Example 3 - Coordinating the Limbs
Improve coordination between your hands and feet with this exercise. Sophie demonstrates techniques to sync bass drum and snare hits while avoiding unintentional flams.
Preview
# Example Three: Coordinating the Limbs
In this lesson, we will focus on coordinating the limbs while maintaining a consistent rhythm. Here are the key points to keep in mind:
## Bass Drums and Snares
- **Keep the Bass Drums Going:** Throughout the exercise, we will be keeping the bass drums going most of the time.
- **Follow the Snares:** Similarly, the snares will also be played consistently, with some added surprises.
### Important Tips:
- **Read Accurately:** Make sure you are reading the music accurately.
- **Count Constantly:** Keep counting to maintain that constant tempo:
- **1, 2, 3, 4.**
## Developing Different Grooves
I hope you've enjoyed developing some different grooves on the kit. Although we are primarily using quarter notes on the hi-hat, this exercise helps you focus on:
- **Bass Drum and Snare Placements:** Experiment with different placements to enhance your coordination.
- **Landing Together:** Ensure that your bass drum and snare are landing together.
### Avoiding Obstacles
Be mindful of your technique:
- **Stick Control:** Avoid getting in the way of yourself with the sticks or the hands.
- **Check Your Bass Drum Technique:** How does it feel? Are you content with your hi-hat playing?
## Common Issues
Some students experience an unintentional open hi-hat sound when they play the bass drum. This often happens because:
- **Right Foot Focus:** They focus on putting their right foot down, causing the left foot to lift unexpectedly.
### Self-Assessment
- **Be Honest With Yourself:** If you're unsure, consider recording yourself.
- **Progress Check:** Getting absorbed in the moment is common; recording can be a valuable tool to check your progress.
## Final Thoughts
- **Video Yourself:** If possible, record a video to check your posture. Ensure you look relaxed while playing.
- **Stay On Track:** Following these tips should help you stay on track with your drumming practice.
About the instructor
RSL Awards (Rockschool) is the world's foremost awarding body for contemporary Arts. It is known for its groundbreaking approach to popular music education, with learning material for guitar, drums and piano perfeced over decades.
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