The Beat Beginner
Lessons
Songs Beats & Fills Technique Rudiments Drummers Gear

Thomas Lang Reveals His Secrets To 4-Way Independence

Thomas Lang  /  Apr 1, 2023

“4-way independence is the future.”

Thomas Lang

In this free 1-hour masterclass, drummer and clinician Thomas Lang shows you how to become more independent on the drums: where each limb seemingly has its own brain.

While it may seem like an advanced lesson, even beginners and intermediate drummers can walk away with new skills to practice. Beginner drummers can start working on timekeeping with their left foot, while experienced players can try layering rhythms or applying complex patterns in new ways.

Learning independence on the drums will help you make simple concepts easier and let you play with more confidence and creativity.

On top of seeing Thomas flawlessly perform several songs from his album ProgPop, you’ll learn:

  • The different types of coordination
  • How to layer rhythms
  • How to apply hand patterns to your feet
  • The different ways to engage your left foot

No matter how you slice it, you’ll need to put in decades of work to become as proficient at independence as Thomas. But it doesn’t mean you can’t get started now, or master just a few concepts.

With a free 7-day trial to Drumeo, you’ll get access to Thomas’ new content, plus learn the drums faster with hundreds of step-by-step lessons, sheet music for 5000+ songs, practice tools and unlimited support.

Try Drumeo Free

Lesson Outline:
0:00 – SONG: “Time” by Thomas Lang
5:58 – Introduction
7:21 – Lesson overview
13:50 – Why practice independence (with examples)
23:40 – Melody and independence
26:30 – How Thomas got into independence
34:09 – Other drummers pushing boundaries
35:04 – SONG: “High” by Thomas Lang
40:00 – Breaking down the performance
46:15 – Odd groupings
49:55 – Final thoughts
58:03 – SONG: “Finish Line” by Thomas Lang

Thomas Plays:
DW Drums
Meinl Cymbals
Remo Drumheads
Vic Firth Drumsticks

Follow Thomas:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube


Thomas Lang has headlined at every major international drum festival and toured the world many times over as a solo performer. He's worked with artists like Tina Turner, Kelly Clarkson, Robbie Williams, The Commodores, George Michael, and Victoria Beckham. Thomas has won numerous awards from drum magazines and publications including Best Studio Drummer, Best Pop Drummer, Best All-Around Drummer, Best DVD, Best Drummer, Best Recorded Drum Performance, and Best Drum Clinician.

Improve your speed on the drums with El Estepario Siberiano’s FREE course.
Enter your email to get all 10 exercises sent to your inbox.

By signing up you’ll also receive our ongoing free lessons and special offers. Don’t worry, we value your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time.