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Set-up Fills | Smooth Transitions | Relaxing the Grip

Smooth Transitions

by Michael Green

The following are exercises that I developed to address the challenge of going from triplets to sixteenth notes, specifically in a jazz setting. If you check out Chester Thompson's article from our last issue (October) of Percussion Sessions you'll find some exercises that will do a great job of getting you ready for the ones in this article. Remember to always start slow, stay relaxed, and periodically check yourself with a metronome.

A. First practice each measure independently to ensure accuracy. You may want to play the bass drum part with the right hand for starters.

B. Now try stringing them together in a six measure pattern.

C. It's time to play this pattern underneath some ostinatos. First try playing quarter notes on the hi-hat. Then you should try playing the quarter notes on the ride cymbal and the hi-hat foot.

D. And finally, let's try playing this pattern underneath a jazz ride ostinato with 2 and 4 on the hi-hat foot. I've thrown in some cool accents on this last example.

One question that always comes up in this type of exercise is, "Do I play the jazz ride pattern as triplets or sixteenth notes?" I would recommend starting off by switching the ride cymbal as the subdivisions change underneath it. Then I would try to get to the point to where the feel of your ride cymbal is not affected by what is going on in the snare and bass drum parts. By the time you can do that, your transitions between triplets and sixteenths should be sounding pretty smooooth. Special thanks to Tyler "fat sounds" Green at Greengo's Productions in Nashville, TN for the audio clips.
Happy practicing,
Michael Green