Rudiments: Basic and Beyond | Part 2
by Mark Shelton
Good ideas and good hands! A percussionist needs creativity coupled with the ability to bring the cool stuff from the brain onto the drums. Studying rudiments will assist you in developing both the creative and technical areas of percussion. Part One presented a few key moments in the history of rudiments along with suggestions for learning. Part Two will provide tips to sharpen your rudimental chops and stimulate your creativity.
Pianissimo Practice
Sure, you can knock out a ratamacue at medium volume, but what happens when a low dynamic is required? Challenge yourself to practice rudiments at super-soft levels while maintaining the same clarity as with higher volumes.
Bare Hands
Many rudiments can be adapted to hand percussion such as congas, bongos, and cajon. (Buzz strokes are a notable exception.) Transferring rudiments onto hand drums will expand your technical skills and serve as a creative catalyst.
Sub Buzz
The measured roll rudiments such as the five, seven, and thirteen stroke rolls are played with double strokes (two consecutive strikes per hand). Change things up by substituting a buzz (multiple bounce) stroke instead of the double stroke. (You will still use the same primary hand motions.) The measured grace notes in the drag-based rudiments (e.g., triple ratamacue & double drag tap) can also be exchanged for buzz strokes.
Soup Up Your Sweep
Playing drums with brushes consists of striking along with the sweeping technique. Years ago, I attended a clinic by renowned drummer Ed Soph. A master of brushes, Ed recommended playing exercises from Stick Control by George L. Stone using the sweeping technique. Duly inspired, I dug out my copy of the classic drum method book and began putting the advice into practice. Applying sweeping motions to the permutations in the opening section of Stick Control will not only improve your brush technique, but it will also inspire ideas to create grooves and fills.
Try The Combo Platter
Mix two or more elements and the result is a hybrid. If multiple rudiments are combined, you get a hybrid rudiment. Drummers have developed hundreds of these composite licks. After you have the basic rudiments secured in your brain and hands, add some hybrids to your drumming vocabulary. There are several websites with notation of various hybrids. You can find a large listing that includes the parabuzzle, chatachichi, and inverted cheese flam tap at www.drumminaround.com. A collection of hybrids are included in Bill Bachman’s book Rudimental Logic 3.0.
Pillow Practice
Deepen your control of double stroke rudiments (e.g., nine stroke roll & paradiddle) by practicing on a surface that will provide little to no rebound such as a feather pillow or a folded towel on top of a drum or practice pad. This will assist in improving your ability to control the second note of the double stroke without relying on the rebound.
Switch Hitting
Are you a percussionist (like me) who plays both traditional and matched grips? Check yourself periodically to maintain your rudimental prowess with both grips.
Rudimental Improv
Allow rudiments to spark creativity. Start playing a rudiment and improvise freely. After some exploration, add a second rudiment into the mix. If something interesting and potentially useful bursts forth, STOP and record your gem.
Solo Time
If all the rudimental snare solos were played one after another, it would be a very long (and loud) concert. Hundreds upon hundreds have been written over the last few centuries and people keep composing more. Solos place a variety of rudiments into the context of an actual piece of music—plus it’s fun to play rudimental solos!
These classic books contain multiple solos:
Haskell W. Harr Drum Method Book 2 by Haskell Harr
America's N.A.R.D. Drum Solos (The Green Book) by various composers
Fourteen Modern Contest Solos for Snare Drum by John S. Pratt
Whether playing with sticks, mallets, brushes, or bare hands, rudiments should have a place in your percussion life. Keep the basic rudiments stored in your brain and hands always at the ready. I recommend a weekly run-through of the Percussive Arts Society’s Forty International Drum Rudiments.
My rudiment day is Tuesday.
(c) Mark Shelton Productions / Percussion For Worship This article previously appeared in Worship Musician magazine.
