Four-on-the-Floor Drum Beats
The four-on-the-floor phrase is a catchy way to describe drum beats that feature the bass drum on beats 1, 2, 3, and 4. This bass pattern is often used in dance music, pop, rock, funk, and any song that benefits from a driving feel.
Twelve “Walking” Beats & Fills
The Walking foot pattern is a lot of fun to play and makes for a great drum solo concept. The term "walking" refers to the motion of your feet while playing the technique — right, left, right, left — like you're walking.
Seven Half-Time Shuffle Beats & Fills
Explore the half-time shuffle with these seven drum beat and fill examples. The first beats and fills are simpler concepts, while later fills become more complex.
Rhythm Builder: How Far Can You Go?
Starting with a simple rhythm on the snare drum, this exercise gradually builds throughout each measure. In the audio demonstration, each example is played 4 times before moving on.
Six Choice Shuffle Drum Beats & Fills
Six shuffle beats and fills to satisfy any of your shuffle urges. The examples are arranged from simplest to most complex. Feel free to interchange the drum beats, and explore how each beat brings a different transition and feel to the drum fill.
Six Go-Gos
These Go-Go beats are arranged from starter level to more advanced arrangements. Beats 5 and 6 incorporate eighth notes with the hi-hat foot.
Foot Refrain Drum Fills & Solo Concept
These drum fills are played over a hi-hat and bass drum refrain, keeping the time and holding the fills together.
Snare Based Grooves
These grooves use the snare drum to carry the beat. Accents, rimshots, and diddle strokes add dynamics and articulation to bring the grooves to life.
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.
Layering a Groove
Today's Tuesday beat takes a foundational groove and gradually add layers to fill out the groove.
Have a 6/8 Weekend
Enjoy four patterns in 6/8 along with some drum fill ideas. The first two drum fills are straightforward while the third and fourth explore syncopated crashes.
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.
A Fun Build – 6 Beats
This fun group of six drum beats is a great way to begin your 2018. The audio sample below performs each beat four times before moving onto the next.
Carlock-Esque Ghosted Drum Beat – Scary!
Inspired by the funky, syncopated, ghost-stroke snare patterns immortalized by Keith Carlock, this groove will keep things moving.
Orchestrating a Syncopated Rhythm
Learn six drum fills based on the same rhythmic pattern. The re-orchestration technique allows you to create many drum fills with different flavors.
