Music Lesson: Hip Hop Drumming Essentials

Okay, so Z or Z (if you're American) Rock School debut. It's a really cool track, and I really, really like it. It's in a hip hop style.

Importance of Consistency

Hip hop beats have very often been programmed on a computer. So if you're playing hip hop live on the drum kit, it's crucial that we maintain consistency with everything. Every single sound has to be consistent.

Example at A

• When we're playing just the bass drum and then the snare drum on beat four with the hi-hat, aim to play all the hi-hat notes evenly.
• You're really trying to be consistent here.
• I'm not doing this; I'm really aiming for the exact same sound every single time. It just ties in perfectly with the track.

Playing Live

Again, if you're playing hip hop live, then there's a very good chance that someone will be rapping over the top of it, or a lot of instruments will rely on you to be steady. This is extremely important.

• Listen to the track and really, really play with it.
• Steady and consistent are key.

Playing at C

At C, we stop playing quavers (or eighth notes if you're American) completely. We only play quarter notes (or crotchets).

• I'm accenting the hi-hat slightly more at C because we're playing something so solid, and I think that sounds really cool.
• If you want to add more emphasis to the quarter note pulse, you can accent the hi-hat on the beat each time. This sounds really strong and authoritative within a groove.

This approach sounds great, why not do it?

Optional Techniques

• If you want to emphasize that rhythm further, hit the hi-hat at the edge on the beat, and then on the offbeat, hit it on the top.
• This is something to explore. You may not use it here, but it could come in handy elsewhere, so give it a practice. It can be fun!

Rim Shots

I'm also playing rim shots a lot of the time, which is when you hit the rim and the snare head at the exact same time. This gives you a lovely "thwack" sound, and a lot of hip hop drummers will use it.

• I think that sounds really cool.
• It's also really worth listening to some hip hop to get the sound in your head. Artists like Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Snoop Dogg are great inspirations.

Off Beat Bass Drum Hits

There are a couple of off-beat bass drum hits throughout the piece, so be aware of those and work through them with your teacher.

Key Takeaways

The emphasis here is on being simple and steady. We will always stay steady within a hip hop vibe, but as you progress in your journey, you will learn things that you can add into this.

• I'm going to play some of the groove at B to start, and just see where it goes.
• I'll throw in some things that I've learned along the way playing live.

These are just some of the things you can incorporate; you will discover your own little tricks along the way. It's a really fun journey.

Final Thoughts

But for now, stay simple, stay with the beat, stay with the track, and practice it with a metronome.

I hope you have as much fun playing this as I did, because it's truly enjoyable.

Take care!