Fat Mike

Just wanted to pose another question, as most of us here are drummers.

What aspect of your drumming are you trying to improve, or, what particular exercises are you trying to master?

Me, im trying to master getting my feet quicker and more efficient, and trying to overcome nerves at gigs (i'm a newcomer to playing in front of people...and sometimes the nerves kill me and my normally consistent playing). Trying to develop fast single strokes that can be maintained over longer periods of time and working on polyrythms at the moment with hands and feet.

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jagdkommando

1. I'm working on the exercises of Marco Minnemann's book "Extreme Interdependence" which is un(****ing)believable cool
2. I'm working very hard on cross sticking (singles, doubles, paradiddle)
3. Doubles, Flam, Accents and Paradiddles with feet

That's enough for me for the moment I think

jimi

Jagdkommando: where did you order the book??

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jagdkommando

www.marcominnemann.de

the book is quite advanced and challanging ... (I can only speak for myself of course)

with a foreword by Virgil Donati!!

jonberg

I also work very much from the Extreme Interdependence book Jagdkommando, have you noticed that the patterns with 5grouping is similar to what Virgil is playing on Ground Zero??
I wonder if he got the idea from Marco...?

Anyway, I work very much with interdependence concept...I like the paradiddle variations...I worked on playing a p-diddle between my bassdrum and the snare with my left hand and then soloing with my hihat and floortom/Ride/X-hihat, that way,you always have a groove in the background, not just an exercise...I can now improvise with triplets,sixtenths,sextuplets, some 32nd note figures, and it´s also really fun when you replace the hihat with bassdrum (double pedal) you can get really crazy grooves
...now I´m trying to reverse everything.

and bassdrum technique: Double strokes, singles and combinations, flampatterns and own ideas..
...Jazz playing, working on the triplet phrasing and get the groove...
...different styles, shuffles, funk, latin (leftfoot clave grooves)
...and playing to records and so on.

Keep on drumming everyone!!

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Christopher

Im moving this to the right forum, guys.

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Christopher Nalbandian
Virgildonati.com Webmaster

jimi

Ordered the book there!!

I'm always working on my power and speed using Virg's Power Drumming exercises with a few personal adjustments to get more out of the exercises. I also play rudiments to improve my stick control and foot co-ordination.
I mess about with Virg's Layered Groove Theory and polyrhythms too! Everything really

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morgenthaler

My doublebass technique, my sence of time, coordination and independece are my main goals right now. Oh and my execution!
The ability to hit the drumheads and not the rims when playing in faster (real fast) tempos.

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Virgildonati.com Moderator

jimi

Strongly agree with you Jeppe, and not hit your other stick too, how do f**k does Virg absolutely NEVER do that anyway?!?

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frank

It's all practice of course. Virgil has amazing speed on his toms, just scary to see him move from his left floor tom to his right floor tom but hearing a really fast roll!

I am currently working on more independence. Playing a normal beat with my right arm on the ride, but with the left foot playing triplets, and vice-versa. And then trying to do as many bassdrum accents. It's quite cool to see how freaky it can get! Also I am working on playing stuff like Virgil's "Fly's Eyes" from Stretch. Pretty cool stuff! My twinpedal is broke at the moment, otherwise I would be practising Drumspeak and Space Martini.. I can play space martini except for the ghostnotes virgil does with the snare drum, damn that's hard!

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peter

I'm continuing to adapt to playing open-handed (leading left on a right handed kit). I'm also using the VRUK pedal attachments more effectively. Finally, I'm using my left foot in the place of my right for the normal kicking, looking to improve my left foot more.

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jimi

@peter: how do you use your hihat if your kicking with your left foot AND playing open handed leading left?? I guess the answer has to be you don't, unless you switch handedness or footedness for different grooves?

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peter

Hey, Jimi.

Double-kick is a new addition for me, having kicked single for almost 30 years. For now, I do not use the HH, except open, when I'm kicking with the left foot.

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A Drummer Who is Changing the World

jimi

I'm going to get a drop clutch for my hi-hat this week, i'd say this would help you too peter. Some of the Pearl one's are a bit strange and someone recommended the DW version but i can't get a hold of one without paying a ridiculous price! I'll just have to doublecheck in the shop that the Pearl one works ok.

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As your prince, I promise to rob you blind, build great monuments to myself, and have my way with your women