The basics of Jazz drumming: Swing
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Jazz drumming - Swing basics
What most people think about when they hear the word "Jazz", is probably a Swing beat.
Swing is both a drum beat, a Jazz genre and a period of the Jazz history (roughly 1930-40).
Other Jazz styles based on the Swing style are Bop (Bebop) and Cool.
Swing drumming has been contantly evolving, becoming more and more complex over the years, but the basic beat is this:
Play on ride cymbal:
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or on hihat:
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Essentially the same thing, since you play 2 and 4 in hihat foot and exactly the same right hand pattern!
Play all notes as even as you can, or try to embelish the ”and” of beat 2 and 4.
This will increase the flow of the beat. Never accent beats 1 and 3!
Accenting the & of 2 and 4
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Traditionally, the bass drum is feathered (played really quiet) on all 4 beats to support the unamplified double bass.
In modern playing, this is not necessary, even though some drummers still do it.
Feathered bass drum
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Play in 3/4 time
This is often referred to as a jazz waltz.
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Another hihat foot variation:
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You can play the 4/4 cymbal pattern in 3/4 time too. In this particular excersise - be sure to keep the 3/4 hihat foot pattern going.
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Swing in 5/4
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....if you want to play the classic tune Take Five.
Play one bar 3/4 and half a 4/4 bar = 3 + 2 = 5
4/4 ride pattern variations
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Be careful about where you place the syncopated 8th notes.
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Listen to this example of different ride pattern variations:
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Totally different from Pop/Rock or even Latin drumming, Swing isn't built up from repeated patterns.
The rhythms are constantly changing and evolving throughout the music.
The drummer might even change his drum part completely from night to night playing the same tune.
Playing is highly improvised and the musicians contantly interact - using each others ideas, leading to
a complex result.
Good luck!
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