Another real simple tweak to a basic right hand lead method used with Syncopation: adding a half time feel backbeat. We've been doing a lot with this lately, and it's turning into a very robust system. We're getting into some things we used to have to just figure out (or not) individually, in an unstructured way, in the practice room. I've added a Reed tweaks tag to give these small changes to existing systems their own category.
The right hand lead method, once again, is:
RH on cymbal + bass drum: play book rhythm
LH on snare drum: play spaces in book rhythm, to make a full measure of 8th notes
To give it a backbeat:
If there's a snare drum on beat 3*, accent it.
If there's a cym/BD on 3, substitute SD for BD, and accent it. Cymbal rhythm stays the same.
* - In cut time the beat is counted in 2, but I still count the actual rhythms in 4/4. The backbeat is on the cut time 2, or on beat 3 in 4/4.
Here's how that works out interpreting some rhythms from pp. 34-45 in Syncopation:
Sorting out what to hit may be a little confusing at first, so keep the basic method as your point of reference. Sort it out by playing a two-measure phrase:
1st measure: regular RH lead / 2nd measure: RH lead w/backbeat
This creates a nice open environment for adding embellishments, which we'll get into in the next post.
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