Updated 7 February 1999
Hi again and welcome! Thanks for visiting. And thanks especially to all of you who've been nice enough to write with some positive comments about my web page and online lessons. I can't tell you how good it makes me feel to receive mail from all of you. I'll keep on doinf the best I can to provide you with some applicable percussion information. It's a real pleasure and an honor.
I would like to subtly remind all of you who visit my online lessons that a lot of the concepts taught here can be learned more intensely from my books. You can check my books out at my Books site. The books can be ordered right from my website. How nice! I'll be updating that page soon, with more music and audio.
I've placed a Previous Lessons archive here. Enjoy!
Video Lessons
are also available. I really enjoy teaching by video tape. I can take my time, when I've got the time!, and focus on the grooves that you want. Please email me for info about this and audio lessons by cassette.
Bongo Lessons by Video
My good friend, David Romero, who has played bongo with many top "Latin" artists and is now percussionist with Earth, Wind, and Fire, is happy to teach bongo video lessons to those who are interested. From beginners to advanced players, this is something I may be doing soon! Just drop me an email and I'll get you all the information.
Audio Lessons
I've had some good success teaching drummers by audio cassette. Once again, if I can be of any help, please write.
Private Lessons
I live in Southern California and am very happy to be able to teach here at my home studio. My students and I are a nice family, the atmosphere's cool, and we play and learn together. See you here if possible!
Some Basic Rhythms with a Funky Twist
Here14s a relatively basic lesson using some tried and true grooves. For some of you these may be very basic, or relatively basic. Hey, check out some of the archived lessons for something more challenging! Just let your imagination flow a little with these grooves and you'll find some new and useful grooves here.
We14ll just be combining some 16th note rhythms together, for some very usable grooves. I14m providing you with three ride patterns. For now, they14re on the hi hat line of the staff. Of course, you14re free to place them wherever you want: ride cymbal, X-hat, china, floor tom (hmmm...that would be cool!). The first ride pattern is a basic one, found in many different styles of music.
This second pattern is not as common as number one. It can be heard in music from Brasil and, in a somewhat lesser extent, from Cuba and other Caribbean countries. Combining this pattern with bass drum and snare will provide some nice work for interdependence (or independence, depending on how you conceive of the concept). It14ll also give you some new inspirations for different sounding grooves and patterns.
The third pattern comes to me from the drum called chico34, from Uruguay. You14ll notice an accent above the first 16th note. When practicing at first, leave this accent out. This pattern is difficult enough without adding an accent. The accent does give this pattern a real different swing.
Now, your job is to mesh the ride patterns with some bass/snare patterns. I14m providing just three with which to begin. Of course, there are thousands more. These will get you started.
Thanks once again for visiting my lessons page, and for checking out the website. If I can be of any help to you, please drop me an email. And don't forget to check out the books, CDs, and videos available here. Thanks!
If you enjoy these lessons, and develop your own grooves, please share them with us! You can mail me your applications of these lessons to:
Previous Lessons
