DRUMSET 101

A Contemporary Approach to Playing the Drums

Dave Black and Steve Houghton

Drumset 101 is a contemporary approach to playing the drums by veteran authors Dave Black and Steve Houghton. Inside, aspiring drummers will find in-depth, easy-to-understand introductions to such topics as groove patterns, snare drum & bass drum independence, and drum fills in context. The book contains written charts for every tune, and a play-along CD with 40 multi-stylistic tracks that can be used to strengthen time keeping, improve ensemble playing, clarify phrasing and expand the player's knowledge of styles.

Drumset playing is all about improvisation - creating your own sound and feel. Using the two-bar practice loop on page 16 of Drumset 101, try adding embellishments to the written fills. For example, try adding flams or ruffs to any of the written quarter notes. It will "fatten up" the sound of the fill and make it sound even more relaxed. Next, whenever you have two written eighth notes, try adding two sixteenth notes to the first eighth note. This will create more energy and motion in the fill. Finally, change direction of the written fills. In other words, start on the low drum and move up to the snare. This will create an entirely different melodic feel to the fill. Although a play-along track is provided, try and find music at a variety of tempos, where you can utilize these ideas and create fills in a real musical context (you could use rock tracks that appear later in the book). After working with these new concepts, create your own fills. Keep exploring new possibilities by adding ideas or changing up your motion. Good luck and have fun!

Note: Book/DVD edition also available, catalog number 31428.

Retail Price: $15.95

Online Sale Price: $15.15

Product Details: Paperback Book & CD Package, Drums

Product Code: 0-27922

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