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Old 12-31-2008, 10:40 PM
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don11817 don11817 is offline
Level 8 - Six Stroke Roll
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Longmont, Colorado
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Re: Any tips for a new drummer?


Take some lessons. Seriously--that's not a jab. In the meantime, work on independence of your hands and feet--the earlier you start getting your hands and feet to work independently, the faster you'll be able to pick up more complicated rhythms and fills/beats.

I would start by doing some exercises with my hands on the snare and then incorporating my feet in as I get more comfortable with my hands. You can use your hi-hat pedal as a stand-in if you don't have a double kick. Here, try this:

LH=Left hand
RH= Right hand
LF= left foot
RF = right foot

LH RH LH RH LH RH LH RH LH RH LH RH = single stroke roll
LH LH RH RH LH LH RH RH LH LH RH RH = double stroke roll

After you get this up to some speed, incorporate feet in --it will be hard at first but will get easier with practice:

LH LF RH RF LH LF RH RF LH LF RH RF LH = SAME SIDE SINGLE ROLLS
LH RF RH LF LH RF RH LF LH RF RH LF LH = REVERSE OF ABOVE ORDER

PARADIDDLES:

RH LH RH RH LH RH LH LH RH LH RH RH LH RH LH LH = PARADIDDLE
RF LF RF RF LF RF LF LF RF LF RF RF LF RF LF LF= PARADIDDLE WITH FEET
RH LF RH RH LH RF LH LH RH LF RH RH LH RF LH LH=MIXED HANDS & FEET
LF RH LF LF RF LH RF RF LF RH LF LF RF LH RF RF=REVERSE HANDS & FEET

And so on.. I'd also recommend getting a book at a music store on rudiments to start developing some stick work so you can identify patterns and play them. "Rudimentary drumming" was a good one, it has follow along charts and will help you learn how to read drum music while you develop some hand technique...

Hope this helps-- trying not to throw to much out at once...
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