Latin Drumming Lessons

Latin culture has many amazing aspects, but as musicians, we naturally ignore
every single one of those aspects and focus right on the music. Exotic, full of
flavor and unique styling, Latin drumming is unlike many other forms of
drumming.
In fact, if you are a rock drummer, or a jazz drummer, you may have some
trouble learning Latin drumming. This is due solely to the fact that the
instrumentation is completely different than that of rock and jazz.

Analyzing Latin Drumming Patterns

Before you even sit at your drum kit, I suggest you go and listen to some Latin
drumming examples on the internet. You need to full understand the grooves
and rhythms used in this unique style of drumming.
Once you have analyzed some Latin drummers, you will quickly come to notice
that a lot of Latin drumming patterns are identical. What makes each song
unique is the diverse implementation of fills and voices.
As I stated earlier, Latin drumming has quite different instrumentation than rock
or jazz. This is because Latin drumming employs rimshots, bell striking, and
strikes to the bodies of the drums.
Latin drumming rimshots are far different from marching band rimshots, as they
are struck near the edge of the head. This makes for a unique sound which is a
trademark to the Latin style of drumming.
This style also makes use of the hi-hat, which is primarily driven by the foot. If
you have trouble with your off limb, I suggest you practice until you are able to
control the hi-hat before you attempt Latin drumming.

Practice Controlling The Force Of Your Stroke

Another tip is to practice. A lot. Latin drumming is a difficult style to learn if you
are new to it, and it will take many hours to grasp even the basics. Spend at
least ninety minutes a day practicing your rimshots and power. Latin drumming
is not a style of drumming based on hard hits, so learn to control the power with
which you stroke.
As a drummer in Latin music, you will not be the primary instrument. This
sounds basic, as many drummers dont believe they are the prominent voice in
their rock band, but Latin drumming is a complete different world.

Learn How To Play Conservatively

As a Latin drummer, you will be but one voice among many other percussive
instruments. This is important to understand, as it means that as the beat, you
will have other responsibilities as well, most of which involve catering your
playing to highlight other instruments.
Not being the primary percussive voice can take some getting used to;
drummers like to improvise, add impressive fills, and be heard above all else. In
Latin drumming, the fills are merely background to the other instrumentation
taking place.

Keep Frustrations At Bay

The last, most important tip is to keep an open mind. Latin drumming will be
difficult and depending on your primary style, frustrating as well. Dont become
discouraged; Latin drumming can be an invaluable tool in helping you learn
power control, grooving skills, and above all else, it will open your minds to
further possibilities within the world of music.

Latin Drumming Instructions And Percussion Drum

Beats:
#1 3 Tips to Getting The Strokes Correct For Great Sounding Rhythms
In latin styled drumming, there are a set of basic skillsets that you will need to
work on; bass drum, hi hat and the snare. In this lesson, we will look specifically
on tips to developing your strokes.
#2 Introduction to the Bossa Nova Beat
The Bossa Nova rhythm is very closely related to Rumba. Originating from
Brazil, this style literally means setting a new trend in dance music and is an
evolution of the samba beat.
#3 Easy Waltz Drumming Rhythms to Master
By now, I am sure that most of you are very familiar with the common 4/4 time
signature. Todays lesson will be an introduction to the time signature. While
it isnt that tough to get used to, drummers who often play rock music might
find the switch to learning a beat a little challenging.
#4 Rumba Clave 101 Learn to Play Cuban Styled Music
Lets learn the rumba. If you have some experience in jazz drumming, you
might probably had come across the rumba clave. If you havent, I guarantee
that you will have fun with this tutorial.

#5 Songo Inspired Tutorial A Mixture of Rumba And Jazz

The songo beat is a form of Cuban drumming that draws its influence from
rumba, jazz and funk. Time keeping skills are crucial in order to sound tight and
capture the essence of the style. Do note that this particular style does require
solid foundation skills and is not meant for beginners.
#6 5 Tips to Getting a Better Understanding of Latin Music
I will be honest here Most people dont start off the drums learning Latin
based songs or music. The rationale behind this is that latin music incorporates
an intermediate level of musical understanding and coordination. Here are 5
tips to help you progress at a faster pace.
#7 Tips to Playing Advanced Swing Fills
To really succeed in swing styles, a drummer has to have timing, control and
rhythm. Its no coincidence that some of the best drummers in the world
actually originate from the swing and jazz genres. This is an advanced
masterclass to build up some swing fill concepts.
#8 How to Execute Rim Shots Correctly
There are more areas on the drumset that can be use for percussive sounds
than you think there is. Making use of the rims can create contrast and
dynamical sounds when appropriate. We leave you a simple pattern so that you
can practice your newly acquired skill.
#9 3/4 Variations of Samba Beats
If you had been following the lessons on this page consistently, you should have
built up several beats and grooves under your belt. In this lesson, we are going
to expand your knowledge to include other variations of the samba beat in
timings.

3 Tips to Getting Your Strokes Correct

Choosing a single member of the drumset and dubbing it to be the most
important is infantile. However, it is unquestionable that everyone should have
a basic set of skills on the bass drum, the hi-hat and the snare.
Sit down, play a song from your computer and try to move with the tune, follow
the rhythm with your shoulders: when the bass drum kicks, your shoulders drop.
When the drummer hits the snare: your shoulders rise. These two members of
the set rule the basic movements of dance and watching a recording of Salsa or

Samba will immediately show how highly sophisticated skills you need in order
to play Latin music appropriately.

The Snare Drum Does Not Only Belong to Your Left

Hand
In the case of the most basic rhythms, your limbs do the following: left foot
tightens hi-hat, right foot handles the kick drum, right hand hits the hi-hat or
the ride cymbal and left hand hits the snare. Now, contrary to what you might
have got used to, in more advanced scenarios (and
Latin rhythms are quite advanced, usually) you will need to mix things up,
especially in the case of your hands: you will have to incorporate toms inside
the rhythms (so not only in the case of fills), use both hands for just about any
drum. You do not have to always try to hit the snare drum with your left hand,
either.
Upbeats yet strange for the western ear are not uncommon and you just have
to try to play flawlessly. After a few rhythms that you sort out by following the
hand order signs in the notation you will start to feel what is to be played by
your right hand.

Practicing Rudiments is Essential

The fore-mentioned reason (both hands used extensively) explains why you
need to practice rudiments with increased attention, focusing on an equilibrium
regarding training intensity for both hands.
Some experts say that there are forty rudiments. However, you could compile
different strokes until you end up with a hundred different combinations it all
does not matter.
In my opinion, all the stamina, playfulness and vigor can be earned by just
practicing five basic rudiments: the single stroke roll, the double stroke roll, the
buzz roll, the paradiddle and the flam.

Perfect Your Rim Shot Technique

What we call a rim shot is when the drumstick hits the rim of the drum and the
drumhead simultaneously. You might have already practiced rim shots when
learning basic beats like slow rock. Rim shots are easy to master and are really

worth that minuscule effort. Also, many Latin beats depend on the variety that
the rim shot introduces.
When practicing the rim shot, there is one golden rule that you should
remember: like in the case of normal strokes, it is the tip of the drumstick that
hits the drumhead, not the butt.

Choosing the Right Grip

There are two basic drumstick grips that you should know about: the matched
grip, the most widespread of grips and the traditional grip. In the traditional grip
you hold the two drumsticks differently, unlike in matched grip where the two
hands use the same motion.
Traditional grip has become more popular in Jazz and Latin drumming than in
other styles. Using the traditional grip it is said to be easier to add subtle ghost
notes to your playing, which can make your music a lot richer and rich is
something that definitely describes Latin music.

Guide to the Bossa Nova Latin Drum

Beat
Every culture has its own music style that is near and dear to the nationality. For
Brazil, this style is Bossa Nova, which when transcribed, literally means new
trend.
Bossa Nova is extremely similar to Rumba in many ways, but in many ways it is
also entirely different. Bossa Nova is a dance form of music, and is meant to get
your body moving.
In this article, we will give you the tools needed to learn the basics of Bossa
Nova, so that you might come to better understand the genre, as well as build
the foundation with which to master it.
Before we start though, it is best that you take a moment to assess your skill
level. Bossa Nova deals with syncopated rhythms as well as off-beat rhythms,
so needless to say, it is not the greatest style to begin with if you are just
starting out with the drums.

Mastering The Note Rhythms

If you are, it is best that you take some time to master simply note rhythms, as
well as simple off-beat rhythms. Syncopation will come last, as it is a bit of an
intermediate to advanced drumming leveled concept.

Use a metronome and practice your basic quarter, eighth, and sixteenth note
rhythms.

Learning The Off Beat Rhythms

When you are comfortable with these basic rhythms, the next step is to learn
off-beat rhythms.
When you play a full 4/4 measure using eighth notes, each pair of notes has an
on beat, and an off-beat.
The on beat is the first eighth note, and the off-beat is the second eighth note. If
you were to count a full 4/4 measure of eighth notes, it would look like this:

One and Two and Three and Four and

On

off

On

off

On

off

On

off

Below each note is their respective value within the measure. The counting note
or the first eighth notes of each pair is the on beat. The and note or the
second eighth note of each pairis the off-beat.
Bossa Nova uses this concept to the fullest, as many of the rhythms are built off
of off-beat patterns.

Using Syncopation
Syncopation is the unusual variation of notes, varying between highlighting
stronger beats (on beats) and weaker beats (off-beats). Bossa Nova music tends
to vary which notes are highlighted within the context of a pattern.
For a full example of this odd note patterning, here is a basic Bossa Nova snare
drum beat:

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You may notice that this pattern is nearly identical to the Rumba clave in every
aspect save for speed. This is because, in all reality, the Rumba clave is actually
a huge part of Bossa Nova. In fact, it is the foundation of most Bossa Nova
songs.
The difference in Bossa Nova is the use of voices; Bossa Nova music tends to
add other voices on the off-beats, which requires much more coordination and
focus.
When you have thoroughly practiced the Bossa Nova snare drum beat, take
some time to try and add your own voices. Remember, practice is the only way
to increase your fluency, so set aside a block of time each day in which to
practice your Bossa Nova drum beat. Have fun!

Waltz Drum Beats for Ballroom

Dance Settings
When starting out, ninety-nine percent of drummers learn 4/4 beats as an
introduction to drumming. After having played around enough in that time
signature, they are probably introduced to 6/8 rhythms.
Most music played in the measure is somewhat related to blues really not hard
to play, but gives you a lot of room for improvisation.
Now if we do a little math we could end up dividing 6/8 by two and conclude
that Waltz is actually blues, only faster. Well, that would be ridiculous, wouldnt
it?

Accentuation is Vital
In most 4/4 rhythms you have probably played the accent was on the first and
third beats, and that gave the groove a duplex pulsation. I am going to assume
that most of your drumming experience relies on such rhythms, and that is why
learning beats in signatures might be a challenge.
First of all, lets take a look at the basic waltz beat, then we will take a look at
how is it different from, say, rock music. Playing a waltz beat can be broken into
two different movements: in the first, you hit the hi-hat and the bass drum
simultaneously. The second step consists of hitting the hi-hat and the snare
drum at the same time. To play a waltz beat you play the first step once and the
second step twice, with even spaces between the steps. That makes quarternote waltz.

Because of the time signature you count waltz as 1-2-3-1-2-3 instead of the
usual 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4. The melody of waltz suggests that the ones should be
given stronger accent and is driven by accents on the first beat. Quite
contradictory to that is the rhythmic background: due to the character of the
groove, the accents of the drum fall on the second and third beats.
Rock drummers are usually used to starting off with an accented kick, giving the
whole groove a powerful flow. Waltz is different in its musical character: it is
more elegant, it starts softly followed by two humble hits on the snare. All this
philosophy might sound unrealistic, but listening to maybe the most widespread
waltz, the Blue Danube Waltz by the genial Johann Strauss will clarify
everything.

Waltz Does Not Have to be Boring

After having tried out the quarter-note waltz beat what many of you might think
is that this kind of music must have been played at our grandparents wedding.
Obviously, in most of your cases waltz is not the music you stumble upon most
frequently, but it certainly represents classic values and can also be more
exciting than what the quarter-note basic beat has to offer.
For example, by adding an extra eighth note on the hi-hat after every forementioned step you are already playing eighth-note waltz, which can even be
considered a cousin of what we know today as the money rhythm or simply
the rock rhythm. Even more, in the early ages of rock music, there was a
considerable amount of musicians composing rock songs in time signatures.
Approaching waltz as an old-fashioned style of music is not wise. What we are
trying to do is make music instead of just reproducing certain drumming
rudiments and patterns, and music, as a branch of arts is all about creativity.
When contemporary musicians are composing rhythms and melodies
unimaginable a few years ago, grabbing such a classic, well-known rhythm and
applying a new perspective to it might be the first step in creating a new genre.
Music is more liberal today, than ever, make use of that!

Rumba Drum Beats Tutorial

Cuban percussion has been around for quite some time. In fact, it has been
around a bit longer than our beloved rock and roll has.

Rumba is quick paced Cuban dance music. The term Rumba was coined in
1930, and the music has always been very drum oriented.
But you arent here for history lessons, are you?
If you are familiar with jazz drumming, then you may already be familiar with
claves even if you dont yet realize it. A clave is a five note pattern that, upon
sight, may seem broken up, as it involves frequent rests.
Unlike most techniques, this one is actually best learned on your kit, or at least
sitting behind your snare, as Rumba uses the cross sticking technique.

How To Do Cross Sticking

If you dont know how to cross stick, dont worry. To cross stick, lay your drum
stick on your snare. Let the butt end of your stick hang over the edge of your
snare. Now put the flat of your palm over the head of your stick. Lift up the butt
end of the stick with your thumb and forefinger and strike the rim, keeping your
palm against the snare. Dont let your palm or the head of your stick raise.
You have just performed a cross stick stroke.
Now that you know how to play a cross stick stroke, you have the skill to learn
the Rumba clave beat.

Play The Rumba Clave Beat

Keep in mind that throughout the Rumba clave beat, your palm and the head of
your stick will not leave your snare. If you feel your hand lifting up, your palm
no longer muting the snare, thats okay; be patient, and try again, making sure
to pay more attention.

Download the .gtp file for the lesson ( Right click and Save As... )
If you do not have Guitar Pro 6 yet, you can download it instantly here
This is a traditional Rumba clave beat made using Guitar Pro 6. For rock styled
drummers, this pattern may be difficult, as it has a peculiar grove. Dont let this
discourage you; the Rumba clave beat is a great tool to learn, as it will teach
you, more than anything, how to keep good timing.

To practice this piece, I strongly suggest that you use a metronome. If you find
you are struggling then slow down. It may help you to develop the groove if you
watch videos of other drummers playing the Rumba clave beat, as this will help
you to internalize the rhythm if you are struggling with grasping the style.
Pay special attention to the dotted eighth note and the dotted eight note rest. If
you overlook these two extended notes, you fill fall an eight of a beat behind.
This may not seem like much, but it will be highly noticeable.

Try To Note Your Playing

Record yourself playing the pattern if you are still struggling after having
watched other players, and try to pinpoint what section of the pattern are giving
you problems.

Am I coming up a note short?

Am I lifting my palm?
Am I abiding to the metronome
Am I playing too fast, causing me to loose my rhythm?
Am I playing too slowly, causing me to extend the time signature?

These are all questions you should ask yourself if you are having problems with
the Rumba clave beat. There are no magical solutions to these issues, either.
The only way to solve the issue is through awareness and steady practice. Good
luck, and have fun!

Songo Beats to Diversify Your Knowledge

What is Songo and more importantly, what can it do for your playing?
Songo is a form of Cuban drumming which is heavily influenced by Rumba, jazz,
and even funk, and it can take your groove abilities to a whole new level.
Unlike Rumba drum beats, Songo uses a full snare stroke, not a cross stroke.
However, just like Rumba, learning Songo is not very easy. This is especially so
if you are a rock drummer or built your foundations around rock music. Songo is

not for beginners, as it deals with odd rests and, if you are inexperienced, can
seem choppy.

Playing The Songo Style

Before we get to the example, we should first discuss style. To properly play
Songo, your body needs to be relaxed. You also need to have a well developed
sense of rhythm, as Songo drumming beats utilize very peculiar seeming
rhythmic patterns.
If you have trouble keeping rhythm, use a metronome and practice a basic 4/4
beat. Once you have mastered that, try playing the same beat with a rest every
three, fifth, and seventh note. This will help you develop an awareness of odd
rest placements, which will in turn help you to be able to play them more easily,
more efficiently, and more relaxed.

Try To Stay Relaxed

The other important thing you need to master before attempting Songo is the
art of relaxation.
This may sound silly, but relaxation is more important than rhythm, at least in a
sense. If you are tight and tense, not only will you injure yourself, but you will
also throw off your rhythm. No matter how good of a sense of rhythm, you may
possess, if you are too tense to put it to proper use then it becomes a useless
skill.

Mind Your Control Power

The final thing you need to be aware of before we move onto the example is
your power. As with all drumming styles, power control is a necessity. If you are
performing cringingly loud, piercing strikes then you arent going to be able to
play Songo.
This is a style that is built around rhythm, and just as important, feel. If you
have problems with the power of your striking then take your time before
approaching Songo to develop control.
Now finally, if you have all three categories mastered, you can move onto the
example. This is a basic Songo drumming beat.

Download the .gtp file for the lesson ( Right click and Save As )
If you do not have Guitar Pro 6 yet, you can download it instantly here
Take note of the seemingly awkward rest placement. Before attempting to play
this pattern on your drums, try clapping the pattern out, as it may lend you a
better understanding of the piece, and help you to properly enunciate the rests.
With your metronome set at 100bmp, clap the pattern out, allowing each note
to reach its intended duration. Once you grasp the pattern, try it on your drums.

Add Different Techniques To Your Playing

Note that this Songo drumming beat uses only the ride bell and the snare. Many
Songo patterns use very similar instrumentation. It is somewhat of a staple in
this unique style of music.
Once you can play this piece consistently without fault, try to implement
different drum rudiments to give it a different spice. It is important to try adding
different techniques to different styles, as it will not only help you with
improvising down the road, but it will also help you to avoid becoming a one
dimensional drummer.

5 Tips to Mastering Latin Drumming

So you are tired of always playing the same old 4/4 beats, and want to learn
something that you do not hear while listening to the Billboard Top 40?
Well, that is the time when you have to approach a new genre and latin music
for sure is one wonderful challenge for any drummer. The key to mastering the
world of latin music is taking a different approach.
Here are 5 steps for you to follow:

1. Open Up Your Ears

The only music you can actually play and not just mechanically reproduce is
the one that flows through your heart. Most people in the western world already
feel the money rhythm, the one-Two-three-Four that is present in almost any

contemporary music hit. That is what you have been listening to on the radio
for ages And in most cases, these songs are not too hard to play.
On the other hand, actually feeling latin and not just trying to reproduce the
notation requires the in-depth knowledge of the genre. There are a lot of artists
who mix properties of different genres. A very interesting example of such a
mixture is the band Chambao, playing a very appealing blend of flamenco and
electronic music, dubbed flamenco chill.

2. Embrace the Atmosphere

Music is one of the most direct means of communication. And latin music is,
apart from just being a form of entertainment, a very intense channel of
communication. You will have to listen some albums from different genres. Until
you can tell what a typical salsa melody and what a typical bossa nova song
tries to communicate.
Also, I bet you could ask any rock drummer who the drummer in the band
Dream Theater just until recently was and would reply with no hesitation: Mike
Portnoy. That is how it works: if you want to delve into a type of music than
you have to know your way around it.

3. Do Not Pay More Attention to Your Equipment Than

Needed
When starting out with latin drumming you might be tempted to buy all the
available nifty little percussion instruments that you can find in your drum store.
Do not be fooled by the advertising you really do not need all the bongos and
timbales to get started with latin music.
Spending loads of money on something that you cannot be sure if you are going
to use seriously might seem as a guarantee that will make you take it seriously.
However, what you actually need to make great music is a piece of wood and
your two hands.
Money is not what should make you stick with it or not the soul of the music is
what will probably make you stick anyway. Then, you can buy all the timbales in
the world.

4. Start Slowly But Do Not Fear Speed

Most latin genres feature a quite high tempo, and the drum rhythms
corresponding those genres mainly sound good when they are played at the
proper speed. In spite of that, until you get used to the order of the movements,
to the unusual level of accentuations, and so on: you should take it slowly. It will
probably not even compare to what you are going to play at normal tempo, but
without proper technique you will not be able to build your drumming speed up
properly.

5. Practice Decides Everything

Following the previous four tips could enhance your skills, even though it does
not contain too much technical information. That is not so without a reason: the
philosophical background of a musician is just as significant as his technical
one.
Still yet, what is going to be the real breakpoint in your development is your
practice routine. You need to create a schedule and lay out what you are going
to learn, in what order, using what methods. With the right thinking, practice
will lead you to the desired outcome.

Tips to Implementing Advanced Swing Fills

Swing drumming is a very common style that of drumming that is taught by
most teachers. Swing and jazz drummers are among the best in the world.
Their timing, control and rhythm is outstanding and if you truly want to earn
respect as a drummer then learning these styles is essential.
Swing drum fills can be very tricky. This is because swing music doesnt follow a
constant rhythm. Usually cymbals are played using quavers or triplets, and then
the snare and bass is mixed in between.
This essentially means that the drummer is playing two separate rhythms at the
same time. Adding fills to these rhythms can be easy, but its coming out of
them thats hard as most drummers will naturally go back into a semi-quaver
beat. Ill be explaining what drum fills work best with swing music, and how you
will be able to avoid the pitfalls that most people make hen performing the fills.

Understanding Swing Fills

Many swing fills are very quick and tend to be in the middle of a drum beat as
opposed to at the end. Swing is very often improvised and doesnt have set

structure, so many songs will contain the same beats throughout. Swing and
jazz is all about jamming with other musicians, and doesnt follow the same
rules as other styles of music.
Many drum fills will be as simple as just hitting one of the toms and then
continuing the beat. But if you want to learn the more advanced fills then you
need to think of them as beats themselves. When playing an advanced swing or
jazz drum fill its a good idea to play the fill in the timing of the beat itself.
Ghosted notes can be a great way to help you do this. A ghost note is a hit on
the drum that is slightly quieter from what you would usually play. Ghosted
notes help you keep timing during fills, and also sound great in the background.

Advanced Swing Fill Exercise

The drum rudiments cant be used in the same way in swing as they would in
other forms of music. If you want to create your own swing fill then a good
exercise to practice is to play a swing beat, and then after every bar try to
incorporate a rudiment on the snare drum, using both ghosted notes and
accents to keep the beat moving.
Once you are able to perform this action, and then continue playing the beat
afterwards then try to play the accents on different drums other than the snare
drum. Then youll start to figure out how swing works.
Remember, swing drum fills dont have to be a specific length. They can
continue for as long as they need to, but they dont have to retain just the
length of a bar, like in other styles of music. Try adding the fill in the middle of
the beat itself. Although this may be tricky at first, youll soon find it easier to
come back into a beat using this method.

How to Apply Rim Shots And Accent Music

I remember the first months of my drum studies. I was astonished when I was
allowed to play something on the drum set. When my teacher left the room for
a few minutes, I even dared to hit all of the five cymbals.
As I was going into raptures over my experiences with these cymbals, my older
drumming friend pointed out that in a few months I will wish that I had more
and more and more.

Not quite surprisingly, what he has said turned out to be right. It was not vain
that pushed me into buying more cymbals it was a pressure towards being
able to play more and more sounds.

How to Play the Rims of Drums?

There are two basic strokes which involve contact between the drum stick and
the rim of a certain drum. The first is what we call rim shots: in the case of
these, the tip of the drum stick hits the drum head while the shoulder of the
drum stick hits the rim of the drum at the same time. This stroke yields a very
powerful sound, an emphasized version of the basic stroke.
The other kind of stroke involving the rim yields a very subtle sound, resembling
no more than a simple click: in this case you only hit the rim of the drum, the
drum head remains untouched. Since we are going to talk about Latin beats
here, the latter is the one which we are going to discuss.

When to Play the Rims?

As long as you do not fall out of the time signature that you are playing in, filling
your time with rim strokes is an idea that might turn out to be more useful than
what it first seems to be. Playing the standard combination of bass drum, snare
drum and closed hi-hats or the ride cymbal has a well-known pulsation.
Similarly, playing drum fills at their full volume yields a rather obtrusive sound.
However, if you would like to stay in the background with a groove that still is
interesting you might want to transfer your whole beat to the rims.
To exemplify what I have just said, let us just mention introductions and bridges
during a sounds or playing along to different instrumental solos. These are all
moments when the heavy pulsation of the drums might become unwanted but
it still cannot be removed entirely.
Latin music is known for its richness when it comes to different percussion
instruments. These instruments like the clave are all at the root of what we
consider today Latin music. By playing the rims of the toms instead of their
heads, you can replace the full-blown obtrusive sound of theirs with a simple,
wooden tick that might even resemble the original sound of different Latin
percussions.

Will My Drum Sticks Suffer Too Much?

It depends that is probably the most accurate answer. In most situations we

play almost everything using traditional drum sticks. The firmness of these can
easily lead to observable damage when they meet with the metal rims of the
drums.
However, you do not have to hit the rims like a hammer if your goal is no more
than creating wonderful sounds. Let us take a look at other types of drum sticks:
while brushes are too soft to play the rims properly, rods might actually be the
best choice for this style of playing.
Since rods are made up of a number of (usually bamboo) sticks, they are not as
rigid as traditional drum sticks but they are still stiff enough to make the rims
sound. If you want to play the rims of your drums but do not want to ruin a pair
of drum sticks every half an hour, your best bet is using rods.

3/4 Variations of Samba Beats

For the majority of people from the western hemisphere Latin music is quite a
mystery. The previous statement is especially true when it comes to aspiring
drummers. Since Latin music deviates from the standard pulsation of the music
that the radios and MTV play, when you first try to play some samba or
merengue, it is now wonder if you feel a little confused.
Since these types of rhythms are not the ones that you have heard day in and
day out from your childhood, it is a tad bit harder to actually fell the groove of
the music. In the following paragraphs we will talk about one of the most
popular Latin styles, the Samba.
Let us have an overview of how the Samba is and should be constructed, how it
can be turned into something quite fascinating and how it can still conserve its
character even when played in a three over four time signatures.

Basic Samba Grooves

Disassembling any Latin beat will reveal that this kind of music consists of three
major building blocks. The top of the cake is the clave, which is usually played
on the rims of drums or on the snare drum in modern setups.
Then comes the accompanying groove played on one or more of the cymbals
this can be anything from a simple shuffle pattern to a groovy paradiddlediddle. Last but not least, we have a bass pattern, which actually is the soul of
any Samba or Bossa Nova beat.

In the examples below you can see two slightly different configurations for
Samba, the first being probably the most basic possible Samba beat. The
second variation makes the clave a bit more interesting by adding side sticking
and making the foot pattern deeper with the addition of off-beat hi-hat pedal
strokes.

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Making Samba Really Groove

While the basic Samba groove presented above is a hundred percent correct
and it is something that you might want to play, when you actually start to
attend and maybe play at Latin gigs, you will soon find that what drummers
actually play are far from the basic beat. Below you can see a four-measure
compilation of Samba drumming that even includes a minor and a major drum
fill.
Quite surprisingly, the plus that this version of Samba has as opposed to the
previous basic groove is the complexity of the pattern played on the ride
cymbal. While the clave and the foot patterns remained the same, the change
in what your right hand plays has given the groove a whole new dimension.

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Creating 3/4 Variations for Samba

Even though Samba is generally a 4/4 groove, the whole point of this article was
to introduce you to Samba in 3/4. In the example below I have turned both of
the beats presented previously into 3/4 beats. The algorithm for doing this
might be obvious after studying what is below. It is quintessential to keep the
original foot pattern intact, as this is what makes Samba actually sound like
Samba.
However, your hands can and should accommodate to the new environment
provided by the 3/4 time signature. 3/4 is 4/4 minus a square note in this case:
you should try to come up with a clave and ride pattern that will keep the
character of the groove.

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How to Be a Versatile And Valuable Drummer

Becoming able to produce versatile material on any musical instrument requires
a given level of experience. No matter how open-minded you might be, unless
you are prepared to play in a versatile manner: you will not be able to.

Studying Different Musical Genres

People express their feelings similarly all over the world. A smile means the
same in Brazil and Russia, we all understand the expression. Mimics, gestures:
they are all very similar all across the globe.
And just like gestures, art, in particular music is also a way of expressing
feelings and emotions it has just become a little bit different in separate
cultures. By studying different drumming genres, paying attention to the
cultural differences you can develop a quite broad musical dictionary.

Remember, no matter what genre it is, no matter where its origins are or how
long it dates back: the fundamental feelings expressed by music in general are
always the same.

Practicing
Talent by itself is worthless. You might be open-minded; you might be talented,
being able to play a bunch of things up to a certain level of complexity without
practicing for a minute. However, skill, unlike talent is worth a lot, and can be
earned; you are not born with it. Actually, it can only be earned by hard, hard
work.
In order to become a versatile drummer, you need to develop a stable practice
routine; you should even define a schedule. Practicing drumming consists of a
whole range of different exercises. Conditioning your body, becoming able to
practice or play for a longer period of time without becoming too tired to play
steadily and precisely is the basis.
Conditioning can range from doing push-ups and squats to nifty lower-arm and
wrist exercises. Also, rudiments and different technical exercises are of key
importance in your development as a drummer. However, you probably do not
need to practice all forty rudiments: the single and double stroke rolls, the buzz
roll, the paradiddle and the flam should be enough, once practiced steadily.
The final, but not less important step is actual playing. Whenever you have the
chance to play your drums: do it. When you play more, more situations will
already be familiar and your ability to accept unprecedented requirements
becomes better.

Letting Go of Conventions
When playing in conventional situations, your freedom as a drummer is quite
limited. You have a number of choices regarding what you could play, but never
too many. A 4/4 beat can be played a myriad ways, but only after you try to let
go of the conventions you are used to. What are these conventions?
Accentuation, bass- and snare drum variation can make a rhythm a lot different.
When starting out as a drummer, you usually know a few variations on these,
but your choices are rarely conscious. Stop for a while: ask yourself how you
could express different emotions on your drum kit.
How to perform a sad cha-cha-cha or a happy blues groove? When trying out
unconventional things like these, you will push your boundaries, for sure. You

will have to step out of your comfort zone; you will have to forget that until now
you could only play the standard, melancholic blues.

Conclusion
Becoming versatile is just this: practicing the conventional until you can even
play the unconventional. And playing the unconventional is always exciting. A
happy blues groove may feel ironic; it holds a bit of might, it gives your art
depth. And musical depth is something we are all looking forward to.