Knowing many styles and being able to handle a greater range of requests seems to be the main way to access a greater number of job opportunities. While this is true, there are more important reasons for studying many genres and striving for greater versatility. The post Why Versatility is Important appeared first on - Confident Drummer ..read more

The Setup is an incredibly musical component of interpretation which consists of preparing, in advance and by playing a fill, the musical meaning of the rhythmic figures that are about to be executed. In this lesson we are going to explore a number of examples to internalize the way it works. The post The Setup of Rhythmic Figures – Theory, Interpretation, Examples appeared first on - Confident Drummer ..read more

We know when a drummer, a beat or a song grooves hard, but it's not easy to tell what it is exactly that makes it groove. The reason is that it’s not what we play that makes things sound great, it’s how we play them. In this lesson we are going to analyze 12 great songs, in different styles. Get ready to be amazed at the details that emerge once you know what to look for. The post Understanding Groove – Analysis of 12 Great Songs appeared first on - Confident Drummer ..read more

No matter how hard we have worked to boost our timing skills, we still have to deal with the fact that we’ll never reach absolute perfection of execution. In this article we explore a series of powerful techniques and concepts to clean up any rough edges, make our inner pulse more solid and definite, and keep time like a true pro. The post 5 Strategies to Handle Timing Imperfections appeared first on - Confident Drummer ..read more

Who said that the Drum Set must be played only with sticks? There are so many more beaters to be discovered, which allow for a virtually infinite number of sonic combinations. So let's check out a few unusual beats that utilize brushes, hot rods, mallets, shakers, jingle sticks and even small percussions, to create original rhythmic soundscapes and inspire you to experiment with these fascinating possibilities. The post Brushes, Beaters, Small Percussions – 10 Creative Drum Grooves appeared first on - Confident Drummer ..read more

After having discovered the theory behind playing ahead or behind the beat in Part 1 of this series, and having practiced the exercises from Part 2 to develop the skills needed, in this final chapter we are going to check out a few examples from records where we can hear these techniques at work, which is one of the most effective ways to train our ears to recognize each variation and the associated sensations. The post Playing Ahead or Behind the Beat – Full Course – Part 3: Examples appeared first on - Confident Drummer ..read more

Once we have a clear understanding of the foundational concepts involved in playing ahead or behind the beat, it's time to start practicing. In this detailed step-by-step program in 3 levels you are going to discover powerful exercises and techniques that will take you from zero to master of the ability to lean on the backside of the beat or push it a little. The post Playing Ahead or Behind the Beat – Full Course – Part 2: Exercises appeared first on - Confident Drummer ..read more

One of the most interesting approaches to advanced drum phrasing is that based on ternary subdivisions, which involve all kinds of triplets, like sextuplets and ninetuplets. In this lesson we are going to discover a powerful system to phrase with ease using nothing more than two 3 note cells: the RLL and RRL stickings. The post Advanced Drum Phrasing Techniques – Sextuplets and Ninetuplets appeared first on - Confident Drummer ..read more

One of the cornerstones of drum technique is alternating hands phrasing, based on playing single strokes and using accents to create interesting solutions. In this lesson we are going to study its fundamental techniques, in order to fully integrate the way it works. The post Fundamental Drum Phrasing Techniques – 16ths and Triplets appeared first on - Confident Drummer ..read more

Once we have spent some time working on various techniques, exercises, grooves and phrases, if we want to take things to the next level it’s essential to try performing rhythms and fills freely, in the form of brief solos, so as to filter and automate what has been learned. To illustrate the point, I have recorded a bunch of solos in different styles. If you want to learn how to improvise a drum solo check out the full article. The post Improvisation – 1 Minute Drum Solos in 11 Different Styles appeared first on - Confident Drummer ..read more