What book would you recommend to a drummer who is in between easy and intermediate?
Hoodoo asked:
I have been playing drums for about a year now and I fall into the half way between easy and intermediate. I need a book to help me with drumming skills and reading drum music. I have done Absolute Beginners Books 1&2 by Dave Zubraski but there is no part 3 in the series but I need a follow up book to that with a CD what would you recommend?
listen to more music and then copy that.
nowt such thing as original moosik.
Not sure about books, but I’d definitely go to Musiciansfriend.com and get a copy of Neil Peart’s (RUSH Drummer) instructional DVD. Just watching him play is worth the price.
I think the price is 34.95 this week.
Good Luck.
Get a copy of “The New Breed” by Gary Chester and make that book your bible.
It uses a revolutionary system that will elevate your playing to the next level. You should be able to find this book at any music store or online at amazon.com or musiciansfriend.com
At first, this book seems to have little practical use, but it will build your independence, reading, grooving, timekeeping and concentration skills like no other book on the market.
Get this book before anything else, but I have a couple of other books you may want to check out.
“Future Sounds” by David Garibaldi. This book is a method for playing linear funk in styles of Tower of Power and some Herbie Hancock songs. Of you have no interest in funk music, then pass this one up…otherwise, it’s a very smart buy. It also includes a CD of many of the grooves and exercises in the book.
“Advanced Funk Studies” by Rick Latham. This is a book on straight ahead funk with some linear elements. It’s a good introduction to funk music.
“Creative Coordination for the Performing Drummer” by Keith Copeland. This book has grooves in various styles such as funk, rock, R&B, bossa nova, jazz, samba, etc. By learning how to groove in these styles, you will become a more versatile drummer.
“A Funky Primer” by Charles Dowd. This one will probably begin below your level, but will be above your level well before the end of the book. This is a good book for straight ahead eighth note based rock music. The entire book has eighth notes on hi-hat. It starts with eighths on snare and bass before going to slightly more intricate eight and sixteenth note patterns. By the end of the book it’ll have you playing sixteenth note triplet patterns on the bass and snare drum. If you want to develop quick doubles on the bass drum, this is the book to get.
That should be enough to keep you busy for quite some time. You also may want to look into taking private lessons from a qualified instructor. That way you’ll have a more experienced person who can guide you along based on your strengths, weaknesses and your own personal interests.
Good luck, and happy drumming!
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