Drum Article based on Victor Wooten Concepts

Hello,

Here is an article I wrote that Victor said he would put on his site and I thought it could find some use on other sites possibly.

Thanks

OUR NEGLECTED ELEMENTS by Dan Britt

I recently watched a Carter Beauford & Victor Wooten DVD. It included a segment of a clinic from Victor Wooton, a superb bassist who has played with several leading drummers. I was struck by the musical wisdom of Victor. (I know, I know, he's a bassist not a drummer. Give me a second...)

He stated that so much of the focus of playing is on the notes: What note is it? What note should I play? So much so that we lose sight of all the other elements that can add so much to music: Dynamics, Accents, Legato, Stacatto, Rests, etc. Victor referred to these neglected elements as numbers "two through ten". Conversely, since the notes receive such priority, they are number "one". But how can we tap into "two through ten"? He had students forget about notes for the most part and try to take just ONE note, and work on "two through ten!" ....

I loved the concept and figured there has to be a way to transfer Victor's concept across into drumming! Is there? Sure! Well, lets say that a drum beat is "one". Lets just work with one group of notes (or one beat) only, and focus on executing "two through ten" primarily. When we narrow our options in one area (notes), we are forced to open doors in other areas (2-10)! This will vastly expand our creativity, musicality and range of options!

OUR CONSTANT:

Notes/Main Beat: Lets keep it real simple. We wont focus on any broken up, syncopated or 32nd note, odd rhythms, or crazy coordination. Lets do 8th notes with the right hand on the hi-hat, 2& 4 on the snare with the left, and 1 & 3 with the right foot on the bass drum. However, some of the below element applications will require you to move the right and/or left hand to different surfaces.

OUR 2-10:

Neglected Elements: Dynamics, Accent/Non-Accent Contrast, Bass Drum Variance, Rests, Melody, Snare Drum Variance, Tom-Tom Variance, Hi-Hat Variance, Tempo

OUR CONSTANT + OUR 2-10:

Now, combine our constant (main beat) with the specific applications in each element, one at a time. Play each one atleast 4 bars.

The 2-10 Neglected Elements with Specific Applications

2) Dynamics
a) Play this as soft as you can.
b) Play it as loud as you can.
c) Try doing a one bar crescendo then a one bar decrescendo.
d) Try a four bar crescendo.
e) Try a sixteen bar crescendo.

3) Accents/Non-Accents
a) Try accenting each eighth note, one at a time (beat 1 first, then "&" of 1, then 2, etc.)
b) How about just accents on beat 4 with the left hand?
c) Accent with the right hand on beats 1, "&" of 3 and "&" of 4.

4) Bass Drum Variance (We aren't varying the notes since they are our constant.)
a) Try hitting the bass drum with your heel down.
b) Now try it with your heel up.
c) Try leaving the beater against the head.
d) Now try letting it bounce off the head.
e) How about leaving beat one on the head and beat 3 bouncing off?

5) Rests (Remember the saying "music is the space between the notes!?")
a) Rest on beat 4.
b) Put an eighth note rest on beat 1.
c) Play one bar, then rest the bar after it.

6) Melody
a) Play one eighth note on each tom, going from small tom to mid-tom to floor tom, while the left hand remains on the snare.
b) Now try the oppposite: Start at the floor tom, then go to mid-tom, then small tom.
c) Play the first 4 eighth notes on the floor tom and the next 4 on the small tom.

7) Snare Drum Variance
a) Hit a loud rim shot on beat 4.
b) Try hitting near the rim (about 2 inches from it) with the right hand.
c) Hit on the rim with the right hand.

8) Tom-Tom Variance
a) Try playing the right hand on the floor tom.
b) Now move the right hand to a different tom for each eighth note.
c) Play the left hand on the small tom.

9) Hi-Hat Variance
a) Lift your left foot on the hi-hat on beats 1, 2, 3, 4, closing it on the "&"s.
b) Play the 1st 4 eighth notes with the shoulder of the stick, then play the last 4 eighth notes with the tip of the stick.
c) Play closed hi-hat on the 1 and "&" of 1, and sizzle (partially open) the rest of it with eighth notes.

10) Tempo
a) Try playing the beat extremely slow.
b) Try playing it very fast.
c) Now try playing the first half of the measure one speed, then the 2nd half of it twice the speed (double time!)
d) Then try 4 bars at one tempo, then 4 bars at half the speed (half-time!)

As you can see, just applying any example from any element can dramatically impact and alter our beat. These were just my "two through ten". How about creating your own "two through ten" or adding to this, then combining some variations and elements -- Now that will be fun!

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