Free Drum Lessons
Drum Technique in a Bottle
Learn the tom-layering technique used by Stewart Copeland in the classic hit Message in a Bottle.
Thunder & Hi-Hat Technique
Learn to play the chorus groove from Thunder by Imagine Dragons and a simple hi-hat technique to bring a new feel to your grooves.
Put this Warm-up in Your Grooves
One of my favorite go-to warm-ups, this pattern can also double as a slick technique to use within your drum beats.
Hi-Hat Ostinato Over 7/8 - Building Grooves
These grooves explore a steady, quarter-note hi-hat foot played over a 7/8 groove. Drum fills included.
5 Face-savers for a Gigging Drummer
Whether you're just starting as a gigging drummer or have the desire to gig someday, "saving face" is something we all strive to do. I'd like to present you with 5 suggestions that will help you avoid the all-too-common mistakes that drummers make when gigging.
Don't Be Afraid. They're Only Skeleton Fills.
Skeleton fills sound great and bring a different "touch," but they're also a great exercise to encourage creativity. By limiting yourself to only the "bones," you're forced to come up with creative ideas to express yourself. You might find yourself becoming more dynamic, exploratory and aware of the intricacies of the kit. You can later translate that to the full drum set.
Crashing The '& Ah'
In this lesson, the "& ah" is accented with two crashes (and bass strokes). The technique can be used at the end of a drum beat, as shown in example 1. Or, it can be added to the end of a drum fill like in examples 2 through 4.
A Fun Groove To Play - Go Go Style
These grooves all feature syncopated, go-go beat style patterns. Beat #1 uses the bass drum to emphasize the syncopation, while grooves 2 through 6 play the syncopation on the ride bell.
Finding Your Hi-Hat Pulse
Learning to play new drum beats is a lot of fun and very rewarding. Many beginner to intermediate level drummers tend to play new drum beats at face value without further exploring ways to add their own personal touch to make the beat feel the way it needs to in order to meet their given situations.
Cleaning Your Drum Equipment
Learn how to clean your drum equipment. Tips for cleaning drum shells, stands and hardware, cymbals, drum heads and the finishing touches.
Introduction to Voicing in Drum Notation
Have you ever been confused by the presentation of a drum part? Were some of the note stems pointing down, when you were expecting them straight up? In this article, we compare the three most common styles of notation for drums and determine the best context for each style.
The Way of the Hi-Hat
Hi-hat patterns and articulations can change the feel of a groove entirely. Because of this, it's important to recognize the feel your hi-hat patterns create — and to use that knowledge to choose hi-hat patterns that match the feel of the song.
