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Best books: Like Syncopation

For many years Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer (better known as just “Syncopation”) by Ted Reed was virtually the only drum book I used. As…

Best books: Rudimental Patterns by Joe Cusatis

Rudimental Patterns Full Drum Set Studies for the Modern Drummerby Joe Cusatis This book represents pretty much everything I’ve always felt is wrong with the traditional approach to…

Best books – Chop Busters by Ron Fink

OK, the title is a little goofy- a lot goofy- but this is an excellent, fun book of snare drum exercises written by North Texas State University instructor…

Best books – Even in the Odds by Ralph Humphrey

The classic text on odd meter playing by Zappa/Don Ellis drummer Ralph Humphrey, this book covers swing, funk, and solo patterns in 5/4, 7/4, 5/8, 7/8, and longer…

Kicks and set-ups using Syncopation

Here’s a little method I devised for working on basic big band-style kicks and set-ups, using Ted Reed’s Syncopation. Like many of the ways of working with Reed,…