Going back to basics

[supermac]

I've been playing since 1980 and I'm completely self-taught.

I've managed to reach quite a high standard over the years by listening to different styles of music and listening to and watching all the great drummers.

From Bonham, Peart and Cobham on record as a kid, to Smith, Weckl and Lang on DVD today.

I use double pedal bass drum, I can play in odd times and understand paradiddles, ruffs, flams, doubles etc etc.

However, like most drummers here in the UK, what I never did was learn to read music and sit with a pad and book and learn the basics and the rudiments.

But better late than never, I intend to do that now!

So I'm looking for a good book to show me the stickings and learn drum notation from scratch, preferably with a CD (so I can hear what's going on and match it to the notes on the page).

Any recommendations gratefully received...

[schist]

You could do a lot worse than start with the book I (and I'm sure many others too) started with, and that book is Basic Drumming by Joel Rothman.

[Tomtom123]

You said "drum notation", I am assuming you want to learn to read basic rhythms and grooves, as well as technique?

Syncopation by Ted Reed is simple (quarters, 8ths, & 16ths). Basic stuff to learn, but no CD.

As far as Technique and Groove stuff, "Hands, Grooves, & Fills" from Pat Petrillo has DVD & MP3CD to playalong learn along with notation. I had some trouble reading, and seeing these grooves with notation and watching and hearing the music, helped me figure out what I couldn't read. There's a page on how to read 16th note subdivisions. Also, he has a "Rudiment TAB" System, which really taught me how to play the rudiments in musical ways.

As far as rmore reading, you also could try the New Breed by Gary Chester, many rhythms, but you need someone to sit with you to figure it out.

Good Luck!

[djp132]

A book will help but my advice would be to get a few private lessons. A good teacher will get you moving on the material much faster than most can do on their own. They might start you with a simple method book or something, but since you have a lot of experience, youll probably blow through it real quick.