Our site will be undergoing maintenance from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 20. During this time, Bookshop, checkout, and other features will be unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Cookies must be enabled to use this website.
Book Image Not Available Book Image Not Available
Book details
  • Genre:MUSIC
  • SubGenre:Instruction & Study / Exercises
  • Language:English
  • Pages:77
  • eBook ISBN:9780578180250

Puzzles, Rhymes and Riddles

Solutions to Odd Time Phrasing

by Bruce Becker

Book Image Not Available Book Image Not Available
Overview
Too often, drum students fail to grasp important subdivisions and fundamentals of rhythmic ideas. Bruce's book presents and breaks down all this to give intermediate and advanced students some serious concepts to chew on. Working each idea from several angles, this will be enough to keep even the most rhythmically discerning drummer busy.
Description
My intention for writing this book is to give some insights and concepts to learn to hear and play odd time patterns and groupings. I have had the good fortune to work with some eccentric composers who have challenged my understanding and ability to play odd time music. It is through these experiences that I was able to draw upon and give a transparent presentation that hopefully you will find easy to digest. Remember that odd time music is all about stress points. Odd time groupings are generally combinations of 2’s and 3‘s. I have broken the book into three sections. The first section dealing with 16th note groupings to add a Funky syncopated feel. This section will have individual patterns in different time signatures with different sticking arrangements and then taking these patterns to makes some possible combinations. For example a pattern in 2/4 (8/16) with a pattern in 3/16 we can combine to make an 11/16 pattern. I have also included some ideas to set up some easy fills to follow the already established stickings with the patterns and to re-voice them to make for an easy drum fill, until such time that you will be able to stretch out. The second section will deal with some jazz patterns starting in 4/4 then adding some specific melody moves, continuing to 3/4 and finally 5/4. The moves will act as a support to develop your inner GPS, by adding some contrasting melodies to the time signatures you can’t help but develop the ability to track where you are at. My feeling is that if you have these time signatures well rooted in your playing you will have the necessary pieces to make several combinations. The final section will have exercises to play time in number systems against one another. We can view this as time signature against time signature or odd rhythm against odd rhythm. For example: start with playing 3 against 4, 5 against 4, 7 against 4 and then adding 3 against 5, 3 against 7, or 5 against 7, continuing to add to the “madness.” These are specifically designed to help the ear identify these number groupings and eventually recognize these with a sense of ease. I hope you enjoy!
About the author

Drummer, Producer, Recording Artist and Educator Bruce Becker has steadily made his mark in the world of Music. Founding member and Drummer behind the David Becker Tribune, Bruce has recorded and co-produced 10 critically acclaimed recordings. The DBT has performed at clubs and jazz festivals throughout the world for more than 3 decades. In 2015 “Message To Attila” was released on Enja records. Bruce was part of an all star cast to honor the music of Attila Zoller, featuring Ron Carter, Pat Metheny, Mike Stern and many others. From 1992-1997 Bruce made his home in Europe. Splitting his time between Vienna, Austria and Antwerpen, Belgium, Bruce lent his drumming talents to German Hammond Organ sensation Barbara Dennerlein and Belgian Blues legend Luke Walter Jr. As a producer, Bruce has also worked with several Los Angeles based Pop artists, also utilizing his multi - talented Drumming and singing abilities. Spanning more than 3 decades as an Educator, Bruce has drawn from his more than thirty year association with Drumming "guru" Freddie Gruber carrying on the torch of a unique approach in getting the student to understand the natural principles of the physical body’s interaction with the drum set. March 2013 saw the release of Bruce’s DVD “Concepts and Philosophies”. Bruce has been a regular contributor to Drum Channel’s live streaming and archived lessons since 2013. Bruce’s reputation has interested a vast array of drummers to seek his teachings. The list includes drummers such as, David Garibaldi, Tris Imboden, Mark Schulman, Daniel Glass, Glen Sobel and Burleigh Drummond. Bruce has performed Master Classes and Workshops in Music Conservatories and Schools in the USA, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Latvia, Moscow, Argentina, Uruguay and Australia. Over the years Bruce has had the good fortune to work with an extremely diverse group of people: David Becker Tribune, Mike Stern, Ron Carter, Russell Ferrante, Barbara Dennerlein, John Abercrombie, Peter Bernstein, composer Chris Field, the San Francisco Symphony, producer Ken Caillat (Fleetwood Mac), Sunny Ledfurd, Mark Schulman, and Deborah Henson-Conant. Bruce continues to divide his time between International touring with the DBT, workshops, studio recordings, live dates and private teaching.

*Fixed Layout eBook. Will only include a file for Apple devices.

Book Reviews

to submit a book review