Here's a transcription of Jimmy Cobb trading 8s at the top of this recording.
Recommended Reading: George Lawrence Stone's Stick Control
For many drummers, Stick Control is the foundation of learning and the first book in their collection. Stone's method is simply and succinctly mapped out, and provides critical technical challenges for drummers of all ability levels.
I recently came across this great interview with the legendary Kenny Aronoff, who shares (among other things) a really usefull way to work Stick Control into your practice routine.
Latin Grooves: Bossa Nova
Latin Grooves: Afro-Cuban
Playlist: Rock Basics II
Refer to the drum set patterns on the Rock Basics I worksheet; play along and have fun!
Playlist: Rock Basics I
Refer to the drum set patterns on the Rock Basics I worksheet; play along and have fun!
Required Reading: Rick Latham's Advanced Funk Studies
Required Reading refers to the necessity that you, the music student, read this book! Lauded as some of the best educational publications available, the manuscripts covered in this series come highly recommended to anyone interested in expanding ability and musicality.
The Rudiments
These succinct rhythms and sticking patterns are the like the alphabet in drumming language. International canon for decades, the Percussive Arts Society offers this and many other essential drumming resources at their website.
Jimmy Cobb's timekeeping on "Freddie Freeloader"
The great Jimmy Cobb with the great Miles Davis on the great album Kind of Blue. Here's Jimmy's timekeeping right up until the beginning of Miles' solo on "Freddie Freeloader".
Elvin Jones' timekeeping on "Bessie's Blues"
The masterful Elvin Jones here with John Coltrane on one of my favorite blues heads of all time. Transcribed is Elvin's timekeeping on "Bessie's Blues" from the landmark album Crescent.
Max Roach's drum solo on "Joy Spring"
The masterful Max Roach showing off his musicality - with brushes! One of my early transcriptions, and still a favorite tune.
Lewis Nash's drum solo on "Illuminations"
Here we have Lewis Nash trading 8s with McCoy Tyner and an all-star band on the title track from 2004's Illuminations.
Philly Joe Jones' drum solo on "Blues By Five"
Behold! At once fluid, disjointed and mystifying, Philly Joe's drumming is unparalleled. Starting at 7:22 in the track, Philly trades fours with Coltrane, Cannonball, Miles, Bill Evans... whew.
Dig in particular the third set of fours he throws out there - a nearly untranscribable Philly Joe-ism that I would personally dedicate to the great Jim Paxson. Long live the masters!
Philly Joe Jones' drum solo on "Four"
A more succinct set of traded fours on the famous tune called Four, Philly Joe throws down some more classic bop licks. Featuring a more basic attempt at the untranscribable menace Philly plays in the fourth four. On Four. Dig?
Song of the Day
Customized staff paper for use in private lessons, composition, or just sketching out some ideas. Available for Piano, Drum Set, Guitar and Bass with TAB.
![song of the day [bass].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5159a2fde4b01288f25138bb/1464182315878-99SBIKDN7N1J07BMSFCS/song+of+the+day+%5Bbass%5D.jpg)
![song of the day [guitar].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5159a2fde4b01288f25138bb/1464182362193-8S989ICJLOGG2CG3G9WT/song+of+the+day+%5Bguitar%5D.jpg)
![song of the day [piano].mus.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5159a2fde4b01288f25138bb/1464182574019-SDSIIIYB8YXC2T0WVCER/song+of+the+day+%5Bpiano%5D.mus.jpg)
![song of the day [drums].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5159a2fde4b01288f25138bb/1464183378074-V0XYHZVSHZU2FAXN2UD6/song+of+the+day+%5Bdrums%5D.jpg)
Developing the Bass Drum v.1
This worksheet introduces 16th-note syncopation on the bass drum, picking up where Rock Basics II left off.
Bill Stewart's Drum Solo on "Wee"
Here's a transcription of drummer Bill Stewart trading 8s on the tune "Wee", as heard on John Scofield's record EnRoute. Listen to the track below (it'll start at 5:53) for the transcribed portion. This track is killer, so it's worth listening to the whole tune!
Recorded at The Blue Note, New York, New York in December 2003.
"Wee" written by Denzil Best. John Scofield, guitar; Steve Swallow, bass; Bill Stewart, drums.
Download a PDF
More transcriptions, lessons, and info at the Education page
Required Reading: Ted Reed's Syncopation
Syncopation lays out basic patterns for snare and bass drum, and *progressively* introduces complexity and coordination challenges. Its utility lies in Reed's presentation of these rhythms: in a succinct and useful way, and covers nearly every rhythmic permutation you could want to play.
Worksheets: Rock Basics I&II
Here's a couple of worksheets that I use with private drum students. It breaks down playing a basic rock beat on the drum set, and advances with some more developed coordination and rhythmic variations.
Drum Set Notation
Here's a reference that I put together for students of the drum set. It explains the relationship between the notes on the staff and the parts of the kit. Additionally, it helps break down the values of different kinds of rhythmic notation.
Visit the Education Page