PERCUSSION
RUDIMENTS : BASICS AND BEYOND PART 2 | Mark Shelton
Good ideas and good hands ! A percussionist needs creativity coupled with the ability to bring the cool stuff from the brain onto the drums . Studying rudiments will assist you in developing both the creative and technical areas of percussion . Part One presented a few key moments in the history of rudiments along with suggestions for learning . Part Two will provide tips to sharpen your rudimental chops and stimulate your creativity .
PIANISSIMO PRACTICE Sure , you can knock out a ratamacue at medium volume , but what happens when a low dynamic is required ? Challenge yourself to practice rudiments at super-soft levels while maintaining the same clarity as with higher volumes .
BARE HANDS Many rudiments can be adapted to hand percussion such as congas , bongos , and cajon . ( Buzz strokes are a notable exception .) Transferring rudiments onto hand drums will expand your technical skills and serve as a creative catalyst . Check out a few examples :
SUB BUZZ The measured roll rudiments such as the five , seven , and thirteen stroke rolls are played with double strokes ( two consecutive strikes per hand ). Change things up by substituting a buzz ( multiple bounce ) stroke instead of the double stroke . ( You will still use the same primary hand motions .) The measured grace notes in the drag-based rudiments ( e . g ., triple ratamacue & double drag tap ) can also be exchanged for buzz strokes .
SOUP UP YOUR SWEEP Playing drums with brushes consists of striking along with the sweeping technique . Years ago , I attended a clinic by renowned drummer Ed Soph . A master of brushes , Ed recommended playing exercises from Stick Control by George L . Stone using the sweeping technique . Duly inspired , I dug out my copy of the classic drum method book and began putting the advice into practice . Applying sweeping motions to the permutations in the opening section of Stick Control will not only improve your brush technique , but it will also inspire ideas to create grooves and fills .
TRY THE COMBO PLATTER Mix two or more elements and the result is a hybrid . If multiple rudiments are combined , you get a hybrid rudiment . Drummers have developed hundreds of these composite licks . After you have the basic rudiments secured in your brain and hands , add some hybrids to your drumming vocabulary . There are several websites with notation of various hybrids . You can find a large listing that includes the parabuzzle , chatachichi , and inverted cheese flam tap at www . drumminaround . com . A collection of hybrids are included in Bill Bachman ’ s book Rudimental Logic 3.0 .
PILLOW PRACTICE Deepen your control of double stroke rudiments ( e . g ., nine stroke roll & paradiddle ) by practicing on a surface that will provide little to no rebound such as a feather pillow or a folded towel on top of a drum or practice pad . This will assist in improving your ability to control the second note of the double stroke without relying on the rebound . Check out this short demo video :
Single Paradiddle
Congas
O O H F O O H F O O H F O O H F
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l l l 4 = l
R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L
O = Open Tone H = Heel of Palm ( Bass Tone ) F = Fingers
Cajon
Six Stroke Roll
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Corner
Bass Tone R LLRR L R LLRR L R LLRR L R
102 October 2023 Subscribe for Free ...