A commenter asked me to break down Steve Gadd’s amazing solo in Chick Corea’s “Dear Alice” off of The Mad Hatter record. As a Steve Gadd fanboy, I couldn’t resist!Watch Video
Drummer Reacts to Spanky Playing Fusion Express
A short time ago I made a video in which I played along with a track called “Fusion Express.” I first saw it on YouTube with George “Spanky” McCurdy playing drums, and he was simply amazing.Watch Video
The Problem With “The Best.”
Striving to be “The Best” is so pervasive in our hyper-competitive culture. Indeed, now that the year is coming to a close it’s time for “The Best (insert whatever) in 2022”. I submit this kind of thinking is unhealthy and self-defeating.Watch Video
A Drummer’s Most Important Skill=FEEL
There is nothing more important if you want to get gigs than knowing how to make music “feel” good. But what do we actually MEAN when we say “feel”?Watch Video
Great Steve Gadd Groove!
I’ve always loved this quintessential pattern by Steve! I first heard it back in 1975….but it is still relevant today!Watch Video
Tuning Toms-My “non-method!”
Grids PART 2: Quintuplets & Septuplets
If you like a challenge, this video is for you! I show you how to take any pattern and play it over several grids like the previous video. But I added quintuplet and septuplet grids for an extra challenge.Watch Video
Play The SAME Pattern Over Different Grids!
This is one of those exercises that’s totally open-ended. You can use ANY pattern or lick and come up with something that sounds totally different, simply by playing that pattern on a different grid.Watch Video
Get Creative With…er…Paradiddles!
In this video, I show you one possibility for using the paradiddle on the kit. Of course, there are many, many more. ANYTHING can spark a creative moment…even ye olde PARADIDDLES!Watch Video
Great Billy Cobham Lick from 1984!
A fellow YouTuber turned me on to this lick from a song called “Radio Activity” off of John McLaughlin’s 1984 album called…oddly enough…Mahavishnu. 🙂Watch Video