In part one of this two-part series, we’re going to isolate our timing and sticking “gear shifts” between 8th-note triplets (twelve notes per measure) and 16th notes (sixteen notes per measure). Not only will these exercises be great for your hand technique as you develop the stickings and transitions, but they will also help solidify your timing as you transition back and forth from grooves and fills based on triplets and 8ths or 16ths. With singles and doubles as our two stickings, there are four different possibilities using triplet and 8th-note metric rates. You can have both note rates played with single strokes, or the triplets can be played with single strokes while the 16th notes are played with double strokes; the triplets can be played with double strokes while the 16th notes are played with single strokes; or both note rates can be played with double strokes. The exercises […]

October 2014 Issue