PART 2: STICKING TIME, LINEAR TIME, RHYTHM and METER

Introduction
Thanks for viewing this DVD. I hope youll find a lot of new ideas to incorporate into your playing. What follows is a list of the examples Ill be performing. I will usually show you the basic figures being used and then perform these examples in a variety of ways. Realize that you can make up your own versions for each of these figures, just as I did. The whole idea is to experiment! All of the materials on this DVD come from my Patterns series of books. Make it a point to check these out to more fully understand the materials being presented.

General Points
Much of the material contained on these DVDs deals with my sticking and linear systems. I often refer to these materials in terms of numbers (i.e., the 5A sticking, the six-linear sticking figure, etc.). I have found this type of numerical system makes it easier for students to not only remember figures, but to also combine them into phrases. Gradually, as you continue to work with these systems, the numbers tend to disappear and the feel of the patterns is what the hands remember. In a way, the numbers are like training wheels on a bike; you use them at first until you feel comfortable and then you dont need them anymore. The same happens with the numbers. The great variety contained in my materials provides multiple options for any playing situation. Because of this, you will never be locked into applying one pattern to all playing situations. All of the tools are presented in the material, and we all know having the right tools makes doing any job easier. As you work through these DVDs and begin to find the things you want to work on, refer to the CDs that accompany the Patterns books. These will give you more information on practice routines for use in mastering the ideas being presented.

Part 1 Sticking Time Feels

These materials use stickings to create various types of grooves. The first few examples deal with using a simple four-note sticking. At first, different bass drum figures are used against it.

Basic Rock Sticking

Ex. 1
Basic Pattern

B.D. #1

B.D. #2

B.D. #3

B.D. #4

Ex. 2 This example uses an alternate accent on the ah of two.

Ex. 3 This example uses an alternate accent on the ah of one.

Ex. 4 In this example, the sticking is moved around the drumset.

Shuffle Feels
Ex. 5 This example uses a six-note sticking to set up a half-time groove.

Ex. 6 Heres another shuffle groove using a different six-note sticking.

Odd Meter Stickings

Ex. 7 7/8 using four- and three-note stickings.

Ex. 8 This is another 7/8 example. In this case, a seven-stroke sticking is used.

Part 2 Linear Time Feels

All of the examples in this section deal with different ways you can use linear time figures to make grooves.

Ex. 9 These examples use the eight-note linear figure that we have seen before. A couple of different accents are used.

Ex. 10 Heres an example of the same phrase with 32nd notes added.

Ex. 11 This example uses an open hi-hat on the and of beats one and three.

Ex. 12 In this example, four different versions of the eight-note figure are mixed together.

Ex. 13 This linear phrase uses five- and three-note figures. Here are the basic versions.

Ex. 14 These examples show how you can use the hi-hat in place of the bass drum.

Ex. 15 This example uses a longer version of the five- and three-note figures.

Linear Shuffles
Ex. 16 This example uses a three-note linear figure to create a half-time shuffle.

Ex. 17 This example uses an unusual combination of four- and eight-note linear figures for the shuffle.

Odd-Meter Linear
Ex. 18 Four- and three-note linear figures are used to create this groove in 7/8.
Version 1

Version 2

Ex. 19 This example uses two seven-note linear figures.

Part 3 Rhythm and Meter

Ex. 20 This exercise uses two- through eight-note rhythms against a quarter-note pulse.

(On the DVD, Ill improvise various mixtures of these rhythms and then move them into the drumset.)

Ex. 21 Two- through eight-note rhythms in 3/4.

Final Thoughts
I hope the materials presented on this DVD have given you many new ideas to incorporate into your playing. To explore these issues in more detail, please check out the appropriate Patterns books. Heres a list of the topics contained in each book:
Rhythm & Meter Patterns (EL03584CD) 1) Rhythms over one beat 2) Meter studies 3) Polyrhythmic materials Time Functioning Patterns (EL03586CD) 1) Cymbal ostinatos 2) Jazz independence 3) Linear phrasing Sticking Patterns (EL03585CD) 1) Accented single strokes 2)  Double strokes (moving, broken, etc.) 3) All sticking materials Technique Patterns (EL03587CD) Although not dealt with on the DVD, this book contains many interesting and challenging exercises to help develop both hand and foot control.

To explore additional possibilities concerning the linear concept, check out Linear Time Playing (EL03839CD).