This is a set of exercises designed for McKenna, who received a set of drums for Christmas. I will expand on this section as necessary. If you have found this page helpful and would like to see more lessons, please write to me!

VERY FIRST LESSON:

Drum Key:
R= right hand, L= left hand

In the first measure below, the right and left hands alternate on the snare.
In the second bar, the foot plays steady quarter notes on the kick drum.
In bar three, we combine kick and snare. This will start to build coordination between hands and feet.
Finally, in bar four, we move the right hand over to the ride cymbal and play the same pattern as measure three, but now it sounds more like a "groove" or "beat".

Count out loud and use a metronome! It's better to play slow and steadily instead of fast and sloppily. Play it like you mean it!

Midi File

LESSON TWO:

First, we add a new voice to the drum staff- the low tom:

This lesson is based on triplets. In measure one, the left and right hands alternate on the snare. In the second measure, the kick drum is added. We are "leading with the left", or starting on the left hand, because in the third measure we will keep the left on the snare and move the right hand over to the low (or "floor") tom.

Strive for a steady "rolling" feel.

Midi File

LESSON THREE:

In this lesson we learn to play a "ride" pattern and read the hi-hat line on the drum staff.

Close the hi-hat by pressing on its pedal. Try holding it tightly and loosely for different sounds.

We begin with quarter notes on the hi-hat, then add snare and kick, building up to a complete groove in line three.
The third line will require more coordination than anything we have done so far, so be patient and practice SLOWLY!

First, a note about playing the hi-hat...

It is conventional to play it with the right hand, and play the snare with the left. This has your arms crossed. I personally prefer to play "open handed", with the left hand on the hi-hat and the right on the snare. If I want to play the snare and ride cymbal or tom (more on that in a moment), I'll put the left hand on the snare and use the right hand to play the ride pattern. Try both ways and see which one you prefer!

One thing about the drums that is so much fun is that there is a lot of room for interpretation and substitution. Once you can play the groove above, move your ride pattern (on the top line) to the floor tom, then the ride cymbal. It would also sound good on a cowbell if you have one. If you don't have a cowbell, get one! LOL

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LESSON FOUR

In this lesson we learn to play an eighth note ride pattern. Remember to move the ride pattern to other voices (low tom, ride cymbal, etc.).

In example one, we add a simple kick and snare to the ride.

In example two, we introduce eighth notes in the kick and then the snare.

In example three, we combine the two measures in example two, creating a "two bar phrase". The two snare hits on the very last beat of the phrase act as a simple "fill", leading into the next measure (which in this example is a repeat of the first).

Midi File