Timing & Independence
Part 4 - Combining eighth notes and triplets
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!
First, we will be playing eighth notes with our feet (hi-hat and bass drum), and triplets with our hands.
Still in the same order as before (hi-hat - snare - bass drum - ride - bass drum - snare - hi-hat). This means you're playing eighth notes and triplets alternating.
Then we'll turn this around: triplets with our feet, eighth notes with our hands.
Very important here is that you keep the distance between the quarter notes (i.e. the tempo) steady.
In the beginning you'll see that you tend to change the tempo when you start playing triplets with one limb, and then change it back again when you go back to quarters and/or eighth notes. You may not even notice, that's why it's advisable to use a metronome with this exercise.
...watch the video...