Welcome back, fellow drummers! I'm Geoff, a professional drummer with over 20 years of teaching and performing experience, and today I'm excited to dive into Lesson #2 from the "10 lessons to Drumming Mastery" series.
In this lesson, we'll explore the basics of creating your first drum groove and introduce the exciting world of drum fills. As always, practice is key to improvement, so let's get started! For private lessons, feel free to visit www.geoff-fry.com.
Section 1: Building Your First Drum Groove
To create your first drum groove, you'll need to focus on three core elements: the bass drum, snare drum, and hi-hats. Start by playing the groove slowly, focusing on your technique and timing, and then gradually increase the speed as you become more comfortable.
Here's the simple quarter note groove pattern:
Play the bass drum on the first and third beat.
Play the snare drum on the second and forth beat.
Play the hi-hats on all four beats.
As you practice, try changing your right hand position from the hi-hats to the ride cymbal, hitting it halfway down the "bow" with the bead of the stick, not the shoulder.
Introduction to Fills
Drum fills are an essential part of any drummer's toolkit, adding excitement and variety to your playing. Fills often come off the hi-hat, use the toms, create a more interesting groove, or even incorporate crash cymbals.
To start, try practising 3 bars of groove and then an eighth note fill. Remember, there are no strict rules for fills, so experiment with hitting different toms and experimenting with sounds. As you progress, you'll develop a better understanding of bars, time signatures, and how to incorporate fills seamlessly into your grooves.
Remember, practice is the key to becoming a great drummer, so keep working on those techniques! If you're interested in private lessons, don't hesitate to visit www.geoff-fry.com for more information.
Happy drumming!
Watch the full YouTube video lesson here: https://youtu.be/OkLLWHqah9A