DRUM! - Lessons

Practice Pad Jazz

Peter Erskine: Playing Around With Velocities

Here’s some cool drum vocabulary that best exists in its own time and space frame; such rhythms shouldn’t be transcribed in measured time. Why? Because these are rhythmic expressions more of velocity and emotion rather than technique.

... MORE »

Cover Story Artist Analysis

Groove Analysis: Thomas Lang’s “Loki”

Nate Brown of Onlinedrummer.com shows you how to master the tricks of Thomas Lang.

... MORE »

Practice Pad Metal

The Mind Of Matt Byrne: Slamming In Six

I’ve explored some whacky time signatures in past columns, but this month I’m going to take it back a notch with some beats in 6/4.

... MORE »

Practice Pad Rock

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.

... MORE »

Practice Pad Jazz

The Schnalle Method: Odd Foot Ostinatos

This month’s rhythmic mayhem involves playing odd-numbered groupings on the bass drum in 4/4.

... MORE »

Practice Pad Metal

Matt Byrne’s Left-Hand Chops Builders

This month, we’re going to concentrate on building strength and endurance in the left hand (for those of you who regularly play left-hand lead, just reverse the stickings for a rightie work out).

... MORE »

Practice Pad Rock

Mike Cosgrove’s Swiss Triplet Beats

Get your sticks in fighting shape because we’re gonna’ shred on the Swiss Army triplet again. This month, we'll work on accenting different parts of the pattern.... MORE »

Hand Drum Richie "Gajate" Garcia

Independent Iyesa: An Afro-Cuban Cowbell Workout

In this independence exercise, we will look at two cowbell patterns that are played in the Afro-Cuban Iyesa rhythm. To get started, you’ll need two cowbells – a cha cha bell and another large cowbell. As always, start off slowly.

... MORE »

Practice Pad Metal

Video Tip: Art Cruz’s Heel-Toe Technique

If you’ve ever wondered how Winds Of Plague drummer Art Cruz can slam bass drum patterns so quickly and easily, this video lesson will remove the shroud of mystery forever. It’s all about applying a simple heel-toe technique that requires rocking your foot to acitvate the top and bottom of your pedal’s footboard in quick succession. Master this with both feet and you’ll be able to execute rapid-fire sixteenths and thirty-seconds just as Cruz does during this demonstration of the song “Chest And Horns” from the band’s brutal 2009 release The Great Stone War.

... MORE »

Practice Pad Jazz

The Schnalle Method: Hot, Hot Uhgada

Long ago, in a column perhaps long forgotten, I introduced DRUM! readers to what I call the uhgada (so named because if you say “uhgada” over and over really fast, it sounds like the lick). This handy little pattern is a friend to many drummers and can be used in a myriad of ways.

... MORE »

Lesson of the Week Practice Pad Jazz

Peter Erskine: Fun With 3-Against-4 Bebop

Here’s a fun and rhythmically exciting bit of coordination for you to master at the drum set.

... MORE »

Practice Pad Metal

Matt Byrne’s Metal Method: Inverted Beats

Let’s mess around with some inverted beats between the kick, snare, and hi-hats, as well as with some beats that incorporate left-foot patterns on the hi-hat.

... MORE »