It kinda snuck up on me... but I'm immersed in exercises that demand accents within paradiddles. Time to get into the 'real' rudiments: Up Stroke: Down Stroke: Full Stroke: and Tap Stroke... ...a 32nd-note exercise (to warm up) -- singles, doubles, single paradiddle, and an inverted paradiddle -- added a paradiddle-diddle idea into practice. -- Also working on a ghost-note exercise handed down through the generations from Steve Smith. And - exploring rim-shots. singles, doubles, single paradiddle, and an inverted paradiddle ... coming up on 1 year of drumming. For the first half of this new year - planning to get more into the details of Rock Drumming.... while maintaining my interest in Latin Jazz. When I began playing guitar - I knew nothing about music (except that I loved it). There came a point where I'd gathered enough information/experience to begin what I would later refer to as 'noodling.' This was the phase where I began to sit down and practice for longer periods of time - repeating myself endlessly... but enjoying it! It was this phase where I began to feel more comfortable improvising... able to entertain myself for hours... without fatigue. Today - I don't equate 'noodling' with 'practice' (or even playing... really). But - as I work myself into some sort of 'intermediate' phase with a new instrument - I'm remembering how important it was get to that place. It was the foundation from which future exploration and intimacy with the instrument would spring.
This video is the first in a series I'm working on for practicing 2-way independence with the hands. All exercises are in 6/8 - with accompanying examples correlating the handwork to a 16th-note feel.
Using the unusual pulse of exercise 2 to create a 'linear-style' fill. ... more musings on the natural tendency to revert to a 16th-note feel. I have this one just about well enough to play it... and hear it (the most important thing). The next step is to get comfortable switching hands. The displacement of the accent on beats 2 & 5 is awkward - but when you get it right... it's enjoyable... This exercise is the first in a series I'm working on for practicing 2-way independence with the hands. All exercises are in 6/8 - with an 'even' pulse on beats 1 & 4. I hesitated to post this one because I can see how much better it might be in a week (or two). But I kept the hi-hat moving here - and that was the goal today. ... been so busy working on articulating the hands... hadn't really noticed how much stronger the right foot is (compared to the left). I remember trying to grab a few 32nd notes with the left foot... it wasn't coming easy. But I didn't work too hard on it... had other fish to fry. Truthfully - a good command of 16th-note rhythms (with the foot) is all 'most' drummers will ever need to play 'most' any popular tune with a good feel. But John Bonham showed us how much fun it can be to do more. .. if/when we can. There's a great difference between using double-strokes to blaze a few 'pair' of 32nd-notes - and using them as part of an 'even' 16th-note pattern. I've hit the 6 month mark of practice... beginning exploration of paradiddles (and other patterns that combine singles and doubles). |
Ben Higgins
Began studying drums in February 2018. Loving every minute of it!. Archives
April 2020
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