Latest Drum Lessons | Total Drummer

How To Make A Shuffle Sound Cool

How To Make A Shuffle Sound Cool Learn how to play cool shuffle drum beatsHere we will learn how to make a shuffle sound cool. This is a small section of a longer lesson for members inside the Total Drummer Academy.In case you don't know, a shuffle drum beat is based on the triplet subdivision so it is swung. Commonly the backbeat falls on beats two and four but here we will explore different snare placements to make the beat sound interesting.In fact this particular variation gives it a sound that has Afro-Cuban favours so it's a lot of fun.The drum…

Funk Snare Displacement On The A

Funk Snare Displacement On The A Drum Lesson Learn how to play funk drums with this drum lessonWelcome to this funk drums lesson. Here we will learn how to create grooves using funk snare displacements on the A. This is a small section of a longer lesson for members inside the Total Drummer Academy.This is also the second lesson following on from the funk drum beats with snares on the E.The common snare placement is on beat 2 and 4. That works a majority of the time but sometimes we want something a little different. This could be the main…

Funk Snare Displacement On The E

Funk Snare Displacement On The E Drum Lesson Learn how to play funk drums with this drum lessonWelcome to this funk drums lesson. Here we will learn how to create grooves using funk snare displacements on the E. This is a small section of a longer lesson for members inside the Total Drummer Academy.The common snare placement is on beat 2 and 4. That works a majority of the time but sometimes we want something a little different. This could be the main groove of the song, or just a variation at the end of the section. So mastering snare…

The Coolest Drum Fill Ever?

The Coolest Drum Fill Ever? Learn how to play a really exciting drum fill Is This The Coolest Drum Fill Ever? Could this be the coolest drum fill ever? Is it even possible to have a coolest drum fill ever? Surely it's subjective!Well I agree but this is a really cool drum fill in my opinion. It could even be considered a drum beat instead of a drum fill but I would always use this as a drum fill rather than a repeating pattern to form a groove.This type of fill is heavily influenced by Steve Gadd. He used this…

Do This One Thing To Make Your Fills Sound Interesting

Do This One Thing To Make Your Fills Sound Interesting Learn how to play interesting drum fills Do This One Thing To Make Your Fills Sound Interesting Here we will learn how to play interesting drum fills. This one technique will allow you to avoid the most predictable drum fills that often sound boring.What we do here is to touch on a polyrhythmic technique that slightly fools the listener for a very short time and then comes back to the main rhythm. It's very simple once you know how to do it but it sounds more complicated when you start…

EASY Linear Drum Fills Using The Hi hat

EASY Linear Drum Fills Using The Hi-hat Learn how to play awesome linear drum fillsWelcome to this drum lesson where we will learn to play easy linear drum fills using the hi-hat.Linear fills involve playing one thing at a time...never layering up different limbs. We often use the snare and toms in a fill, and sometimes we even use the bass drum, but we often leave the hi-hat out of it. That means that when we do incorporate the hi-hat in fills, it sounds really interesting and unusual.In this drum lesson we will learn some simple phrasing and then develop it…

Impossible Bass Drum Challenge

Impossible Bass Drum Challenge Let's develop some bass drum speed and control This Is The Impossible Bass Drum Challenge This is the third bass drum control lesson in a series. You can watch the first one here and the second instalment here. In this lesson we will learn how to develop bass drum control and speed with a series of hand and foot combinations that will test your coordination. This is a short drum lesson that forms part of a larger course in the Total Drummer Academy. It is designed to provide you with a quick win so you can…

Bass Drum Control Triples

Bass Drum Control Triples Exercise Develop your bass drum speed in just five minutes a day This Is The Bass Drum Control Triples Exercise This is the second bass drum control lesson in a series. You can watch the first one here. In this lesson we will learn how to develop bass drum control in five minutes. This is a short drum lesson that forms part of a larger course in the Total Drummer Academy. It is designed to provide you with a quick win so you can improve your bass drum speed and control.The idea is to focus on…

Bass Drum Control In Five Minutes

Bass Drum Control In Five Minutes Develop your bass drum speed in just five minutes a day This Is The Bass Drum Control In Five Minutes Drum Lesson Here we will learn how to develop bass drum control in five minutes. This is a short drum lesson that was part of a bigger lesson in the Total Drummer Academy. This is designed to give you a quick win so you can develop your bass drum speed and control.The idea is to work on this for at least a week, practising the exercises for just five minutes each day. After a…

Beginner Snare Drum Sight Reading

Beginner Snare Drum Sight Reading Learn how to read drum notationWelcome to the beginner snare drum sight reading. Here we will learn how to read drum notation. In the world of drumming, it’s often thought that a great drummer can simply “feel” the beat or rely on their ear to perform. While these skills are undeniably important, the ability to read drum notation is equally crucial, especially for drummers who want to elevate their playing and communicate effectively with other musicians. Whether performing in a band, recording in the studio, or working with arrangers, reading notation offers a universal language…