Blog
August 28, 2024
12 Single Stroke Exercises To Build Speed and Control on the Drums
When it comes to guides for faster hands, there’s no shortage of how-to’s, instant chops programs, or 30-day speed-building courses. There’s a constant influx of shortcut speed-building programs for both hands and feet readily available, but do they work? Some offer great advice, but the majority are simply junk food.
August 27, 2024
Ghost Notes on Drums - The Key Technique for More Dynamic Grooves
Ghost notes and accents are the salt and pepper of any groove. They enhance the flavor of your playing and bind a groove together in such a unique way that we can distinguish one player from another based on how they are used. Today, we’ll take a deep dive into ghost notes, break down what they are (and aren’t), explain how to play them, and then apply them to useful drum kit grooves.
August 14, 2024
12 Shuffle Drum Grooves: Jazz Ride to Rosanna's Half-Time Pattern
There are so many tasty drum grooves to dive into and so little time to master them all. Let’s take a look at the iconic and multifaceted shuffle.
There are, of course, many varieties of shuffles. Some are ternary (triplet) based, some are 16th based, and some groove between the cracks. The mighty shuffle transcends genres, and there are great examples in rock, country, blues, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, etc.
August 11, 2024
Learn Wonderwall by Oasis on Drums: Master the Main Groove and Fills
Have you ever tried to play Wonderwall on drums and thought, ‘This sounds nothing like the record!’? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This iconic track may seem simple at first, but nailing that signature groove can be trickier than you’d expect.
July 19, 2024
The Coolest Beats, Fills, and Exercises by Beat Note Content Creators
Today, we’re spotlighting some of the coolest grooves, fills, and exercises from our first talented cohort of content creators. Whether you’re a seasoned drummer or just picking up the sticks, these beats will inspire and challenge you. I’m excited to share these hand-picked gems that showcase the creativity and skill of our community. So, grab your drumsticks, fire up the Beat Note app, and let’s get grooving!
July 17, 2024
Triplets - How, Why, And When Are They Used in Drumming?
You have to appreciate a grouping that allows equal hand-to-hand use. Triplets or groupings of 3 are great base rhythms for rudiments and are prevalent in various musical styles like Jazz, Blues, R&B, Rock, Metal, Reggae, Afro-Cuban, Drum & Bass, Pop, etc. You will also find many specific main-stream applications in drum grooves and patterns like Chicago shuffles, Texas shuffles, the Purdie shuffle, and the Porcaro half-time shuffle.
July 15, 2024
5 Iconic Funk Drum Grooves: Learn from Stubblefield, Gadd, Purdie, and Others
Funk drumming often incorporates clear syncopation and rhythmic permutations, fun sticking patterns, hi-hat barks and openings, ghost notes, linear patterns, and a strong sense of one. Combine some of these elements and add your unique blend of groove sauce, and the dance floor will surely move.
July 11, 2024
11 Easy Drum Songs - Even For Beginner Drummers
Hey there, fellow drum enthusiasts! Let me guess: you’ve recently started playing the drums and want to put your initial progress behind the kit into practice. Does that sound about right? Fantastic, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to look at 11 of the easiest songs for beginner drummers to master, ranging from ultra-simple beats to slightly more challenging rhythms.
July 03, 2024
A Comprehensive Guide to Drum Notation
Learning to play the drums is a fun journey! But many beginners have a hard time reading drum exercises or song sheets. Fear not! This guide will break down drum notation basics, making it easy and enjoyable. It might seem intimidating, but it’s a breeze once you know how to read drum music. Let’s dive in, shall we?
July 02, 2024
Double Kick Drumming Beyond Metal: 4 Exercises for Dynamic Grooves
Ready to expand your drumming feel and knowledge? Here is a great 5-minute lesson that will elevate your drumming skills. Everyone needs some secret weapons in their drumming tool bag, and here is one of mine. By choosing to alternate our sticking for hands or feet versus all rights or all lefts, there is inherently less tension in our sound, and a new set of dynamics emerges. Let’s take this simple concept to a deeper level.
June 17, 2024
Play “Everlong” by Foo Fighters as a Beginner Drummer
Does this sound familiar? You’ve started playing the drums, got comfortable with different songs, and one day you wake up and decide you’re ready to play “Everlong” by Foo Fighters. You follow tutorials online and probably experience something along these lines:
June 16, 2024
Cooking With Paradiddles - Tutorial for Beginners
I often find drumming and cooking have a lot of interesting parallels and crossover. Think of
sticking combinations like secret seasoning, and as we season our grooves to taste, we want
to incorporate just the right amount of sticking, articulations, and space to make it all feel
soulful and unique.
June 01, 2024
Snare Warmup for Beginner Drummers: Get Ready to Rock!
Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your drumming skills, warming up is a crucial part of your practice routine. A good warmup not only prepares your muscles for playing but also helps you improve your technique and timing. Today, we’ll focus on snare drum warmups that are simple, fun, and effective.
May 29, 2024
How To Increase Your Foot Speed On The Drums (With Exercises!)
Increasing your foot speed on the bass drum is a crucial skill for any drummer. It allows you to play faster and more complex patterns, and can greatly enhance your overall drumming ability. But going for speed exclusively, you won’t be able to play different styles and more interesting grooves. When practicing, it’s important to combine speed exercises with different patterns.