Timing & Independence

Part 2 - Adding eighth notes

Dennis Leeflang 08-08-2004 23:12

This lesson is all about the basic independence a drummer's limbs should have in order play basic rhythms without any problems. It also helps to improve timing of the individual limbs in relation to each other. These exercises can be extended and changed as much as the drummer wishes.
This particular lesson is extremely useful for drummer that have just started out playing, but may drastically improve an advanced drummers' independence and timing as well.

These exercises are based on the ones I was taught by my teacher Luuk Kranenburg when I had just started out playing in my early teens. Credit where credit is due!

Once we've managed to tightly time all hits together, we'll start adding eighth notes. First measure will be all quarters like before, then we'll start by letting the left foot (hi-hat) play eighth notes during one measure. Then back to all quarter notess again, for one measure. Next measure we'll double the left hand (snare) to eighth notes. Then back to playing all quarters again for one measure. After that we'll double the right foot (bass drum), back to quarters again, and then the right hand (ride cymbal). Again one measure of all quarters, and then back to the bass drum.

We'll go from left to right, back to the left, back to the right. doubling limbs in this order: hi-hat - snare - bass drum - ride - bass drum - snare - hi-hat.... And so forth. This will constantly be the order in all exercises.

Once confortable with the changes, try leaving out the basic quarter note measure inbetween the change-overs from doubling one limb to the other (like in the second half of the video below).

Try not to change the tempo while playing the exercise. Once you're comfortable with it, stop and start it at a slightly higher tempo.

Please note that being able to play this at a high tempo is not the goal of the exercise!

...watch the video...

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