Bass Note in between Pad Notes

**BigFish** · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:58 pm Post subject: Bass Note in between Pad Notes

I'm having a real problem playing sequences of beats where the bass note comes in between pad notes. I mean like a constant strand. Basically where you alternate between using your arms on a note then a bass note. So it's like RG:Bass:RG:Bass just repeating over and over again. I just can't keep them separate and want to hit the bass every time. What are some tips or techniques I can utilize?
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**hydrapower** · Joined: 28 May 2006 Posts: 1708 Location: Rochester, MN

This sort of limb independence exercise just takes lots and lots of practice. I know when I first started I couldn't hit more than 3 or 4 in a row before I would lose it and get off time. It takes a long time to get better at it.

You can actually try doing this when you're not playing the drums and just sitting in a chair. Just alternate back and forth between your arms and your foot as an exercise. Additionally, it helped me at first to bob my head forward and back like a pigeon too.

You can also take that part of a song into Practice Mode and slow it down to try it at an easier tempo. As you get better at it you can speed it up to full speed again.

Good luck!
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**sedron** · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:33 am Post subject:

**HoorayItsMike** · Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Posts: 1604 Location: Ohio

**BigFish** · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:47 am Post subject:

Alright, thanks a lot, I just didn't know if there were any little tricks or something aside from pure practice.
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**killermonkey** · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 1163 Location: Brookings Oregon

I found Playing the kill helps
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**ABee1010** · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 133

I would like to recommend counting out loud to help you through any tough stretch. This helps me in GH and RB just as much IRL. Most patterns can be counted in 4s. 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4. For the pattern listed by the OP, you would be hitting GR on 1 and 3 and your BD on 2 and 4. If you are playing a pattern that has triplets in there you will need to modify your count to an odd number (or at least has a square root that is an odd number)...

**Sulfurus** · Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 700 Location: Swindon, England.

I would agree with what has been said before, but as an addendum to the "Pigeon technique" sometimes I will end up rocking my entire torso forward, along with my head. I do the rock in time with the foot pedal - leaning back as you hit with hands. I find this can help to accentuate the difference - avoiding hitting both at the same time.

**iAMjustin** · Joined: 10 Jan 2009 Posts: 2

dont lunge ur whole body forward like most beginners are inclined to do, that will only make it harder for you to develop limb separation and ull end up doing r arm l arm and leg at same time. relax, and dont try to use ur wrists or fingers for these patterns. its much easier to just use your whole arms, there is no difficult technicalities if these patterns that require fingers/wrist play. use arms only i guess and practice. itll help u with songs like almost easy, thrasher, end of give it all, etc. ;-)