Ask a musician what kind of time signature is 9/8 and you’ll no doubt get the answer, it’s compound time.
Read moreFaster Still!!!
Faster Still!!!
When a young drummer asks about the best way to develop speed, the usual answer is “practice slowly”. And no, that's not an oxymoron. Your ability to play fast is 100% determined by the amount of control you have over your limbs. And the best way to develop control is through … wait for it … slow, regular, mindful practice.
Jazz Brushes for the Modern Drummer - Reviewing Tradition and Playing Good Time
You may ask, “Ulysses what if I don’t play gigs requiring brushes?”
I believe for any musician who plays the drums, it doesn’t matter. Learning the brushes is part of your due diligence on the drum kit.
Read moreCymbal & Snare Rock Beats in 5/8 Time
Some of you may disagree, but to my mind playing time behind a drum set, whether it be rock, jazz, latin, or any other genre of music has to do mainly with the cymbals and snare.
Read more“Free” is Good, Right?
just how do you decide whether you are going to do a job when there's no money to be had. In short, WIIFMAMB (What's is in it for me and my band)
Read moreAnd now for something completely different!
and now for something completely different!
Read moreFuhgeddaboudit
A few weeks later, as I practiced, I was intrigued with not only how smooth my stroke had become, but also how much speed I'd achieved in a relatively short time. And the key component to this admirable accomplishment? I didn't pay attention.
Read moreRebutting Drumming Myths
4-Way Independence Rules
Our limbs typically cannot act independently, and so we must train them to co-ordinate their actions as a team. We call it independence, but what we're really talking about is “co-ordinated interdependence”... the limbs are co-operating and not acting independently.
Reading Rhythm Across The Bar Line
How to read those awkward across the bar line figures.
Read moreEtude Brute?
The following etude features eighth triplets and parts of eighth triplets.
Read morePracticing Rules !!!
The fifteen commandments of practicing
Of course there are no rules, other than just do it. But there are good ways to practice and not so good ways. My goal for practice time is that it will invariably lead to the development of sound playing and sound playing habits. And it has to be fun.
Read moreHow to Learn a Song in 10 Ounces of Caffeine or Less
Recognition vs. Recall
The goal is not to memorize the entire tune and arrangement. We just need to be able to identify and recognize the various sections as they come along. As long as we can follow the tune, the rest is just a case of getting organized. I like to develop a good understanding of the 'landscape' and leave the details until later. If I were to focus on the drum breaks, for example, I’d miss a lot of important information.
Repeat After Me
The following etude is a primary example of the idea that things sometimes look simpler than they are. It’s comprised of just quarter and eighth notes, but you have to concentrate in order to play from start to finish without stopping and, of course, without making a mistake.
Read morePick Your Target
One thing that I always admired about Buddy Rich was the way he set up figures. He had a way of announcing and drawing attention to horn lines that was absolutely beautiful.
Read moreThe Paradiddle Bible and the Humble Single Paradiddle - Part 2
Linear paradiddle exercises between the cymbal, bass drum, and snare drum.
Read moreAre you talking to me?
We’ve all at one time or another been advised to "just listen” and we would be told the answer to whatever it is that’s is confusing us..
Read moreOccam Was Onto Something (w Simon Phillips videos)
(editor’s note; It is clear from this image that William of Ockham invented the traditional grip 1000 years ago)
Micro Practice
We do ‘micro practice’ all the time. We work on a single thing: single strokes, double strokes, lines from Stick Control and the like. Why? Because it works. Reducing our focus to a single item reaps big rewards. When learning a new figure, I will often take a 2-beat or even a 1-beat section and work on it exclusively. Then, when I tackle the whole thing, I’ve got a good handle on each part.
Playing Time vs Playing Within The Time
My first introduction to Tony Williams was the Miles Davis album 'Miles in Europe.' Inconceivable to me that Tony was keeping time. He was playing his 'parts' (yes, plural) 'within' the time. (And killing it!) Elvin Jones with John Coltrane? More plural 'parts' within the time. (And more killing!) Max Roach played pstterns and melodies. Jimmy Cobb often played straight quarter notes on the cymbal. To me, that was his part in the music. And so on.....
Read more“Feel Good” Aspects Of Playing Drums
When I was a kid, after hours trying to develop an open double stroke roll, I got a great feeling when suddenly discovering I achieved the ability to play clean, even, and fast double strokes with its resulting machine gun effect. The same holds true for many other aspects of learning to play my instruments.
Read moreBass Drum Two-sies
It's always a good time to work on bass drum doubles. I find the first page helps with the timing and execution.
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