Man these feel really really good. - Drum Workshop

DRUM CLINIC
9 fuNdaMeNTal rudiMeNTs
by deNNy seiwell
photo by Alex Solca
Denny Seiwell
I n
My years of playing and teaching drums, I
always wanted to simplify the 26 rudiments into
the strokes necessary to actually play the drums.
By trial and error, I have been using this concept on
beginning students to professional drummers. If either
the pros or the students spend 10 minutes working on
these exercises, it will greatly improve their drumming
overall. It employs all of the necessary strokes that
must be mastered in a fun and easy way.
Lesson#1
First we should learn how to hold the sticks. There
are two types of grips used for playing drums. The
traditional grip, which was developed due to the
fact that originally the drum was hung around the
neck with a strap, and therefore sat at an angle.
This is not how drums set players today need to
adjust to hit their drums. The traditional grip is
wonderful and will be explained and taught at a
later lesson. However, the other grip… the match
grip is more in use today and simpler to get
started. So we will start with this grip.
Think of the grip, with holding hands palm
down and waving goodbye. In this way, the wrist
hinges most easily, and goes up and down very
effortlessly. Next, we place the stick between the
tip of the thumb and the first joint of the index
finger lightly closing the hand around the stick.
Do not squeeze! It should be held as if holding a
bird in the hand. The only pressure will come from
fulcrum, which is the thumb and index finger. This
is also light but firm for control’s sake. Next, we
start by “waving goodbye” with the stick in each
hand which produces the first stroke; the single
stroke roll. Slowly, we make the same stick path
raising the sticks approximately 8 inches above
the drum and down as we “wave goodbye” with
both sticks. If you are right-handed, your left stick
might not cooperate. Don’t worry about this, it
will improve with these exercises. Start to increase
speed of the single strokes RLRLRL accelerating
slowly but trying not to tense up the arms or
hands. Best results come when you play as fast
as you can until tension appears, and then stop
and start over again. Try to make the same sound
with each stick. Again, if you are right-handed
the left stick might sound different than the right.
This exercise is the very first thing we must learn
in order to start getting control over the bouncing
of the stick.
Lesson #2
Now that we have a grip and a stick path, the
ability to stroke from the wrist, not the whole
arm, we must learn how to bounce the sticks and
stop and control the bounce. We now learn the
“two stroke roll”. This was taught as “mamma
dada”. We start by dropping the right stick and
making a second sound with the bouncing stroke,
but only one stroke. The right stick strokes and
bounces one time and then must be stopped after
the second note is heard, “mamma”. RR. Next, we
do the same stroke with the left hand. Stroke and
bounce stopped after the second note, “dada”.
This is the hardest part of playing drums and
when this is mastered all drumming becomes so
much easier. It is the bounce stroke that will allow
speed and ease of play. In this exercise we shall
learn how to bounce and control the sticks. We
start the same as the single stroke roll, by making
the same stick path 8 to 12 inches from the head
or playing surface if you are using a practice pad.
Starting with the right-hand, we make the initial
stroke with the right-hand, and follow it by a
bounce stroke. Do not make two strokes of the
wrist. It is a matter of dropping the stick lightly
and allowing it to bounce one time only. RR.
Next, we do the same with the left stick, which
may be a little harder to do . Don’t worry, this will
improve in time. Then we start hand-to-hand by
making the stroke and the bounce from RR to LL
and accelerate slowly, trying to make both notes
(RR) (LL) the same volume and sound. As we get
aster the bounce becomes easier, but try to keep
the same space between the two notes and the
same stick path up and down. You are now on
your way.
Lesson #3
We now learn how to incorporate the fingers
into the stroke, since we have the wrist and the
hands working properly. When we practiced the
bounce stroke, we automatically used he fingers
to help stop our stroke. Now we will take that
a step further by making a “3 stroke roll”. We
start with the right hand making the stroke, the
bounce and another bounce... ONE STROKE only
with the wrist, and the bounce comes from the
weight of the stick being dropped and allowed
to bounce. ONLY two bounces though. Here
comes the control part. (RRR) (LLL) etc. Again,
we start slowly and pick up speed as it becomes
more comfortable. Without having to think...we
are using the middle fingers to stop the bounce
stroke. This will also help us with our “2 Stroke
Roll”. RRR, LLL RRR LLL. Trying to maintain the
same stick path and sound of each stroke. This
exercise will make your hands work with the
proper pressure of the stick grip.
Lesson #4
We now move on to the “4 Stroke Roll”. This
allows us to use more fingers in our stroke, which
provides more control and power. We start by
making a stroke, followed by “three” bounces
of equal volume and space if possible. This
exercise will not have to be played as quickly
due to the degree of difficulty. (RRRR) (LLLL) etc.
starting slowly and gradually picking up speed.
Remember, DO NOT stroke from the arm, but
from the wrist and fingers. One down stroke from
the wrist and the bounces from the fingers. Again,
we will use the middle fingers to help produce the
bounce strokes, as well as to stop it. This exercise
will enable the student to really learn to control
the bounce stroke.
Lesson #5
We have now learned several of the 26 Rudiments,
which I have boiled down to 5 basic rudiments
that must be learned to enjoy playing the drums.
.Next we learn the first of the hand-to-hand rolls
beginning with the 5 Stroke Roll. We start this by
a stroke and a bounce stroke with the right hand.
Repeat this with the left hand, and add a single
stroke at the end... producing the 5 stroke roll.
RRLLR---LLRRL etc. again speeding up gradually
and using the same stick path and sound of each
note. This short roll will be followed by many
measured rolls of various lengths. When this roll
is played correctly, the last note of the 5 strokes
will be accented slightly. Sometimes this roll is
counted easily by the strokes 2- 4- 5, since they
are played fairly quick. A bounce stroke with each
hand, and a stroke with an accent at the end. The
5 Stroke Roll. When playing these hand-to-hand
ie. RRLLR LLRRL RRLLR LLRRL becomes easy,
you are more than on your way to being able to
execute just about anything on the drums.
There... If you can remember to count to five, you can
play the drums. As we now count backwards from
five... we are going to learn a few more disciplines and
rudiments of drumming... yes It Is That Simple !!!
On the way back down from 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 again,
we will cover all the main ingredients that are found in
the original 26 rudiments of drumming.
Lesson 6
Upon reaching the completion of the first five
exercise, we now count backwards with an
exercise for the number 4,3,2 and finally 1. Here
we go!!!!
Having been at #5 we move on to #4 which is
called the “4 Stroke Ruff”. A ruff is a series of
notes played in rapid succession and in musical
terms is made up of grace notes (softer notes
than the original stroke).... so... we are going to
play 4 notes rapidly starting with the right hand.
RLRL. The last note (L in this case) is louder
than the first 3 notes. It should sound like “dig
ida bop” if you said the phrase quickly. With the
accent or louder note being the “bop”. Once you
have played this evenly, try to start the ruff using
the other hand. LRLR, it is played faster than you
can say 1234, hence the dig ida bop phrase....this
is a way cool rudiment!!!
Lesson 7
Coming back down the count of exercises
1,2,3,4,5,4 we are now at 3 again. This is an
exercise very similar to the last one using the
ruff. However this is only 3 strokes long...hence
#3. We start this rudiment by playing two soft
grace notes with the left hand, and a regular
stroke with the right....llR....rrL....llR....rrL.
The grace notes are played softer and spaced
evenly like the 4 stroke ruff, but shorter. In
the demonstration of sticking you will notice
small letters for the grace note, and caps for the
finishing stroke. llR....rrL....etc. going hand-tohand
or starting each time with your other hand
makes this rudiment very fluid to play when the
motion is felt. The grace notes are played very
close to the drum head, and the stroke uses the
stick path used in all other rudiments so far.
Lesson 8
This brings us to the Flam, a rudiment which is
basically 2 notes. A soft one, and a louder note
played almost together. However, the grace note
or 1st note is soft and the second note is louder.
Again, the grace note is played much closer to
the head or playing surface, and the main note
is the same stroke used in all the other exercises.
When you can play this rudiment going from
hand to hand, you will notice a definite pattern
and motion of the hands. This challenges the
student into playing a loud and soft note almost
together, and at the same time.
Lesson 9
This brings us back down from exercises
1,2,3,4,5,--4,3,2 and 1 again. This time we perform
the same single stroke roll that we performed
in exercise #1. This time though, after having
done the prior exercises, we can now hopefully
perform this roll with more agility and speed.
So there you have it, in a nutshell, if you can
remember the exercise connected tot the number
1 through 5 and back down to 1 again you have
an entry level understanding of the 26 rudiments
of drumming. At least enough to move forward
with a few illustrations and exercises designed
to get you behind the drum set and play a few
simple patterns. The next section will give you a
very basic tutoring in drum music as it is written,
so we can help you find your way around the
drum set enough to play a few simple beats.
Congratulations! Who said drummers have no
attention span?
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