Here we’ll focus on counting, rhythm scales, and rebound control. It’s a study I developed as a warm-up when I was concerned about tension in my wrists and forearms, but it’s as good a challenge for your brain as […]

January 2013 Issue