How to Drum Solo with Accents

Accents - Application and Interpretation | Drum Lesson
www.JonathanCurtis.co.uk
In this video I explore various concepts and applications for working with accents. By being able to interpret and apply an accent rhythm, exciting and musical opportunities arise. A simple single-stroke roll can become a flowing rhythmic phrase around the drums. Additional elements like flams and diddles can bring the whole thing alive, while retaining the rhythm at the heart of it.
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[@steveward6185]

Great lesson. One of the best drum educators that I subscribe to. I really like the way drumming can take a simple idea and extend it to become a brain mashing technique marathon. Well done.

[@JCurtisDrums]

Thanks, Steve, for your kind comment and continued support. I agree: the simplest ideas are usually the best, and can quickly turn into extremely complex possibilities.

[@timwillard3887]

Thank you for taking the time to explain things so well. It's obvious that you care very much about how you teach and how you play … and that helps others to learn. Much appreciated.

[@JCurtisDrums]

Thanks Tim, what a lovely comment to receive. Have a great day.

[@drummermike5150]

Brilliant lesson, exactly what I've been looking for. There are so many nuggets in this video, can't wait to get home and start practicing!

[@JCurtisDrums]

Thanks Mike, I’m glad you liked it. Best of luck with your own practising.

[@jimshadforth1686]

Your sped-up demonstrations sound like a beautiful solo to me. It's very inspiring to see something simple turn into such a great sound. Thanks for a top notch presentation.

[@JCurtisDrums]

Thanks Jim, your comments are always so kind, and very appreciated.

[@ekaterinasogny]

Thank you for the lesson and a new (for me) approach! I appreciate the way you explain so that it’s possible to apply even being a beginner.

[@JCurtisDrums]

Ekaterina Sogny you’re very welcome. Thanks for commenting :)

[@alexanderschachtner5228]

I'm always excited when you post a new video because your teaching is so thorough and your progressions through different levels of application so logical and easy to follow. Thanks so much for dedicating the time to these longer-form lessons, I feel like they're something I need to bridge the gap between being a beginning and intermediate player.
When I heard the pattern you use as an example it instantly reminded me of "Bossa Nova U.S.A." by Dave Brubeck, with Joe Morello on drums. It's a clear application of how this concept is applied through an entire composition and anyone reading this comment you should check it out :)
Cheers Jonathan!

[@JCurtisDrums]

Alexander Schachtner thanks Alex for a lovely comment. You’ve made my evening!

[@metapod666]

How could we work up to coming up with randomized accent patterns like you play at the end? Whenever I work on stuff like this I always feel locked into a single accent pattern and i feel like it kind of overloads my brain to divert from that especially to the point where it feels fluid and sounds like it’s constantly changing up.

[@JCurtisDrums]

Good question. Improvisational vocabulary comes from familiarising yourself with a lot of vocabulary. Regular practice with accent studies will expose you to more accent patterns. Enough time with this and they will start to incorporate into your pool of vocabulary.
Try to avoid random though. Try to think in terms of intentional phrasing and spontaneous movement. Random doesn’t really work well with music.

[@VasilyBurov]

Hi again. Love your videos. Don't you fancy the idea of considering to be an accent literally any difference between two notes? Maybe other than melody ) I mean, what if we accent a note not dynamically but with a different type of a stroke, e.g. a diddle (you are showing the options in your video). Wouldn't this approach give us more freedom?

[@JCurtisDrums]

Hello. Yes, I agree with you. Obviously in this video I’m talking about the dynamic approach to accents, whereby they are played more loudly.
Broadly speaking, though, I agree that we can conceptually view an accent as any difference between notes, with which we can produce a new melodic or rhythmic line.
Great question!