Syncopation
The bass drum plays a steady 4 beats per bar (although not written). This helps you to read syncopation more effectively. The following exercises are on snare only.
32 Bar Solo Exercise
Play slowly - count aloud - alternate sticking.
Once you have completed playing exercises 354 -385 as written go back and play them as a triplet rhythm or jazz swing feel.
To do this, we begin with a study of eighth note triplets and the way in which they are counted.
We will refer to this as "Key Number Two".
You are now counting three even beats over each beat of the pulse, instead of two even beats. The rhythm of the syncopation will be played in a different position in the bar.
To analyse a bar of syncopation played as a jazz or swing feel, place it under "Key Number Two" thus:
Then play the bass drum on all the numbers. As a time keeper, count "1+a, 2+a,3+a. 4+a", and play the bar of syncopation.
A study of the following examples, will help clarify this method.
32 Bar Solo Exercise
Play slowly - count aloud - alternate sticking.
32 Bar Solo Exercise
Play slowly - Count aloud - alternate sticking.
32 Bar Solo Exercise
Play slowly - count aloud - alternate sticking
32 Bar Solo Exercise
Play slowly - count aloud - alternate sticking.
