The drumstick should never be clamped or gripped by the player. When the stick is held tightly, it loses its ability to rebound off the snare drum or practice pad. This causes the wrist to be overused and the strokes to become stiff, even in a simple groove. A proper grip allows the player to…
Play slow eighth notes on the hi-hat, add a backbeat on the snare for beats two and four, then throw in a bass drum. A lot of beginners can play a steady rhythm on the hi-hat and snare but once the kick drum comes in, it’s almost like the groove gets thrown out the window….
It’s tempting to think of a metronome as a device that simply shows you if you’re rushing or dragging. For a rock beat, the metronome gives you a steady point that never changes as your hands and feet move. Small variations in timing become easier to spot. For example, when the hi-hat gradually gets ahead…
You’re playing a solid groove, hit the toms for a quick fill, and come back to the hi-hat and snare wondering where beat one is now. Everything sounded good, but somehow the groove is off. Beat one was lost in the fill. Knowing where beat one falls gives a drum fill direction instead of just…