I am quite an advanced pianist and I have a reasonable understanding of drumming from watching, listening to and having conversations with drummers, but I have no technique to speak of because I rarely get access to a kit. I have a practice pad use from time to time. My circumstances have led me to have a good opportunity to practise on my pad for a few months and I would like to build up a bit of technique with a view to get a kit in the future. Which rudiments would you suggest would be ... Read More
I am quite an advanced pianist and I have a reasonable understanding of drumming from watching, listening to and having conversations with drummers, but I have no technique to speak of because I rarely get access to a kit. I have a practice pad use from time to time.
My circumstances have led me to have a good opportunity to practise on my pad for a few months and I would like to build up a bit of technique with a view to get a kit in the future. Which rudiments would you suggest would be most useful to practise in my situation? My thoughts are these ones (using PAS terminology):
Single-stroke roll Double-stroke open roll Single paradiddle Flam Flam paradiddle (which I have heard called a flamadiddle) Drag Anything else from your 9 Killer Rudiments
I would also just do a single beats with my left, right and alternating hands to a metronome pulse and would use a metronome for all the above (as recommended by a drummer friend). I love my metronome!
I'm not looking to solo. I want to play standard rock and pop patterns solidly and do some interesting fills.
thanks for the question Phil. One thing I always like to emphasis is to practice any rudiments that have triplets in them. This is because they can be useful in fills/solos (16th note triplets). So an exercise I do is: RLL RLL RLL RLL continuous triplets and the opposite LRR LRR. It may look easy but getting this nice+relaxed+ fast will really strengthen the hand that does the doubles. Also I love paradiddle diddles RLRRLL RLRRLL. same thing . And for them I almost always start on the right ... Read More
thanks for the question Phil. One thing I always like to emphasis is to practice any rudiments that have triplets in them. This is because they can be useful in fills/solos (16th note triplets). So an exercise I do is: RLL RLL RLL RLL continuous triplets and the opposite LRR LRR. It may look easy but getting this nice+relaxed+ fast will really strengthen the hand that does the doubles. Also I love paradiddle diddles RLRRLL RLRRLL. same thing . And for them I almost always start on the right hand because that lends itself best for the set. Then on the pad (at any tempo with metronome) practice going between 16th notes and 16 note triplets.....any amount of each...and any sticking for each. This will help make you at ease to create "on the fly" when you are playing set. Most folks just use the pad for standard rudiments/figures, but when you think about it, there's no reason not to "add lib" on the pad with a metronome and create on the spot. hope that helps......
Hello Mr.Avery, almost every day I visit your Videos on YT because you´re really a good teacher and naturally a very very good Drummer! What do you think about a lesson about standart latin grooves? Or a lesson about Shuffle grooves and fills? Or would you like to play "Hotel California" from the Eagles and explain the groove and the fills for me and all of the world? That would be nice!! :-) Thanks for all your effort and best regards from Germany Barbara
Please cover the theme from the Tonite Show, Johnny Carson"s song by Doc Severson and the Band. Your website is amazing! You are a true genius, BwiaMaster....
Hello Professor, A song I would really enjoy watching you cover is "Phase Dance" By: Pat Metheny. On this track Danny Gotlieb is on the drums and he rips it I love the song and the difficulty it presents you with. Would be A quality jazz Cover that would test you and several different rudiments/ fills.
I love Pat Metheny's music. I was fortunate to play/jam with him one night for a few hours when I was in high school at the Stan Kenton music camp in '72. He was just getting known then and everyone knew he was......IT. Youre idea is a nice one for jazz and I'm just getting ready to shoot Gavin Harrison's 19 days this this week. It's taken me MONTHS to learn as I am trying to go for lot's of details......thanks again.