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John Stanier: Emergency Fills

We’ve all faced those moments on stage when you suddenly have to throw in an unexpected fill. Here are some emergency riffs that will do the trick.

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Matt Byrne: Practice-Sticking Patterns

It’s too easy to resort on familiar routines during practice sessions. Why not shake things up every now and then? Here's a good place to start.

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Jon Stanier: Obnoxious Single Kick Patterns

The following exercises should be played to the correct BPMs and never with two hands on the snare. Also, one out of the four exercises is a joke.

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John Stanier: When In Doubt, Flam!

Flams are the spice in our percussive stew. A flam here, a flam there, will liven up even the dumbest of dumb, hard-rock, heavy-metal fills.

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Mike Cosgrove Does Some Tom Bashin’

Do you want to fatten a groove? Mike Cosgrove suggests that you try playing it on toms rather than cymbals. You might be surprised by the results.

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Matt Byrne: Doin’ The Lub-Dub

Matt Byrne teaches us how to mimic the "lub-dub" sound of a heart beat to achieve that Latin-rock groove.

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Mike Cosgrove: Beginning Reading

This month's exercise is good for beginning players and beginning readers.

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Mike Cosgrove: Perplexing Paradiddles

This month’s exercises are similar to the paradiddle exercises we did a couple issues ago, only the paradiddle is inverted. There are four inversions and this is one.

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Mike Cosgrove: Playing Around With Paradiddles

One of the best ways to challenge your technique is to play paradiddles in as many ways possible. Here's a lesson that shows how.

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Mike Cosgrove: How To Groove In 5/4

In this lesson, we’re going to explore odd-time groovin’. Ex. 1 is a basic rhythm of five beats against four beats. Get comfortable with it before attempting the other exercises.