Here is a quick tip that will help you further reinforce any new drum set pattern that you are working on, use it in a four bar phrase. For those of you have never heard of a “four bar phrase”, it is simply counting out four measures of time while you are playing.

The measures are counted out loud as: 1 an 2 an 3 an 4 an 2 an 2 an 3 an 4 an 3 an 2 an 3 an 4 an 4 an 2 an 3 an 4 an Where the big, bold 1, 2, 3, 4 are telling you what measure that you are in. Once you finish playing the four bar phrase, crash a cymbal of beat “1” in the next measure and continue counting the four bar phrase over. Repeat this exercise until you are comfortable with your progress.

The next step in this process is to play the new drum set pattern; this time add a fill on beats “3 and 4” of measure 4, still add the crash cymbal on beat 1 of the next measure, then continue counting out the four bar phrase. Repeat this exercise until you are comfortable with your progress.

Enough of the long explanation, here it is written out for you. Good luck.