Free Drum Lessons
Elements of a Beat
This is a quick reference for the basic elements and terminology used in rhythm notation.
15 Simple Beats used in Famous Songs
This printable page features simple beats used in famous pop and rock songs. Each beat is used for a significant proportion of the song, unless otherwise indicated.
The Constantin Beat
When Dave Constantin sat down and played his groove at NAMM 2013, I knew I had to use it and share it with you (with Dave's permission, of course). This groove plays with a funky idea on beat 4, incorporating double strokes with beat 1 on the hi hat completing the 5-stroke roll.
Polyrhythm
Learn a cool polyrhythm pattern that can be expanded around the kit. Great coordination practice!
Snarin' The Boom Shalock Lock Boom - Drum Lesson
A great technique to groove up a groove is to play sixteenth notes on the snare drum instead of the traditional eighth notes on the hi hat. While this technique won't fit every situation, it really is a cool way to change the feel of the groove.
Swiss Army Triplet Groove
This lesson focuses on expanding the Swiss Army Triplet rudiment into a cool groove & drum fill.
Triplet It and Give It a Kick
In this lesson, Nate Brown explores a triplet groove pattern with a bass drum diddle. Move it around the kit to create a handful of great grooves. Check Out Nate's Book
La Grange - ZZ Top - Rock Shuffle - Lesson
ZZ Top drives the rock shuffle to the top of the charts with La Grange. In this lesson, we'll look at the rock shuffle, groove timing and some triplet fills used in La Grange by ZZ Top.
Open Hi-Hat Layering
The open hi hat techniques creates interesting 2-measure repeating beats by adding layers to your grooves.
Beats with Stick Control #33 - Part 1
Nate Brown shares some beats derived from the famous hand-pattern 33 from the book Stick Control, perhaps best recognized as the classic Steve Gadd fill.
Beats with Stick Control #33 - Part 2
A continuation of last week's groove idea, this lesson expands the grooves derived from the famous hand-pattern #33 from the book Stick Control, perhaps best recognized as the classic Steve Gadd fill.
6/8 Rock Grooves
In this lesson Nate Brown lays down some foundational 6/8 rock grooves and then shares some alternative hand patterns to embellish the grooves.
