33-How to Play the Drums: Complex Time Signatures

This lesson is part of the series: Drumming Lessons: Intermediate, Drumming Lessons: Basics through Advanced

You may have learned a bit about playing in different time signatures like 12/8, 3/4 and 4/4. These time signatures have had either three pulses in each beat or two pulses in each beat. Time signatures with two pulses in each beat are called SIMPLE time signatures (like 4/4, where beats come in groups of two notes), and those with three are called COMPOUND times (like 12/8, where the beats come in groups of three notes).

“Mixed” or “Complex” time signatures are those that use a combination of simple and compound beats (ie. some beats that are groups of two and some that are groups of three). Often these time signatures will involve prime numbers like 5/8, 7/8, 11/8, 5/16, 7/16 etc. but they don’t have to. 8/8 for example could be divided into four pairs (ie just like 4/4) OR one pair and two groups of three.

After explaining the difference between all of these time signatures, Jim will illustrate the difference to you by showing how these will sound.

To practice these kind of complex time signatures, Jim will walk you through a rudimental snare drum solo (#2), 'Double Yolks'. In addition to different time signatures, this solo explores some trickier rudiments - paradiddlediddles, flam accents, flam drags, diddle-egg 5s and 7s, drags and four stroke ruffs. It also uses the drum rim (written like high hat notes) and the different sound obtained at the very edge of the drum - next to the rim.

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:
• 33.pdf
• doubleyolks.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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