The Definitive Exercise Thread

gigeoffro · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:32 pm Post subject: The Definitive Exercise Thread

lets try and list as many exercises as we can. use what ever numoclature you want to explain it just make sure you explain how to read it.

my favorite is Huc-a-duc-a-burrs

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1e+a2e+a3e+a4e+a
R L R L R L R L RRLLRR LL RRLLRRLL

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1e+a2e+a3e+a4e+a
R L R L R L R L RRLLRR LL RRLLRRLL

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L

1e+a2e+a3e+a4e+a1e+a2e+a3e+a4e+a
RRLLRR LL RRLLRRLLRRLLRR LL RRLLRRLL

I think its pretty self explainatory on top is the count. on bottom is the sticking. you speed up by about 3 bpm each time through. the purpose is to focus on keeping hand motion constant and even between the singles and doubles.

Edit - I edited the title (spelling) so I can stickify it!
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Rasta

Rasta · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:47 am Post subject:

One type of practise I like to do, that I got from my teacher, is a sub-division exercise.

This is probably more of an intermidiate exercise which may be tough for begginers. ( I still have a hard time doing it right)

Set a metronome to a slow tempo ( between 30-40 bpm). What you are going to be doing is switching from different beat cycle feels within a relative time frame. This sounds complex, but it is relatively simple. So each *beep* of the metronome represents one beat cycle or one measure. Do four measures of each rhythm cycle, then immediately switch to the next cycle. Natually, every time you switch to the next beat cycle, you "speed up" just a little bit, even though the TEMPO (metronome) stayes the same.

*b*--------*b*--------*b*--------*b*
-1-----------1-----------1-----------1
*b*--------*b*--------*b*--------*b*
-1-----2-----1----2-----1-----2-----1------2
*b*--------*b*--------*b*--------*b*
-1---2---3--1---2---3--1---2---3--1---2---3
*b*--------*b*--------*b*--------*b*
-1--2--3--4-1--2--3--4-1--2--3--4-1--2--3--4

*edit* The dashes are supposed to represent relative time, and not meant to be exact representations of time.

Continue this same process going up as high as you can. Shoot for getting up to a 7-9 beat cycle.

Two important things to do with this exercise:

1. Make sure that the strokes are spaced out evenly per *beep* (measure).
2. Make sure that the ONE (of each phrase) always lands ON the *beep*.
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styles2281 · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:33 am Post subject:

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Rasta · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:09 pm Post subject:

Other good ones based on the paradiddle are the double and triple paradiddles. Utilizing Styles same format.

Double: R-l-r-l-r-r-L-r-l-r-l-l-R-l-r-l-r-r-L-r-l-r-l-l

Triple: R-l-r-l-r-l-r-r-L-r-l-r-l-r-l-l-R-l-r-l-r-l-r-r-L-r-l-r-l-r-l-l

And of course anything done with hands can be transfered to feet. (except maybe a buzz roll)
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Rasta · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject:

Another good independance drill that I do, which also utilizes the paradiddle, is to transfer the idea to the entier kit. R=Ride or Hi Hat, S=Snare, and B=Bass

The whole idea is to keep one limb as an ostinato, then do paradiddles with the remaining two. The count is 1e&a2e&a etc. Here the dash ( - )represent space or rests.

R:1-&-2-&-3-&-4-&- (ostinato)
S:1-&a-e--3-&a-e--
B:-e--2-&a-e--4-&a

Then do the reverse "sticking" having the bass lead the paradiddle. Then transfer the ostinato to a different limb, such as the snare limb, then have the Ride and the Bass doing the paradiddle. Rinse, lather, repeat.

You can also switch up the ostinato to play the off beats.

R:-e-a-e-a-e-a-e-a (ostinato)
S:-e--2-&a-e--3-&a
B:1-&a-e--2-&a-e--

Once you have this down, try the same consept with double or triple paradiddles.
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gigeoffro · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 2:02 pm Post subject:

A simple but effective exercise:

C: 1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a
t1: r----------l--------r---------l-------
t2:--------------------------------------
t3:--------------------------------------
S:-----l--r------r---l-----l---r-----r---l

C: 1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a
t1: -------------------------------------
t2:r-----------l---------r--------l-------
t3:--------------------------------------
S:-----l--r------r---l-----l---r-----r---l

C: 1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a
t1: -------------------------------------
t2:--------------------------------------
t3:r-----------l--------r---------l-------
S:-----l--r------r---l-----l---r-----r---l

C: 1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a
t1: r----------l-------------------------
t2:---------------------r--------l-------
t3:--------------------------------------
S:-----l--r------r---l-----l---r-----r---l

C: 1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a
t1: -------------------------------------
t2:--------------------------------------
t3:-r----------l---------------------------
S:-----l--r------r---l---r--l--r---l--r---l

C: 1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a
t1: r------------------------------------
t2:------------l-------------------------
t3:----------------------r---------------
S:-----l--r------r---l-----l---r--l---r---l

done in a triplet pattern. (----) are not acturate measure of time just there for spacing. this is a good exercise for speed and accuracy around the kit. it's best if you start slow and speed up by about 3 bpm each time through.
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The Lord delights in the ways of man who's steps he has made firm.
Psalms 37:23

ayah-chan · Not So Newbie Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 5

let me try that lol.. Very Happy

mellodge · Tadpole Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 17 Location: uk

Picked this one up off of Lee Morris(former drummer of Paradise Lost)

Finger run excercise:

Position your snare in front of you and adjust it so the head is facing away from you,so its almost verticle but not quite.

Lie your stick across the web of your hand and grip with your thumb in a sort of full crum position. Now lie the stick on the snare and turn your hand over.

What you should have now is your stick in the web of your hand,gripped with your thumb ,lying on the snare with the stick running along your index finger........Now tap the snare with your stick using only your index finger until you get a nice bounce,keeping it going,move on to the next finger and the next one. Run back and forth. You should feel the tendons in your forearm moving.

According to Lee, after doing this exercise regularly, eventually, you start using your fingers more when playing,preventing your wrists from working too hard.

My tupence.
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kit: vintage rock pearl export racked,16" zildjian avedis,zildjian z crash, 21"sabian aax ride,14" axx fast hats,18"zildjian china,evan g2 heads,yamaha maple custom absolute 4" snare,gretsch 5" birch snare, mapex janus double peddle,5b vator sticks.

gav · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 2:39 pm Post subject:

that's kinda hard to visualise, is it like this?

where the index finger provides the force to the stick, thrusting it into the snare/pad and allowing it to bounce back...?

i know this isn't something to do with drums etc, but nds powerballs are pretty useful for excercising the arms for drumming, helps improve stamina etc
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mellodge · Tadpole Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 17 Location: uk

Yep! you got it. It gets more difficult when you get to the little finger. Although I would recommend using a snare, Practice pad is fine but a snare is harder because you dont get as much bounce so you have to work a little harder, thus getting full potential from the exercise.
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kit: vintage rock pearl export racked,16" zildjian avedis,zildjian z crash, 21"sabian aax ride,14" axx fast hats,18"zildjian china,evan g2 heads,yamaha maple custom absolute 4" snare,gretsch 5" birch snare, mapex janus double peddle,5b vator sticks.

gav · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 12:44 pm Post subject:

i don't have a drumkit with me, uni halls of residence. on the odd occaision that i get my paws on an actual kit, i'm playing it, not excercising on it. my plan is just to not get worse on the drums over the next 2 years.

but i could feel it working on my fingers, the sticks i'm using are 2b oak beasts that don't even have a defined tip, so the weight of the sticks should help create some strain. they're my training sticks, they're heavy...
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styles2281 · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject:

What happened to my post????
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"One day I feel I'm on top of the world
"I'm not dumb, I just have a command of thoroughly useless information" - Calvin of Bill Waterson's "Calvin and Hobbes"

Rasta · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 12:33 pm Post subject:

DrumsTheWord · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject: Great Hand/Kit Workout

I'm not sure whether these sticking have been suggested already but I thought I'd let you know anyway.

They're pretty obvious really and can be deceptively simple until played at a faster tempo. Try to ensure that you use the wrist and not the arm and that your grip is loose and relaxed.

The idea is to play the following stickings around the kit and to slowly increase the tempo over time. Make sure that you use the full wrist movement and that your grip is loose and relaxed. Each sticking suggestion is to be played on a different sound source (including cymbals if you like) and try to aim for the centre of each drum.

RR
RRR
RRRR
RRRRRR
RRRRRRRR

LL
LLL
LLLL
LLLLLL
LLLLLLLL

The same goes for these stickings except both hands get a go on each sound source until moving to the next.

RRLL
RRRLLL
RRRRLLLL
RRRRRRLLLLLL
RRRRRRRRLLLLLLLL

After 20 minutes doing these babies you should start to feel a difference in your fluidity and speed.

Be careful not to hurt yourself though, you should stop for a rest if you start to feel your wrist hurting. This will probably be being caused by either hitting too hard, going too fast too soon, bad stick grip/technique or holding the sticks too hard.

All of these exercises are also excellent warm ups!

Virgil Donati and JoJo Mayer both have blistering technique and have some great DVD's and books on release that will show you some excellent hand exercises.

I hope you found this useful, enjoy!
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