Introduction to Indie Drumming

So we're going to start looking at indie drumming and the development of drum grooves within that genre.

Origins of Indie Drumming

• Indie started in the 1980s, but perhaps became most famous as a genre in the 90s.
• During this time, Britpop bands like Oasis and Blur were very prominent in the charts.
• There was some brilliant drumming on those songs.

The Role of the Drummer

• Indie music tends to be guitar and vocal-led.
• The role of the drummer is very important in this genre and crucial to the whole development of the song.

Contemporary Influence

• More recently, bands like the Arctic Monkeys have produced incredibly varied tracks.
• Their drummer, Matt Helders, incorporates some very dynamic drum parts:
  • A lot of 16th notes on the hi-hats.
  • Very syncopated bass drum patterns.

Understanding Syncopation

• Syncopation occurs when beats are not on the expected positions, creating a sense of unpredictability.

Practical Application in Lessons

• While there are lots of different bands to listen to, our lessons will focus on developing more grooves.
• We will practice:
  • Playing hi-hat, snare, and bass drum at the same time.
  • Ensuring our sticks aren’t getting in the way of one another.

Key Tip

• Avoid unintentional stick clicks or hands bashing into one another.

Let's get started!