Free Drum Lessons
5 Face-savers for a Gigging Drummer
Whether you're just starting as a gigging drummer or have the desire to gig someday, "saving face" is something we all strive to do. I'd like to present you with 5 suggestions that will help you avoid the all-too-common mistakes that drummers make when gigging.
Don't Be Afraid. They're Only Skeleton Fills.
Skeleton fills sound great and bring a different "touch," but they're also a great exercise to encourage creativity. By limiting yourself to only the "bones," you're forced to come up with creative ideas to express yourself. You might find yourself becoming more dynamic, exploratory and aware of the intricacies of the kit. You can later translate that to the full drum set.
Crashing The '& Ah'
In this lesson, the "& ah" is accented with two crashes (and bass strokes). The technique can be used at the end of a drum beat, as shown in example 1. Or, it can be added to the end of a drum fill like in examples 2 through 4.
A Fun Groove To Play - Go Go Style
These grooves all feature syncopated, go-go beat style patterns. Beat #1 uses the bass drum to emphasize the syncopation, while grooves 2 through 6 play the syncopation on the ride bell.
Finding Your Hi-Hat Pulse
Learning to play new drum beats is a lot of fun and very rewarding. Many beginner to intermediate level drummers tend to play new drum beats at face value without further exploring ways to add their own personal touch to make the beat feel the way it needs to in order to meet their given situations.
Cleaning Your Drum Equipment
Learn how to clean your drum equipment. Tips for cleaning drum shells, stands and hardware, cymbals, drum heads and the finishing touches.
Introduction to Voicing in Drum Notation
Have you ever been confused by the presentation of a drum part? Were some of the note stems pointing down, when you were expecting them straight up? In this article, we compare the three most common styles of notation for drums and determine the best context for each style.
The Way of the Hi-Hat
Hi-hat patterns and articulations can change the feel of a groove entirely. Because of this, it's important to recognize the feel your hi-hat patterns create — and to use that knowledge to choose hi-hat patterns that match the feel of the song.
Keith Carlock - Drum Solo - Notation Excerpt
Keith Carlock, known for his work with diverse acts including: Steely Dan, John Mayer, Chris Botti, Wayne Krantz and Toto; performs an impassioned improvised solo.
Elements of a Beat
This is a quick reference for the basic elements and terminology used in rhythm notation.
Open Hi-Hat Layering
The open hi hat techniques creates interesting 2-measure repeating beats by adding layers to your grooves.
Groove Embellishment
Starting with a foundational groove, this lesson adds embellishments to develop the groove and create two-measure repeating patterns.
