Drum Set Method Book Recommendations are the method books that frequently are on my music stand. These are the books I most often use to practice. Over time, I have added and subtracted from the pile. In fact, some of the books are recent additions. However, some of the books have been on my stand for years and will continue to be there. I have listed them in their order of use:
George Lawrence Stone: Stick Control for the Snare Drummer
George Lawrence Stone: Stick Control for the Snare Drummer (Stone Percussion ISBN: 1-892764-04-0) This is undoubtedly the most used drum method book in the entire universe. I have played through the entire book on snare drum a time or two. But I must admit that I don’t use much of the book anymore. I now spend time on pp. 5 – 15 and especially pp. 5 – 7 Single Beat Combinations. I have written a number of posts about these 3 page (72 exercises).
You may also want to see: Stone Stick Control for Drum Set, Stone Stick Control Order for Speed and Triplet Stick Control Exercises for Snare Drum
Jim Chapin: Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer Volume 1
Jim Chapin: Advance Techniques for the Modern Drummer Volume 1 (Alfred Publishing ISBN: 0-7579-9540-3) If you want to work on coordinated independence as applied to jazz and be-bop this is THE method book. I went through a period where I played through the entire book every day. I have worked on Section I ABCD; Section II Part A – play solo lines with one hand while beating straight four with the other; Section II Part B – play solo lines with one hand while beating shuffle, straight eights, triplets or sixteenth notes with the other. I also have done Section III Bass Drum and Section IV Hands and feet. When I said earlier that I used to play through the book every day, I essentially practiced Section I ABCD and Section IV ABCD. Get out your metronome and have at it.
You may also want to see: Bass Drum Accents for Chapin Section One
Ted Reed: Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer
Ted Reed: Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer (Alfred Publishing ISBN 0-88284-795-3) I have used this method book with beginning drum and drum set students. I also have played through the entire book. But like the Stone book, I spend most of my time on just a few pages. I frequently practice the exercises on pp. 38 – 45. First of all – Buy the book. It’s around $8.00! BUY THE BOOK. But I have included a link to these pages so you can get started until your copy arrives. I often play through these exercises swinging the 8th notes (triplet feel) but mostly as straight 8th notes for rock and especially Latin ride rhythms.
You may also want to see: Reed Syncopation Roll Accents and Ted Reed Syncopation Volume Two
Carmine Appice: Ultimate Realistic Rock
Carmine Appice: Ultimate Realistic Rock (Alfred Publishing ISBN: 0-89724-486-9) A little dated with a crappy CD but a good method book if you want to work on classic rock drumming. I primarily use pp. 10 – 60. I haven’t messed much with odd meter (yet) and I don’t often use double bass drums or a double bass drum pedal (yet). I like to go through the book to groove my playing, work on my bass drum technique, and open and closed hi-hat patterns.
Rick Latham: Advanced Funk Studies
Rick Latham: Advanced Funk Studies (Alfred Publishing ISBN: 0-8258-2553-9) A really good method book (which means hard). Plenty of exercises and the transcriptions are nice. Ever want to play Steve Gadd’s “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover”? That and many more transcriptions are in this book. I don’t spend nearly enough time in this book. Note to self…
You may also want to see: Jim Riley Survival Guide for the Modern Drummer