Hey folks… sorry for the delay with part 2. At least I got a new article in before the 3 year mark.
As promised, here are some Latin independence exercises interpreted from some of the teaching of drummers Dafnis Prieto and Antonio Sanchez. The idea of this initial series was to create practice exercises using just Stick Control and Syncopation. Today we’ll just focus on Stick Control.
It’s been my mission the last few years to try to incorporate some of the freedom I have playing jazz into my Latin playing. Most volumes written on the subject feature many patterns culled from traditional latin hand drum sections, and drumset grooves created by the masters. Most also leave any improvisation elements to us to figure out. Also, as much as I’d love to try my favorite El Negro Hernandez stuff out on my jazz piano trio gig, many times the other musicians will feel too locked in by a faux-hand drum section/Left Foot Clave/multi Bell onslaught. Many times I find myself playing a hand pattern while adding comping elements in the snare and kick, much like jazz drumming. These exercises are just an organizing of things I’ve heard mention by Prieto and Sanchez via video and clinic.
Please go slow, and remember that these are just exercises… it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it, as Prof likes to say!
All examples are performed using 3/2 clave.
Section 1- The Dirty Work
Download Exercise Examples - PDF
Example 1
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Armed with my trusty page 5 Stick Control exercises, I’ll start with some basic independence practice. We will play one of 3 hand patterns. The first is what I’ll call “straight Jazz” which is just a “1 &A2 &A (cut time)” pattern. We will play that pattern while re-voicing Stick Control page 5 thusly - R denotes bass drum, L denotes snare with left hand. After getting the feel for that, we will move down the Stick Control page from 1 to exercise 13. Audio examples of 1, 2, and 5 are included.
Example 2
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Now we will change the right hand pattern slightly to the hipper “Bongo Bell” Pattern. This is where we drop the “1&” count to correspond with the clave rhythm. In this example. you should also attempt to get the high tip/shoulder of the stick on the bell. I actually find this one to be the hardest to get together! Audio examples of 1,11, and 12 are included.
Example 3
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Now we will change the right hand pattern to the “cascara” pattern… again notice that this pattern outlines a 3/2 clave. I’m playing the cascara on an X hat. Audio examples of 2, 4, and 6 are included.
Section 2 - Vary the Rate
For total control we will now take the re-voiced sticking patterns, and play them at different “rates” under the hand patterns. Our first rate will be 1/2 notes, then we will switch to 1/4 notes, then 8th. BTW… I’ve also added 1/2 notes in the HiHat foot, just so we can feel the beat a little better.
Example 4
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Here is a 3/2 cascara with the three different rates voiced using Stick Control example 1
Example 5
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Here is the same hand pattern but now we’ll play SC 5 (a paradiddle) under it in all 3 rates.
Over time, the slow rates will actually feel easier as I think our focus switches from every little 8th note, to feeling the broader 1/2 note pulse in the grooves.
Finally, your goal would be to play 1-13 with any of the hand patterns and switching the rates from top to bottom without stops. I’ve been able to do it with Cascara and “Straight Jazz”, the Bongo Bell has proven to be harder. Keep it slow, and don’t be too quick to pull this out on your next gig. I do think you’ll start feeling some freedom when playing these bell patterns.
Example 6
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A short improvisation using different patterns and rates.
Thanks for reading and trying the exercises out. Next article will feature creative ways to use Stick Control with AfroCuban 6/8 patterns.
Darren A. Scorza
Tags: darren scorza, drums, Exercises, latin, stick control
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