Drum Soloing Course

Learn how to master the secrets of the drum solo. Explore the basic building blocks and how to expand them to create that explosive drum solo that you have been looking for. Eight weeks of intensive study including sticking patterns, groupings and actual transcribed solos.

Drum Solo Course #1

Week #1 Note Values: Creating a note value grid over a  quarter note pulse. Groupings will be played hand to hand (RLRL) over a single beat. Example: 1:1, 3:1, 5:1, 8:1 ratios.

Week #2 Note Values In Groupings Of Two: Re-inventing of the grid using hand foot combinations.

Week #3 Sticking Patterns: The classic para-diddle (RLRRLRLL). This sticking will be used through the grid up to and including 1:1, 3:1, 6:1, 8:1 ratios. The double paradiddle (RLRLRR LRLRLL) will also be applied in the same way.

Week #4 Sticking Patterns Cont’d: Here we introduce the pattern of six (RLRRLL). Once again the six pattern will be applied to the grid for all relevant ratios.

Week #5 Groupings: Intro to multiple hand foot combinations. Here we will use two hands plus one foot (Right, Left, Bass Drum). The three groupings will be applied to 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 6:1 and 8:1 ratios.

Week #6 Groupings Cont’d: As an extension to multiple hand foot combinations we will use four hands and two feet (Right, Left, Right, Left, Bass, Bass). The six grouping will be applied to 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 6:1 and 8:1 ratios.

Week #7 & 8 Sticking Patterns: The last two weeks will be dedicated to thirty-two bar solo’s #1 + #2. These two solo’s will include all related knowledge from weeks 1-6. *Transcriptions will be provided for all 8 weeks.

Drum Solo Course #2

Week #1 Endurance Exercises for Single Strokes: This exercise is designed to develop strength and endurance with alternating single strokes. Working with a metronome and focusing on smoothness and eveness will help get you through the exercise.

Week #2, 3 & 4 Single & Double Stroke Exercises: These exercises will use single and double strokes in a variety of rhythmic and metric situations. Groupings of 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 6:1, 7:1, and 8:1 ratios will be used. We will examine exercies using basic and complex rhythms.

Week #5 & 6 Hand Foot Combinations: The material contained in this section is designed to develop coordination and flexibility between the two hands and the bass drum. We will divide this into two parts, first with sixteenth and thirty second notes and second with triplets.

Week #7 & 8 Studies Involving Rhythmic Mixtures: A Studies performed on snare drum only

B studies performed on snare drum and one other sound source

C studies performed on snare entire drum set with a foot ostinato. * Transcriptions will be provided for all 8 weeks.