Drums 3: Counting pyramid

Changing gear

3.1Quarters to eighths

The click stays the same. Only the number of strokes per click changes.

1	2	3	4
R	L	R	L

1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&
R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L

Pass: the click and beat 1 always meet.

3.2Eighths to sixteenths

Two per click, then four per click.

1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&
R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L

1	e	&	a	2	e	&	a	3	e	&	a	4	e	&	a
R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L

Pass: no rush when the sixteenths start.

3.3Triplets

Three even strokes per click. Count 1 and a, 2 and a. The lead hand swaps every beat.

1	&	a	2	&	a	3	&	a	4	&	a
R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L

Pass: all three strokes are even, no gallop.

3.4Up and down the pyramid

One bar each: 1, 2, 3, 4 strokes per click, then back down. Loop it. Count out loud.

1	2	3	4
R	L	R	L

1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&
R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L

1	&	a	2	&	a	3	&	a	4	&	a
R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L

1	e	&	a	2	e	&	a	3	e	&	a	4	e	&	a
R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L

1	&	a	2	&	a	3	&	a	4	&	a
R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L

1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&
R	L	R	L	R	L	R	L

BPM

Pass: three loops, every gear change lands on the click.

The hard step is between eighths and triplets. Say the count for the next bar in your head before it starts.

Metronome80BPM