EXERCISE 1 – The Pyramid

This exercise is meant to be played one foot at a time. I call these exercises the Pyramid because you start out playing quarter notes, and progress from eighth notes, triplets, sixteenth notes, back to triplets, eighth notes, to quarter notes. After one succession has completed, switch to your other foot and repeat the exercise.

EXERCISE 2

You should recognize this exercise from the Chop Builder section. All of the hand patterns now will be played using your feet.

EXERCISE 3 – Pyramid 2

These pyramids start out with quarter notes and progress to thirty-second notes. This time you will be alternating strokes with your feet.

EXERCISE 4

This is an exercise designed for developing rolls around the drum set. I did not include a key for what drums to play the hand patterns on to stimulate your own creativity!

EXERCISE 5

This is a basic half-time feel: sixteenth note triplets on the double bass, while maintaining constant eighth notes on the hi hat or ride cymbal, with 2 and 4 on the snare.

EXERCISE 6

This is another half-time feel: this time there are thirty-second notes being played on the double bass, while maintaining constant eighth notes on the hi hat or ride cymbal, 2 and 4 on the snare.