Introduction to Pop Drumming

Okay, so now we're going to start looking at pop drumming.

Differences and Similarities in Styles

It's not so much that the drumming we will play for pop music is wildly different from our approach in rock music, hip hop, or country. However, we will be focusing on different aspects of constructing a drum groove.

Key Areas of Focus

• Playing on the Hi-Hats:
  • We'll be using different sticking patterns for this, similar to the ones we practiced on the snare drum in the rock section.

Influential Session Drummers

If you're thinking about pop music, personally, I love the great session drummers.

These are players like me who work for a variety of different artists. For instance, I might be playing with Gala, the singer who did “Freed From Desire,” one weekend, and then go do a studio date with someone else.

Some of the players I really admire include:

• Jeff Porcaro
• Steve Ferrone
• Steve Gadd
• John "Junior" Robinson

There are lots of pop drummers, including the famous ones in bands that we all enjoy, particularly those from pop rock groups.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we're not moving to a completely different style; it's all related. Many of the great drummers who play on pop records are also very good rock drummers, jazz drummers, and can execute country music seamlessly.

So that's what we’re teaching you: all these different styles, so you can explore and apply them as you wish.