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Lesson time: (4min 50sec)
Harry Pope breaks down the Grade 6 Rockschool piece 'Space Future', a slow trip-hop groove that moves from ride to hats in the style of Massive Attack.
This lesson is part of the course Rockschool Drums Grade 6
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Okay, so, yeah, Space Future Trip Hop. This is one of my favorites, actually. It's really, really cool.
Before we even start, you should be checking out some kind of recommended listening. The book has suggested Massive Attack, Best of, and I really can't agree with that more. It's great for getting you into this genre.
We're starting off on the ride. No crashes really, for a little while, which is cool.
Then we're moving to the hats. At 17 with the hats, you want to stay really, really strong.
Remember:
This is not a Wedi tune. This is a powerful tune.
So, you know, think big, feel big. It's going to be cool.
Tricky little fill in bar 24: Just watch out for that.
Moving to section B, we've transitioned to 4/4.
As it says, the quaver pulse has become the crotchet:
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3,
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
1, 2, 3, 4,
1, 2, 3, 4.
The click there, if you're getting a click, is on the minim: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Just watch out for that on the transition.
There's a lot of fills in this piece which use double strokes on the bass drum. I would advise working through your technique with your teacher.
I find that they both have different uses. For me, I would end up using heel up most of the time, especially when you're moving, because my balance feels better.
But that is a really personal thing, and there are so many people that will play it differently.
Work through it with your teacher and watch the JoJo Mayo DVD on foot technique. Then, two weeks later, emerge from your bedroom, disheveled, and have a shave.
Moving on from that, we're on an open hi hat groove at bar 33. It's heavy, really, really heavy.
Don't speed up; lay back on it. You're really holding this together.
Now, there's a linear fill at bar 47, which is very similar to the one at bar 99. When we finish it, it's slightly different at the end.
There are different stickings to use for that, but be aware of leading with the left hand.
Unless you're a left-handed player, in which case you'll be playing it right-handed.
For right-handed players, leading with the left can be tricky. So, practice it really, really slowly with a metronome. That's the essential thing; that's what I would do.
Again, we've got a two-handed groove on the hi hat at section D with some doubles, and there's a five stroke roll to an open hi hat in bar 68 as well.
Just watch out for that. It's worth practicing those five stroke rolls on their own, both leading with the right and the left.
Of course, you've already done this, I trust you.
At bar 73, we're told to develop. I've just used some more kinds of five stroke roll ideas in there that seem very appropriate for the genre, and I think it works really, really well.
There's another tricky fill (E) that again incorporates some double kicks.
So, just practice it really, really slowly, and then you can speed it up.
Immediately getting into this filthy open hi hat groove embellished with ghost snare notes, it's good fun!
Just remember, you've already had some drags written in section C. I would use that as inspiration for your snare ghost notes in section F.
Aside from that, we've got the same fill again to finish. Not a lot to say about technique apart from the kick drum thing in this.
Just play it slow, be aware, and I will see you next time!
