How To Play Cissy Strut On Drums
Here’s my video explaining the basics of Zigaboo Modeliste’s seminal groove on The Meters’ Cissy Strut.
Drum Blog
The Four Amazing Learning Methods You Can Use To Learn Any Groove
This is a super useful video I made recently outlining the four most useful methods for learning to play patterns on drums: I use a bog standard Bossa Nova beat as an example in this video but anything you want to learn can benefit from understanding and using these methods. You can also combine methods depending on the circumstances. Try each one out and see what works best for you. Enjoy!
How To Play SRV’s Couldn’t Stand The Weather
Another video covering Chris Layton’s playing. This time it’s Stevie Ray Vaughan’s – Couldn’t Stand The Weather. The groove is heavy and funky with a syncopated snare pattern and some tasty hihat 16ths. Here’s a PDF with the exercises written out. Enjoy.
Hard To Handle by The Black Crowes – Drum Sheet Music
This is a drum chart I made for students who are studying towards a grade four exam. I am doing exams through MTB which is brilliant as they allow students to choose whatever they want to play as long as it meets the criteria of the grade being worked on. So I am building a collection of songs with my students that broaden the possibilities. Plus I am using tracks I’ve created in Moises so the poor exam candidates don’t… Read More »Hard To Handle by The Black Crowes – Drum Sheet Music
Start! by The Jam – Full Drum Chart
This is a drum chart showing you hopw to play Start! by The Jam. Do you even need a chart to play this? If you do, it’s here. It’s a fun song to do if you’re looking for something with a little energy but not too complex. Begginer plus level, I’m guessing? Download the PDF
Dakota by The Stereophonics – Drum Sheet Music
I recently did a chart for a student of mine who’s learning Dakota by The Stereophonics. It’s a great song, it’s fun to play and a god one to know for covers gigs. Here’s the chart for your delectation: Download the PDF here.
How To Play Testify By Stevie Ray Vaughan On Drums
Here’s my instructional video on how to play Chris Layton’s energetic groove on Stevie Ray’s Testify. It’s a brilliant groove to learn and to play and gives us a chance to focus on doing the dynamic strokes (Full, Down, Tap and Up strokes) on the snare. Here’s a PDF with a breakdown of the individual beats as explained in the video.
Playing Paradiddles As Grooves
My latest YouTube video covers the topic of using paradiddles as grooves between the snare and bass so instead of playing R L R R L R L L you play B L B B L B L L and so on. It’s a great way to develop your ghost notes including balancing the ghosted and accented notes in different ways. It will also improve bass drum coordination and can be used to increase bass drum speed and endurance if… Read More »Playing Paradiddles As Grooves
Isac Jamba Teaches Samba
Check out this wonderful clinic presented by Brazilian drummer Isac Jamba who has come to my attention via YouTube. He offers a really comprehensive introduction to the Brazilian samba drum kit vocabulary and style. Topics covered include fundamental rhythmic patterns, the standard foot ostinato, how to play really fast Samba without your hands falling off, how to apply rudiments, approaching stick grip and stroke (oh those 16ths look so relaxed OMG, 16ths @135bpm! It’s slow hahaha), additional rhythms and on… Read More »Isac Jamba Teaches Samba
More On The Purdie Shuffle
Here’s a follow up to the recent video I made about the world famous Purdie Shuffle. In this one I cover playing a ghost note after the backbeat accented snare note and the ope hihat options. Enjoy.