Outside of all the gigging and recording I do, I also teach privately. There are some initial grooves that I teach my students that are great starting points for learning how to play kit, and that I often use myself to this day. Some are really basic, and others are a little bit more complex but they are all great, and can be pulled out in many different scenarios. They are pretty much all derived from the most basic groove in the book which can be known as a “4 beat,” “meat and potatoes,” and probably a bunch of other names. This basic groove os the one Ill start with, and the others will be variations of that. The first beat consists of the right hand playing 8th notes on the hi-hat, the left hand playing the snare drum on beats 2 and 4, and the right foot playing the bass drum on beats 1 and 3. The groove below it is exactly the same, except for the bass drum is playing every quarter note instead of just beats 1 and 3 (aka 4 on the floor). These are both fantastic beats that every drummer should be able to play flawlessly, and consistently. (Reverse all this if you’re left handed.)
These next two beats require a little bit more coordination, but they sound a lot more complicated than they actually are. The first one just incorporates a simple 16th note bass drum rhythm, and the one underneath it adds hi-hat lifts under some of the bass drums.
This last groove is actually one I stole from a drummer named Shannon Larkin of the band Godsmack. This groove sounds great in a heavy rock context.
I hope you enjoy all of these grooves, and have fun working them into your own playing. Play around with them and come up with your own variations!
