Break Beats

Dear All

A Few weeks back, we covered a couple of the essential grooves that have have been sampled over and over by Hip hop acts and DJs from way back in the day.

The first one we looked at was the classic .... as played by Clyde Stublefield on the James Brown track ' Funky Drummer' which you can hear here.

The basic groove is here below (click it to go full screen on you phone).

The second one, another classic much used, from way back in 1969 (good year for drummers!) from a band called The Winstons on a track called Amen Brother. Its a 4 bar break with a displaced back beat - you'll know it as soon as you here it!

Enjoy!

The Number 1 Groove of all Time!

Dear All

This week we learnt to play 'Funky Drummer' as played by Clyde Stubblefield. It's a classic ... and you've got to know it.

I've put it on our Spotify playlist here Funky Drummer

Intro into - Linear Grooves

Linear Grooves are grooves where no two limbs are playing at the same time. 

The examples below are based on a full bar of 16th notes (1-E-and-a, 2-E-and-a, 3-E-and-a, 4-E-and-a). Each 16th note is played on a different drum or hi hat.

HINT : It is easier to keep your lead hand on the hi hat and play the snare drum beats with your following hand.

Click on the sheet below to work through the grooves one by one and in your own time. Remember that accuracy is far more important than speed with these grooves. It is important to make each one smooth with good 'back beats' either one 2 and 4 or 3 depending on the groove.