Today we’re going to take a look at Derek Roddy’s blast beats… in slow motion! Derek is known for his lightning-fast speed drumming, so being able to dial it right back and take a look at his technique will help us understand how he’s reaching those top speeds.
On his right hand, Derek uses a push-pull moeller motion that’s mostly driven from the shoulder, but his wrist is adding a whipping motion to help with maintaining momentum. On his left hand, he uses a relaxed grip and takes full advantage of the rebound the snare drum provides. Contrary to his right hand, most of the power in these strokes is coming from his wrist.
You’ll notice that once he gets to really high speeds, he’ll place his index finger on top of the drum stick. If he can’t hear himself in his own personal mix, it mutes the drum stick and raises the overall pitch of the snare which produces a more clear, defined sound.
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Drumeo Team - We're professional, award-winning drummers and drum teachers, coaches, recording artists, and content specialists who are passionate about drums and helping drummers around the world. This post was written and/or edited by Sam Landa, Brandon Toews, Jared Falk, Dave Atkinson, or another pro on our team (which has a combined 1000+ years of drumming experience). Are you looking for inspiration, education, and support to take your playing to the next level? Join the Drumeo community today!
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