Some Hand Patterns To Practice

Here's few snare drum exercises I've been messing around with on the practice pad and during my daily warm up. These patterns are inspired by some of the things I've been working on from Joe Morello's seminal book Master Studies and Tommy Igoes latest DVD Great Hands For A Lifetime as well as some snare drum solos that I've seen Buddy Rich play on video recordings.

-Play these patterns as 8th notes.

-Accent the first and last note of each grouping.


1) Groups of 5

RLLLR RLLLR RLLLR RLLLR

LRRRL LRRRL LRRRL LRRRL


2) Groups of 6

RLLLLR RLLLLR RLLLLR RLLLLR

LRRRRL LRRRRL LRRRRL LRRRRL


3) Groups of 7

RLLLLLR RLLLLLR RLLLLLR RLLLLLR

LRRRRRL LRRRRRL LRRRRRL LRRRRRL


4) Groups of 8

RLLLLLLR RLLLLLLR RLLLLLLR RLLLLLLR

LRRRRRRL LRRRRRRL LRRRRRRL LRRRRRRL


Hand-to-Hand Variations


1) Groups of 5

RLLLR LRRRL RLLLR LRRRL


2) Groups of 6

RLLLLR LRRRRL RLLLLR LRRRRL


3) Groups of 7

RLLLLLR LRRRRRL RLLLLLR LRRRRRL


4) Groups of 8

RLLLLLLLR LRRRRRRL RLLLLLLR LRRRRRRL