11-How to Play the Drums: Rock Beats

This lesson is part of the series: Introduction to Drumming: The Basics, Drumming Lessons: Basics through Advanced

Now that we have started to develop some control and co-ordination of the hands, it is time to start learning to play some beats. In this lesson, you will start to learn how to play some basic and popular rock beats. These beats are not only an easy introduction to the drum kit, but are actually the most popular beats that are used in pop songs we hear every day on the radio. This lesson will go through eight different common rock beats that any drummer should practice. As you go through, the beats will become more complex (integrating rests, integrating different bass/snare combinations, missing bass/snare on beat one of the bar, etc)

In several of the examples, the bass and snare drums have periodic 'rests.' These rests don't, however, apply to the high-hat in these examples. The high hat has eight straight quavers for every one of these beats. It is really a timekeeper for you. The idea is to put the high hat on auto pilot and focus on getting the correct bass/snare rhythms. Try first playing the bass/snare part (foot and left hand) without the high hat for every beat.

This lesson is excerpted from a broader course available from www.begindrumming.com. The Begin Drumming course is a 100% comprehensive drumming course which takes you from absolute beginner to expert soloist without any gimmicky short cuts! Through a combination of video and written lessons, the course will teach you proper technique as well as how to read drum music.

• Once you purchase this lesson you will have access to these files:
• 11.pdf
• pg15_beat1_a.mp3
• pg15_beat1_b.mp3
• pg15_beat1_c.mp3
• pg15_beat2_a.mp3
• pg15_beat2_b.mp3
• pg15_beat2_c.mp3
• pg15_beat3_a.mp3
• pg15_beat3_b.mp3
• pg15_beat3_c.mp3
• pg15_beat4_a.mp3
• pg15_beat4_b.mp3
• pg15_beat4_c.mp3
• pg15_beat5_a.mp3
• pg15_beat5_b.mp3
• pg15_beat5_c.mp3
• pg15_beat6_a.mp3
• pg15_beat6_b.mp3
• pg15_beat6_c.mp3
• pg15_beat7_a.mp3
• pg15_beat7_b.mp3
• pg15_beat7_c.mp3
• pg15_beat8_a.mp3
• pg15_beat8_b.mp3
• pg15_beat8_c.mp3

Let me introduce myself. My name is Jim McCarthy. I'm a drum clinician and teacher and have specialized in pure technique for many years. I consider myself still a student as well, because I have a passion for constantly learning. I learn every day when I watch other drummers, and I analyze what works and what doesn’t. Performing, Educating and Learning have been my life and my living for well over 20 years.

I've had a tremendously broad background in drumming. I've played in rock bands, orchestras, marching bands - everything from high-brow contemporary music to Latin American stuff.

I spent six years at university studying percussion performance full time, and I ended up with a...

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