l
l
l
l
l
l
l
PERCUSSION
THE GO-TO LIST | Mark Shelton
Listening . Listening over and over . You ’ ve lost count of how many times that demo recording has played as you waited for inspiration to hit . What are you going to play in that second chorus going into the bridge ?
Sound familiar ? Maybe you don ’ t need to reinvent the wheel . Perhaps the solution to the what-do-I-play question is a simple , timetested selection from my go-to list .
This little collection contains several standard hand-held percussion ideas that will fit into a variety of musical situations . I know . I have frequently gone to the go-to .
Although the notated rhythms in this article are written with a time signature , the basic ideas can be easily adapted to fit other time signatures . Numbers 1-7 are written in 4 / 4 but can be modified to fit into 2 / 4 , 3 / 4 , and 5 / 4 . Numbers 8-12 are written in 12 / 8 and can be altered for 6 / 8 and 9 / 8 .
1 . SHAKE TAMBOURINE SIXTEENTHS ( 4 / 4 EXAMPLE ) A steady stream of sixteenth notes shaken from a tambourine has been a part of countless hit records . Practice with attention to even spacing between the notes before adding accents .
2 . TAMBOURINE EIGHTHS ( 4 / 4 EXAMPLE ) You have a choice ; strike the eighths or use shake technique .
3 . TAMBOURINE UPBEAT ( 4 / 4 EXAMPLE ) One note ? That ’ s right , but it ’ s where that single upbeat is placed that requires good musical judgment . In the notated example , the tambourine is on the upbeat of beat 3 , but the single strike can be placed on any of the other beats . Try this upbeat tap while the drum set plays a basic rock / pop groove with backbeats on 2 and 4 . You will immediately hear how a single upbeat makes a subtle change to the overall groove .
1 .
======================== /
« « « « « « « « « « « « « « « « 4 ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ
2 . « « « « « « « « ======================== / ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ
3 .
« ======================== / Œ Œ ‰ ˆ j Œ
4 .
======================== / ¿ « « « « « « « « « « « « « « « «
¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿
5 . « « « « « « « « ======================== / ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿
O + + + O + O + 6 . « « « « « « « «
======================== / ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ
O + + + + + O + + O + + 7 . « « « « « « « « « « « « ========================
/ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ
O = open tone |
+ = closed tone |
4 . SHAKER SIXTEENTHS ( 4 / 4 EXAMPLE ) |
Check out my short tutorial on rhythm triangle |
This simple pattern can be heard doing its |
technique : |
pulsating work in a variety of styles including |
rock , pop , country , jazz , and EDM . |
5 . SHAKER EIGHTHS ( 4 / 4 EXAMPLE ) |
Although the rhythm is straightforward , be |
mindful to play correct subdivisions , especially |
at slower tempos . |
6 . RHYTHM TRIANGLE EIGHTHS ( 4 / 4 EXAMPLE ) |
7 . RHYTHM TRIANGLE MIXED RHYTHM |
Mastery of the open-close technique is required |
( 4 / 4 EXAMPLE ) |
to play rhythm triangle , but it ’ s worth the effort . |
Eighths and sixteenths combine with open |
The open sounds notated in these patterns |
and closed tones to create this classic triangle |
serve as examples . Experiment with other |
pattern . In addition to the example provided |
placements to find what fits best for a particular |
here , explore a variety of positions for the open |
musical setting . |
and closed sounds . |
88 November 2023 Subscribe for Free ...