In this free groove lesson you will learn some 9/8 grooves where only one snare is used on the 7 count. This is similar to a 3/4 pattern where a snare is placed on count 3 but has that compound time feel associated with 9/8. Around this familiar kick placements and right hand concepts have been applied, use these as a starting point to create your own variations. If you struggle for further ideas for variation there are many free groove lessons across the iste. Like the 3/4 beat 3 style movement, this concept is a pretty simple idea that has a very specific feel. It is a great alternative to using a more straight version of a 9/8 part when coming with variations within a piece and is particularly useful as a little variation in a long run of straight groove.
Listed below are a couple of examples of this idea. If you find yourself struggling with anything at any point you can find a collection of useful links at the bottom of the page. Remember that with any groove it is important your timing is accurate throughout so play a long with a metronome.
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
TASKS
- Learn the grooves above up to a tempo of at least 130bpm.
- Create your own grooves based on this idea.
- Create some 4 bar phrases in 9/8. For now, use three bars of a groove followed by one bar of a different groove.
- Look around the site at other free groove lessons as inspiration for varying the given parts.
