Hi. I am 61 years old. I took lessons when I was 12. I played in two cover bands from around 16 through 23 years old. I powered my way through all that new wave/ punk rock stage then life pretty much took over. I've played very sporadically over the years but in the past year, realizing my 50 year anniversary is coming up I've been wanting to play a lot more. And even though I studied using the Stick control book back in the day, I never had any idea of this technique. Anyway I have watched a ton of videos trying to teach this old dog a new trick, and I feel you have done a great job explaining it and offer a great method to practice it. Doing it on the high hat was brilliant! Thanks.
Also if I might add ....... I have found that the process of strengthening the weak hand is helped by playing exercises with the left and right hands in unison and then separately, its almost as if the strong hand sends confidence to the weak! Ginger Baker used to spend days doing everything in the house with his left hand, brushing his teeth, etc etc, strengthening the weak hand is a massive step forward in my experience 🖐🏽🖐🏽
Absolutely use weak hand for everything unless you are a surgeon operating on me. Seriously i do everything weak hand, except writing and something that requires critical precision
I have struggled with Moeller for a while now and recently I got disciplined and for me, this lesson is great. I had my fingers a bit too loose and my rebound was making the soft strokes hit too early. Geat tips and I'm on my way, I've got 60 BPM and more.
I'm completely self taught, apart from a short session with a jazz drummer when i was just starting. Now, so many years later it's great to see all the stuff you can learn from videos like this ! I discovered that I'd developed many of the techniques you guys talk about, just by playing gigs and having to do it. But it took a long time ! I've been able to improve on my technique since I got into the internet, and I'd encourage anyone starting out or even with some experience to take in these lessons and work hard on technique. It'll pay off as you get older ! =o)
Thanks Stephen! Your lessons are always inspiring in my drum journey. All the ideas check out in jam band test sessions with a pack of strangers and strange kits I only just met. Training up the human I can adapt to whatever group or kit just by practicing things like this to keep the basics tuned so what's built upon them stays together in the flow of band time.
I have no more weak hand problems! Taking time to let my left hand do the steady time keeping right usually does helps and then also doing extra time with my left hand while right hand just spins the stick through fingers or takes a time out. In some things both my left foot and hand are surpassing my right side in elegant flexibility and accuracy from having less tension to work through than my right side, more habitually dominant where I've intentionally trained more ambidextrous skills for some decades, starting with learning to write and draw with both hands. For this kind of thing repetition. As with guitar as I learned it in the Fripp circle simple calisthenics are required so one has the time to train posture and stick control with these kind of fine details featured, doing some rudiments just for the muscle training, just tapping feet while sitting in chairs to keep the muscles in shape. If the muscles are getting tired or tensing up that's the main reason slop enters.
Speaking of kick a couple of days ago I sat in at a jam band kit and the kick drum worked much better with heel down, which is what I practice in chair sit sessions without anything but tapping my feet on the floor and either slapping my thighs like hand drums or using sticks. Tai Ji conditioning over 30 years gives me the tolerance to use my legs as a practice pad without pain. It's actually a great massage.
The song by Steely Dan 'home at last' features the Perdie Shuffle drum technique. I wonder if that's the Mueller hi-hat thing he's using there. I think so.
My biggest (ongoing) struggle with this has been feeling the stick slip in my hand as I play. Especially in a gig or heavy practice when I get sweaty! Then I start to panic a little, start adjusting my grip as I'm playing and it can get really messy. Don't know if it matters, but I use an electronic kit (Roland VAD506 kit) and though the hats are pretty good, they aren't going to sound / respond like an acoustic hat.
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
Most helpful: playing along with Bill Withers song “Use Me,” over and over, hundreds of times. I think that was James Gadson on the recording…
I play very like you! Getting the feel for the placement of the tap was the key that unlocked grooves like the funky drummer! Love you lessons!
Hi. I am 61 years old. I took lessons when I was 12. I played in two cover bands from around 16 through 23 years old. I powered my way through all that new wave/ punk rock stage then life pretty much took over.
I've played very sporadically over the years but in the past year, realizing my 50 year anniversary is coming up I've been wanting to play a lot more. And even though I studied using the Stick control book back in the day, I never had any idea of this technique. Anyway I have watched a ton of videos trying to teach this old dog a new trick, and I feel you have done a great job explaining it and offer a great method to practice it. Doing it on the high hat was brilliant! Thanks.
Thank you so much for your lessons! You're a good teacher.
Also if I might add .......
I have found that the process of strengthening the weak hand is helped by playing exercises with the left and right hands in unison and then separately, its almost as if the strong hand sends confidence to the weak! Ginger Baker used to spend days doing everything in the house with his left hand, brushing his teeth, etc etc, strengthening the weak hand is a massive step forward in my experience 🖐🏽🖐🏽
Absolutely use weak hand for everything unless you are a surgeon operating on me. Seriously i do everything weak hand, except writing and something that requires critical precision
I have struggled with Moeller for a while now and recently I got disciplined and for me, this lesson is great. I had my fingers a bit too loose and my rebound was making the soft strokes hit too early. Geat tips and I'm on my way, I've got 60 BPM and more.
Great lesson! I was resorting to using both sticks for 16ths but this is something I need to work on.
Fantastic lesson Stephen, learned a lot. Moeller is still something I'm working on, havnt quite gotten it down yet!
Thank you!
I'm completely self taught, apart from a short session with a jazz drummer when i was just starting. Now, so many years later it's great to see all the stuff you can learn from videos like this ! I discovered that I'd developed many of the techniques you guys talk about, just by playing gigs and having to do it. But it took a long time ! I've been able to improve on my technique since I got into the internet, and I'd encourage anyone starting out or even with some experience to take in these lessons and work hard on technique. It'll pay off as you get older ! =o)
I'm 100% self taught :D
Thanks Stephen! Your lessons are always inspiring in my drum journey. All the ideas check out in jam band test sessions with a pack of strangers and strange kits I only just met. Training up the human I can adapt to whatever group or kit just by practicing things like this to keep the basics tuned so what's built upon them stays together in the flow of band time.
I have no more weak hand problems! Taking time to let my left hand do the steady time keeping right usually does helps and then also doing extra time with my left hand while right hand just spins the stick through fingers or takes a time out. In some things both my left foot and hand are surpassing my right side in elegant flexibility and accuracy from having less tension to work through than my right side, more habitually dominant where I've intentionally trained more ambidextrous skills for some decades, starting with learning to write and draw with both hands. For this kind of thing repetition. As with guitar as I learned it in the Fripp circle simple calisthenics are required so one has the time to train posture and stick control with these kind of fine details featured, doing some rudiments just for the muscle training, just tapping feet while sitting in chairs to keep the muscles in shape. If the muscles are getting tired or tensing up that's the main reason slop enters.
Speaking of kick a couple of days ago I sat in at a jam band kit and the kick drum worked much better with heel down, which is what I practice in chair sit sessions without anything but tapping my feet on the floor and either slapping my thighs like hand drums or using sticks. Tai Ji conditioning over 30 years gives me the tolerance to use my legs as a practice pad without pain. It's actually a great massage.
thanks a lot thats working out for me
This has been a challenge for me since day 1. We shall see if this video helps!
The song by Steely Dan 'home at last' features the Perdie Shuffle drum technique. I wonder if that's the Mueller hi-hat thing he's using there. I think so.
My biggest (ongoing) struggle with this has been feeling the stick slip in my hand as I play. Especially in a gig or heavy practice when I get sweaty! Then I start to panic a little, start adjusting my grip as I'm playing and it can get really messy.
Don't know if it matters, but I use an electronic kit (Roland VAD506 kit) and though the hats are pretty good, they aren't going to sound / respond like an acoustic hat.
So do you use fingers for the little taps or is it still wrist?
My answer to your question is use a mirror and be very aware of the visual rhythm your hands make whilst moving the sticks 🥁
FILL