[linux-audio-user] Drum pattern creation.

[Alejandro Lopez]

Hi Frank,

I'm a drummer who has been studying and playing some of the genres you 
mention. Generally I'd say that the best sequenced drum patterns I've heard 
have been programmed by drummers with a few exceptions. I believe that you 
too can be one of these exceptions.

If you are a performing musician, you will have drummer friends. If you are 
not, my advice is that you rely on a school of music. I'd like to give 
advice on what you should study in order to create nice patterns, rythms, 
loops and fills. It's not very different from actually studying the 
instrument to be honest.

Rythms: you need to know the different rythms that drummers actually use 
when playing different styles! Best source, an experienced drummed friend. 
Failing that, a drums teacher. It can be explained over the internet how 
rock is usually played in 4 / 4, 8ths on the high hat, accenting the one, 
two, three, four notes and playing the remainder one-and, two-and, 
three-and, four-and as ghost notes, then the bass drum and snare could play 
alternate quarters. But many rythms, even standard folk ones for instance, 
are much more complex (even rock needs to be played in a richer fashion for 
interest sake). If you go for the teacher option, just make him understand 
what your goal is, so he or she will concentrate on typical rythms rather 
than on wrist exercises!

Fills: you need to know the instrument and its technique for that. You will 
need to study rudiments in order to create interesting sounding changes, 
breaks, fills and so on. You will need to learn "snare rudiments" such as 
"single roll, double roll, paradiddle, flam" so you can translate those 
(mentally) to the different elements of the kit, then to the sequencer. Mind 
you are lucky that at least you don't need to do it in real time like us 
performing drummers :-)) The method we've all used to develop our technique 
is one by Budy Rich called something like "Snare rudiments". If you have 
your drummer friend or teacher explain how to use one of these books, I 
guess a few hours of lessons should be enough for you to understand how it 
all works. Then you will need to translate your strokes to MIDI velocities 
in such a way that it sounds good. My experience is that you get best 
results by translating real strokes from real fills, one by one. For 
instance, you may have a fill consisting of 8 16ths snare strokes. Some 
people would sequence the velocities for these notes by making a linear 
"ramp" (quiet to loud). Well it sounds crap. One way that sounds good (the 
one I know) is to try to emulate the drummer. On usual 4 / 4 tempos, you 
usually play that in the snare by using an unfinished 9 stroke double roll, 
that is R R L L R R L L (R for right hand, L for left hand). To translate 
that, you will need at least 4 different velocities. If we name them A to D, 
being A the loudest, you will then sequence A - C - B - D - A - C - B - D. 
Reason is the drummer will rather naturally accent the notes that way so 
tempo is kept even for fast rolls. The rudiment is like that so good tempo 
and nice swing can be achieved naturally. In order to work out the way it is 
actually played, you need this book of so called "snare rudiments" plus a 
pair of drum sticks to tap on.. anything, really.

Best luck!!

Cheers,

Alex

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