Motion patterns

[n2xlr8n]

Now that we've all been busting it on GLS, I'd really like to hear what folks are doing to apply those chops to the drumset, in terms of motions.

For example, I began drumming years ago starting 75% of my fills with my left hand. Over the last year, I have made it a point to start every fill possible with my right hand. At the end of every jam session, I play motion patterns in the following order:

(BD on QTRs, HH on 2 & 4 on each pattern)

-16th notes around toms, alternate sticking

-16th note triplets, alternate sticking

-8th note triplets, paradiddle sticking

-16th note triplets, paradiddle sticking

I recently purchased Ray Luzier's DVD. It's loaded with awesome routines of this type.

Input?

SRJ

[NUTHA JASON]

good idea. i use the triple and double strokes as 'time buyers' to get the other hand to a far part of the kit. i will also try a cross-over during a double stroke.
for eg:

T1|.L....LL
T2|..RR....
T3|R...L...
SN|.....R..

It's useful for a crash/tom roll at the end of a song. here's a triple paradiddle

LEFT CRASH..|........L.......
RIGHT CRASH.|R...............
MIDDLE TOM..|.LRLRLRR.RLRLRLL etc
BASS DRUM...|R.......R.......

you can find a great example of this at the end of 'how many more times' led zep 1

j

[n2xlr8n]

good idea. i use the triple and double strokes as 'time buyers' to get the other hand to a far part of the kit. i will also try a cross-over during a double stroke.
for eg:

T1|.L....LL
T2|..RR....
T3|R...L...
SN|.....R..

It's useful for a crash/tom roll at the end of a song. here's a triple paradiddle

LEFT CRASH..|........L.......
RIGHT CRASH.|R...............
MIDDLE TOM..|.LRLRLRR.RLRLRLL etc
BASS DRUM...|R.......R.......

you can find a great example of this at the end of 'how many more times' led zep 1

j



Good ideas, thanks Jason. I've only recently started using 4, 6, and 8 note fills using different stickings over a 8th or 16th note triplet BD / HH pattern. It's blowing my mind.

The "time savers" quip is key for me. Being naturally left-handed but converting to RH, I've found that I have to study other drummers motions very carefully. I play the patterns very slowly hundreds of times to a metronome. It's tedious, but I feel it's what will make the difference in my playing.

SRJ

[SLEEPY BRiGHT EYEZ]

I'm in the same boat only I normally start fills with my right hand. To remedy this, I've been practicing the same fills starting with my left, and when I practice my rudiments I go through each one starting with right, then starting with my left before bumping up the tempo. I'm also trying to work paradiddles into my fills.

Also check out the book 4 Way Coordination.

[n2xlr8n]

Wow.

I'm surprised at the number of folks that either a) Don't practice motion patterns, or b) Don't have anything to say on this subject.

All those chops we work so hard on may as well be used on a marching snare if you can't make it around the kit.

Maybe it's just me, LOL

SRJ.

[LinearDrummer]

"Phrasing and Motion" is something I picked up on from Chaffee...

My biggest problem is going from right to left counter-clockwise...you know the Virgil type stuff...actually the more drummers is see in school and at the music store all have problems going counter-clockwise...

I have an excercise where I pick a number of hits per each drum and I stick with that number moving around hitting every surface possible toms, cymbals, cowbell etc.. without hitting that surface more than the count chosen...

Its a killer exercise that I still have to do slow...


good idea. i use the triple and double strokes as 'time buyers' to get the other hand to a far part of the kit.

The double paradiddle...
Permutate the accent and use it on the tom while ghosting on the snare....
single accents in bold
R L R L R R L R L R L L
R L R L R R L R L R L L
R L R L R R L RL R L L

group accents
R L R L R R L R L R L L
R L R L R R L R L R L L

Then use the accents on the snare and move around the kit with the other notes...
Some interesting ideas come out....


I'm sure you get the picture...nothing everyone probably already doesn't do - its just something thats part of my daily routine...

[n2xlr8n]

The double paradiddle...
Permutate the accent and use it on the tom while ghosting on the snare....
single accents in bold
R L R L R R L R L R L L
R L R L R R L R L R L L
R L R L R R L RL R L L

group accents
R L R L R R L R L R L L
R L R L R R L R L R L L

I'm sure you get the picture...nothing everyone probably already doesn't do - its just something thats part of my daily routine...


Silly question alert!

Are you performing these patterns as a triplet feel? I tried your suggestions playing it both as 4/4 and 12/8. It will definitely mess with your mind. I can hear Grant Menefee saying "count out LOUD!".

I hope no one took this thread wrong. I'm on this forum to learn, and I'm very grateful for the resources we have here. Thanks for the suggestions, fellas. I appreciate it.

SRJ

[LinearDrummer]

Silly question alert!

Are you performing these patterns as a triplet feel? I tried your suggestions playing it both as 4/4 and 12/8. It will definitely mess with your mind. SRJ

I know how to play some things just not very good at explaining them :-)

Yeah six's against the quarters on the hat keepin the left foot going...my weakness!
I tend to solo or do fills and not keep the left hat pulse going...its hard!

Also when moving around the kit I break it down into three type of motions...
- Hands together...you know parallel on the same plane as you move from drum to drum...
- One had movements...pretty simple...the basic move maybe your right hand around the toms while the left stays on snare etc...
- Opposites...I do this with one hit assigned per drum...
I had a teacher that was real big on this using perpendicular motions...
For example the left hand would go back and forth from snare to hat while the right hand would go snare to tom to floor tom...so one hand is doing a 2 note combo while the other does a three note combo...

Its kinda of a brain teaser atleast for me...

[Dimroc]

I had a teacher that was real big on this using perpendicular motions...
For example the left hand would go back and forth from snare to hat while the right hand would go snare to tom to floor tom...so one hand is doing a 2 note combo while the other does a three note combo...

Its kinda of a brain teaser atleast for me...

These are a lot of fun....I'm a big fan of doing these in a 3:2 polyrhythm with the right hand playing splash and crash in eighth notes, then my left hand playing snare-tom 1-tom 2 in triplets.

[n2xlr8n]

Also when moving around the kit I break it down into three type of motions...
- Hands together...you know parallel on the same plane as you move from drum to drum...
- One had movements...pretty simple...the basic move maybe your right hand around the toms while the left stays on snare etc...
- Opposites...I do this with one hit assigned per drum...

Its kinda of a brain teaser atleast for me...


Thanks for the info; recently, the one hand movements have been most beneficial to me. Last night, I simply played single RH notes around the kit for ~15 mins. When moving to alternating-hands fills, they sounded so much more clean. Strengthening my RH has been a priority, and using it alone helps more than anything else.

Everything's a brain teaser for me nowadays. "Emptying one's cup" is one of the most difficult things to do.

Again, thanks for the help folks!

SRJ