Hard Times - Tom Groove
This lesson explores the main tom groove used in the song Hard Times by Paramore and introduces an off-beat hi-hat foot technique.
View ArticleThe Power of Dynamics
The term dynamics refers to how loudly or softly the music is played. Without changes in dynamics, music can sound dry or even robotic. This lesson is designed to show how greatly dynamics effect the...
View ArticleThe Easy Way to Get the Most Out of Your Beats
We've all spent time learning new drum beats, and that's great. However, we often learn a groove and then move onto the next without really getting the most out of the pattern.
View Article"AH"nother Take on Drum Fills
Drummers are often locked into the technique of playing a crash cymbal on beat 1 when coming out of a drum fill. There's a good reason for that: it works well in a lot of situations.
View ArticleBreaking Out of the 4/4 Rut
This lesson explores a slick alternative to playing in 4/4. The grooves are designed to be very similar to 4/4, but because they're actually in 7/8, the last would-be 8th note is missing. Stepping...
View ArticleHi-Hat Fills? Why Not!?
This lesson strays from the common application of drum fills where toms and snare strokes are at the heart of the fill. By placing an emphasis on the hi-hat, a more subtle (but often effective) drum...
View ArticleImprovisation Workshop: Drum Fills
Do you have trouble making up drum fills on the fly? If so, you're not alone. A lot of drummers express difficulties and even anxiety when asked to do so. This lesson provides a template for practicing...
View ArticleFun Jazz Independence Exercises
Learn four patterns from Ted Reed's Progressive Steps to Syncopation.
View ArticleGreat Independence & Coordination Exercise
Learn a fun and challenging exercise for improving independence and coordination. The hands and kick repeat a sixteenth-note pattern that is subdivided into groups of three and four, while the stepped...
View ArticleFive Progressive Beats for Beginners
Learn 5 drum beats for beginner-level players. The kick and snare placements remain the same for all five beats, while the hi-hat and sticking patterns get progressively more challenging.
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