A funk sticking in context: RLL - 32nd notes

Third entry in this funk stickings in context series, using the RLL pattern again, this time in a 32nd note rhythm. I do this kind of thing a lot in 32nd notes. This is an intensity-builder, and the cymbal accents and 4:3 cross rhythm help that happen.

The groove portion of each exercise is sort of an outline of the fill portion, and the cymbal rhythm sometimes changes to help you get the timing of the beginning of the fill— usually because the fill starts on an e or an a. Not a bad idea to put a little crescendo on the fill part.

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A funk sticking in context: RLL

This is the first of several easy pages of exercises for developing kind of an essential thing in funk and fusion drumming, which is not quite a fill and not quite a groove— it's more a way of building intensity. It's good for playing with soloists, for outros, for any place where a tension-building cross rhythm and a lot of cymbals is called for. This first entry deals with a basic three-16th note sticking, RLL, with the right hand on a cymbal, together with the bass drum, and the left hand on the snare drum:

Learn the base pattern in 3/4— use a metronome; also try counting out loud— then play the exercises. Feel free to move your right hand around to different cymbals, and play unaccented snare drum notes very softly. I make extensive use of sampled practice loops, so find one of mine that works, or make your own. This page is designed to be played fast.

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