Exercise #5: Straight Eighth Notes with the Melody in the R.F.

Medium Latin Melody

5

!# ! "# "

St. Thomas
# # $ # $ # % % # # # & # " $ # ' % $ # # % " # # # # # # # # " # # # # # # # # # # & & & & ## $ %

! " ! # ! # ! "

# # $ # $ # % % " " # # " $ # % "

$ # % #

13

17

Sonny's Solo (0:55)

$ # # %

$ # # # ' %

$ # # # # # # # %

21

! # "

$ # # %

$ # # $ # " % %

$ # # $ # # # # $ # # # # # % % %

25

! # " $ # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # % ! ##" $ ## % $ ## $ ## % % " $ #" $ # " $ #$ ### % % % % # " '

29

Step 1: Straight eighths with the melody in the right foot In this exercise you will play continuous, alternating straight eighth notes on the hi-hat with accents on beats 1, the + of 2, 3, and the + of 4. This hi-hat

pattern provides a generically Caribbean sounding rhythmic background for the melody, which you will play with your R.F. Once you feel good playing and singing the melody leading with the R.H., try starting on the L.H.

Guide R.H. and L.H.= Alternating eighth notes with accents on beats 1, the + of 2, 3, and the + of 4 L.F.= Nothing R.F.= The melody

Example #1

Drum set

& % ! "
1. R 2. L

%
L R

% # & %
R L

& % # & % #
L R

& % $ %

% # ' % #

% $ & %

& % # ' & %

& % # %

% # % & %

& % & %

& % # %

% # % & %

& %

& % ! #

% #

Playing Tips: Hearing the melody against the hi-hat The key to playing this exercise successfully is to be able to hear both the melody and the groove of the hi-hat at the same time. Train yourself to do this by playing slowly and carefully without sacrificing focus on either the melody or the groove. Pay particularly close attention to melody notes that do not line up with accents on the hi-hat. Be careful not to change the melody to go with the accents or the other way around. The ability to split your attention between groove and melody is an extremely difficult one to master. It also one of the most important skills for a jazz

musician to cultivate, as it gives you the mental strength necessary to focus on both of the songs of jazz at the same time.

Step 2: Maxs Groove Once you feel comfortable with step 1 try replacing the generic hi-hat pattern with the groove that Max plays on the suggested recording. Play along with the recording until the groove feels natural.

Example #2 (Maxs basic groove)

Drum set

! " "

" #

"

$ "

"%

" #

Once the groove feels natural, replace the bass drum part with the melody. Guide R.H. and L.H.= Maxs groove L.F.= Jazz foot R.F.= The melody

Example #3
Drum set

! # " $

# # $ #

# # % #

% #'

#' # & # # $

# $

# #

# # $ #

% # #'

#'

# # $ # $

! # #

# # $

# $

Playing Tips: Hearing the melody against the groove In this step there are even more challenges to your ability to hear the melody and the groove at the same time. In the first measure for example, the melody lines up with the hands for the first three notes but then doesnt line up on the fourth note. If you try to approach this step too fast or impatiently it will be incredibly frustrating. So take this step very slowly and carefully, memorizing it measure by measure. Eventually you should be able to play through the entire exercise at a decent tempo.

Notes: Sonny Rollins rhythmic theme and variation Notice that starting at measure 17 the exercise is based on Sonny Rollins solo rather then the melody. In Blakey exercise #3 there is a brief discussion of Sonnys ability to take a short idea and develop it using theme and variation technique. For drummers, the most important aspect of theme and variation technique is rhythmic variation, and this solo is a clear example of how to use this rhythmic variation successfully. Essentially, the two note rhythm that he plays at the very beginning is the theme of the entire solo . Notice how he moves this rhythm to different beats (for example measure 17 and 21), breaks the two notes into single notes (for example measure 31), or uses the two notes to launch into many more notes for contrast (for example measure 25). Building an exhilarating solo from such a simple two note rhythm is an inspiring example to learn from.

Suggested Recording Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus