Ash Pearson from Revocation is ready to shred with some heavy chops every metal drummer should have in their arsenal:
You might play this at the end of a thrash beat or use it instead of a tom fill. Roll on the snare, then move to 8th notes on the cymbals while you play 16ths on your feet.
The phrase is RLRLFF. Experiment with it – try it between your snare and toms, adding splash accents, and whatever else you think would make it sound even more awesome.
Start with 16th notes on your hands over 8th notes on your feet, then switch to 8th notes on hands and 16ths on feet. It’s a great note value exercise and credit goes to Thomas Lang for this one.
Keep your hands blasting in unison and match them with your feet. Partway through the exercise, double the notes on your feet while keeping your hands consistent.
Your right hand plays quarter notes in this 3 over 4 polyrhythm. First, try the snare and single bass drum combination:
Then give it a shot with double bass keeping steady underneath:
If you’re just learning these skills, don’t forget to try these at a slow tempo and work your way up. You’ll be ripping around the kit in no time!
Ash Pearson is the drummer of Boston-based technical death metal band Revocation, and formerly of heavy metal band 3 Inches of Blood. He is also a member of Zimmers Hole and Old Black (featuring Jed Simon) and is affiliated with bands Ultra Earth and Ritual Dictates (featuring Justin Hagberg).
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