Music Lesson: Hit Me by Dirty Loops

Overview

"Hit Me" by the Great Dirty Loops, featuring Aaron Malagar on drums, is a fantastic high-energy funk tune. At grade eight, there's great opportunity for interpretation. Here's my performance perspective based on the arrangement in the chart.

Performance Approach

• Rock School Arrangement: I aimed to keep it as close to the original track as possible, with artistic license applied primarily in the drum solo section.
• Creativity Encouraged: At grades six, seven, and eight, you're encouraged to show creativity and originality while interpreting the chart.

Key Points to Consider

• Deliberate Deviations: Look for deliberate movements away from the chart to showcase creativity.
• Embellishments: Some embellishments were added, which could have been included during studio recordings. In my practice, I've aimed to warm it up further.

Approach to Difficult Sections

• Triplet Fill:

  • Preempt the triplet fill with a count.
  • It's important not to start stone cold; think of the fill as:

    "One, two, one, two, three, delegate."

  • In my performance, I played the fill heavier, transitioning from mid-tom to floor tom to align with the original record's feel.

• Syncopation:

  • The tune is heavily syncopated with bass drum and stabs.
  • Focus on staying tuned to the rhythm.
  • Maintain a swung feel with 16th notes.

Sections Highlights

• B Section:

  • Added light embellishments around keyboard hits to enhance the swing feel.

• E Section:

  • This disco-like section allowed for off-beat plays. I incorporated left-hand 16th triplets to maintain the swing feel.

• H and I Sections:

  • These are more bespoke parts, with opportunities for minor embellishments while sticking to sticking patterns.

Final Thoughts on the Fill

• I played a different fill the second time around to keep it engaging while staying within the technical requirements.
• The goal is to sound good while being creative.

Drum Solo

• Exploration:

  • Sit and practice around the rhythmic figures. Keep it funky and avoid straying too far from the style.

• Eight Bar Limit:

  • Remember that eight bars is short at a fast tempo. Focus on taste and creativity over flashiness.

Conclusion

"Hit Me" is a wonderfully complex tune that I found both challenging and enjoyable. The dynamics, syncopation, and interplay with the bass drum create a rich experience. Have fun practicing and exploring your own interpretations!