Sixteen Beat In Swing Time

In this lesson you will be taking the 16 Beat Groove learned in level 1 and switching the timing to a swung sixteenth feel. Eighth Note Swung Time has been covered before and this will be a very similar idea with the concept applied to 16th counts. In this case whenever you see two sixteenth notes together they will now be played as a sixteenth note triplet with the middle note removed. The hands will still be playing as single strokes, they will just be a bit bouncier than before.

Around the rhythm discussed above the snare will fall on counts 2 and 4 as usual to create a standard back beat. Remember that for this style of groove the snare tends to be notated in voice 1 to clarify the single stroke roll played on the hands. Below are two examples of what the hands will play for this pattern, the first is notated with triplets. Note that as in the previous version of this groove the back beat snares are played with the right hand.

The hands for the common time version of this groove

Then notated in swing time shorthand. The example below will sound exactly the same as the example above, it is just the notation that is different.

The hands for the common time version of this groove

The hi hats here can be either open or closed. Closed hi hats give a more precise, clear sound whilst open hi hats create a big wall of sound effect.

Below I have provide several examples of bass drums applied under this hand pattern to create some grooves. Be aware that in some examples extra snares have been added that will be played on the left hand. The rule here is that if the count is a number or an '+' it will be a right hand, if it's an 'a' or an 'e' it will be a left. All examples use the short hand form of notation.


Example 1

A 16 beat grooveplayed in swing time


Example 2

A 16 beat grooveplayed in swing time


Example 3

A 16 beat grooveplayed in swing time


Example 4

A 16 beat grooveplayed in swing time


Example 5

A 16 beat grooveplayed in swing time


Example 6

A 16 beat grooveplayed in swing time


Example 7

A 16 beat grooveplayed in swing time


Example 8

A 16 beat grooveplayed in swing time


TASKS

  • Learn the grooves above up to a tempo of at least 120bpm.
  • Create some 4 bar phrases using these grooves.
  • Experiment with different kick and snare combinations.
  • Try orchestrating the hands to create more grooves.

Lessons

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