You said "before you start playing", so I'm taking this from the consideration of "before" meaning, before a gig. I think "warming up" before a gig and practicing are two different things, so I'll take the position you are warming up before playing. I like the Igoe book, and use it, but before a gig? I use a variant of that approach: I play singles doubles triplets (hand-to-hand, then left and right hand, R-LL then L-RR) then paradiddles,singles & doubles; REPEAT. You can make this as complex as you want; sometimes I add triple paradiddles or para diddle diddles. I do this in-time (120 qtr, 140 qtr, etc.) and loop the exercise, as well as play from pianissimo to fortissimo within each group (and I don't overdo it - just enough to feel my wrists are warm). Lastly, you can add, as a separate exercise, closed rolls on the snare, which to me, if I can't warm up (which we all know that can sometimes happen) is the best thing to do, softly, as it loosens the wrists, gets the fingers involved , and is a good exercise for control anyway. Lastly, speed is less important than control, for me: I will concentrate on making sure I "check up" my hands, even exaggerating the stick return (which is the key to speed and clarity anyway, not just the bounce). As far as warm-up practicing goes, either the Igoe or the Morello books are good for the studio.
Drumming Question??? Last viewed: 4 hours ago
You said "before you start playing", so I'm taking this from the consideration of "before" meaning, before a gig. I think "warming up" before a gig and practicing are two different things, so I'll take the position you are warming up before playing. I like the Igoe book, and use it, but before a gig? I use a variant of that approach: I play singles doubles triplets (hand-to-hand, then left and right hand, R-LL then L-RR) then paradiddles,singles & doubles; REPEAT. You can make this as complex as you want; sometimes I add triple paradiddles or para diddle diddles. I do this in-time (120 qtr, 140 qtr, etc.) and loop the exercise, as well as play from pianissimo to fortissimo within each group (and I don't overdo it - just enough to feel my wrists are warm). Lastly, you can add, as a separate exercise, closed rolls on the snare, which to me, if I can't warm up (which we all know that can sometimes happen) is the best thing to do, softly, as it loosens the wrists, gets the fingers involved , and is a good exercise for control anyway. Lastly, speed is less important than control, for me: I will concentrate on making sure I "check up" my hands, even exaggerating the stick return (which is the key to speed and clarity anyway, not just the bounce). As far as warm-up practicing goes, either the Igoe or the Morello books are good for the studio.
That sounds like a cool warm-up. Could you right it down in more detail I'd like to give it a try.
I usually do it this way:
eight note groupings, do not stop between, play continuously,moving from eighth note singles to eighth note doubles, triplets etc., speed consistent:
RLRLRLRL RRLLRRLL RllRllRllRll rrLrrLrrLrrL RlRLrLRlRLrL [hand-to-hand triplets] then paradiddles and so on. (Work up to 160 qtr, no break)
Notice that you are moving from eight notes to eighth note triplets, too - straight eight 4/4 then 12/8 (3 into 4), if you will. Play smoothly and in time, even if slow. You are warming up, remember?
"hand to hand" triplets have always been weird for me; I don't play a lot of rock, so I use R-ll or L-rr a lot. You can drop the hand-to hand-triplets and just use them if you want. The R or L stroke would be the quarter note pulse, just like with hand-to-hand triplets.
You can simplify it too: singles, then doubles, repeat as long as you want - make the transition as smooth as possible, THEN add your paradiddles, repeat. If you want to work on triplets, you can do hand-to-hand, then left or right, and then rolling 6's, then repeat.
NOT speed: consistency. Exaggerate the lifting wrist movements, play good time, find your zen. Snap the sticks "up", don't rely on bounce. Make it fun.
Then, try sixteen note (two bar) groupings. Or not.
(Closed roll is obvious, with the added option of doing five stroke and six stroke patterns while closed.)
I usually do it this way:eight note groupings, do not stop between, play continuously,moving from eighth note singles to eighth note doubles, triplets etc., speed consistent:RLRLRLRL RRLLRRLL RllRllRllRll rrLrrLrrLrrL RlRLrLRlRLrL [hand-to-hand triplets] then paradiddles and so on. (Work up to 160 qtr, no break)Notice that you are moving from eight notes to eighth note triplets, too - straight eight 4/4 then 12/8 (3 into 4), if you will. Play smoothly and in time, even if slow. You are warming up, remember?"hand to hand" triplets have always been weird for me; I don't play a lot of rock, so I use R-ll or L-rr a lot. You can drop the hand-to hand-triplets and just use them if you want. The R or L stroke would be the quarter note pulse, just like with hand-to-hand triplets.You can simplify it too: singles, then doubles, repeat as long as you want - make the transition as smooth as possible, THEN add your paradiddles, repeat. If you want to work on triplets, you can do hand-to-hand, then left or right, and then rolling 6's, then repeat. NOT speed: consistency. Exaggerate the lifting wrist movements, play good time, find your zen. Snap the sticks "up", don't rely on bounce. Make it fun. Then, try sixteen note (two bar) groupings. Or not.(Closed roll is obvious, with the added option of doing five stroke and six stroke patterns while closed.)
Thanks I'll try it.
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