Music Lesson: Adding Semi-Quavers

Introduction

Hey, welcome back! In this lesson, we're going to start adding some semiquavers into the beats we've already learned. We have quite a lot under our belt already, including:

• Three rudiments applied around the drum kit
• Three beats that we know how to play and what each part does

Essentially, the next couple of lessons will focus on enhancing our basics to make them sound better and flashier, like adding some ornaments on top.

Introducing Beat Two with Semi-Quavers

Let's dive into our quaver beat number two. By now, we should feel comfortable with this. Here's what we're going to do:

1. Maintain Beat One: Beat one and the "and" after it will remain unchanged.
2. Adjust Beat Two: Instead of playing a quaver on the hi-hat for beat two, we'll play two semiquavers: the hi-hat followed by the snare.

So, beat two will sound like this:
"2 and a."
The rest of the bar remains the same:
Whole bar: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4.

Important Tips

• Pay attention to the semiquaver bit.
• Keep the crotchet pulse steady throughout.
• Think in quavers as you play:
  "1 and 2 and a 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and a 3 and 4."

Practice it really slowly at first:
"Ah, 1 and 2 and a..."
Then gradually build up to speed.

Adding Spice with Semi-Quavers

Once you feel good, try it out! Adding that semiquaver into beat two adds a bit of spice and makes the rhythm less monotonous, making it sound, well, a bit spicier!

Introducing a Fill with Semi-Quavers

Now, let's incorporate our new beat two with a semiquaver on the "and" of two. We'll play this three times before going around the drums with a fill.

Fill Practice

• The fill we're doing is a staple fill:
  "Nobody's ever going to look around and question it; it sounds great!"

Let's add some creativity with it now that we understand semiquavers:

• Pattern: 1e and a, 2e and a, 3e and a, 4e and a.

Try playing the first four semiquavers for beat one on the snare drum, and for the next three beats (2e and a, 3e and a, 4e and a), move your hands to different spots.

Suggestions for Variations

• For example, you might decide to play:
  "1, 2, 3, 4."
• Important: Move your hands every beat!
• Avoid playing single semiquavers all over the kit just yet; focus on keeping it cohesive.

Exploring Tempo

The great thing about these fills is they sound fantastic at any tempo:

• Slow tempos can give a solid-rock music feel.
• Faster tempos can add a funkier vibe, almost like a James Brown feel.
• Even faster tempos can delve into the realm of drum and bass.

Conclusion

Find your own permutations, move your hands around, and see what sounds good. Just have fun with it!

Homework

• Remember to practice starting slow and build up.
• Enjoy the process of adding semiquavers to your beats.

Thanks for watching!