I've recently started rehearsals with a jazz combo consisting of Fender Rhodes, vibraphone, bass, drums. I played jazz pretty seriously when I was younger, but back then I was a bit more comfortable with matched grip and subsequently used that. Now, ten years later, I'm much more comfortable with traditional grip, and I appreciate the perception of a bit more added sensitivity, but I can't quite escape the feeling that my left hand double stroke is just not quite as even as my right hand. Any suggestions? Secondly, does anyone have any suggestions on quality instructional materials concerning advanced brush technique? I specifically need tips on more even brush rolls.

Any of you rock players use traditional grip for anything?

I can't play matched with brushes, I don't get as smooth of a brush stroke with matched. Plus, trad grip just looks cooler. The Ed Thigpen brush video(s) are good. He has amazing brush technique.

quote:

Originally posted by Baterista Simfonika:
I've recently started rehearsals with a jazz combo consisting of Fender Rhodes, vibraphone, bass, drums.

I'm jealous.

How'd you get that together?

quote:

Originally posted by Baterista Simfonika:
...but I can't quite escape the feeling that my left hand double stroke is just not quite as even as my right hand...

Tell me about it!


Oh.

You mean as in drumming.

Never mind...

sounds like a great lineup. let me know when you play out!

Go to www.onlinedrummer.com ... They have a ton of free instructional videos on there and a few lessons with brush techniques.

The big key to getting your left hand going is just more practice. Dust off that old metronome and get to it!

Probably the best and most current DVD (2007) out there on playing with brushes is "The Art of Playing with Brushes" that Steve Smith and Adam Nussbaum produced, since your a jazzer you know that Steve Smith is an amazing drummer not only in fusion, rock and hard rock but his mastery of Jazz is unsurpassed...

He made a DVD that inlcuded him, Nussbaum and jazz greats Ed Thigpen, Louis Bellson, Charlie Persip, Ben Riley, Joe Morello, Billy Hart and Eddie Locke...

It has lessons by them and performances...Also shows u you the art of the different styles of playing with brushes which in a article from Modern Drummer Steve Smith and the elder statesmen in the video all pretty muchs said there isn't a correct way of playing brushes, its more about getting the sound, so if you play match or traditional, it makes no difference because it all comes down to what sound u make.

The video is is 7 hours long and I been trying to get an used copy of it but even an used copy still runs around $30.00

But if you pull up youtube and type in Steve Smith you can find some amazing clips of him playing, along with obviously the other guys named above.

I have only seen portions of the video at a drum seminar earlier this year and I haven't seen it sold locally so far but Amazon has it for about 45 bucks and used ones for about 30 bucks.

Unless somebody wants to go halfers on this video I don't mind getting a burned copy of it...

Peace and I hope this helps!

John

I forgot about that DVD. Yeah, lots of good info on brush tech. If I owned it, I'd gladly let you borrow it.

There are portions of it on YouTube, you just have to look.

i prefer the reach around fakey with my right hand...

yeah i know...that was a dimwitted remark...but hey...i just woke up from grand night of drinkin...and imma do it a again!!!

tonight!!!