Gary’s unique approach was revolutionary in its day, and yet still poses a great deal of challenge for any modern drummer. This book is an ideal asset for drummers who are into improving independence and control on the drum set. It was devised and written by the studio legend, Gary Chester, who has played on many number one hits such as Van Morrison’s ‘Brown Eyed Girl’. There is a sort of mythical status around this book. Some of the uses may be lost on more inexperienced drummers, although this remains a good book for basic reading exercises. Ted Reed’s Syncopation is a great book for drummers who are just past the beginner point of drumming. Great aid for learning to read drum music.These exercises end up having multiple applications and so it’s always useful to have a copy to hand. Keep the snare pattern going while playing a traditional samba or a jazz ride cymbal. For example, a simple quarter note and eighth note pattern on the snare drum could be transported to the drum set. Even the early examples in the book can be transformed into more advanced exercises. Many drummers and tutors have used Syncopation with their students in even more creative ways.
#TED REED SYNCOPATION EXERCISES FUNK SERIES#
It will take you through larger note values such as quarter notes, all the way down to 16th notes and provides a detailed series of exercises which are structured in a way so as to gradually increase in difficulty.Įssentially this book is a useful collection of syncopated rhythms which can help to test and improve your sense of rhythm. First of all, the book works as a great tool for helping beginners get familiar with the basic note heads involved with drum notation and reading music in general. You can use these patterns in many different ways. The book is not limited in this way, however. It contains a series of exercises which are made up of snare drum and bass drum parts. This book is widely regarded as one of the best and most valuable drum books ever printed. ends of long weekends suck.Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer by Ted Reed So, played slowly, the first line of ‘exercise one’ looks like this: (and go easy on the 'ol hand techniqe here, I'm no pro, haha)Īnd here’s the whole page at a moderate tempo: Rather, think about the melody –sing it to yourself ‘do bop, do bop ,bop, bop, bop …etc. but the point (and one of the main, fundamental concepts of all interpretations of syncopation that I learned from my teacher) is not to think about all the Rs and Ls because that’s baffling and gives a headache worse than cheap burbon. R l (start again -> R l rr L r (start again -> L r l l R l r r L r l l R l r r (go to double stroke roll) l l R l r r L r L r l l R l r r L r L r l l R l R l R l r r L r L r l l r r l l For any rest that’s a quarter note or longer, play a double stroke roll so, the first line goes: On each succeeding accent written on the page that’s less than 4 16th notes from the accent tha preceeds it, the paradiddle re-starts from the last accent. Each note represents a single stroke accent –and the first note on the page is the first note of a 16th note paradiddle. You’re going to ‘diddle’ around the melody by playing it as single stroke accents that will determine your paradiddle-esque sticking pattern. Working with ‘exercise one’ on or about p.38, think of the top line as a melody and ignore the bottom line of quarter notes for now. Stick with me because this is really awkward to describe (at least for me) but it’s not as complicated as it sounds: The paradiddle interpretation is somewhat of a misnomer because it’s not purely a paradiddle sticking. You can explore this interpretation to find some fun stuff –there are many interpretations of this interpretation if you will. One of my favorites is the paradiddle interpretation. 38, depending on what printing of the book you have) and I believe him.
#TED REED SYNCOPATION EXERCISES FUNK FULL#
My teacher claims to be able to replicate the effects of any technique book he’s ever seen with interpretations of this book (especially the full page exercises that start around p. I just got a video camera, so I thought I’d share one of my favorites. Like everyone’s pointed out, TONS of stuff from interpretations of this book.