Reddit reviews Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer: Coordinated Independence as Applied to Jazz and Be-Bop, Vol. 1 (Book & CD-ROM)

If you can spare the money I most definitely recommend finding a teacher. You will want to start with rudiments (they can be boring, but you'll be glad you did them in the long haul) and while you can pick them up from books, having a teacher giving feedback helps a lot. You don't have to stay with a teacher on the long-term, if you make it clear that you just want a solid base most teachers know what you mean and want.

If you don't have that money, these are three books I highly recommend to anybody who wants to play any percussion instrument:

http://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-For-Snare-Drummer/dp/1892764040/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

Description: This book is full of rudiments. Like ctrocks said: This book is evil. You will most likely both grow to hate and love it. Hate it for both how boring rudiments can get (to me, at least) and how hard they get. But love it for the results and seeing how all those rudiments advance your playing immensely. I suggest picking this up as soon as possible.



http://www.amazon.com/Accents-Rebounds-For-Snare-Drummer/dp/1892764067/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343162586&sr=8-1&keywords=Accents+and+Rebounds

Description: The 'sequel' to Stick Control. This book adds accents and even more difficult rhythms. I would suggest picking this up at an intermediate level.

http://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Steps-Syncopation-Modern-Drummer/dp/0882847953/ref=cm_lmf_tit_5

Description: Don't let this book fool you. It all starts out really simple. But this is one of those books that really lays down a foundation you will be very grateful for. And when you're getting to a more advanced level, you will see how you can translate a lot of these syncopated rhythms to the entire drumkit. I suggest picking this up as soon as possible.


http://www.amazon.com/4-Way-Coordination-Development-Complete-Independence/dp/0769233708/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c

Description: This book is very well named. You will want to grab this book after you got the basics down, imo. You want to work on the independence of your limbs as soon as possible, but not too soon. Yet again: rudiments. But now rudiments that require all limbs.


http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Techniques-For-Modern-Drummer/dp/0757995403

Description: We're starting to get into the bigger leagues with this book. I honestly don't quite know how to describe this book except for the word: challenging. Challenging in a very, very good way. I recommend picking this up once you're starting to get into a more advanced stage.


These books are for the basics, imo and in the opinion of many fellow drummers as far as I know. But don't forget: the books are merely tools. You don't want to be only playing rudiments, you'll go crazy. I tended to go for a trade: every half out of rudiments rewards me with a half our of putting on tracks and rocking out. Resulting in one-hour sessions a day. Hope this helps!

Edit: Feeling bored so added more books and descriptions.

Try playing through this book, it's pretty difficult.

my favorite book was "Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer"

It's been probably 10+ years since I bought that book, and I'll still pull it off the shelf and play through pages.

Another really fun thing to do is to go through the Syncopation book and play the quarter note and eighth note pages with just your left hand and kick drum while playing jazz time with your right hand and hi hat

I recommend "Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer: Coordinated Independence as Applied to Jazz and Bebop" by Jim Chapin for a jazz practice method.

Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer. Seriously this book will help you greatly. Just push yourself, and you'll see results. There is even PDF files for you to download so you don't even need to buy the book I'm not sure how trust-worthy the links are, but seriously, use to book.

Jim Chapin's Advanced Technique for the Modern Drummer is a must have for learning independence. Also, learn your rudiments. Get a copy of Alan Dawson's Rudimental Ritual and work the hell out of it. Charley Wilcoxon's Advanced Swing Solos is a great practical application of rudiments as well. These books are tough but if you take them slow at first, little by little you will figure them out and build up your chops. Finally, listen to and watch a lot of jazz drummers. Find your favorites and get your hands on everything they ever recorded. Play with the records to help develop your musical sense.

Ah memories. Yep I started with How to Play rock'n'roll drums, Syncopation and this book way back in the early 90's. Then later on went to Advanced Techniques, Future Sounds and The New Breed for different permutations and limb independence. And 'trying' to pick apart and play Dave Weckl's Island Magic.

Does anyone else remember those drum solos like calypso eclipsed and aint it rich?

Here are the books you may be looking for.

4-Way Coordination: A Method Book for the Development of Complete Independence on the Drum Set or Advanced Techniques For The Modern Drummer: Coordinating Independence As Applied To Jazz And Be-bop

Both focus on independence, though this is the one I just order today for myself, The New Breed

That's a pretty clever use of that book, thanks for sharing.
I was doing exercises from Jim Chapin's "Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer" with a similar mentality, rotating which limb got which part. Butch Norton has a similar series of articles on independence and limb rotation. Really really cool stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/Haskell-Harr-Drum-Method-Orchestra/dp/1423420268
http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Techniques-For-Modern-Drummer/dp/0757995403
http://www.amazon.com/International-Drum-Rudiments-Book-CD/dp/0739013106
http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Realistic-Rock-Drum-Method/dp/0897244869

get these books and read them and you will truly learn to beat smith. starts with the hands first then the feet, then the hands and the feet. i live by these books and remember that slower and more accurate practicing is 1000 times more important that fast and sloppy. get solid and have fun swingin.

http://www.amazon.com/Drum-Tuning-comprehensive-guide-tuning/dp/0964465817
this is a stand by too my man

When I was younger my teacher was all about Jim Chapins book. It helped so much and I still check it out from time to time.

https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Techniques-Modern-Drummer-Independence/dp/0757995403

Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer by Jim Chapin and Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer by Ted Reed

https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Techniques-Modern-Drummer-Independence/dp/0757995403/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487494311&sr=8-1

Try learning Jim Chapin's Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer.
It is a great book for getting your limbs playing different patterns. It works with the swing ostinato and if you can learn it with left hand and right hand leads, it will free you up amazingly. If you are really in to it, you can work through the book with the feet playing the hand parts.

Don't mention it! My pleasure. What helps with the feet in keeping swing time is, learning how to feather the bass drum. It's extremely common in jazz, especially with cats like Joe Morello, Max Roach, and Jimmy Cobb. Even at the faster tempos, they feathered the bass drum a lot of times. Feathering, if you're not familiar, is pretty much keeping time on the downbeats very, very quietly. Make the pulse be more "felt, not heard".

They actually have bass drum pedal beaters that are designed for this sort of purpose. Check out the Vater Vintage Bomber beater. Here it is:

http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vater-Vintage-Bomber-Bass-Drum-Beater?sku=446667

Also, if you want a couple of GREAT books to check out, I recommend these:

John Riley - The Art of Bop Drumming
http://www.amazon.com/Drumming-Book-Manhattan-Music-Publications/dp/089898890X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1301166520&sr=8-3

Jim Chapin - Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer (basically, this will be your best friend)
http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Techniques-Modern-Drummer-Coordinating/dp/0757995403/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301166610&sr=1-1

Keep swingin', man! Listen, learn, and absorb. The world of jazz is a wonderful one. Just keep loose, relax, and swing your ass off.

Cheers!

I'm pretty sure this is the book I'm referring to.

http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Techniques-Modern-Drummer-Independence/dp/0757995403/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394506238&sr=8-1&keywords=advanced+techniques+for+the+modern+drummer

Thanks for calling that other one out though, I'm going to go check that out! Chapin writes some good stuff.

I agree with the Vic Firth site. Also, after a few weeks of practice or so, get the rudiment you are practicing up to the fastest you can go, with maybe a little sloppiness. Practice at this level for a bit, and think of it as exercise to make you faster. There should be a little burn, and you'll be able to play slightly faster at the same level of control next time you practice. Then, dial it back to the fastest you can play while still remaining in complete control, and practice at this level the most. This is where control and good muscle memory will be built. (EDIT: But if you happen to find yourself getting sloppy at that speed, do not hesitate to slow it down further if you have to. Make sure you're doing every movement correctly and mindfully. When it's perfect at a slow tempo, then you can start taking it up a couple notches at a time until you're able to play it perfectly at a fast tempo. Remember to stay within your limits and watch your form for the most part, but there is benefit to be found in pushing those limits a bit in order to -gradually!!- get faster, as long as you aren't spending all your practice time in a sloppy speed-fest.) You will find that both your control and your speed will improve with each practice session, as long as you are properly applying yourself.

In terms of method books for this sort of thing, I would recommend Edward Freytag's The Rudimental Cookbook and Just Desserts. Both of these books start out simple and the solos get more complex and challenging as you progress, allowing you to expand your vocabulary and abilities along the way. Plus the solos are fun and oh-so-tasty. After a few months of proper practice, you could go from the simple stuff at the beginning to shredding through the crazy stuff at the end. It'll looks scary and intimidating, but once you've played your way through the book, reading even the most advanced solos will become a cinch and playing them will be pure enjoyment.

I would also recommend Scott Johnson's Progressions because, like the others, it starts out easy and the solos get more challenging as the book goes on. The idea is that you start out as a beginner and progress (geddit?) up to the level of a competent, DCI-quality player. And Scott Johnson definitely knows the skill drummers need to succeed at a DCI level.

Oh yeah I almost forgot Bill Bachman's Rudimental Logic. This book has like a zillion exercises, so it can be overwhelming, but it is still a great place to woodshed a rudiment and it actually shows you how to play the rudiment by breaking down the individual strokes involved, rather than just giving you exercises and telling you to "get to it". It shows you a bunch of hybrids as well as the standard 40 rudiments, and is supremely useful for introducing to your system of practice the concept of "the grid", which is itself a supremely useful practice tool for stick control and rudimental proficiency.

I would also recommend starting to youtube various drum corps to find exercises and pieces that interest you. That way you have something fun to work towards. I started with this video of the Concord Blue Devils playing The Ditty. This is what got me hooked. I had no idea that level of coordination and precision was possible. I thought there was no way I would ever be able to play that. However, after only a few months of practice, I was astonished to find out that I could. It's immensely rewarding. Plus, when you get these rams and such up to the proper level, you can play along with the youtube video of the drum corp playing it, which is really fun. The sheet music for most of the exercises you'll see is available from the specific corps for purchase, but if you can't find it or are poor, there are usually a bunch of transcriptions floating around the interwebs for your edification.

A few years ago, I purchased the Santa Clara Vanguard audition packet. I never auditioned, unfortunately, because real life and financial realities got in the way, but it was still one of my best purchases which I still use even today. It even comes with a DVD explaining the exercises (Progressions also has an immensely useful DVD and the Freytag books have an audio CD which is really useful to figure out tricky phrasing and rhythms). Anyway, the exercises in the audition packet are essentially what you need to have down pat in order to make it into whichever corps for which you're hypothetically auditioning, so they are incredibly good for you. Again, most of these exercises can be found in "in the lot" youtube videos, so once you have it memorized and down cold, you can play along with the videos, both for fun and to make sure you can play up to the appropriate tempo, while listening to the rest of the drumline.

I would also highly recommend Jim Chapin's classic Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer. This is a drumset method book, not a rudimental one, and it teaches you the "coordinated independence" necessary for jazz and bop playing. Once you get through this book, you will not only be a competent player in the jazz style, one of the trickiest idioms to learn and master, but your abilities on drumset across the board will increase dramatically. This book will give you the ability to play different, independent rhythms on each hand and foot, both separately and coordinated, and this ability will shine through, no matter which style you're playing. Being able to play with independence is one of the trickiest and most beneficial things to learn, from complicated polyrhythms on double bass to just getting that hi-hat chick on the two and four while your hands and other foot are doing different things.

It's like learning a basic drum beat. Many people tell me they can't even learn a basic beat because they can't do that many things at once. I tell them that the hi-hat pattern is just eighth notes, so just lay that down and forget about it, then you can focus on the rest of your limbs. Later, once you have that down, you can start varying up your hi-hat patterns. Same thing with the left foot in jazz. At first it may seem ridiculously difficult to keep the same pattern with the left foot while your other limbs are going all over the place, but eventually you can just do it without thinking about it, freeing up your brain to focus on your other limbs. Then you can also control and change up the pattern as your creative instincts dictate.

Anyway, I would really highly recommend any of these books. I went from someone with no rudimental chops and absolutely zero jazz vocabulary to someone with, at the very least, fairly good control and a decent vocabulary. The jazz part is especially great because I had no idea how to play jazz and really struggled until I found the Chapin book. Again, even if you don't play jazz, it is a tremendously useful thing to learn, and one of the trickiest. It's really, really useful. Trust me.

Also I just dug up a comment I made a month ago on the question "What rudiment(s) helped you progress most?" where I had a few ideas for stick control exercises and such. It's also really long, but I hope it's useful.

At any rate, I have a ton of useful exercises and tricks I use, some of which I even made up myself. If you're ever looking for ideas, feel free to message me. Hope this helps.


EDIT: Also, just as an aside, learn triple-stroke rolls. I didn't even know these were a thing until like five years after I'd started playing. Hell, I didn't even really know the difference between a crush roll and a double-stroke roll until way later than I should have. But triple strokes provide you with so much more opportunity to creatively vary up your playing and practicing. I would also recommend learning quadruple strokes, although I ended up learning those because a piece I was currently working on had them, so I was "forced" to learn them in order to play the piece. This also brings up the significance of what I said earlier about finding youtube videos and exercises and such that seem fun and that you want to learn. These exercises will contain rudiments and sticking patterns that you are unfamiliar with. While you might shy away from tricky things like this during regular practice, you are "forced" to learn them if you want to be able to play this fun piece, thus expanding your vocabulary further, so that the next time you see that rudiment or whatever in a different piece of music, you've already played it 10,000 times, and you can just sight read it and get to learning the things you haven't seen before.

EDIT 2: Also, 32nd notes seemed really scary to me until I figured out that they were just 16ths, but twice as fast. Fivelets and septuplets also seemed really intimidating at first, but once you start playing your way through them, you learn to feel them and eventually you'll be able to play them without even thinking about it. My point here is: Don't avoid something just because it appears scary. Dive right in and vanquish the beast with your sword of justice. It will be a bloodbath at first, but i guarantee that if you keep practicing it will eventually become second nature. If you avoid it, you'll never learn it, and it's remarkable how the things that seemed impossible a few months ago quickly become so easy, so practiced, so natural that you can do them at will, without effort. Muscle memory is the incredible gift from the gods to our nervous system, and it is a sublimely powerful tool. It would be a massive shame to let something of such awesome potential simply go to waste.