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 PatternsBefore you even sit at yourdrum 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 StrokeAnother 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 ConservativelyAs 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 BayThe 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 RhythmsIn 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 BeatThe 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 MasterBy 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 MusicLets 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 JazzThe 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 MusicI 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 FillsTo 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 CorrectlyThere 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 BeatsIf 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 CorrectChoosing 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 HandIn 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 (andLatin rhythms are quite advanced, usually) you will need to mix things up, especially in the case of your hands: you will have toincorporate 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 EssentialThe 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: thesingle stroke roll, thedouble stroke roll, the buzz roll, theparadiddleand theflam.Perfect Your Rim Shot TechniqueWhat 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 therim 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 GripThere are twobasic drumstick gripsthat 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 BeatEvery 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 RhythmsIf you are, it is best that you take some time to master simply note rhythms, as well assimple 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 RhythmsWhen 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 andOn 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 SyncopationSyncopation 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:

Download the.gtp filefor the lesson (Right click and Save As )If you do not have GuitarPro yet,download a copy of Guitar Pro instantlyhereYou 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 SettingsWhen 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 to6/8 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 VitalIn 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 ofhitting the hi-hatand 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 quarter-note 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, theBlue Danube Waltz by the genial Johann Strausswill clarify everything.Waltz Does Not Have to be BoringAfter 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 fore-mentioned 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 TutorialCuban 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 thecross sticking technique.How To Do Cross StickingIf 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 BeatKeep 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 filefor the lesson (Right click and Save As... )If you do not have Guitar Pro 6 yet, you candownload it instantly hereThis 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 youuse 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 PlayingRecord 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 KnowledgeWhat 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 StyleBefore 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 RelaxedThe 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 PowerThe 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 candownload it instantly hereTake 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 PlayingNote 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 DrummingSo 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 EarsThe 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 AtmosphereMusic 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 NeededWhen 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 SpeedMost 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 tobuild your drumming speed up properly.5. Practice Decides EverythingFollowing 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 FillsSwing 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 FillsMany 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 notescan 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 ExerciseThe 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 MusicI 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 othertypes 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 BeatsFor 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 GroovesDisassembling 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 paradiddle-diddle. 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.

Download the.gtp filefor this lesson (Right click and Save As )If you do not have GuitarPro yet,download a copy of Guitar Proinstantly hereMaking Samba Really GrooveWhile 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.

Download the.gtp filefor this lesson (Right click and Save As )Creating 3/4 Variations for SambaEven 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 DrummerBecoming 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 GenresPeople 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.PracticingTalent 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: thesingleanddouble 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 ConventionsWhen 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 ahappy 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.ConclusionBecoming 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.