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Joe The Drummer

Improvising On Drums For Beginners

How To Improvise On Drums Using Accents

My latest YouTube video outlines an exercise that can help you develop your improvisational skills using accents. This method is pretty easy to get going whatever your level of ability, you just need to be able to combine softer and louder strokes or taps and accents. The trick is to start with the simplest thing you can do in a relaxed way. In this case we start playing 16ths as taps and then add a few accents, first with the… Read More »How To Improvise On Drums Using Accents

Learn to Play Zigaboo Modeliste’s Groove on Sailing Shoes

Zigaboo Modeliste is one of the true forefathers of funk drumming and in this YouTube video I explain the groove he plays on Robert Palmer’s Sailing Shoes. The song was written by the great Lowell George and was on the Little Feat record of the same name. Palmer’s version of Sailing Shoes appears on his 1974 debut album, Sneaking Sally Through The Alley. The song is brought to life here by Palmer’s energy and the Meters’ awesome funky backing as… Read More »Learn to Play Zigaboo Modeliste’s Groove on Sailing Shoes

How To Play The Beatles’ Come Together

In my latest YouTube video offering I explain the vital drumming components for The Beatles’ Come Together. This is a great song to introduce you to Ringo’s fabulous drumming. The famous riff has a nice triplet run on the toms which you can play right to left or left to right and the rest of the verse and chorus are an exercise in minimalist groove making. In the solo sections and the outro Ringo’s groove is a thumpy-dumpy, sloshy, compressed… Read More »How To Play The Beatles’ Come Together

Trinity Rock & Pop Digital Exams

Trinity Rock & Pop Digital Exam Centre

I am now an official Trinity Rock & Pop digital exam centre which means I can facilitate the recording and submission of digital exams for candidates for all instruments including drums, bass, guitar, keyboards and vocals. If you would like help with setting up, recording and submitting your digital exams, please get in touch and let me know what I can do for you. Trinity digital grades allow students to record their performances at a time and place of their… Read More »Trinity Rock & Pop Digital Exam Centre

How to play rudiments with a metronome

How To Play Rudiments to A Click

Many beginner drummers (and not-so-beginer too) find it challenging to play to a click. It’s not a natural skill that you either got or you don’t got. It’s a skill you can learn. In this video I explain a methodical approach to developing the ability to play single strokes, double strokes and paradiddles to a metronome that will help you to understand how to synchronise yourself to the click in a confident and relaxed way.

How To Play A Texas Shuffle

How To Play A Texas Shuffle

My latest YouTube video is released. It’s a brief and, hopefully, concise introduction to the Texas Shuffle or two-handed shuffle or whatever it’s supposed to be called. Go listen to Chris Layton playing on Pride & Joy to see what I’m talking about. Then watch my video and learn this kickarse groove!

Subdivisions Exercise Around The Kit

Subdivisions Exercise Around The Kit

In my latest video I demonstrate a simple exercise counting quarter notes, 8ths, triplets and 16ths around the drums. I highly recommend spending some time learning to count time and the subdivisions while improvising around the kit. This video is aimed at beginners but more advanced players might benefit from learning to play and count. It can really help your timing in terms of accuracy and feel. Learn to count out loud and also sing while you’re playing your drums.… Read More »Subdivisions Exercise Around The Kit

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