I've been drumming for about 6 years. I've always played rock and funk, but now I'm trying to learn jazz. I got a copy of The Art of Bop Drumming by John Riley and I'm working on the early exercises on page 9. I find that I can do the ride, snare, and bass drum patterns (and all combinations thereof) perfectly, but as soon as I try to add those simple hi-hat chicks into the mix, I go full retarded and completely lose the patterns. It's like I've hit a brick wall, and my left foot is obviously the problem. So, what do you guys think is the absolute best way to improve dexterity and timing on the hi-hat foot? I considered doing Stick Control exercises with my feet, but I don't know how much that would help me to improve my timing within the context of a beat.
Retarded left foot - suggestions?
- Thread starter lxh039
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Hewitt2
Senior Member
Definitely go slow. I'd focus on counting your 4s out loud and spang-a-langing with the ride and bass drum.
Once comfortable, start to emphasize the "2" and "4 in your counts to encourage the hi-hat to be part of the beat.
I can't recall, but I am pretty sure that AOB does not script out the bass drum, hi-hat and ride cymbal grooves on the beginning exercises (just the snare comps). If that's the case, you may want to manually write out this detail into some of the bars and visually follow along until you are comfortable. Sometimes seeing the actual beats makes it easier to incorporate.
Once comfortable, start to emphasize the "2" and "4 in your counts to encourage the hi-hat to be part of the beat.
I can't recall, but I am pretty sure that AOB does not script out the bass drum, hi-hat and ride cymbal grooves on the beginning exercises (just the snare comps). If that's the case, you may want to manually write out this detail into some of the bars and visually follow along until you are comfortable. Sometimes seeing the actual beats makes it easier to incorporate.
Indeed. There are a number of threads on this (including my own). When I switched from the "mash the pedal on the beat" to heel-toe technique, there was a huge gap in coordination I had to (and still need to) fix.
I echo the above. Start slow. Fix coordination gaps as you would any foot ostinato. I tend to play hand patterns over top of them till I can begin working on groove, though there's probably a better way.
I echo the above. Start slow. Fix coordination gaps as you would any foot ostinato. I tend to play hand patterns over top of them till I can begin working on groove, though there's probably a better way.
M
Matt Bo Eder
Guest
Go join a soccer club and kick with your left foot. While you're at it, do everything with your left hand too. That always helps 
brentcn
Platinum Member
+1. It's pretty difficult to just "imagine" where the hi-hat notes will fall in relation to the snare comping exercise, at first. Circle or highlight the parts where the left foot is supposed to play in unison with the other limbs, and read the part carefully as you play it. Focus on playing slowly, smoothly, and accurately. It will take a while, but it'll sink in over a few days (assuming you're practicing every day).
When I do stick control exercises, My teacher made me do my bass on 1 and left foot on 2, then bass on 3 &, then let foot on 4, and so on. My teacher made me do all the RLRRLRLL, RRRL, LLLR, RRLRLLRL and all the other patterns in the book doing the footwork as above. Boring and hard but I can tell you that I don't have any problems with my left foot and I've only been playing 9 months. Yes I started off slow and retarded and it's awkward but after a couple of weeks I was flying through them. That's what I like about my teacher, he is strict and makes me do things that feel awkward and difficult but it works.
Paul
Paul
