Free Drum Lessons
How Fast? You May Be Fast Enough
As drummers, we're often drawn into the desire to play fast. We've seen drummers put on amazing displays of speed, endurance and athleticism behind the kit. It's impressive and quite an experience to watch. However, the need for speed can also be a hindrance.
Balancing the Hands - Swing
This is an exercise designed to balance your hands through playing the jazz swing rhythm with either hand. In the first bar, the right hand leads, playing the rhythm on the floor tom. In the second bar, the left hand leads, playing the high tom. The spaces are filled with ghosted snare drum notes. These ghost strokes help you to hear and feel the underlying triplets in the swing feel.
A Slick Almost-Linear Build
This linear groove starts off with a simple, but great-sounding, pattern. Each bar adds to the previous bar to gradually fill out the beat.
Version Confusion
Have you ever carefully learned a song for a gig, and then experienced an on-stage train wreck? Your band may have suffered ‘version confusion’ — where each band member learns a different version of a particular song.
Hi-Hat Technique - Steven Adler Style
This unique hi-hat technique is used by Steven Adler throughout the verses of the Guns N Roses hit Welcome to the Jungle.
Groovin' with the Samba Foot
The samba foot pattern is an excellent foot exercise to develop strength and endurance. It's not only fun to play but sounds cool, too.
Samba Groove
This groove builds from last week's "Samba Foot" drum lesson. This beat continues the samba foot pattern, but also includes a 3-note ostinato pattern with the right stick, as well as some other embellishments.
Three Dog Night Grooves - Hi-Hat Technique
Learn the grooves and hi-hat technique used throughout the first chorus of Mama Told Me Not To Come.Learn the grooves and hi-hat technique used throughout the first chorus of Mama Told Me Not To Come. This is a funky song with a lot of slick hi-hat technique. Experiment with applying some of these techniques to your grooves.
Iris - Goo Goo Dolls - Chorus
Learn the first chorus grooves and fills from the late 90s hit Iris by Goo Goo Dolls. Mike Malinin uses varied hi-hat articulations and dynamics that contribute to the iconic feel of Iris.
Drum Beat from Demons
Learn the main groove from the song Demons by Imagine Dragons and some ideas for exploring the technique.
Time-Tested Power Fill - Paradise City
Steven Adler plays this beastly drum fill leading into the double-time outro of Paradise City. Though it sounds impressively confusing, it's based on a simple pattern of repeating 'right, left, kick.'
This Is War - Chorus Groove and Fill
In this drum lesson, learn the chorus groove and monster fill from the song This Is War by 30 Seconds To Mars.
