Cover Story Practice Pad

Syncopation and Independence: John Riley

John Riley is a legendary teacher, inspiring, articulate, and talented in spades. On this DVD there are four sections covering technique, groove, creativity and musicianship. The following excerpts show John demonstrating his remarkable fluidity at the drum set (Video #1) and showing a series of exercises for improving syncopation and independence, using techniques based on the Moeller method.... MORE »

Cover Story Practice Pad

Audio Funk: Chad Smith’s “Funky Monks”

Check out this transcription and lesson from On the Beaten Path: The Drummer’s Guide to Musical Styles and the Legends Who Defined Them, by Rich Lackowski.

Cover Story Practice Pad

Improve Your Groove: Polyrhythm Tutorial

Excerpt from Mastering the Tables of Time, Volume 1: Introducing the Standard Timetable, by David Stanoch

Cover Story Practice Pad

Universal Rhythm: Thirty-Second-Note Rudiments

Excerpt from Universal Rhythms for Drumset, by Dave DiCenso.

In this lesson covering thirty-second-note rudiments, all examples are taken from Universal Rhythms for Drumset, by Dave DiCenso.

Practice Pad

Drum Basics: Hi-Hat and Bass Drum

In this lesson, master educator Steve Houghton provides a basic drum workout from his top-selling book Drumset 101, co-authored with Dave Black. Work through the exercises to better understand basic technique for bass drum and hi-hat. Take a look at the videos to see the proper technique..

Tiger Bill

Tiger Bill Speed Lesson #69

Welcome to the fourth and final installment of my lesson designed to develop both the speed and endurance of your single stroke roll while letting you compare your speed to that of the legendary Buddy Rich, who was capable of maintaining single strokes at speeds of up to about 950 beats per minute (bpm). If you missed any of the other three parts of this lesson, please practice them first before working on this.

Lesson Reviews

Classic Editions of Rush and Zep

By Radim McCue Published December 2, 2009

As holidays approach, and a new year, it's a good time to make resolutions and get a fresh start on things. Like improving your chops and knowledge. With that in mind we take a quick look at some of the recent books and DVDs from earlier in the year.

Lesson Reviews

Brushin’ Up For Christmas

The drumming literature is filled with a few classics on brushes, such as Ed Thigpen's The Sound of Brushes. and Jon Hazilla's Mastering The Art Of Brushes. Now there's also a great DVD called from Jon called Brush Control In it, Jon presents brush-playing fundamentals, many of which are in his book. Many drummers desperately need help with their brush technique because they can be difficult to learn but open up a wide world of new sound options once you've got some confidence in your abilities. Jon presents a useful suite of exercises that take you through basic to advanced techniques. He also performs on the disc, playing in a trio with the terrifically talented Consuela Candelaria on piano and fellow Berkelee prof Ron Mahdi on bass, and shows you how to apply brush grooves to various styles of music from jazz to hip-hop to country. Finally, the there are extended disc performances and interviews with Jon that provide additional insight and help motivate you to work on all the material on the disc.If you don't have Jon's book, then you may want to add his DVD to your plans for the coming year and 'brush up' on your skills.

Cover Story Artist Analysis

Mitch Mitchell’s “Spanish Castle Magic”

When the needle dropped on Jimi Hendrix's Are You Experienced life changed for millions of young drummers. The audacity of Hendrix's approach to amplification and Mitch Mitchell's fusion of jazz and rock opened up new doors for pop music and for musicians. It's a sound that is as fresh today as it was then.

Drum Parts

Barry Kerch: “The Crow And The Butterfly”

Yes, The Sound Of Madness has been out for a year now. But fear not, the beat in this song is evergreen. And by learning it, you’ll be in possession of that relatively rare gem in the drummer’s bag o’ tricks: a killer 6/4 groove, the versatility of which you’re sure to enjoy no matter what kind of music you play. And this one’s universal enough that its possibilities are just about limitless.

Practice Pad Jazz

Peter Erskine’s Brazilian Basics

The best way to learn any style of music is by attentive listening. It’s also possible to get hints from patterns and stickings. Here are some ways to interpret Brazilian-music subdivisions.

Practice Pad Fusion

Odd Foot Ostinatos

This little bit of rhythmic mayhem involves playing odd-numbered groupings on the bass drum in 4/4.