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Here are 7 drum beats that you really don’t need to know. Although most people would say “don’t practice this”, these useless drum beats will still have some related benefits that can improve your drumming. And of course, it’s always a lot of fun to just mess around on the kit!
(P.S. Or you could just go straight to drum beats you should know)
This is basically a variation of what I used to see Carter Beauford do. It’s basically just crossing over from the ride cymbal to the crash cymbal, or the other way around. You’ll never need to know that beat, but it’s still a fun way to practice crossovers.
This simple groove gives you the chance to showcase some stick flips. Every time your right hand hits the hi-hat or the snare, your left hand will flip the stick. Every time your left hand hits the hi-hat, your right hand will flip the stick. You’re never going to need this beat, but it’s a fun way to develop coordination, timing, and showmanship!
This is a ridiculous drum beat where you only need to use one hand – and it also involves fast one-foot doubles (or you can use a double pedal). It’s not going to help you during a gig, but it’s a unique way to practice limb-independence and bass drum speed.
This groove mixes quintuplets and septuplets. It sounds like it’s speeding up and slowing down, but it’s actually staying the exact same tempo with a shift in note value. You won’t be asked to play anything like this in anything I can think of, but it’s a great way to practice different note values and understand how they relate to time.
32nd note triplets include twelve hits per quarter note. You’ll need to start learning this ultra-slow, and won’t be able to push it much further than 60-70 bpm, but I know you’ll have fun with this challenge!
It’s the most useable beat in this list, but the awkward crossovers make it unlikely you’ll ever want to incorporate this into real music. Still, have fun on those toms and give it a shot!
I can’t imagine a scenario where you’ll need to maintain a five-stroke roll with your feet, but it’s still a great way to get both of those feet working independently! Over top of it, you can add a hand-pattern for some extra complexity!
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