Directional Stickings Part 3 – Paradiddles
On August 14, 2019 by Sacha KThe following exercises help you begin to apply the single, double & triple paradiddle rudiments on the drum kit by voicing each rudiment according to which hand is leading the sticking. As written, right hand-led paradiddles are played on the floor tom and left hand-led paradiddles are played on the snare. These drums can
Directional Stickings Part 2 – Single Strokes Up Down & Around The Kit
On July 16, 2019 by Sacha KThis lesson examines various snare, tom tom & kick patterns for voicing single strokes around the drum kit in ‘circular’ and ‘up & down’ motions. You may find these patterns useful for tom rolls, drum fills and drum solos where you wish to explore the full melodic range of your drum kit. Each pattern
Six Stroke Roll Kick Substitution Lick
On July 15, 2019 by Sacha KThis simple drum lick incorporates the bass drum into the six-stroke roll drum rudiment, resulting in a more angular and heavily accented roll. An additional four-note pattern (RLLF) is included to be practiced alongside the six-stroke roll lick. The combination of these two patterns creates syncopated rhythmic phrases without breaking the flow of the
Swing Independence Part 2
On February 14, 2019 by Sacha KThis lesson expands your swing independence and four-way co-ordination skills by introducing the bass drum and hi-hat pedal as comping voices when improvising in jazz/swing styles. After playing the seven triplet comping patterns with each voice, we begin to combine the voices by repeating the same patterns with different voices is order to get
Swing Independence Part 1
On February 12, 2019 by Sacha KThis lesson lays the foundation for jazz ‘comping’ (accompanying) on the snare drum by exploring the seven different possibilities for ‘filling in’ triplets in the context of the swing feel. Each triplet permutation is a simple but unique pattern that forms a rhythmic building block which can be used on it’s own and in
The Swing Cymbal Beat
On February 11, 2019 by Sacha KThe swing cymbal beat is the fundamental drum feel of jazz music. The beat itself is simple; consisting of only ride cymbal and hi-hat pedal strokes, leaving the drummer space to improvise bass drum & snare drum rhythms over the beat. In this lesson we build up the basic beat and explore a few
Sixteenth-Note Rock Beat Alternating Sticking & Open Hi-Hat Beats
On January 25, 2019 by Sacha KIn this lesson we take the sixteenth-note rock beat played with a two-handed alternating sticking and add open hi-hat notes in different positions and combinations, as well as rhythmic variations to the hi-hat part. With 86 exercises, this lesson takes you through an exhaustive set of beats based on the open-handed sixteenth-note feel, useful
Sixteenth-Note-Open-Hi-Hat-Beats
On January 24, 2019 by Sacha K
Here we introduce open hi-hat notes and alternative hi-hat rhythms to the sixteenth-note rock beat. The beats in this lesson are useful for funk, fusion & dance music and are effective exercises for gradually building up four-way co-ordination.
Sixteenth-Note Rock Beat Alternating Sticking & Kick Additions
On January 23, 2019 by Sacha KThis lesson introduces an alternative, open-handed method for playing the sixteenth-note rock beat useful for faster tempos and feels that require a powerful, driving sixteenth-note hi-hat groove. First we build up the basic beat, then add a set of eighth-note and sixteenth-note bass drum variations. Downloads: PDF Worksheet Sample:
Sixteenth-Note Rock Beat Hi-Hat Accents Part 2
On January 21, 2019 by Sacha KIn this two-part lesson we add various accent patterns and rhythmic variations to the sixteenth-note rock beat hi-hat part. Each hi-hat pattern is first played against the standard beat, then against a set of simple eighth-note bass drum variations. Downloads: PDF Worksheet Sample:
Sixteenth-Note Rock Beat Hi-Hat Accents Part 1
On January 21, 2019 by Sacha KIn this two-part lesson we add various accent patterns and rhythmic variations to the sixteenth-note rock beat hi-hat part. Each hi-hat pattern is first played against the standard beat, then against a set of simple eighth-note bass drum variations. Downloads: PDF Worksheet Sample:
Sixteenth-Note Rock Beat Kick & Snare Additions
On January 16, 2019 by Sacha KHere we add bass drum notes and snare ghost notes (aka grace notes) to the sixteenth-note rock beat feel in various eighth-note and sixteenth-note positions. After practicing and getting comfortable with the rhythms in this lesson you’ll have a solid technical grounding on the beat-vocabulary required for playing most kinds of rock, pop, funk
Sixteenth-Note Rock Beat Snare Additions
On January 16, 2019 by Sacha KIn this lesson we add snare drum ghost notes (also known as grace notes) to the sixteenth-note rock beat in various eighth-note and sixteenth-note positions. These beats will help develop your four-way co-ordination and control of dynamics on the snare drum required for subtle but strong funk playing. Downloads: PDF Worksheet Sample:
Sixteenth-Note Rock Beat Kick Additions
On January 15, 2019 by Sacha KThis lesson introduces sixteenth-note bass drum additions to the sixteenth-note rock beat and is a great step into counting and playing syncopated grooves and developing four-way coordination. Beats such as these are common in rock, pop, funk & other styles. Downloads: PDF Worksheet Sample:
Directional Stickings Part 1 – Phrasing With Single Strokes
On January 13, 2019 by Sacha KThe exercises in this lesson take odd groupings of single strokes (alternating sticking) and apply them to the drum kit in a manner that takes advantage of the natural right > left > right > left directional flow of alternating stickings patterns in odd groupings. All exercises can be played as written on snare
Steve Gadd’s 32nd-Note Groove
On January 11, 2019 by Sacha KSteve Gadd’s highly inventive approach to creating original beats is typified and immortalised in this awesome thirty-second-note groove, based on a re-voiced inverted double stroke sticking. Free Downloads: PDF Worksheet Sample:
Eighth-Note Rock Beat Sixteenth-Note Kick Snare & Open Hi-Hat Additions
On January 10, 2019 by Sacha KThis set of intermediate-advanced beats adds bass drum notes, snare drum ghost notes (aka grace notes) and open hi-hat notes to the eighth-note rock beat feel in various eighth-note and sixteenth-note positions. If any one beat in this lesson proves too difficult – try removing/ignoring any open hi-hat notes and play the base-pattern only
Eighth-Note Rock Beat Sixteenth-Note Kick & Snare Additions
On January 10, 2019 by Sacha KHere we add bass drum notes and snare ghost notes (aka grace notes) to the eighth-note rock beat feel in various eighth-note and sixteenth-note positions. After practicing and getting comfortable with the rhythms in this lesson you’ll have a solid technical grounding on the beat-vocabulary required for playing most kinds of rock, pop, funk
Paradiddle-diddle Fills & The PaPadiddle-diddle
On January 10, 2019 by Sacha KThis lesson shows you several ways to apply the paradiddle-diddle rudiment to the drum kit using simple voicings, additional accents and combining it with the single paradiddle rudiment. Finally, you’ll learn the ‘paradiddle-diddle shuffle’ – a unique shuffle beat with a sextuplet subdivision voiced between the hi-hat and snare drum or hi-hat and ride
Upcoming Lessons In 2019
On January 7, 2019 by Sacha KWelcome to the new sachakdrums.com! It’s been several years since I’ve made a serious batch of new content for the site but I’ve been busy filming and editing and I’m glad to say there will be plenty of new lessons released in the coming months, catering to both beginner students and advanced players. Older lessons
Drum Kit Notation Guide
On January 7, 2019 by Sacha KThis free PDF serves as a legend of the notation style used for worksheets and score materials found at sachakdrums.com. Free PDF Download:
Eighth-Note Rock Beat Sixteenth-Note Kick & Open Hi-Hat Additions
On January 6, 2019 by Sacha KThis lesson demonstrates a large group of useful beats – all variations to the eighth-note rock beat with sixteenth-note bass drum additions as well as open hi-hat notes in selected eighth-note positions. This exercise set is a great workout for your four-way coordination starting with simple, playable beats and progressing in difficulty as the
Eighth-Note Rock Beat Sixteenth-Note Snare Additions
On January 6, 2019 by Sacha KIn this lesson we add snare drum ghost notes (also known as grace notes) to the eighth-note rock beat in various eighth-note and sixteenth-note positions. These beats will help develop your four-way co-ordination and control of dynamics on the snare drum required for subtle but strong funk playing. Downloads: PDF Worksheet Sample:
Eighth-Note Rock Beat Sixteenth-Note Kick Additions
On January 6, 2019 by Sacha KThis series of beats introduces sixteenth-note bass drum additions to the eighth-note rock beat and is a great step into counting and playing syncopated grooves and developing four-way coordination. These types of drum beats are very common in funk, pop, R&B & other styles. Downloads: PDF Worksheet Sample:
Eighth-Note Rock Beat Ride Cymbal Variations
On January 6, 2019 by Sacha KThis lesson shows you a set of ride cymbal accent patterns that add colour and texture to the eighth-note rock beat. The basic options for different ride cymbal articulations are the ‘bell stroke’ (striking the cymbal bell with the shoulder of the stick) and the ‘flange stroke’ (striking the outer-middle of the cymbal with
Quarter-Note Rock Beat Sixteenth-Note Kick & Snare Additions
On January 5, 2019 by Sacha KIn this lesson we add bass drum notes and snare drum ghost notes (also known as grace notes) to the quarter-note rock beat in eighth-note and sixteenth-note positions. The exercises in this lesson graduate from simple to quite complex and will help develop your four-way co-ordination and control of dynamics on the snare drum.
Four-Way Independence Drills – Triplets on Quarter Notes
On January 4, 2019 by Sacha KThis set of independence & co-ordination exercises combines single-stroke, double-stroke and paradiddle stickings between the four limbs using quarter-notes and eighth-note triplets in 4/4. Each group of exercises uses a common snare ostinato (repeating pattern), while the foot patterns change for each individual exercise. Downloads: Worksheet Sample:
Four-Way Independence Drills – Eighth-Notes On Eighth-Notes
On January 4, 2019 by Sacha KThis lesson shows you 100 different ways to combine single-stroke and double-stroke stickings between the four limbs using eighth-notes in 4/4. Each group of 10 exercises uses a common foot ostinato (repeating pattern), while the snare stickings change for each individual exercise. Downloads: Worksheet Sample:
Quarter-Note Rock Beat Sixteenth-Note Snare Additions
On January 4, 2019 by Sacha KIn this lesson we add snare drum ghost notes (also known as grace notes) to the quarter-note rock beat in eighth-note and sixteenth-note positions. As well as giving you a new set of beats for your drumming toolbox, these exercises will help develop your four-way co-ordination and control of dynamics on the snare drum.
Quarter-Note Rock Beat Sixteenth-Note Kick Additions
On January 4, 2019 by Sacha KHere we take the quarter-note rock beat hi-hat & snare pattern and add bass drum notes in various eighth-note and sixteenth note subdivisions. The resulting beats are fun to play with funky, syncopated kick patterns over a strong, driving quarter-note feel. Downloads: PDF Worksheet Sample:
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