Do You Need to Know Your Rudiments?

I'll have to start by saying Josh, you are a excellent teacher! I could never play with music before, but after countless hours on this site "locking in" grooves, I can honestly call myself a drummer. Was dedicating a lot time on rudiments in the past but recently fell in love with learning worship songs. All hail king Jesus!

Josh,

Thanks for your instructional videos and blogs. I use Worship Artistry for my drum students and myself in our worship band and find them extremely helpful. After reading and re-reading your post, I agree with not becoming overly focused on rudiments, but would like to take a moment to offer alternative perspectives on rudiments.

Rudiments – Latin root of elementum. These are the building blocks of drumming, not just for the snare drum or drum corp (which are really cool, for example DCI), but application across the kit. This is where creativity comes into play, using the different “voices” of the kit and using rudiments as fills. Chances are we are already playing them, we just don’t realize it.

Rudiments can be broken down into single strokes, double strokes, flams, and diddles – but it is how we practice and can apply across the kit. How many times have we asked – “how can I get faster” or “more precise in my fills” – well by slowing down, breaking these apart, and practicing.

What’s in your toolbox? While for the majority of the songs we play, simplicity and playing the groove, is what we are asked to do. Understanding and practicing rudiments adds to our toolbox of drumming skills. If all I know is keeping the 4/4, 3/4 , or 6/8 groove, then I have limited my toolbox. While not going overboard, I usually work through a couple of minutes each lesson with my students understanding a new rudiment, sticking technique (and then reversing, i.e. starting the rudiment with the left hand), and applying that to the kit. Why proper technique – because bad habits are hard to break.

An analogy would be having a guitar player only practice certain chords or a baseball pitcher only knowing how to throw a fastball.

We use rudiments all the time in worship music – Travis Nunn in Jesus Messiah for example. For those a bit on the harder edge – listen to Disciple’s “Erase” – he not only incorporates rudiments, but also plays that part on a high tension marching drum to get a cool effect. Not going to enter into a discussion of what is worship music – that’s another blog post.

Creativity – using the tools. Again, this all has to fit into what the song is requiring, as the worship to our King is paramount. Let’s take one example of a really simple 4/4 groove using a single paradiddle concept: (RLRR LRLL – counting as 16th notes 1e&a…) right hand on the bell of the ride cymbal, left hand on a closed hi-hat, four quarter notes on the bass drum. Play a single paradiddle on the ride and hi-hat, bringing down beats 2 and 4 on the snare. Where do we use it, depends on how creative you and your team are and how to apply– many possibilities. Examples include how David Crowder’s band incorporates different styles into their music.

Lastly, on to simplicity and playing without allowing pride, ego, and over-playing to the detriment of the worship (again another blog post). I believe there is a time and place to creativity express through the kit, but we need to know the tools and feel comfortable using them – Psalm 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise.

In His Service,

Tim

I want to learn how to play The Bass guitar really good,can you teach me?