PERCUSSION
Stephane Chamberland is a drummer , clinician , educator , and author . He is an independent solo artist that has been playing and recording with countless musicians , performing hundreds of live shows around the world . He is endorsed by Mapex Drums , Sabian Cymbals , Vic Firth Sticks , Shure Microphones , Gon Bops Percussion , and Evans
Drumheads . For more information , visit www . stephanechamberland . com .
By Stephane Chamberland
Feel & Space for the Musical Drummer
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EX . 1 elasticity of the rhythms to change the feel . It is amazing how we can create a rounder feel by spacing the notes out or create tension by putting them closer . The jazz ride pattern can be played using a triplet feel but also a 1 / 32 note feel and everything in between .
The cáscara in Afro-Cuban music can also be stretched to the point where you are almost only playing eighth notes . With the Brazilian caixa patterns , we need to understand and play with the distance to be able to make the rhythm feel right . Playing this pattern too square will kill the feel .
Also , in funk or pop music , we definitely use the same concept between bass drum , hi-hats , and snare . You have probably heard about playing the back beat a little bit behind or ahead of the beat . Well there you go – again we are talking about space .
This is a tricky concept to teach because it ’ s a question of feel and it ’ s really hard to precisely notate the feel . The chart will usually give you the main rhythmic notation but rarely the right feel . It ’ s our job to know enough about
Collapsed Rudiments Actually , notes can be collapsed or expanded . I was amazed by this concept when I had the chance to study with Jim Chapin . Even today , I am studying with Claus Hessler from Germany and these concepts are a huge part of today ’ s sound for drumset . I invite you to check out these drummers if you don ’ t already know them . Jim was working on some interesting concepts with changing the distance between the notes to create different rudiments . This is a great place to start to study the feel .
Ex . 1 and 2 are cool exercises to help develop your technique . They are really challenging exercises , so take your time . There are three steps to each : 1 . The starting rudiment . 2 . The transition . 3 . The second rudiment . Note that I am not changing the motion of my hands ; I am only changing the space between the notes .
EX . 2
Motions & Subdivisions
Have you ever heard the expression , “ It ’ s not only the notes but the spaces between the notes that count ?” As a drummer , understanding and feeling the distance between the strokes will help you create really natural and precise motions , like the Moeller technique in the low , half , and full positions .
It ’ s easier to develop a strong groove when the body moves . When we are dancing , walking , or doing anything with our body , we are actually creating motions in time . In music , the smaller or larger distance between two notes will determine the subdivision you are in . For example , if I space out two equal notes in one beat , I am playing eighth notes ; three notes : triplets ; four notes : sixteenth notes , and so on . I can also learn the groups of five , six , seven , nine , 10 , 11 , or even 12 , just to name a few . As in math , we must learn all the subdivisions to get a complete map of the possibilities . It will also help to create different feels . In one beat , for example , you may stretch all the notes or just some notes . It is really hard for a machine to emulate this human feel .
The Feel & Sound In all styles of music , we can play with the the music to make it feel right in the context . It ’ s like when you study a transcription from your favourite drummers . You read it , study , and play it , but when you listen to the track , it sounds completely different than what you have imagined .
Of course , there is more to learn about these concepts but this is a great first start . If you want to learn more about collapsed rudiments , get the book Open-Handed Vol . 2 by Claus Hessler and Dom Famularo ( Alfred Publishing ). There is also a rudiment poster available at www . claushessler . com .
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