7 Tools For Playing Any Style On The Drums

Drummer's Toolbox Book:

Whether you’re into rock, jazz, gospel or blues, there are seven concepts that factor into being able to play any style of music on the drums. Here are the tools you need to get started (or improve on what you’ve already learned):

1. Dynamics
One of the most underrated and overlooked aspects of music and drumming is how dynamic levels relate to different styles of music. There tends to be a specific dynamic associated with each style. For example, the expectations of bossa nova (relatively quiet) and heavy metal (aggressive and high energy) are very different, and if you played either style using the wrong dynamics, you probably wouldn’t keep the gig. Listen to the music you want to play and pay attention to dynamics so you can get a sense of what’s appropriate.

2. Feel
All styles can be broken into either a straight (ex. surf rock, country train beats) or swung feel (ex. blues shuffle, gogo). Listen to music in the style you want to learn: does it use straight 8th notes or straight 16th notes, or does it have a triplet feel? Does it use both? You can mostly hear the difference in the hi-hat and bass drum.

3. Subdivision
Along with feel, it’s important to see how subdivisions work in different grooves. You’re likely to notice straight 8th notes on the hi-hats in rock music and straight 16th notes in funk music, but more likely to come across triplets in blues. You’ll want to make sure you understand whether the style is based mostly on 8th notes, triplets, 16th notes, or even quarter notes.

4. Independence
Most styles of drumming require three or four limb independence. Rock music often only needs three limbs, but jazz or afro cuban typically need four. Independence is inherent in all styles of drumming, so you’ll want to get comfortable with what’s required to play your preferred styles.

5. Tempo
Most styles can be played at a broad range of tempos. After you learn a pattern, you might end up in a situation where you need to play it quickly or slowly. If you practice patterns at different tempos, you’ll already have what you need to pull it off.

6. Technique
Every style requires a different level of technique – and sometimes even a specific technique. For example, you can use the Moeller Technique to play quick hi-hat patterns more efficiently. You can use finger technique to get the control needed for uptempo swing, which would be nearly impossible using just the wrist. Learning to play bass drum heel-down will let you maintain a quiet volume in a jazz trio setting. From push-pull on hands to heel-toe on feet, it’s a good idea to get familiar with the techniques that will facilitate the styles you’re learning.

7. Orchestration
Many of the same patterns are used across tons of different styles of music. You’ll hear the same basic rock groove in rock, country, gospel, metal and more – just in different iterations, with different dynamics, and at different tempos.

Have you ever wanted one drum book to rule them all?

Brandon Toews, co-author of The Best Beginner Drum Book, was tired of looking in multiple places for answers, so he’s spent the last year-and-a-half putting together the world’s biggest book of drumming styles. With almost 500 pages and covering 101 different styles, The Drummer’s Toolbox is an all-out encyclopedia that includes the history of each style, grooves broken down limb-by-limb, and 1000 recommended recordings, plus links to an online resource area with pre-built playlists, downloadable playalongs for practice, and Drumeo Edge resources that pair perfectly with the book.

The Drummer’s Toolbox is an all-in-one resource, the be-all, end-all treasury of drumming, the ultimate guide, the master how-to reference. Click the link at the top to get a copy!

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[HenkJanDrums]

Thanks for the lesson and the description below the video.

[davidboikov]

He's got a great potential for being an educator. I have difficulties in English but I understood 100% of this material.

[billbigler]

Brandon a very nice intro lesson to your book. I will buy a copy. Cheers.

[Psymon]

Most important part of TEMPO was missed out. Being able to play at a slow and fast tempo is second to playing at a consistent tempo. Nothing more important than keeping the tempo consistent in the song

[thijs]

I've always drummed on the side, always drummed on steel cymbals. Hopefully the day after tomorrow I can trade all my cheap Paiste cymbals for one quality dry Istanbul hi-hat and start drumming with, especially low volume dynamics, as the steel cymbals are already loud when you touch them very delicately. Hope the deal goes down ;)

[krionisa]

how about the instrument itself? also the tuning and cymbals of choice. you can't use your drums in a metal gig

[thinktank]

Anyone please. 52yr old, new to drums. Are you guys using thumb to push, or throw stick? Looks that way at times. I thought u try to avoid using thump? Am I wrong?

[samuelsaravanamuttu]

3:35 Brandon Toews is the type of guy to get sacked for being too polite. What a nice bloke.

[kaidenheagyfishingandoutdo]

Do you guys have any extra cymbals you could have I’m 13 and play the drums

[Avaloctus]

May I ask what kind of cymbals are used in this video ? At least 2 of them are Istanbul Cymbals but I don't know if they are from the Agop or Mehmet line. And the HiHats and the other Cymbal without any brandname printed on it.... ?

I'd be glad if Drumeo ( or someone who's watching or has watched the video ) would tell me what cymbals and HiHats are used, their specific names and their sizes.... they sound fanstastic to me while listening to this video via a good pair of headphones. :-)
Thanks and greetings....

[gregbrookes]

Can you tell me what set youre playing and the double crash? I live the sounds, would like to get close to waht yours sounds like.

[Drumsholic]

Great stuff here man huge interesting video!!

[eurueka]

I hope you'll sell the book on amazon or something like that. The beginner drum book`s shipping costs were insane for europe.

[xavieracosta]

So, I might not know as much about drums as I think I do.

But, when he said, “101 styles of drums in my book.”

I laughed.

[sallyrtcw]

So really, let’s ask the real question, what sets this book apart from The Drummers Bible ?! Because it’s the same thing or Jim Riley’s book?! That’s very similar to this and it has playalongs...

Thanks

[davidbcg]

Did he ever hit that left side floor tom? :D

[mp]

Does 5:29 sound familiar or is that just me?

[fomelayman]

Need to knowww how to.be like u ur soo good

[DTnorwayDT]

Some hard compression and gating going on 😣😣

[machete]

....
What kind of weak ass metal are you playing man