Many of the basic drum rudiments can be combined. If you analyze a paradiddle, you’ll see that it’s really just two single strokes and a double. With that in mind, I’ve decided to blend two of my favorite sounds on the drums: the buzz stroke and the flam. These “blams” can be played in many different ways, which is what we’ll explore in this article. When you work on the blam, focus on creating a thick sound by applying a bit more pressure to the buzz stroke. Try to make the buzz sustain until you play the next grace note. Work on the right-hand blam first, then the left, and finally play alternating strokes. Now play alternating blams in faster note groupings. Begin with quarter-note triplets, and then try 8th notes. You can also practice shifting from one measure to the next continuously. Just be sure to practice each example […]

March 2013 Issue