How to Play Drums: Transformations System

Alright, so I would like to go ahead and explain how the previous example was created. So, once again here is the basic rock beat that I just played (drums playing), here is the pattern played without the high hat and I would like to mention that is actually not necessary to play this step but so you can check it out, here it is (drums playing)… (drums playing different beat)… (drums playing different beat)… (drums playing different beat). Okay, so there is a couple of ways that we can create melody on the toms, one way is, since we are in 4/4 it is just simply choose any four rhythms from the 16th note variations and this will automatically give you a rhythmic pattern that is in four. So this example uses in order rhythm number 3, rhythm 3 again, rhythm number 9, and rhythm number 6; so once you have this pattern, what I like to do is just experiment with various melodies on the toms and when I come up with something I like and I just go with that. But, the approach I prefer is actually opposite that. What I like to do is just experiment on the toms and come up with something that I like; and then, after the fact then I will write it out and I find that is a little bit more of a musical approach but whatever you choose they both work. So, notice when I do play this I am going to use my right hand (drums playing).

Okay, so create a rhythmic pattern on the cow bell, we will just simply follow the exact approach that we used to create the melody on the toms. So this example uses in order rhythm number 1, 2, 3, and 16 and notice when I play this I am going to use the heel of my left foot and this will allow me to still access the open and close sounds on the high hat because my toe will remain on the high hat pedal (drums playing).

So, notice that when I play this next example I will play it with my left hand and this will leave my right-hand available to play the melody (drums playing).


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