Double Strokes Around the Drum Set
The written out versions of everything in the video are below. I just wanted to mention that I originally got this double stroke exercise from an excellent drummer I met in Japan named Junji Hirose. Also, thanks to Todd Bishop at Cruise Ship Drummer for his recent post that got me thinking about inverted double strokes. Hope you enjoy the video/idea, and as always, feel free to leave any questions or comments below!
Double Strokes Around the Drum Set
Hey Andrew, I couldn't find an email so I'll just tell you here. I wanted to say thank you for all of the lessons and wealth of information you've posted. I've always been intimidated by jazz. I've always been the drummer who likes to keep it simple and just groove and lay it in the pocket. But trading and soloing was always something that tripped me up in jazz. I've always been told to play melodically and play simple before reading your stuff, but it was re reading that advice through your blog that inspired me (also listening to more jazz records). I auditioned for the jazz combo at school and made the cut out of 12 drummers because I played simple and melodically and with soul. I think that is why I stood out because I was inspired through your lessons. Thank you very much Andrew. Please keep up the lessons!
ReplyDeleteBest,
John Aquino
Hi John,
DeleteLet me just say thank you SO much for taking the time to leave this comment! Blogging can sometimes be a thankless job, and getting such wonderful feedback from drummers like you literally makes my day every time.
I am so happy to hear that you were able to apply some of the stuff from the blog successfully! I will do my best to keep on putting my material out there.
On a related note, have you considered videoing yourself and posting some stuff on Youtube? I would love to get to see you play.
Also do you have any transcriptions or patterns written out for Caravan? I think I might have to play that for a performance in my jazz combo class.
ReplyDeleteIf you'd like to email me any transcriptions or patterns written out my email address is: johnrichardaquino@gmail.com
Hi Andrew,
ReplyDeleteI noticed your site through reddit and want to say that it's good to finally see some content that isn't only rock or metal.
I've been playing drums for about 3 years and in the last 4 months been studying jazz. I've been doing lessons that are mainly about comping for the snare and bass (right now I'm working on http://www.drumbook.org/drum-lessons/jazz-drums/jazz-drum-lesson-7/). Looking through several lesson books, most of them don't have any information about fills that go beyond the very basics (boring stuff).
Thank you for the time you put into these lessons and the fact that you make the transcriptions. The transcriptions are very helpful as sometimes it's hard to make out what people are doing on their videos.
I'm going to study this lesson and also the one on trading 4s. If you have any other lessons or know of a good book for developing jazz fills, please let me know.
Keep making more videos!
Thank you so much for the feedback, I am really glad the videos are helpful!
DeleteI think the best thing for you to start doing to learn fills is to listen to some great jazz drummers and try to absorb what they are doing. I am sure this is something that you have heard before, but let me give you a specific recommendation. Check out some Philly Joe Jones, particularly with Miles. Philly Joe is an endless source of inspiration for great sounding jazz drum fills. His sound has really defined a lot of the "standard" jazz drumming vocabulary in this area. I would suggest getting the album "Milestones" if you don't have it already, and start trying to learn the 4's on "Billy Boy". There is a lifetimes worth of great fill ideas on that track alone.
One other thing, do you have "The Art of Bop Drumming" by John Riley? This book has a great section on fill ideas that are very much inspired by Philly Joe.
Hope this helps.
One other thing.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I am recommending that you spend some time learning things by ear right now (as opposed to looking for more books), is that your ears are what needs training more than your reading ability. If you can start to get closer to Philly Joe's sound, even if the progress seems slow and painful, you will be learning a much more valuable lesson than anything you could learn in any book. Trust me!
Wow. Your blog is incredible. THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome!
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