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Recommended Drum Books|Drum DVDs|Drum Tutorials|Drum Grade Books

 

There are plenty of drum tutor books to choose from. The three drum books recommended here below are a good starting point for any beginner: 

• Trinity Guildhall Book 1 Grades 1 & 2 (Examination Pieces & Studies 2011-2013)
• The Art of the Drummer by John Savage
• Drum Rudiment Dictionary: Percussive Arts Society's 40 International Drum Rudiments [With CD] by Jay Wanamaker

Drumming technique (e.g. how to hit a drum correctly) and how to grip a drumstick correctly really needs to be shown by an experienced drum tutor working in conjunction with these drum books.

There are 26 main drum rudiments plus their variations.  The Trinity grade drum books tackle several of these rudiments per grade and each grade incorporates those rudiments into a performance piece. The drum grade examination pieces progress in difficulty.

For example in grade 1 you need to learn three rudiments to perform the first piece 'Grade 1 Rudimental Study'. However, in grade 2 you will need to learn six new rudiments to perform 'Grade 2 Rudimental Study'. In all the grades the rudimental studies are compulsory and in addition to these you will need to play one chosen piece from Group A (performed with backing track) and one chosen piece from Group B (unaccompanied). The different grade books 1-4 are shown opposite. Each book contains two grades-

i.e. Book 1 grades one and two, Book 2 grades three and four, etc.

Please note grades 6, 7 and 8 are formally recognised within the UCAS Tariff for entry to UK higher education.

In addition to these examination pieces you are required to choose and perform two from three other supporting tests-

1. Sight-read a piece of drum kit music
2. Improvised solo piece
3. Unpitched Aural

Here are three Trinity drum books containing specimen tests for sight-reading and unpitched aural.

• Sound at Sight Drum Kit Book 1: Grades 1-4 (Sound at Sight: Sample Sight reading Tests)
• Sound at Sight Drum Kit Book 2: Grades 5-8 (Sound at Sight: Sample Sight reading Tests)
• Sample Tests for Unpitched Aural (Trinity Guildhall Aural Tests)
  
  
  

The John Savage drum book is very useful  because it starts by  immediately building your first basic drum Rock beat and at the same time introduces the reading and interpretation of drum music. The book moves through to different styles and even applies drum fills within rhythms.

The Rudimental Library is exactly what it implies. It contains 40 rudiments from the Percussive Arts Society and begins by addressing the seven essential rudiments necessary to perform all the other rudiments and continues by covering rolls, diddles, flams and drags with variations on each. Also included are practice patterns and rudimental snare drum solos. A good drum teacher is recommended to take you step by step through all these drum books.

Drum books for the intermediate and advanced player

Here are some excellent drum books in the more advanced Jazz idiom. They can help develop solo ideas and strong independence (ie; the ability to play a figure with your right hand and with your left hand/right foot/left foot playing different figures but all at the same time) here are a few-

• Art of Bop Drumming by John Riley
• Beyond Bop Drumming by John Riley
• The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary as Taught by Alan Dawson
• Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer by Ted Reed
• Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer Vol. 1 by Jim Chapin
• Teaching Rhythm by Joel Rothman (Mail order from USA only 10 day shipping +US$3.99)

Here are some great 'Play-along' drum books. They help improve your reading, time, song interpretation and groove. The books comes with drum charts and audio CD. You can hear what the drummer actually plays on all the tracks and how he interprets the music. Then the drums have been removed and you can now play along with the rest of the band.

• Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Play Along: Book and CD -Drums
• Funkifying the Clave: Afro-Cuban Grooves for Bass and Drums, Book & CD
  
  

Drum DVDs

For education and inspiration here are some drumming DVDs from some of the world's best players.

• Drums et Technique/ History Of The U.S. Beat by Steve Smith
• Secret Weapons For The Modern Drummer by Jo Jo Mayer
• Antonio Sanchez master-class