In this lesson you will continue developing the idea of using constant double kick rhythms in grooves, this time focusing on patterns in the time signature of 7/8. In each of the examples a groove has been shown with both eighth and 16th note double kick parts. When playing grooves that use a lot of double kick it is worth remembering that the left foot can no longer hold down the hi hat pedal, which rules out the option of using a closed hi hat. There are devices such as drop clutches and remote hi hats that work around this problem but for now the right hand will be placed on the ride. Feel free to experiment with other ideas though. Remember to experiment with different voicings and timings for the right hand in each example.
Using double kick to play eighth notes may seem a bit unnecessary but you may find yourself in a situation where the song is at a very high tempo and eighth note kicks are used throughout the whole piece. In this case it is a lot easier on the right foot to split the work load between both feet. The end result will be a much more even sounding part that you don't struggle to maintain the tempo of.
Eighth note double kick in this time signature actually has an extra level of complication to it. The last eighth note of the bar in this case is going to fall on the right foot, meaning to keep a constant single stroke pattern the next foot at the start of the following bar will be a left. That then means anything that fell with a foot in the previous bar such as right hands and snares will now fall on the opposite foot. This can take a lot of getting used to but is a great co-ordination exercise.
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
TASK
- Using the 2 minute rule, get all grooves with eighth note kicks up to a tempo of at least 180bpm.
- Using the 2 minute rule, get all grooves with sixteenth note kicks up to a tempo of at least 130bpm.
- Create further variations on these grooves.
- Apply these grooves to a phrased piece as either the groove or fill. .
